I was sitting on my boat doing my newspaper puzzles at 10:30 one Friday night when someone knocked on the side of my boat. I stuck my head out and saw a short youth standing in the cockpit. I climbed the companionway and got struck with a 2 by 4 by another youth who was on the cabin roof. It hit me on the neck leaving a graze. I wrestled the 2x4 away and the youths ran away up the hill.

I found out the next day that an office in Tropical marina had been broken into at about 11:00pm. A motorbike had been tampered with and some drinks taken from the fridge.I assume it was the same kids as that was the direction that they had run.

A few days later another youth was watching my boat for about an hour. He came and knocked on the side of the boat. I stayed quiet inside hoping he would go away. Unfortunately he thought that the boat was empty and boarded my boat standing on my fresh paint.

He stuck his head in the companionway and I grabbed his hair and shouted for assistance. The kid broke free and ran off. I called on the VHF and a fellow boater roared over to help but the kid had run up the hill.

I reported the incident to the tourist police. They speak English. I was told that I would get a police report but I am still waiting.

I had reported the previous incident to the local police. They wanted 50pesos to call Puerto Plata for an interpreter.

Some people have cast aspersions about my character - these are totally untrue. I am trying to get my deck finished but the rain hs prolonged the job. I am quite motivated to leave this area.

I recognized the recent youth as he wears a white construction helmet often and has walked past the boat regularly to tend the cattle nearby.

As far as I know no action has been taken. I'm writing this because there is too much gossip about this incident.

 Hey Jerome,

     Thanks for sharing your story. I’m glad you’re OK. Fortunately this sort of thing doesn’t seem to happen very often in Luperon. But “gossip” in Luperon? Nawwww!  :

You are right. We have been here a few years and never seen any physical violence. In fact we have rarely seen the Dominicans get angry.

we have never felt threatened in our 5 years here.   Jerome, if you can't finish soon, can you drop an anchor well out and pull yourself away from the dock at night?   You have a terrible spot for security, all alone , several hundred yards from another boat. A little bother, but maybe worth it??

I am disgusted with the responce from the boaters in Luperon to Jaromes Attack.Heis a man of good character,and what happened to the old maratime law- Assist other boaters in distress.

Other boats have been stolen from,and with a better community spirit we could help us to cope with this problem.

Hey Ray,

     I share your concern. I think our “security” could easily be achieved if our cruising community could put our heads together and come up with some ideas. That also comes with commitment too. I have often though about this and have some good ideas, but this would require a “group effort”. In some other “hostel anchorages” it is suggested that folks rotate a 24 hour “watch”.  That would take organization and commitment in Luperon. With the “harbor fees” we pay each month, certainly that is plenty to have at least a “night security person” on a boat to patrol the harbor. I won’t go down that road cause I think we all know that’s just not going to happen. (We are lucky the dink dock is floating)! Would we be willing to “pitch in” and hire our own security person at night? I’m sure there are plenty of local folks that would work for the “prevailing wage”. How much would that cost? Who would be willing to pay? So all that said maybe we can at least have a get together to discuss (and listen) to some ideas and solutions. I’ll bet folks have a lot of them. Just my 2 cents! I could be wrong!

Ken on Continuum