Yemen Cruising info:-
Anchorages -
Nishtun 15 49.11N 52 11.73E initially anchored here in 6.5m, quite choppy and just outside the breakwater and dock (CMap not accurate and shows this as other side of bay). Just on dusk we were instructed to move into the tiny harbour and tie alongside the big concrete jetty. Armed guard either protected or watched us all night! Although not that happy about tying to the wall we complied and had a very calm and comfortable night. We were processed by someone in a uniform who checked our papers and took details but did not check us into Yemen
Ras Sharma 14 49.37N 50 01.29E 9.7m horseshoe bay, excellent protection and holding
Al Mukalla 14 31.59N 49 07.98E 7.0m mud bottom, good holding 7boats in there with us and started to fill up as a couple of wrecks to be aware of (easy to see)
Aden 12 47.53N 44 58.84E 8m mud, holding ok, chopped up some in strong winds. Not a huge anchorage but think we had about 14boats at one stage which was snug
Ras Imran/Jabal Aziz 12 44.50N 44 42.57E 6.2m flat water even though rolly outside
Ras Al Arah 12 37.30N 43 54.73E 11.4m flatish water in 25knots. No shelter from wind, bleak looking place but good jump off around 1am for dawn arrival at Bab el Mandeb
Security - We had a boat boy onboard in Al Mukalla (shared 1 between 2 boats) while we did our tour. We didn't bother in Aden. We felt very very safe on land and at sea in Yemen
Phone/Internet - Our Oman SIM card worked here also. Didn't find WIFI but good internet at internet cafe in Lulu's mall
Checking into Al Mukalla - Maher (who looks about 16) turned up at the boat to take away our papers, we checked with the boats that had arrived the previous day to check he was some sort of official! He doesn't charge a fixed price (always tricky) we paid him YRL4,000 on departure. Visas for the 2 of us were YRL20,000. We would not have required these if we had not done the inland travel, we would have been issued only with shore passes which are free.
Checking out of Aden - No charge, do it yourslf all within walking distance of anchorage
Tour from Al Mukalla - Our tour was YRL22,000 including van, driver, guard and Maher. All meals, entrance fees and the accomodation were extra (but cheap).
Tour from Sana'a - Return Flights from Aden were USD108 each. Dawood Hotel USD35 double, we got taxis to/from both airports.
Provisions - Huge Lulu's but I actually thought the one in Salalah was better. Top up to get you through to Hurghada in Egypt. Can get nearly everything except pork products. Prices much same as Thailand. Last chance for milk powder (can't even get in Turkey)
Fuel in Aden - There is a fuel dock you can go alongside to. We filled our jerry jugs at USD.715 per litre. Its a drawn out excercise, with plenty of people to see and forms to fill.
Money - USD1 = YMR200 16 Mar 2008. USD available in cash machines in Al Mukalla and Aden - stock up on USD for the Red Sea, no where takes credit cards. Any fuel, food, tours, checkin/checkouts will need USD or local money changed from USD. This is your last chance to get it
