Pirates Attack Sailboat in Venezuela

Venezuela — We are sad to report that there has been yet another attack by pirates against a yacht in Venezuela. An American citizen has been shot and killed, and his friend wounded, when pirates boarded their sailboat on Saturday night in an apparent robbery attempt on Venezuela's Caribbean coast.

55 year old Kenneth Dale Peters was killed by the pirates, but not before he apparently tried to defend himself with a gun, wounding one of his attackers. Also wounded was Peters' friend, 63 year old Stephen Davis, who police say is currently recovering at a hospital in Venezuela.

Kenneth Dale Peters' sailboat Chill was reported to be anchored off a small island in Mochima, a national park along Venezuela's northeastern coast, when it was attacked by the armed pirates. Locals have complained about this area in the past, telling the government that a lack of patrols is making the area around the national park unsafe for fisherman and tourists alike.

Officials in Venezuela say at least three pirates used motorboats in the attack, one of which was found and seized by local police. One of the suspected pirates was also detained Monday in the nearby town of Arapito, but has yet to be formally charged.

This is not the first known attack by pirates of a yacht in Venezuela this year. There have been many, including an attack on a French citizen sailing a Lagoon 410 catamaran named Chrysalide, who was killed on September 15th aboard his boat near La Guaraia, Venezuela, close to the capital of Caracas.

Our hearts go out to the family of Kenneth Dale Peters.  To avoid another tragedy to one of our sailing brethren, YachtPals strongly cautions against cruising the coast of Venezuela at this time.

- YachtPals Crew exclusively for YachtPals.com

Read more about:

• Venezuela
• Piracy
• Caribbean