If I was crewing on a long passage I can think of no other person who would make such excellent company than Michael. Thank you Michael for being such an important authority on sailing the world. You are a very kind and irreplaceable person.
Thank you for watching and enjoying the video - Thank you for the kind words... Don't know what to say but I am glad my stories bring pleasure to others
As a Yank myself, I was proud to hear that one of our vessels was able to come to your aid. So glad you all made it through safely. I subscribed and look forward to hearing more stories of your adventures. I wish you fair winds and following seas, my friend!
Melissa I am a great admirer of the USA navy and very grateful to them. Really pleased you have subscribed - thank you - and there are other stories on my channel if you browse it... Fair winds, Michael
@@SailingGently , Timelapse, 5-10 days 🧟♂️🦠🍖🔴... (inside your stomach) ruclips.net/video/KtK3KgSMHe4/видео.html .. ruclips.net/video/oziwBALKCEQ/видео.html 🤮 NO fibre !!! Stays in your body and rots away 🤮🤮🤮🤮..... That’s why I’m vegan, lots of fibre if you eat plants and fruit and nuts and berries and tubers and lentils beans et cetera. PH 7, no smell. Which side of history are you on, Jeeffrey Dahmer 👓😩🦠🍖🔴... Or veganism ✅❤️💪😬😉 ??. You don’t hurt your cute little dog 😍🤗🐶🤥🤥🤥.....
Heart attack pictures, fatty foods is animaIs cIogged arteries, hard arteries, PH 5, no fibre🧟♂️🦠🍔🥓🥩🍗🍳🧀... 🤮. Vegans don’t stink. PH 7 , plants have fibre ✅😉, vegans are peaceful, Peer review science. Actual pictures of the heart. ruclips.net/video/15wgYsToORM/видео.html !!! ruclips.net/video/pFPFnhfuLrE/видео.html Vegans don’t have this problem because that is the animals. Vegans don’t get clogged arteries, 4% cancer if you’re vegan. Meat based diet 51% death rate. That is extremely high for a frigging burger etc. Gorillas in the wild, have 1 percent cancer. And they never ever eat animals !!! Peer review science !!!! RUclips delicious vegan food. Time to change ✅❤️😉
Sailing Gently you great adventurer, and your video proofs me right, that to be (alive) and healthy is more important than to be a millionaer. Imagine you are multi Millionaer making a sail around the world, and then getting robbed and injured or killed by pirates. So in my point of view, to be and to stay healthy is one of my most important aims in life.
I have not watched the video yet but it reminded me of a chat I had with the really interesting owner of "Chartist Lady" in Cherbourgh. He suffered from bouts of depression & was considered a weird loaner in his club. He nicked his father's boat & went off . The boat was a mess & was dis masted etc . When he returned to Holland after circumnavigating the world, he was hailed a hero by his sailing club & wrote books. On his trip he was attacked by pirates. They came aboard, saw the state of the boat & realised he had nothing. As a result they were very friendly laughing & chatting. Waved him on his way & went to the next boat in the convoy & robbed them instead.
Graham hi, Sounds like a great story and adventure for 'Chartist Lady' and yes being poor is a great leveler - I knew a Irish guy in a tiny wood boat who was fed by fishermen in Morocco and Libya even. He was a hod carrier and had taught himself to navigate and lived in this tiny leaky wood boat in which he had to keep the charts permanently in transparent plastic bag because of the deck leaks. Nice thing about sailing is that the challenges are the same for rich and poor alike
Having sailed through those waters myself as a maritime security officer, thoroughly enjoyed listening to your experience, must have been very worrying for you. You did a great job, well done.
Mike hi, Thank you for watching and for your comments. It actually was not as scary as it might appear. Basically they just wanted to rob me not kill me, as my feeling....
Michael you are a very good storyteller, so entertaining, thank you. I have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa, fortunately never been attacked by pirates but been in some pretty sticky and serious situations, so have a great deal of empathy with the predicament you found yourself in. Thank you for nearly an hours worth of your very engaging story.
Russ hi, Yes those of us in dodgy places learn to be pragmatic about robbery and know that it's better to give than to receive! I have only visited the Middle East and Africa relatively briefly and admire people like you who spend extended time periods there. very pleased you liked the video - thank you
@@SailingGently Although this could have happened to anyone where you were, there is no one anywhere who could have told it better. (no response needed.)
Thank you for the story. Your a natural at story telling. Reading of your adventures is a good way to pass away the time in my "sunset years" God Bless!
Fantastic story and riveting to listen to. You certainly did the right thing and just handed over whatever the pirates wanted. It’s not worth risking your or you crews life for equipment that can be easily replaced.
I have no idea how i came across this, i know nothing about sailing. I was actually looking for mike tyson videos. Your an excellent story teller, i will watch more. Cheers
Absolutely engrossing recollection, which held my attention for the whole hour. Glad I subscribed to your channel, Michael. Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Andy hi, the only quick thinking was to call an abbreviated MayDay and I was lucky the warship was so close, but equally I do not think they intended violence towards us, rather just anything of value...
Pity, the first instincts a gentleman has is concern for others, when faced with predators like this. How very civilized, you are to be commended, glad you made it. Great story
This is great content. Very informative, as well as great storytelling. Wondering how you balanced time between filming projects and sailing adventures? Is there any method to that, or just get out and go when you have the chance?
Glad you enjoyed it Donald - When I go sailing I almost always have a camera or two with me... The actual sailing is the priority until I get into port or drop the hook . I have been making a series of videos called sailing into Cherborg/Dieppe/St Valery en Caux/Fecamp and I went to all those places with the intention of making a vides about them - sort of backbone of the channel
@@SailingGently Oh yeah, I've only recently discovered your channel so I've got a good amount of material still to go through. Thanks for the recommendations!
I didn't Henrik... All the pictures are library/Stock shots - I did put a sign saying that somewhere - I just searched for copyright free pictures to illustrate the video along with my own bits of video about Bambola and the charts I generated myself.
What a gripping story! Was so engrossed I couldn’t put the iPad down and nearly missed the shops before they closed here in Switzerland for the weekend. Went for a swim in the lake to cool down and then it was back home and to RUclips to hear the end of the tale. You are a natural story teller and thoroughly entertaining! Thank-you and Subscribed!
Michael thank you for that very complimentary post and I am so glad you enjoyed the video enough to come back and finish it plus I am grateful to you for subscribing - it really helps Michael
Hey Michael. What daunting and jet fascinating story. You are one extremely good story teller. Really enjoying your videos. I to sail and live n my Moody 36 cc from 1980 S/Y ZENSEB and I love her and the way she preform. Best regards Soren from Denmark.
Soren hello, So pleased you enjoyed it and on having a Moody cc 36 - I will always think she was one the best boats I have ever owned.. But there are some brilliant Scandinavian boats around as well
@@SailingGently Hey Michael. Thank's for your reply. Yes especially Swedish boats but they are extremly expensive. They do though seems to hold there value well. I bought my Moody 6 year ago i germany, and have done a complet refit over the last 4 years and find it's half the price instead of buying a 5-10 year old Halberg Rassy 36-38. If I may ask.. What's the weak points on the 36 cc? if any. And thanks for sharring your knowledge and adventures with us. Soren
@@srenoster728 Soren hi, How interesting - thank you. The only two major things I did to Bambola was to change the roller boom reefing to slab and install a couple of granny bar either side of the mast to make the reefing safe.. Put a Bimini on her which I suspect you would not need! I have never met a Moody 36 owner who did not love his boat...
@@SailingGently Hey Michael. The granny bars is a great idea which I also want to ad. Did not know it had a roller boom. I have a 6 year old Selden mast where the main sail slide outside on ball bearings which I think is the best and safest way to reef your main or get it down. I am though think of taking her to the med when this covid is over, so I have a combined bimini and tent from Kapell in sweden. But I really like your videos sitting her in DK in the rain waiting them from the beginning. Great stuff. Actually considering making my own youtube channel with all the DIY I have done to the boat and my sailing trips. Cheers.. Soren
Since it was foggy, did they use radar to find you, and did you have radar to see them ? I think those bastards would have killed you for a dime. Evil for sure, who knows how many sailors they killed previously ...... I think you were fortunate. To bad the warships aren’t sinking them on sight. Thank you for the story and the details.
Les hi, I suspect they heard our VHF transmissions and before dawn our nav lights would have shown - I would have run without lights but Ulf needed to see me and vv. I am loath to run radar when sailing because of battery drain - but no I am pretty certain they did not have radar but I think they did have VHF and European boats in the Gulf are heading to or from the Red Sea for sure so that narrows their search area. Yes we were lucky - fortune favors the brave or something.. Really pleased you liked the video - thank you
That was really fun to listen to. And I definitely look forward to listening to more like it. And I absolutely had to subscribe after you were so blase about it not really mattering it's all in good fun. Absolutely fantastic
from one sailor to another a big cheers to your story, listened to it while cleaning the bilge today. pretty scary stuff and glad you made it out unharmed. toasting this evenings rum in your honor, thank you for the wonderful yarn!
Thank you Trevor - really pleased you enjoyed it - I hope to be out in Martinique by the end of the year in Golden Haze - love to shoot the breeze over a rum or two
Nothing cowardly at all about what you did, you kept yourself And crew alive. That’s what a real captain does. You kept your cool when others would have buckled. Bravo sir
I could spend an awful lot of time listening to your stories. I’ve never sailed, yet have nearly exhausted your current library ... Keep the videos coming & thank you for the entertainment, Regards, Henry - Tenerife
Henry that is so good to know that people without boats enjoy my channel - thank you.. Glad Spain is coming out of the covid problem - I still have an apartment in Marbella that I have not seen in a year! Thank you for posting
Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar. I so enjoyed your animated recollection of your journey. As you well know, many of these incidents don't turn out well, but you handled them in such a non-threatening way I'm sure they almost felt sorry you had fallen into their trap. There are so few great adventures left that are worth the risk like the old days of discovery. Our time is fading away. Cheers and safe passage. Doc
Doc hi, I am not sure they felt sorry for me rather pleased I did not obstruct them in purloining my stuff. Glad you enjoyed the video - thank you for watching
Really really great-propeller-story (and coincidence) which shaped a life-long friendship. Great piece, loved it. Anyway sailing off the coast of Yemen has my ultimate Respect.
Wow Really enjoyed that You're very fortunate to get your equipment back I'm ex royal fleet auxiliary and worked around that area its very dangerous Thanks again Michael
@@SailingGently I have been watching your other adventures. Truely fascinating to me. Darwin Harbour is the extent of my being on the ocean. What a wonderful life you lead. I have met a few sailors over here and have enjoyed their stories of being on the open sea. One Gentleman had sailed here from Spain. He came to my work and we got talking. It turned out my father, worked for his Grandfather for many years in Sydney as an engineer. Hopefully if you ever venture this way again, I will get to meet you. Safe travels.
Hi Karen, I really enjoyed visiting Darwin and if that's where you live I quite envy you.. Lovely town and the Marina well organised and run... Yes it's strange what a small world it is really... and the sailing world is even smaller - a sort of sub culture if you like - you should try it - I'm sure there is a sailing club in Darwin - it's so much fun
Great story Sir. Thank you for sharing it with us. I am glad you got out of there safe and wish you will never encounter such an attack in the future. Bon vent!
your awesome friend, great story.......im globe trotter myself.....once i was in an accident n spent 9mo in hospitals in cambodia n vietnam, these stories r the spice of life,........glad ur safe
@@emilio2647 Yes Emilio on my way back from the USA to the Caribbean I crossed from Biscayne Bay - Florida into the Bahamas and cruised there for a while before heading for Turks and Chacos then Dominican Republic.. Bahamas are the natural cruising ground - holiday resort for Americans - Quite expensive but beautiful!
Interesting and intriguing story Michael. Spent 33 years at sea, mainly on submarines, and then a further 35 years in the ME (in areas that you certainly wouldn’t want to go on holiday). Have been involved in similar situations on land but although frightening at the time, taking a similar sensible approach to yourself and not offering resistance always ensured that I lived to tell the story and could put it down to experience. Ironically, the Mr Big’ often sell the ill gotten gains to feed their starving villagers.
Thank you John - I am pleased that someone with your experience endorses what how we behaved in Bambola - not fighting back is actually the right thing unless you have overwhelming fire power - but yes these are poverty stricken countries and just getting a meal or even water is a major daily challenge for their inhabitants.
What a story and so well told Michael. If you think you'll be around the fastnet area this year please let us know. We'd have to get you a beer after that story!!!!
Michael - you had me on the edge of my seat all through the video - you managed the situation very professionally and calmly - I’m not sure if I could have, thank you for the video - Regards
Glad you enjoyed it David.. I am sure you would have done much the same - and sailing teaches you to 'go with the flow' and not panic - I was not really proactive at all - just tried to please!
Michael, thanks for the fascinating video. I'm sure you could turn out a book at bedtime out of all your videos. Lots of readers would love it. Sailors and non.
@@SailingGently I am really thankful that you take the time and do this. It's both educational and entertaining. A real gold mine of information. I've sailed for more than forty years, but only in Denmark and a bit in Sweden and the North sea, so this is very interesting to me. I've always wondered how I would like longer passages and crossings. Could you do a video on that - I mean trying to give insight in how it is to go from just sailing up to 100 miles and then on to longer passages on oceans?
Orlov I feel flattered that you are enjoying my channel - thank you. Blue water cruising is really not that difficult and with all the electronics available it makes the navigation part of it so simple... I also think it's harder up north where you are - tough sailing conditions - once you get south into warmer waters long night watches are a thing of pleasure rather than the agony of keeping warm - and the nights are shorter!
@@SailingGently makes perfect sense, it's probably more about the mental part of it. Setting out on a journey where you have to deal with it for like 2 weeks before you get ashore again. I would think that when you make a passage of lets say the atlantic in the trades, you are commited from the start. No turning around against the wind? Oh well, probably me just overthinking things :)
@@orlovsskibet That is a bit true - in the trades it is hard to turn round except for some pressing reason but also I think it's to do with getting over the first time - Once you have done it once the next time is a million times easier
Wow! What an adventure that trip turned out to be! I'm with you " Give them ALL of the $600" I enjoyed this so much and yeas, you are a great story teller. I was on the edge of my seat. I SUBSCRIBED!!! Fairwinds and God bless
As I sit under an apple tree in my backyard in Victoria B.C , on a hot July (25th) afternoon listening to this adventure being described by you I find myself swept away by this story. Marvelous description ; once again . I am really enjoying your channel Michael. Well done mate. John.
Michael, first apologies, but I have only just got round to watching this since you advised me to, in fact they were the last words you said to me on that Sunday, back at Utopia in July '22! Edge of the seat storytelling! I loved it, 'cos it was real! So glad none of you were hurt. So much for 'sailing gently', ha-ha!
What a tale ! It was gripping from start to finish. I can only imagine how your heart must of sunk at the sight of that black rib in Djibouti 😰 Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Michael for an entertaining and illuminating story. I was on the edge of my seat. I am now a fan and look forward to looking over your Channel and website. If only Sir Peter Blake had followed your example perhaps he would still be alive. And thanks also for Dixon of Dock Green, Dr Who, Blake's 7 and of course who could forget that Sunday night compulsive cheesefest sailing drama Howards' Way!
Glad you enjoyed it - and I hope you find other 'goodies' on my channel - and thank you for researching my TV work - that was even more fun than sailing!
your story telling is really inviting to go on sailing. you tell it how it is - no overly frightening stories. i hope you i will go along that route one time after i finished my diy boat. would you recommend the route along the red sea towardss the mediterranean, these days?
Glad you enjoyed it Graham - I got my first 8mm camera when I was 13 and so long as the subject does not move too much I can normally keep them in frame!
Wow, the first Captain who actually runs a You Tube Channel! Hey, just ran into your video and watched the entire thing, unreal and glad your all safe.
G'Day Michael, Nice to re-live our little adventure together in the Gulf of Aden. I made that radio call interrupting your description of your attack on the 'Net' and describing our developing attack on that day. Our salvation came in the form of a P3 Orion, French I believe that circled us for about an hour and diverted to find the attackers. Our attackers were in old ship's lifeboats packed with refugees from Somalia seeking to escape to Yemen ! The people smuggling was the business and the yacht attacks seemed to be 'cream' for the crews. I reviewed all yacht attacks in that area at that time and all had similar experiences even occurring on the same day of the week. Your account was well told. Good to see you surviving well. Greetings from Melbourne Australia.
Hi Penyllanpete! wonderful to hear from you and clearly you made it all the way around. Congratulations, Its a great experience isn't it!!! Yes I always suspected it was more people smuggling than mainstream piracy.. Thanks for confirming! I was pretty shocked when I heard your shout on the SSB and had big problems relaying message to the German warship with me in Djibouti but when I did I think they alerted the French who´s base and country it is... Or maybe it was your Mayday... Good times and we all got away without loss of life or injury.. Still currently sailing hence delay in responding Michael
Michael, What a riveting account of your unpleasant experience of piracy. I can see how you were a TV director: you have a great gift for telling a story. Thank you for a very enjoyable hour of listening. We seldom think about how very exposed we are to aggression and attack in our little floating beloveds, we are easy-looking pickings to the many very poor people who live in the exotic parts of the world we love to visit. It's a wonder really and a testament to basic universal human decency that this sort of tale is not a lot more common. I very much look forward to your next posting. Best wishes, Brian
Thank you Brian - I am very pleased you enjoyed the video - your right world wide there is remarkably little piracy although much goes unreported - Haiti is not a safe place for a cruising boat either and there is a lot of petty theft in the Caribbean - but for the most part it's a pretty safe way of seeing the world
I enjoyed your story sir. I'm not a sailor, and rather randomly stumbled on this channel... probably won't stick around, but loved the story. Thank you.
Welcome aboard! I think most humans have a genetic love or interest in the sea and boats... Maybe it will grow on you - lots of fun interspersed by moments of fear - with or without Pirates!
Thanks for sharing your experience Michael. Must have been quite stressful at the time. I was a victim of an armed robbery years ago and found it affected me for quite some time afterwards. You of course did the right thing and put your lives before your possessions. We are soon to be setting off around the world, hopefully ending up in New Zealand. We will be heading westwards so won’t be venturing anywhere near that part of the world. I imagine that the situation has not improved since your episode.
Paul hello, really sorry to hear about your armed robbery - must have been awful. I think the trick is just to give the aggressors everything they want although it goes against the grain.. Life is too short to worry about possessions. Really envy you your trip to New Zealand - crossing the south Pacific is the most wonderful voyage in the world - such beautiful countries - islands - it will be a superb experience for you. fair winds and safe landfalls Michael
To be honest Michael, at the time it was just another hiccup in my day. It wasn’t till afterwards, when you find yourself contemplating all the ‘what ifs’ that it begins to affect your day to day decision making. Still, all water under the bridge now. I must admit, the South Pacific is certainly the place I am most looking forwards to. It’s a shame Europe has become such a thorny issue for U.K. visitors. We are even contemplating missing it out altogether. I have consumed most of the information you have shared regarding visiting there, and although it seems achievable I’m still not sure if it is worth the extra aggravation. Either way, we aren’t going anywhere until the health crisis is resolved, so plenty of time to mull it over. All the best Paul
@@paulnicholls2921 I must admit that the Med is all a bit the same - Portugal, France, Italy Sardinia - a few gems like Sicily Malta and Turkey - The Greek islands OK but a bit overrated in my opinion - Historically some good places to visit and when I lived in Spain with my boat in Gibraltar it was fun - fairly undemanding cruising... I really enjoyed the Caribbean from Trinidad to the Bahamas including Dominican Republic and Cuba and what was a superb experience was going up the Intracostal waterway as far as Washington DC - superb way to se the US of A - I made this video of it ruclips.net/video/cNhZ1hnp-3c/видео.html
You are right, there are some sites of historical interest that I’d like to see, Malta being a good example. We also have a few friends dotted around, France and Greece are on the list for that reason. But certainly, the other side of the pond is very alluring by comparison. I’ll have a look at your intracoastal episode later. Krissy has a hankering to have a picture of our boat anchored off the Statue of Liberty, so definitely worth a look. Thanks again Paul
Hello Micheal, great to come accross again and hear your great story telling. We met in Marsa Wasi. I was on Warren's Mustang Sally till then and after I skippered Pollux first leg to Cyprus. Great to hear again about that unforgettable Red Sea adventure, we too were chased by a small craft in the same area in the gulf of Aden but thanks to Mustang Sally performance we managed to keep a safe distance and slowly sail and motor away. Are you going to tell the story of Ewan his partner and Pollux? It would be great, that was another very touching experience during that amazing voyage Phuket to Cyprus. In some of the pictures in your video I saw Pollux next to Bambola. It gave me a jolt. That is the first time I saw her since I have left her Cyprus. I will never forget that upwind voyage.
Giovanni it is wonderful to hear from you. I do indeed remember that we met in Marsa Wasi all those years ago in such sad circumstances that you skippered Pollux to Cyprus - It was all a wonderful example of the cruising community coming together... There is a real dilemma about using somewhat tragic stories on social media as real 'living' humans are alive and my be impacted. Because of this I tried to contact Liza to seek her permission and my emails arrived with her mum and I learned that Liza and Ewan's son were alive and well and happy. Liza's mum is writing a book about the events and the ' English family issues' are still not exactly resolved. I never got a reply from Liza except via her mum and whilst she did not ask me 'not to tell' the story, I can see with a new family and Ewan's son in his late teens she might not want it all over social media - I am pretty sure it would go viral - well be widely viewed. It seems to me that I should not intrude on a mature family by publishing in video form a sad story and I am content to wait until her mum's book comes out and then perhaps re- consider. Apart from that and the pirate attack the passage from Phuket to the Med was certainly a wonderful experience which I would not have missed for words. So pleased you got back in touch - so grateful to you for taking Pollux to Cyprus Fair winds Michael
@@SailingGently Great to hear from you. I understand your concern regarding publishing Liza story, it is indeed a very personal and sad story. Yet it is quite extraordinary and as such it should be told. I hope her mother will publish the book soon and cement the memories for all of us that were there and got involved. My concern is that her mother wasn't there so I doubt that she will be able to reconstruct the story accurately. You or any of us that were there could provide many very valuable details that would greatly enrich the story and make it a must read for any sailor or people that is thinking of going sailing. I will send the link of your site to Warren of Mustan Sally he will be pleased to have Red Sea flash backs. Unfortunately we lost one of the Marsa Wasi sailors. Stuart of Essence perished during the sinking of Essence in a storm in November 2019. Pamela, his wife survived. Stuart did half the voyage to Cyprus with me on Pollux. Great guy
Giovanni - that is so sad about Stuart - My email is michael@michaelbriant.com and would love to hear from others on that Red Sea passage year I hear what you say about her mother and even Liza knows little of the Pollux part of the story as I put Liza into a Toyoto Land Cruiser to Sudan, paid for by the cruising boats, with the wife of another cruising boat... I am awful at names! The thing to remember is Lisa went home eventually and had Ewan's child and naturally eventually formed another relationship which resulted in marriage and more children. My problem is what advantage would it give that family if I tell the story against their will? It might make life harder for Ewan's son to have it all over social media - and not help him... I have no idea of what it must have been like being a single mum with the child rejected by it's English Grandfather... Appears to have behaved very badly.. Social media is a part of the entertainment industry - I certainly spend the occasional evening just watching RUclips and I enjoy making the video's for my channel, but it is not nearly as important as the private lives of people who are victims and could be disruptive...
@@SailingGently Yes, social media is part of the entertaining industry and comes with a lot of strings attached. You assesment is correct and Liza should have a say. I hope that you can get to reach her and sort out a way to tell the story. Maybe that lady that went with her may help, she may have kept in touch. Liza probably wanted to erase the memory of that awful time and likely does not even recall most of us there or realize the great efforts that went into helping her out. It would be a kind gesture on her part to acknowledge and facilitate our desire to tell the story. It is a sad one but with a great silver lining. I have sent the link to Warren. He used to write the log book and will probably have more details of boats and people that came to help in Marsa Wasi.
An outstanding account of a terrifying experience that could have had dire consequences for yourself and crew. Most people would have crumbled or retaliated and the outcome could have quite been very different. I suspect your account was rather understated, either way the outcome was a good one, you all survived without injury and your responsibility as the skipper was fully vindicated.
Evano so pleased you enjoyed the video - I think my training as a TV director helped. Dealing sensibly with problems and keeping your head as your plans crumble are part of television production and also transfer to the real world! Thank you for watching
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
If I was crewing on a long passage I can think of no other person who would make such excellent company than Michael. Thank you Michael for being such an important authority on sailing the world. You are a very kind and irreplaceable person.
Thank you for watching and enjoying the video - Thank you for the kind words... Don't know what to say but I am glad my stories bring pleasure to others
@@SailingGently Thank you!
As a Yank myself, I was proud to hear that one of our vessels was able to come to your aid. So glad you all made it through safely. I subscribed and look forward to hearing more stories of your adventures. I wish you fair winds and following seas, my friend!
Melissa I am a great admirer of the USA navy and very grateful to them. Really pleased you have subscribed - thank you - and there are other stories on my channel if you browse it... Fair winds,
Michael
@@SailingGently , Timelapse, 5-10 days 🧟♂️🦠🍖🔴... (inside your stomach) ruclips.net/video/KtK3KgSMHe4/видео.html .. ruclips.net/video/oziwBALKCEQ/видео.html 🤮 NO fibre !!! Stays in your body and rots away 🤮🤮🤮🤮.....
That’s why I’m vegan, lots of fibre if you eat plants and fruit and nuts and berries and tubers and lentils beans et cetera. PH 7, no smell.
Which side of history are you on, Jeeffrey Dahmer 👓😩🦠🍖🔴... Or veganism ✅❤️💪😬😉 ??. You don’t hurt your cute little dog 😍🤗🐶🤥🤥🤥.....
Heart attack pictures, fatty foods is animaIs cIogged arteries, hard arteries, PH 5, no fibre🧟♂️🦠🍔🥓🥩🍗🍳🧀... 🤮. Vegans don’t stink. PH 7 , plants have fibre ✅😉, vegans are peaceful, Peer review science. Actual pictures of the heart. ruclips.net/video/15wgYsToORM/видео.html !!! ruclips.net/video/pFPFnhfuLrE/видео.html Vegans don’t have this problem because that is the animals. Vegans don’t get clogged arteries, 4% cancer if you’re vegan. Meat based diet 51% death rate. That is extremely high for a frigging burger etc. Gorillas in the wild, have 1 percent cancer. And they never ever eat animals !!! Peer review science !!!!
RUclips delicious vegan food. Time to change ✅❤️😉
@@SailingGently , gallstones is animals. Peer review science actual pictures 😲 ruclips.net/video/t-bgmubOUfI/видео.html
Sailing Gently you great adventurer, and your video proofs me right, that to be (alive) and healthy is more important than to be a millionaer. Imagine you are multi Millionaer making a sail around the world, and then getting robbed and injured or killed by pirates. So in my point of view, to be and to stay healthy is one of my most important aims in life.
Great story, thanks for sharing.
Darren I am really pleased you enjoyed it - thank you for watching
I have not watched the video yet but it reminded me of a chat I had with the really interesting owner of "Chartist Lady" in Cherbourgh. He suffered from bouts of depression & was considered a weird loaner in his club. He nicked his father's boat & went off . The boat was a mess & was dis masted etc . When he returned to Holland after circumnavigating the world, he was hailed a hero by his sailing club & wrote books. On his trip he was attacked by pirates. They came aboard, saw the state of the boat & realised he had nothing. As a result they were very friendly laughing & chatting. Waved him on his way & went to the next boat in the convoy & robbed them instead.
Graham hi,
Sounds like a great story and adventure for 'Chartist Lady' and yes being poor is a great leveler - I knew a Irish guy in a tiny wood boat who was fed by fishermen in Morocco and Libya even. He was a hod carrier and had taught himself to navigate and lived in this tiny leaky wood boat in which he had to keep the charts permanently in transparent plastic bag because of the deck leaks.
Nice thing about sailing is that the challenges are the same for rich and poor alike
Thank you for sharing your experience. Glad you came out of it safe. A gripping story and the fender recount was a gem and a mark of seamanship.
Glad you enjoyed it Joseph - Thank you for watching
So glad that you and your crew are OK! Quite a riveting story like edge of your seat story. Well done.
Thank you... So pleased you enjoyed it - It was exciting at the time
Having sailed through those waters myself as a maritime security officer, thoroughly enjoyed listening to your experience, must have been very worrying for you. You did a great job, well done.
Mike hi,
Thank you for watching and for your comments. It actually was not as scary as it might appear. Basically they just wanted to rob me not kill me, as my feeling....
musta been great for you, Mike - cuz it was compelling even for
amateurs, novices, un sea worthy people.
@@davereynolds7472 I just didn't think their objective was to kill people - it was to rob them. Violently if resisted...
Wow - thank you for sharing such a gripping and detailed chronical of this true sailing story from a great sailor and narrator!
Thank you Stuart. I am so pleased you enjoyed the video!
Michael you are a very good storyteller, so entertaining, thank you.
I have worked extensively in the Middle East and Africa, fortunately never been attacked by pirates but been in some pretty sticky and serious situations, so have a great deal of empathy with the predicament you found yourself in.
Thank you for nearly an hours worth of your very engaging story.
Russ hi,
Yes those of us in dodgy places learn to be pragmatic about robbery and know that it's better to give than to receive! I have only visited the Middle East and Africa relatively briefly and admire people like you who spend extended time periods there.
very pleased you liked the video - thank you
@@SailingGently Although this could have happened to anyone where you were, there is no one anywhere who could have told it better.
(no response needed.)
Lovely story-telling. Brilliant.
Thank you David - Glad you liked it
Thank you for the story. Your a natural at story telling. Reading of your adventures is a good way to pass away the time in my "sunset years" God Bless!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the kind words
.
Delighted you are here to tell the story and how well you tell it. Life is cheap out there, something we take for granted.
Thank you John. I am just glad it worked out with only loss of 'stuff'
Fantastic story and riveting to listen to. You certainly did the right thing and just handed over whatever the pirates wanted. It’s not worth risking your or you crews life for equipment that can be easily replaced.
So pleased you enjoyed the video - indeed violence in retaliation is never worth while unless you are 100% certain of victory!
I have no idea how i came across this, i know nothing about sailing. I was actually looking for mike tyson videos. Your an excellent story teller, i will watch more. Cheers
Welcome aboard Dan... So pleased you found my channel. Thank you for watching
Absolutely engrossing recollection, which held my attention for the whole hour.
Glad I subscribed to your channel, Michael.
Looking forward to hearing more from you.
Thank you for subscribing Ian - so pleased it entertained you
Absolutely - and such a nice man! Strong!
@@baconbacon3967 Thank you for the kind words ....
Great account of what must have been a scary situation. Just shows how quick thinking can save the day. Andy UK
Andy hi,
the only quick thinking was to call an abbreviated MayDay and I was lucky the warship was so close, but equally I do not think they intended violence towards us, rather just anything of value...
Yes,quick thinking as in not grabbing the AK
Fantastic story, thank you and well done for sharing. "It's the Yank!" Brilliant.
Glad you enjoyed it - God bless America!
Enjoyed listening to your adventure. Stay safe. Best wishes!
Thanks so much Dee... Really pleased you are enjoying the videos.
Our favourite raconteur .
We have missed you.
David thank you - Glad you enjoyed it!
I enjoy your video very much and you are a great story teller.
Thank you so much Tizia - glad you enjoyed it
Glad your safe! Thank you for sharing your story! Happy sailing adventures and stay safe!
Thank you! Will do Myk - Looking forward to the freedom to sail again
Brilliant story Riveting
Very well told
Thanks a lot Marc. Glad you enjoyed it
What an amazing story, it could totally be a film! Love these stories Michael 😃
Thanks so much! Almost like a Dr Who adventure
@@SailingGently Doctor Who and the Pirates of Doom, I can see it now 😄 the pirates pull of their facemask to reveal: SEA DEVILS!
Pity, the first instincts a gentleman has is concern for others, when faced with predators like this.
How very civilized, you are to be commended, glad you made it. Great story
So pleased you enjoyed the video - thank you for watching
Amazing adventure , really enjoyed listening to your journey.
Really pleased you enjoyed the video - thank you
This is great content. Very informative, as well as great storytelling. Wondering how you balanced time between filming projects and sailing adventures? Is there any method to that, or just get out and go when you have the chance?
Glad you enjoyed it Donald - When I go sailing I almost always have a camera or two with me... The actual sailing is the priority until I get into port or drop the hook . I have been making a series of videos called sailing into Cherborg/Dieppe/St Valery en Caux/Fecamp and I went to all those places with the intention of making a vides about them - sort of backbone of the channel
@@SailingGently Oh yeah, I've only recently discovered your channel so I've got a good amount of material still to go through. Thanks for the recommendations!
Thank you for your channel.Your first hand experience is narrated with class.
So nice of you Gary. Thank you for watching
Really good story, very captivating. How did you manage to take pictures and keep them from taking the camera.
I didn't Henrik... All the pictures are library/Stock shots - I did put a sign saying that somewhere - I just searched for copyright free pictures to illustrate the video along with my own bits of video about Bambola and the charts I generated myself.
@@SailingGently ah yes I noticed but forgot. Just thinking risky busines with a hidden cam. You wore brave and did all the right things :-)
@@henrikkromannknudsen2701 Henrik being a born coward with a strong survival instinct helps!
What year did this happen
@@wesleyregan3898 2003
I’ve watched many of your videos -
I don’t even have a boat yet - this was a gripping story - glued to it - thank you for sharing this experience !
Glad you enjoyed it ,Grant. I promise it does not happen every time you go sailing!
Wow you handled it very well. Thank God y’all made it out alive 🇺🇸👍🙏
Yes, thank you - we were certainly very lucky
What a gripping story! Was so engrossed I couldn’t put the iPad down and nearly missed the shops before they closed here in Switzerland for the weekend. Went for a swim in the lake to cool down and then it was back home and to RUclips to hear the end of the tale. You are a natural story teller and thoroughly entertaining! Thank-you and Subscribed!
Michael thank you for that very complimentary post and I am so glad you enjoyed the video enough to come back and finish it plus I am grateful to you for subscribing - it really helps
Michael
Good thing you called Mayday! Good for the Yankees!!
Denise hi, Yes and not in the way the RYA teaches! Important to get your position out there fast - God bless America!
Normally you can call mayday till blue in the face
❤️🇺🇸❤️🇺🇸
Hey Michael. What daunting and jet fascinating story. You are one extremely good story teller. Really enjoying your videos. I to sail and live n my Moody 36 cc from 1980 S/Y ZENSEB and I love her and the way she preform. Best regards Soren from Denmark.
Soren hello,
So pleased you enjoyed it and on having a Moody cc 36 - I will always think she was one the best boats I have ever owned.. But there are some brilliant Scandinavian boats around as well
@@SailingGently Hey Michael. Thank's for your reply. Yes especially Swedish boats but they are extremly expensive. They do though seems to hold there value well. I bought my Moody 6 year ago i germany, and have done a complet refit over the last 4 years and find it's half the price instead of buying a 5-10 year old Halberg Rassy 36-38. If I may ask.. What's the weak points on the 36 cc? if any. And thanks for sharring your knowledge and adventures with us. Soren
@@srenoster728 Soren hi,
How interesting - thank you. The only two major things I did to Bambola was to change the roller boom reefing to slab and install a couple of granny bar either side of the mast to make the reefing safe.. Put a Bimini on her which I suspect you would not need! I have never met a Moody 36 owner who did not love his boat...
@@SailingGently Hey Michael. The granny bars is a great idea which I also want to ad. Did not know it had a roller boom. I have a 6 year old Selden mast where the main sail slide outside on ball bearings which I think is the best and safest way to reef your main or get it down. I am though think of taking her to the med when this covid is over, so I have a combined bimini and tent from Kapell in sweden. But I really like your videos sitting her in DK in the rain waiting them from the beginning. Great stuff. Actually considering making my own youtube channel with all the DIY I have done to the boat and my sailing trips. Cheers.. Soren
@@srenoster728 The Med is a great cruising area - but can be expensive.. Your bimini sounds good...
Great story telling, thankfully my armchair does not go in that direction!
Exactly keep to non pirate waters is probably very wise! So pleased you enjoyed the video
It's a real pleasure to hear your stories!
Paolo thank you - so pleased you enjoyed the video
Since it was foggy, did they use radar to find you, and did you have radar to see them ? I think those bastards would have killed you for a dime. Evil for sure, who knows how many sailors they killed previously ...... I think you were fortunate.
To bad the warships aren’t sinking them on sight.
Thank you for the story and the details.
Les hi,
I suspect they heard our VHF transmissions and before dawn our nav lights would have shown - I would have run without lights but Ulf needed to see me and vv.
I am loath to run radar when sailing because of battery drain - but no I am pretty certain they did not have radar but I think they did have VHF and European boats in the Gulf are heading to or from the Red Sea for sure so that narrows their search area.
Yes we were lucky - fortune favors the brave or something..
Really pleased you liked the video - thank you
What a story ... Well told.
Thank you Peter - glad you enjoyed it
@@PeteThecurious100 That's flattering - so pleased its worth a 2nd view - thank you
Fantastic and scary adventure. Glad you are alive to tell about it.
Us too Daniel! Really pleased you enjoyed it
That was really fun to listen to. And I definitely look forward to listening to more like it. And I absolutely had to subscribe after you were so blase about it not really mattering it's all in good fun. Absolutely fantastic
Glad you enjoyed it Joshua - Thank you for subscribing - I am grateful
from one sailor to another a big cheers to your story, listened to it while cleaning the bilge today. pretty scary stuff and glad you made it out unharmed. toasting this evenings rum in your honor, thank you for the wonderful yarn!
Thank you Trevor - really pleased you enjoyed it - I hope to be out in Martinique by the end of the year in Golden Haze - love to shoot the breeze over a rum or two
@@SailingGently that would be great, the agricole rum down here is out of this world! I'll maintain a sharp lookout for ya!
Brilliant storytelling! Thank you.
Thank you Roger... Glad you enjoyed it
Nothing cowardly at all about what you did, you kept yourself And crew alive. That’s what a real captain does. You kept your cool when others would have buckled. Bravo sir
Seymore thank you for the kind words and indeed for watching the film...
Beautiful and riveting story. Very colorful, I feel like I was there. Thanks,Tom
Glad you enjoyed it Tom... Thank you for watching
Really enjoyed the story.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for watching
Fascinating story! So glad to learn that it all turned out well with everyone safe. Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it Tara - Yes I think happy endings are important - hated doom and gloom
I could spend an awful lot of time listening to your stories. I’ve never sailed, yet have nearly exhausted your current library ... Keep the videos coming & thank you for the entertainment, Regards, Henry - Tenerife
Henry that is so good to know that people without boats enjoy my channel - thank you.. Glad Spain is coming out of the covid problem - I still have an apartment in Marbella that I have not seen in a year! Thank you for posting
Another great story by a great story teller
Thankyou Richard! Glad you enjoyed it
Sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar. I so enjoyed your animated recollection of your journey. As you well know, many of these incidents don't turn out well, but you handled them in such a non-threatening way I'm sure they almost felt sorry you had fallen into their trap. There are so few great adventures left that are worth the risk like the old days of discovery. Our time is fading away. Cheers and safe passage. Doc
Doc hi,
I am not sure they felt sorry for me rather pleased I did not obstruct them in purloining my stuff. Glad you enjoyed the video - thank you for watching
Amazing story telling. Thanks for your time recounting this.
Glad you enjoyed it Philip. Thank you for watching
Really really great-propeller-story (and coincidence) which shaped
a life-long friendship. Great piece, loved it. Anyway sailing off the coast
of Yemen has my ultimate Respect.
Your right Dave - the chances of us both having the same propeller and my having just changed mine... Amazing!
Wow Really enjoyed that
You're very fortunate to get your equipment back
I'm ex royal fleet auxiliary and worked around that area its very dangerous
Thanks again Michael
Hi Davy,
Trouble is it's the most sensible route back to Europe. Royal Fleet Auxiliary must have been really interesting
Quite an experience. Glad that no one was injured. ⛵
It certainly was - we were lucky I think to get away unharmed... Thank you for watching
Excellent ,I’ll be waiting for more stories. You brits tell great stories. Thx
Edward thank you.. So pleased you enjoyed it!
Terrifying story, wonderfully told. I am going to look for more from you. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it Karen - There are other adventures on the channel already
@@SailingGently I have been watching your other adventures. Truely fascinating to me. Darwin Harbour is the extent of my being on the ocean. What a wonderful life you lead. I have met a few sailors over here and have enjoyed their stories of being on the open sea. One Gentleman had sailed here from Spain. He came to my work and we got talking. It turned out my father, worked for his Grandfather for many years in Sydney as an engineer. Hopefully if you ever venture this way again, I will get to meet you. Safe travels.
Hi Karen, I really enjoyed visiting Darwin and if that's where you live I quite envy you.. Lovely town and the Marina well organised and run... Yes it's strange what a small world it is really... and the sailing world is even smaller - a sort of sub culture if you like - you should try it - I'm sure there is a sailing club in Darwin - it's so much fun
Fascinating account of you and your crew's experience. Very informative and enjoyable. Thank you :)
Glad you enjoyed it Pennie - thank you for watching
What a story, glad you survived it to tell the tale
Thank you for watching - glad you found it interesting
I loved your story , you can tell me pirate stories all day . Thank you and glad your safe
Thank you, Lydia - I will - you too
Great story Sir.
Thank you for sharing it with us.
I am glad you got out of there safe and wish you will never encounter such an attack in the future.
Bon vent!
Yves merci,
so pleased you enjoyed the video. I must admit I would think twice about going there again - Thank you for watching
your awesome friend, great story.......im globe trotter myself.....once i was in an accident n spent 9mo in hospitals in cambodia n vietnam, these stories r the spice of life,........glad ur safe
Thank you Andrew - glad it brought back memories - of adventurous times
Great storytelling, cant wait to hear more about your adventures!
Thank you - so pleased you found it interesting - entertaining - the biggest compliment possible
@@SailingGently I just started watching your videos lately but have you ever sailed to the Bahamas?
@@emilio2647 Yes Emilio on my way back from the USA to the Caribbean I crossed from Biscayne Bay - Florida into the Bahamas and cruised there for a while before heading for Turks and Chacos then Dominican Republic.. Bahamas are the natural cruising ground - holiday resort for Americans - Quite expensive but beautiful!
Interesting and intriguing story Michael. Spent 33 years at sea, mainly on submarines, and then a further 35 years in the ME (in areas that you certainly wouldn’t want to go on holiday). Have been involved in similar situations on land but although frightening at the time, taking a similar sensible approach to yourself and not offering resistance always ensured that I lived to tell the story and could put it down to experience. Ironically, the Mr Big’ often sell the ill gotten gains to feed their starving villagers.
Thank you John - I am pleased that someone with your experience endorses what how we behaved in Bambola - not fighting back is actually the right thing unless you have overwhelming fire power - but yes these are poverty stricken countries and just getting a meal or even water is a major daily challenge for their inhabitants.
What a story! Awesome and scary experience man
Glad you enjoyed it Nicolas - It certainly had its moments
Excellent story teller
Thanks for listening Peter
Awesome story and compelling story telling, thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it Donald - thank you for watching
What a story and so well told Michael. If you think you'll be around the fastnet area this year please let us know. We'd have to get you a beer after that story!!!!
Will take you up on that one day Finbarr
Michael - you had me on the edge of my seat all through the video - you managed the situation very professionally and calmly - I’m not sure if I could have, thank you for the video - Regards
Glad you enjoyed it David.. I am sure you would have done much the same - and sailing teaches you to 'go with the flow' and not panic - I was not really proactive at all - just tried to please!
Michael, thanks for the fascinating video. I'm sure you could turn out a book at bedtime out of all your videos. Lots of readers would love it. Sailors and non.
@@marygarrapa3537 Mary thank you... I am so pleased you enjoy them
I'm loving this..... I'm not a seaman, but SALTY comes to mind. This dude sounds WAY COOL, I could listen to him all day.
Brent I am so pleased you are enjoying the channel - thank you for watching
Great story teller. Thank You for Sharing
Glad you enjoyed it - Thank you for watching
Very interesting and thrilled for a few minutes...rly amazing piece of story and teller is more than the latter...love from Darjeeling, India
Glad you enjoyed it Dushyanta - I only got as close a Sri Lanka but enjoyed your part of the world a lot...
Fantastic videos, I love to hear your stories.
Glad you like them! Thank you for watching
@@SailingGently I am really thankful that you take the time and do this. It's both educational and entertaining.
A real gold mine of information. I've sailed for more than forty years, but only in Denmark and a bit in Sweden and the North sea, so this is very interesting to me. I've always wondered how I would like longer passages and crossings. Could you do a video on that - I mean trying to give insight in how it is to go from just sailing up to 100 miles and then on to longer passages on oceans?
Orlov I feel flattered that you are enjoying my channel - thank you. Blue water cruising is really not that difficult and with all the electronics available it makes the navigation part of it so simple... I also think it's harder up north where you are - tough sailing conditions - once you get south into warmer waters long night watches are a thing of pleasure rather than the agony of keeping warm - and the nights are shorter!
@@SailingGently makes perfect sense, it's probably more about the mental part of it. Setting out on a journey where you have to deal with it for like 2 weeks before you get ashore again. I would think that when you make a passage of lets say the atlantic in the trades, you are commited from the start. No turning around against the wind? Oh well, probably me just overthinking things :)
@@orlovsskibet That is a bit true - in the trades it is hard to turn round except for some pressing reason but also I think it's to do with getting over the first time - Once you have done it once the next time is a million times easier
Brilliant yarn which had me gripped from start to finish. Thanks for sharing it!
You’re welcome Fred - really pleased you enjoyed viewing it
Wow! What an adventure that trip turned out to be! I'm with you " Give them ALL of the $600" I enjoyed this so much and yeas, you are a great story teller. I was on the edge of my seat. I SUBSCRIBED!!!
Fairwinds and God bless
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for watching and for subscribing - really makes a difference
Great story well told. Glad you made it.
Subscribed!
thank you for subscribing Gunny - So pleased you enjoyed the video
As I sit under an apple tree in my backyard in Victoria B.C , on a hot July (25th) afternoon listening to this adventure being described by you I find myself swept away by this story. Marvelous description ; once again . I am really enjoying your channel Michael. Well done mate. John.
Sounds like you have a lovely lifestyle John - so pleased you enjoyed the story and like the channel
Wow. What a story!
So pleased you enjoyed it Mark
Well done. Great story and glad you made all the right moves. That could have ended much differently.
Thanks Mark. and thank you for watching
Thank you for the fascinating story. Exceptionally well told. So glad that you are all ok and were able to continue on safely!
Thank you for watching it. I am so pleased you enjoyed it.
Michael, first apologies, but I have only just got round to watching this since you advised me to, in fact they were the last words you said to me on that Sunday, back at Utopia in July '22! Edge of the seat storytelling! I loved it, 'cos it was real! So glad none of you were hurt. So much for 'sailing gently', ha-ha!
Really glad you enjoyed it Dino... Thank you for watching
I loved listening to your story. I find your channel extreamly informative, thank you for putting together these videos
Thanks for watching! Really pleased you liked it!
@@SailingGently I find myself completely immersed into the stories you tell on the channel, absolutely amazing content.
@@HiPpYBoAtErS Thank you so much for posting - really pleased you like the channel
What a tale ! It was gripping from start to finish. I can only imagine how your heart must of sunk at the sight of that black rib in Djibouti 😰 Thanks for sharing.
John you are right - that was the one moment I lost my confidence - tiredness and stress I suppose - thank you for watching
Thanks Michael for an entertaining and illuminating story. I was on the edge of my seat. I am now a fan and look forward to looking over your Channel and website.
If only Sir Peter Blake had followed your example perhaps he would still be alive.
And thanks also for Dixon of Dock Green, Dr Who, Blake's 7 and of course who could forget that Sunday night compulsive cheesefest sailing drama Howards' Way!
Glad you enjoyed it - and I hope you find other 'goodies' on my channel - and thank you for researching my TV work - that was even more fun than sailing!
Thoroughly enjoyed that and glad it turned out sort of alright.
Thank you Stephen. Glad you enjoyed it...
your story telling is really inviting to go on sailing. you tell it how it is - no overly frightening stories. i hope you i will go along that route one time after i finished my diy boat. would you recommend the route along the red sea towardss the mediterranean, these days?
So pleased you enjoy the videos. Thank you for watching
Fantastic stuff Michael! Just a man and a camera, but utterly captivating. I could listen to you for hours. Thanks so much for sharing this tale.
Glad you enjoyed it Graham - I got my first 8mm camera when I was 13 and so long as the subject does not move too much I can normally keep them in frame!
Wow, the first Captain who actually runs a You Tube Channel! Hey, just ran into your video and watched the entire thing, unreal and glad your all safe.
Glad you enjoyed it Headbanger! Thank you for watching
A gripping - and instructive - sea story!
So pleased you enjoyed it!
G'Day Michael, Nice to re-live our little adventure together in the Gulf of Aden. I made that radio call interrupting your description of your attack on the 'Net' and describing our developing attack on that day. Our salvation came in the form of a P3 Orion, French I believe that circled us for about an hour and diverted to find the attackers. Our attackers were in old ship's lifeboats packed with refugees from Somalia seeking to escape to Yemen ! The people smuggling was the business and the yacht attacks seemed to be 'cream' for the crews. I reviewed all yacht attacks in that area at that time and all had similar experiences even occurring on the same day of the week. Your account was well told. Good to see you surviving well. Greetings from Melbourne Australia.
Hi Penyllanpete!
wonderful to hear from you and clearly you made it all the way around. Congratulations, Its a great experience isn't it!!!
Yes I always suspected it was more people smuggling than mainstream piracy.. Thanks for confirming!
I was pretty shocked when I heard your shout on the SSB and had big problems relaying message to the German warship with me in Djibouti but when I did I think they alerted the French who´s base and country it is... Or maybe it was your Mayday...
Good times and we all got away without loss of life or injury..
Still currently sailing hence delay in responding
Michael
Great story!
Thank you Abby for watching -
Michael,
What a riveting account of your unpleasant experience of piracy. I can see how you were a TV director: you have a great gift for telling a story. Thank you for a very enjoyable hour of listening. We seldom think about how very exposed we are to aggression and attack in our little floating beloveds, we are easy-looking pickings to the many very poor people who live in the exotic parts of the world we love to visit. It's a wonder really and a testament to basic universal human decency that this sort of tale is not a lot more common. I very much look forward to your next posting.
Best wishes,
Brian
Thank you Brian - I am very pleased you enjoyed the video - your right world wide there is remarkably little piracy although much goes unreported - Haiti is not a safe place for a cruising boat either and there is a lot of petty theft in the Caribbean - but for the most part it's a pretty safe way of seeing the world
What a wonderful and amazing story! Thanks form an italian guy that dreams to buy a sailing boat and going across the world.
So pleased you enjoyed the video and delighted it has not put you off sailing the world!
Fair winds
I enjoyed your story sir. I'm not a sailor, and rather randomly stumbled on this channel... probably won't stick around, but loved the story. Thank you.
Welcome aboard! I think most humans have a genetic love or interest in the sea and boats... Maybe it will grow on you - lots of fun interspersed by moments of fear - with or without Pirates!
Thanks for a fascinating tale. I cruised for two years. So sorry I gave it up. Fair weather.
Frank thank you for watching - Sorry you gave it up - the circumnavigation was a wonderful experience and not all bad....
Exceptional story!
Thank you JB - glad you enjoyed it
Thank You for sharing this amazing experience.
It's my pleasure Patrick - so pleased you enjoyed it
Like a great book or movie, it's over to quick.Incredible storytelling, adventure on the high sea!
I am so pleased you enjoyed it Terry. Thank you for watching
Great story!!! Thank you
Glad you enjoyed it Kylie - thank you for watching
Thanks for sharing your experience Michael. Must have been quite stressful at the time. I was a victim of an armed robbery years ago and found it affected me for quite some time afterwards. You of course did the right thing and put your lives before your possessions. We are soon to be setting off around the world, hopefully ending up in New Zealand. We will be heading westwards so won’t be venturing anywhere near that part of the world. I imagine that the situation has not improved since your episode.
Paul hello,
really sorry to hear about your armed robbery - must have been awful. I think the trick is just to give the aggressors everything they want although it goes against the grain.. Life is too short to worry about possessions.
Really envy you your trip to New Zealand - crossing the south Pacific is the most wonderful voyage in the world - such beautiful countries - islands - it will be a superb experience for you.
fair winds and safe landfalls
Michael
To be honest Michael, at the time it was just another hiccup in my day. It wasn’t till afterwards, when you find yourself contemplating all the ‘what ifs’ that it begins to affect your day to day decision making. Still, all water under the bridge now.
I must admit, the South Pacific is certainly the place I am most looking forwards to. It’s a shame Europe has become such a thorny issue for U.K. visitors. We are even contemplating missing it out altogether. I have consumed most of the information you have shared regarding visiting there, and although it seems achievable I’m still not sure if it is worth the extra aggravation.
Either way, we aren’t going anywhere until the health crisis is resolved, so plenty of time to mull it over.
All the best
Paul
@@paulnicholls2921 I must admit that the Med is all a bit the same - Portugal, France, Italy Sardinia - a few gems like Sicily Malta and Turkey - The Greek islands OK but a bit overrated in my opinion - Historically some good places to visit and when I lived in Spain with my boat in Gibraltar it was fun - fairly undemanding cruising... I really enjoyed the Caribbean from Trinidad to the Bahamas including Dominican Republic and Cuba and what was a superb experience was going up the Intracostal waterway as far as Washington DC - superb way to se the US of A - I made this video of it ruclips.net/video/cNhZ1hnp-3c/видео.html
You are right, there are some sites of historical interest that I’d like to see, Malta being a good example. We also have a few friends dotted around, France and Greece are on the list for that reason. But certainly, the other side of the pond is very alluring by comparison. I’ll have a look at your intracoastal episode later. Krissy has a hankering to have a picture of our boat anchored off the Statue of Liberty, so definitely worth a look.
Thanks again
Paul
@@paulnicholls2921 Yes - I wanted that picture as well but only got as far as Washington DC..
Hello Micheal, great to come accross again and hear your great story telling. We met in Marsa Wasi. I was on Warren's Mustang Sally till then and after I skippered Pollux first leg to Cyprus. Great to hear again about that unforgettable Red Sea adventure, we too were chased by a small craft in the same area in the gulf of Aden but thanks to Mustang Sally performance we managed to keep a safe distance and slowly sail and motor away. Are you going to tell the story of Ewan his partner and Pollux? It would be great, that was another very touching experience during that amazing voyage Phuket to Cyprus. In some of the pictures in your video I saw Pollux next to Bambola. It gave me a jolt. That is the first time I saw her since I have left her Cyprus. I will never forget that upwind voyage.
Giovanni it is wonderful to hear from you.
I do indeed remember that we met in Marsa Wasi all those years ago in such sad circumstances that you skippered Pollux to Cyprus - It was all a wonderful example of the cruising community coming together...
There is a real dilemma about using somewhat tragic stories on social media as real 'living' humans are alive and my be impacted.
Because of this I tried to contact Liza to seek her permission and my emails arrived with her mum and I learned that Liza and Ewan's son were alive and well and happy.
Liza's mum is writing a book about the events and the ' English family issues' are still not exactly resolved. I never got a reply from Liza except via her mum and whilst she did not ask me 'not to tell' the story, I can see with a new family and Ewan's son in his late teens she might not want it all over social media - I am pretty sure it would go viral - well be widely viewed.
It seems to me that I should not intrude on a mature family by publishing in video form a sad story and I am content to wait until her mum's book comes out and then perhaps re- consider.
Apart from that and the pirate attack the passage from Phuket to the Med was certainly a wonderful experience which I would not have missed for words.
So pleased you got back in touch - so grateful to you for taking Pollux to Cyprus
Fair winds
Michael
@@SailingGently Great to hear from you. I understand your concern regarding publishing Liza story, it is indeed a very personal and sad story. Yet it is quite extraordinary and as such it should be told. I hope her mother will publish the book soon and cement the memories for all of us that were there and got involved. My concern is that her mother wasn't there so I doubt that she will be able to reconstruct the story accurately. You or any of us that were there could provide many very valuable details that would greatly enrich the story and make it a must read for any sailor or people that is thinking of going sailing. I will send the link of your site to Warren of Mustan Sally he will be pleased to have Red Sea flash backs. Unfortunately we lost one of the Marsa Wasi sailors. Stuart of Essence perished during the sinking of Essence in a storm in November 2019. Pamela, his wife survived. Stuart did half the voyage to Cyprus with me on Pollux. Great guy
Giovanni - that is so sad about Stuart -
My email is michael@michaelbriant.com and would love to hear from others on that Red Sea passage year
I hear what you say about her mother and even Liza knows little of the Pollux part of the story as I put Liza into a Toyoto Land Cruiser to Sudan, paid for by the cruising boats, with the wife of another cruising boat... I am awful at names!
The thing to remember is Lisa went home eventually and had Ewan's child and naturally eventually formed another relationship which resulted in marriage and more children.
My problem is what advantage would it give that family if I tell the story against their will?
It might make life harder for Ewan's son to have it all over social media - and not help him... I have no idea of what it must have been like being a single mum with the child rejected by it's English Grandfather... Appears to have behaved very badly..
Social media is a part of the entertainment industry - I certainly spend the occasional evening just watching RUclips and I enjoy making the video's for my channel, but it is not nearly as important as the private lives of people who are victims and could be disruptive...
@@SailingGently Yes, social media is part of the entertaining industry and comes with a lot of strings attached. You assesment is correct and Liza should have a say. I hope that you can get to reach her and sort out a way to tell the story. Maybe that lady that went with her may help, she may have kept in touch. Liza probably wanted to erase the memory of that awful time and likely does not even recall most of us there or realize the great efforts that went into helping her out. It would be a kind gesture on her part to acknowledge and facilitate our desire to tell the story. It is a sad one but with a great silver lining. I have sent the link to Warren. He used to write the log book and will probably have more details of boats and people that came to help in Marsa Wasi.
Really enjoyed listening to this. It should be open season for pirates all year long!
Glad you liked it John. I think it is now in the Gulf anyway with Mercenaries guarding many merchant ships
An outstanding account of a terrifying experience that could have had dire consequences for yourself and crew. Most people would have crumbled or retaliated and the outcome could have quite been very different. I suspect your account was rather understated, either way the outcome was a good one, you all survived without injury and your responsibility as the skipper was fully vindicated.
Evano so pleased you enjoyed the video - I think my training as a TV director helped. Dealing sensibly with problems and keeping your head as your plans crumble are part of television production and also transfer to the real world! Thank you for watching
@@SailingGently I’ve subscribed in the hope of more good yarns to follow 😊 and thanks for sharing.
Thank you for the subscription Evano - really helps