The Red Sea Route Compendium A Compilation of Guidebook References and Cruising Reports Covering the route from Cochin, India up through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal IMPORTANT: USE ALL INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT AT YOUR OWN RISK!! Rev 2020.2 – 03 August 2020 We welcome updates to this guide! (especially for places we have no cruiser information on) Email Soggy Paws at sherry –at- svsoggypaws –dot- com. You can also contact us on Sailmail at WDI5677 The current home of the official copy of this document is http://svsoggypaws.com/files/ If you found it posted elsewhere, there might be an updated copy at svsoggypaws.com. Page 1 Revision Log Many thanks to all who have contributed over the years!! Rev Date Notes 2020.0 08-Feb-2020 Initial version, still very rough at this point!! Updates from cruisers stopping in Uligan, Maldives. Update on quarantine in Cochin. Update from Joanna on Djibouti. 2020.1 10-May-2020 Update from Bird of Passage on Socotra. Updates on possible Winlink stations for weather. 2020.2 03-Aug-2020 s/v Joana’s recap of the trip from SE Asia to Med Page 2 Table of Contents 1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1 ORGANIZATION OF THE GUIDE .......................................................................................................... 6 1.2 OVERVIEW OF THE AREA .................................................................................................................. 7 1.3 TIME ZONES .................................................................................................................................. 12 1.4 WEATHER IN THIS AREA ................................................................................................................ 13 1.4.1 General Weather Conditions ............................................................................................... 13 1.4.2 Weather Sources – With Onboard Email ............................................................................ 14 1.4.3 Weather Sources – Voice ................................................................................................... 14 1.4.4 Weather Sources – Internet ................................................................................................ 14 1.5 CUSTOMS & IMMIGRATION .............................................................................................................. 14 1.6 LOCAL INFORMATION AND CUSTOMS............................................................................................... 14 1.6.1 Ramadan, the Muslim Holy Month ...................................................................................... 15 1.6.2 Holidays ............................................................................................................................... 17 1.7 YACHTSMEN'S SERVICES – OVERVIEW ........................................................................................... 19 1.7.1 Money .................................................................................................................................. 19 1.7.2 Diesel and Gasoline ............................................................................................................ 19 1.7.3 Propane (Cooking Gas) ...................................................................................................... 19 1.7.4 Groceries ............................................................................................................................. 19 1.7.5 Water ................................................................................................................................... 19 1.7.6 Boat Parts & Repairs ........................................................................................................... 19 1.7.7 Medical ................................................................................................................................ 19 1.7.8 Laundry ............................................................................................................................... 19 1.8 EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES ....................................................................................................... 19 1.9 GETTING VISITORS IN AND OUT ...................................................................................................... 19 1.10 COMMUNICATIONS ......................................................................................................................... 19 1.10.1 VHF ..................................................................................................................................... 19 1.10.2 SSB Radio Frequencies and Nets ...................................................................................... 20 1.10.3 Telephones & Cell Phones .................................................................................................. 21 1.10.4 Internet Access .................................................................................................................... 21 1.10.5 Mail ...................................................................................................................................... 21 1.10.6 News ................................................................................................................................... 21 1.11 DIVING .......................................................................................................................................... 21 1.12 HAULOUT, STORAGE, AND REPAIR FACILITIES ................................................................................. 21 1.13 ROUTING AND TIMING ADVICE ........................................................................................................ 21 1.13.1 Route Choices ..................................................................................................................... 21 1.13.2 Timing .................................................................................................................................. 22 1.14 MANAGING THE PIRACY RISK – UKMTO, MSCHOA & THE HIGH RISK AREA ................................... 23 1.14.1 Acronyms & What They Mean ............................................................................................ 23 1.14.2 Reporting ............................................................................................................................. 24 1.15 RECENT CRUISER HIGH RISK AREA TRANSIT REPORTS ................................................................... 25 1.16 SHIPPING YOUR BOAT ................................................................................................................... 31 1.17 ORGANIZING A “RALLY” / CONVOY TO CROSS .................................................................................. 32 1.18 AIS TRANSMIT OR NOT? ................................................................................................................ 34 1.19 CRUISING INFORMATION SOURCES ................................................................................................. 36 1.19.1 Local Websites ................................................................................................................... 36 1.19.2 Cruiser Reports ................................................................................................................... 36 1.19.3 Red Sea Passage Facebook Group (Private Group) .......................................................... 36 Page 3 1.19.4 Noonsite .............................................................................................................................. 36 1.19.5 Seven Seas Cruising Association ....................................................................................... 36 1.19.6 Ocean Cruising Club ........................................................................................................... 37 1.20 PRINTED SOURCES ........................................................................................................................ 37 1.20.1 Cruising Guides ................................................................................................................... 37 1.20.2 Recommended Reading ..................................................................................................... 38 2 PASSAGE REPORTS ........................................................................................................................ 39 2.1 INDIA TO THE RED SEA ENTRANCE ................................................................................................. 39 2.2 OMAN TO DJIBOUTI ........................................................................................................................ 41 2.3 GOING FROM S AFRICA TO THE RED SEA ENTRANCE ....................................................................... 42 2.4 MALDIVES TO THE RED SEA ENTRANCE .......................................................................................... 43 2.5 PASSAGE UP THE RED SEA (SOUTH TO NORTH) ............................................................................. 43 2.6 PASSAGE DOWN THE RED SEA (NORTH TO SOUTH) ........................................................................ 45 2.7 PASSAGE THROUGH THE SUEZ CANAL ............................................................................................ 45 2.8 LEAVING EGYPT FOR THE MED ......................................................................................................