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From David Jones                    10th April 2009      Pirate attack on the Venezuelan Coast
Hi Chris, just briefly, we were sailing along the Venezuelan coast towards Trinidad about 3 miles offshore. A nice day and about 1800hrs I noticed a penero ( open boat ) coming in our direction from astern with a number of men on board. Then one in the bow had an AK47 and the other had a shotgun. I turned to open sea going flat out at 8 knots and they started firing at us, shooting out most of the windows in the wheelhouse. I knew they were trying to kill us so kept into the swell so they could"nt board. Got one shot off with the flaregun at them and for a moment they hung back. Then they came at us again shooting at the waterline. They eventually realized I wasn"t going to stop and they broke off the attack. I suffered a head and shoulder wound and my girlfriend a neck wound. After treatment in hospital here in Trinidad were are okay. The Caribbean"s a beautiful place but warn anyone coming over , keep well clear of the Venezuelan coast. Rgds, Dave.
From Chris Southwood  Yacht DriKé  8th April 2009
Hi Dave,
Read your email with a mix of facination and horror. I have posted this and your friends email on my web www.SecretOcean.eu.  People here are really interested in how you got on....if thats okay with you.
Question I have been asked is how you got away? Love to here more detail.
Regards
Chris
From Chris Keenan                  7th April 2009                  Pirate attack on the Venezuelan Coast
 
HI Dave,
 
Sorry to hear about this. Pleased you are ok. When we were in Margarita on our way to Grenada in January, there was a Canadian couple sat outside Marina Juan's place looking very despondent. They had been anchored in Puerto Santos. [which i did think was asking for it] They had been boarded a 'band of men in uniforms and heavily armed. They ransacked the boat, took everything, even senseless stuff that was meaningless to them, then smashed up the entire interior.' they sat there for an hour thanking god they were spared when, 'Another Penero came alongside. 8 men again heavily armed tho not in uniform tho obviously police or similar and they took what was left and smashed up everything else the first lot missed. Then told them to get out and tell their friends DONT COME HERE' . There was a special police detective from the anti drug squad sat there also , he said, 'the message is clear, dont go there [Pto Santos] and dont go along the coast.'
 
I have not been along the coast of Gulfo de Paria for 4 years. I have done it 5 times in ten years. Its wonderful, its stunning. I have anchored in various places including Golfo di Sanfransico.. But i decided 4 years ago i had used up my luck along this coast and would not do it again..... Its a hard upwind up current slog to Grenada via Tesigos [we had 35knots in January.] But well..........Its easy to be wise after the fact right?
 
Where were you attacked Dave?.
 
Hope your OK now mate, good luck with the new boat
 
Chris
From David Jones                  6th April 2009      Pirate attack on the Venezuelan Coast
Hi Bob, just to let everyone know, do not sail along the Venezuelan coast. Got attacked saturday night by four gunmen in a penero armed with AK47 and shotgun. Shot most of the windows out of the Fisher , tried to hole her but I would not stop. Obviously the were intent on killing us and taking everything on board and sinking the boat afterwards. We sustained over 16 rounds mostly to the wheelhouse where I was trying to steer. I still intend to come up when Fred And Susan arrive to take Windshear back south. Have they arrived in Bermuda yet? Bob, the caribbean isn"t what it was 20 years ago. Not the perfect paradsise anymore. Still, We are lucky to be alive, so that"s a blessing on it"s own. Apart from cuts and bruises we are fine in Crews inn in Trinidad. More soon, Dave.