ESCAPING FROM THE PIRATES OF THE MIND
When the class of 2005 sailed through the Bab al Mandeb, we all had to face the rigors, rumors, and red tape of Red Sea cruising.
As dozens of yachts streamed cautiously north, we all wondered what the next six weeks would bring.
The rumor mill constantly spewed forth piratical fantasies regarding fishing boats that seemed all too curious about passing yachts.
Fortunately, the rumors turned out to only be rumors and nothing more. All of the pirates had moved ashore and now specialized in other things.
The Red Sea rigors are a different story.
There are dozens of low lying islands, inlets, and reefs running along the western shore.
These are the stepping stones that make the voyage into an awesome adventure.
You can island hop up the Red Sea and enjoy good snorkeling and deserted anchorages all along the way.
If you had to sail the Red Sea in a single go, you would have a battle on your hands.
Seven-hundred miles of strong headwinds rear their ugly head to test your sails, rigging, and resolve.
But smart sailors don't do the Red Sea in one go. They arise early in the morning and move their vessel thirty miles north before the headwinds start to blow.
The goal is to have the anchor down by noon in the next sheltered cove.
The trip north requires discipline and patience.
When the headwinds pipe up, patience is the order of the day.
It's time to read books, snorkel, or hike on the low lying islands. When the winds taper off, discipline gets you up at sunrise, and you quickly get on your way.
Red Sea red tape was surprisingly benign.
What could have been a nightmare turned out to be routine.
You don't need to reinvent the wheel when checking in and out of countries. Officialdom has all the paperwork ready to go and will help you fill it out if you have any questions. In Eritrea, you deal directly with customs and immigration, while in Egypt and Sudan, agents handle your paperwork for a nominal fee.
The Red Sea transit turned out to be one of the most interesting, enjoyable, and affordable parts of our circumnavigation.
I speak Arabic because I had worked in Arabia for eleven years as an eye surgeon, and being able to communicate in Arabic made the trip more fun. I had treated patients from all the countries bordering the Red Sea, and I finally had the privilege of visiting the countries from where my patients had come. Wherever we went, the people were gracious to us and made us feel at home.
Awesome music video that captures the essence of what it's like to sail offshore in a catamaran around the world when conditions are less than perfect. David Abbott from Too Many Drummers sings the vocals, and he also edited the footage from our Red Sea adventures. This is the theme song from the Red Sea Chronicles.
Sailing up the Red Sea is not for the faint of heart. From the Bab al Mandeb to the Suez Canal, adventures and adversity are in abundance. If you take things too seriously, you just might get the Red Sea Blues.
If you like drum beats, and you like adventure, then have a listen to the Red Sea Chronicles Trailer.
Flying fish assault Exit Only in the middle of the night as we sail through the Arabian Gulf from the Maldives to Oman. And so begins our Red Sea adventures.
Sailing through Pirate Alley between Yemen and Somalia involves calculated risk. It may not be Russian Roulette, but it is a bit of a worry. Follow Team Maxing Out as they navigate through Pirate Alley.
Stopping in Yemen was just what the doctor ordered. We refueled, repaired our alternator, and we made friends with our gracious Yemeni hosts. We also went to Baskins Robbins as a reward for surviving Pirate Alley.
After you survive Pirate Alley, you must sail through the Gate of Sorrows (Bab Al Mandab) at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The Gate of Sorrows lived up to its name with fifty knots of wind and a sandstorm that pummeled Exit Only for two days. Life is good.
Captain Dave and his family spent eleven years sailing around the world on their Privilege 39 catamaran, Exit Only. During the trip, the crew shot 200 hours of video with professional cameras to show people what it's like to sail on a small boat around the world.
The Red Sea Chronicles is a one hour and twenty-two minute feature film showing their adventures as Exit Only sails through Pirate Alley in the Gulf of Aden and up the Red Sea. The professional footage documents their experiences in Oman, Yemen, Eritrea, Sudan, Egypt, and the Suez Canal. It chronicles the rigors of traveling in a remote section of the world rarely visited by cruisers. Exit Only dodges Yemeni pirates, fights a gale and sand storms in the Bab al Mandeb at the southern entrance to the Red Sea. The crew explores deserted islands on the western shores of the Red Sea, and learns to check the cruising guides for land mines before venturing ashore.
The Red Sea Chronicles also has outstanding Special Features including an Instructional Video on Storm Management that tells sailors how to deal with storms at sea.
And don't forget the two Music Videos: "The Red Sea Blues", and "Captain - Save Our Souls".
The Red Sea Chronicles is a first class adventure that stokes the sailing dreams of both experienced and wannabe sailors alike.
Join Team Maxingout as they sail through Pirate Alley and up the Red Sea
See what it's like to cruise on a catamaran before you spend a bazillion dollars purchasing one
After watching the Red Sea Chronicles you will be able to see yourself sailing on the ocean of your dreams
Although I like the feel of a paper book in my hand, I love trees even more. When people purchase an eBook, they actually save trees and save money as well. Ebooks are less expensive and have no negative impact on the environment. All of Dr. Dave's books are available at Save A Tree Bookstore. Visit the bookstore today and start putting good things into your mind. It's easy to fill your mind with positive things using eBooks. No matter where you are or what you are doing, you can pull out your smart phone or tablet and start reading. You can even use electronic highlighters and make annotations in your eBooks just like paper books.
