Important information for yachts considering a Red Sea transit in either direction
The security situation in the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb has changed significantly in recent days, making this an important consideration for yachts planning to transit the Red Sea in either direction.
Southbound yachts leaving the Mediterranean now may reach the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb during the coming weeks and months. Northbound yachts traditionally begin making the passage from the Indian Ocean towards the Red Sea from around December, with the northbound transit season generally continuing through to May.
For both directions, the security situation should be monitored closely as the passage date approaches.
What has changed?
During the 2025/26 season, around 70 yachts reportedly made the northbound passage. First-hand reports described yachts travelling in buddy-boat pairs or loose flotillas, sharing information about security, weather and conditions, and using UKMTO for reporting.
However, those reports also documented an armed approach to a 40-foot yacht near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in April 2026. No boarding or shooting occurred, but the incident demonstrated that recreational yachts can be approached in these waters.
There was also a significant navigation issue. Yachts reported GPS/GNSS jamming and spoofing during the 2025/26 season, with inaccurate positions appearing on chartplotters, AIS and other devices. Independent navigation checks were therefore an important part of passage planning.
The situation on the ground has now changed considerably.
On 10 September 2026, Houthi forces took control of the Red Sea port of Mokha on Yemen’s western coast. The following day, Houthi forces reached Perim (Mayun) Island in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait after government forces withdrew. Perim occupies a strategically important position in the strait, dividing its narrowest section into two shipping channels.
Reports subsequently indicate that Houthi forces have extended their control along the Yemeni Red Sea coast and toward strategically important islands in the southern Red Sea north of Perim.
The situation remains fluid. On 15 September, regional leaders were discussing the security of navigation through the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea as the conflict in Yemen continued to escalate.
A very recent maritime incident
There has also been a new incident directly relevant to vessels using the southern Red Sea.
On 16 September, a Panama-flagged tanker reportedly reported a missile impact approximately 40 nautical miles west of Mokha. The vessel was reported to be proceeding under its own power, with no casualties reported. The incident was attributed to a UKMTO advisory and remains under investigation.
This is a developing situation and details may change as further information becomes available.
Current official warnings
The current U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) advisory 2026-006 – Red Sea, Bab el Mandeb Strait, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Somali Basin – Houthi Attacks on Commercial Vessels, remains active until 22 September 2026.
The advisory states that transit by yachts and privately owned sailing vessels through these waters is hazardous and may result in capture. It says the U.S. Government advises against all operation of yachts and pleasure craft in these areas.
The advisory also warns of possible hostile actions including UAV, USV and missile attacks, small-arms fire from small boats, explosive-boat attacks, and illegal boardings, detentions and seizures.
MARAD’s current advisory list also includes 2026-010, covering the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean, which remains active until February 2027.
Yachts should check the latest MARAD, UKMTO and other national maritime security information before and during any passage.
What does this mean for yachts?
The successful passages made by yachts during 2025/26 provide useful information about the practicalities of the route, including navigation, communications, weather and travelling with other yachts.
They should not, however, be regarded as an indication of the current level of risk.
The September 2026 changes have occurred since those passages, and the security situation around the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb is developing rapidly.
This is particularly relevant to southbound yachts currently in or approaching the Mediterranean. A yacht leaving the Med in the coming weeks could reach the Suez Canal and southern Red Sea later in the autumn or winter, when the current situation may be different again.
For northbound yachts in the Indian Ocean, the traditional transit window begins around December and continues through the early part of the year. There is therefore more time for the situation to develop, but the current conditions should not be assumed to remain unchanged.
Cruiser perspective
Wade Alarie, who has managed the Red Sea Passage Facebook Group for several years, continues to hear from cruisers considering the route.
Wade’s own Red Sea passage took place in 2020, however, and he stresses that his view is a personal opinion rather than a current official security assessment.
He says that, in his opinion, the Houthis do not currently pose a threat to private yachts, while acknowledging that the U.S. MARAD advisory advises against private yachts operating in the region.
Wade also reports that yachts continue to join the Red Sea Passage Group and that some continue to choose the route.
His comments provide one perspective from the cruising community. They should be considered alongside current official security information and the rapidly changing situation in Yemen and the southern Red Sea.
Information for yachts considering the passage
The Red Sea Passage Facebook Group is a private group specifically for vessels planning a Red Sea passage and has been an important source of communication between yachts making the transit for many years. It provides a way for cruisers approaching the region to exchange current information and experiences with other yachts planning or undertaking the passage. Admission is arranged by contacting Wade Alarie with details of the boat and cruising plans.
Red Sea Passage Facebook Group – Noonsite
The Red Sea and Suez Bound WhatsApp Group has also been an important source of first-hand information.
A 2026 compilation of approximately 5,000 messages and reports from around 40 boats during the 2025/26 season, summarised by AI, is available through S/V Soggy Paws’ Useful Files.
This provides a useful record of what yachts encountered during that season, but it predates the September 2026 developments and should therefore be regarded as historical information rather than a current security assessment.
S/V Soggy Paws – Useful Files and Links
UKMTO reporting
UKMTO (United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations) operates a Voluntary Reporting Scheme covering the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden and Arabian Sea.
UKMTO’s current information states that vessels of any flag or ownership are invited to participate, although much of the detailed reporting guidance is written with commercial shipping in mind.
Yacht crews considering the passage should contact UKMTO directly to establish the current reporting arrangements applicable to privately owned recreational vessels.
Gulf of Aden / Indian Ocean / Red Sea – Noonsite
Assessing the passage
For yachts considering a Red Sea transit, the security situation will need to be monitored continuously in the period leading up to departure and while planning the passage.
The experience of yachts that made the passage during 2025/26 demonstrates that a northbound Red Sea transit was possible under the conditions that existed at that time. However, the subsequent changes around the southern Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb, together with continuing maritime incidents and current official warnings, mean that those earlier experiences cannot be assumed to represent the conditions that will exist during the 2026/27 season.
For southbound yachts considering departure from the Mediterranean now, the relevant question is not simply what conditions were like during last year’s cruising season, but what the situation is likely to be when they reach the southern Red Sea.
For northbound yachts waiting in the Indian Ocean, there is more time to monitor developments before the traditional December – May transit period.
Depending on a yacht’s starting point and destination, alternatives may include delaying the passage, remaining in the Indian Ocean for another season, or routing around the Cape of Good Hope via South Africa.
The situation is developing and this page will be updated as further reliable information becomes available.
Resources
- UKMTO
- UKMTO Reporting Formats
- Reuters – Houthis solidify gains around Bab el-Mandeb [16 September]
- Reuters – Security of Red Sea navigation [15 September]
- Red Sea Passage Facebook Group – Noonsite
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Noonsite has not independently verified this information.
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