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Incident Details
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A yacht transiting from Guanaja, Bay Islands, Honduras to Grand Cayman altered course due to easterly winds and a developing tropical weather system, redirecting to Isla de Providencia, Colombia. The revised route traversed the Thunder Knoll area.
At position 16°00’34.4″N 81°02’31.3″W, approximately 145 nm NE of the Honduras/Nicaragua border, at 1300HRS, the southbound yacht encountered three traditional lobster fishing boats. The yacht passed the first vessel without incident. As it approached the second boat, the lobster boat altered course, turning eastward on an intercept course. The third boat, (also west of the yacht), was moving southward in parallel.
Concerned about these maneuvers, the yacht executed a 180-degree turn northward and increased separation to approximately one nautical mile. The second vessel subsequently repositioned itself southeast of the yacht’s location.
Faced with deteriorating sea conditions (2+ meter waves) from the east, the yacht turned southward planning to pass between the first and second lobster boats, which were separated by over one nautical mile. As the yacht came closer to the second vessel, it again altered course toward the yacht. Simultaneously, the third boat turned and maneuvered northward, attempting to block passage between the first and second boats.
The yacht immediately turned hard to port (SE) and proceeded at maximum speed on a beam reach in 18-20 knot winds. While the first vessel did not pursue, vessels two and three followed for approximately 3-4 hours before discontinuing pursuit.
The yacht had been scanning VHF continuously and no transmissions between the 3 boats were heard, and none of the lobster boats attempted contact with the yacht. There were no injuries and the catamaran continued its passage without further incident. A report was made to the Colombian Coast Guard on arrival in Isla de Providencia.
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