The Parabellum Principle
Freedom is not free, nor is the quest for peace always peaceful. The truth behind the Latin phrase "si vis pacem, para bellum” (if you want peace, prepare for war), is just as valid today as it was the day it was first uttered.
We tend to associate sailing with leisure and carefree enjoyment; an excellent circumstance for letting our guard down. A recent case illustrates the folly of doing that. And, all threats are not in foreign waters, as the 2004 Hawks case illustrates.
Situational awareness is something that needs to be a constant companion when we are out and about in the world, especially when we are in areas of the world where the native inhabitants might view the average American sailor as a ’wealthy’ target of opportunity—which happens to be a large part of planet earth.
I would always tell my sailing students to “never let your boat go anywhere that your brain has not already been”—primarily to help them avoid navigation hazards. But, in todays world, hazards are not restricted to the category of navigation. You’re not likely to find a list of civil hazards in that glossy brochure published by the Chamber of Commerce—or even in most ‘Cruising Guides.’ Good intelligence information regarding unfamiliar waters can be found online at places like Noonsite, or The World Factbook.
Stay alert. Stay safe.
Semper Paratus!
/fl