Trouble in Paradise

It was just after sunset, and Nina and Mario were belowdecks on their Bavaria 40, Seatramp, anchored a few miles southwest of Linton Bay Marina on Panama’s Caribbean coast. When they heard noises on deck, Mario went out to investigate, and two men hiding behind the sprayhood immediately restrained him, after which a small boat brought four more men aboard, all with T-shirts pulled around their heads to make them harder to identify. In an ordeal lasting 45 minutes, Mario had a gun pressed to his head and Nina narrowly avoided being assaulted by two of the men, who appeared to be on drugs. When the men left, the two young bluewater cruisers from Germany were alive, but badly shaken and an estimated $11,000 poorer.

“They all left the boat, and during that time they activated the stolen EPIRB. A mayday was directly sent to the MRCC (Mission Rescue Coordination Center) Germany. They contacted our emergency contact and in a few minutes it was clear that we must have a big problem as our EPIRB was sending from land,” Nina said. “To make the story even sadder, the Panamanian coast guard was informed by the MRCC. The next office was three miles away. Nothing happened.”

As they motored to safety in neighbouring Linton Bay, the pair put out a Pan-Pan message and issued DSC (digital selective calling) distress messages over the VHF. “We could see container ships on the AIS. Nobody was responding.” Nina flew back to Germany soon afterward, but at the start of September, she returned to the boat with the intention of continuing on with the couple’s cruise.

“Nights are still difficult, but we are on a good way,” Nina said, before paying tribute to the money that has. “We are really overwhelmed by the solidarity and support we have received.”