Hostages Taken off Somalia

[Tom and Maje]

Originally Posted by swagman

Hold on Jiffy.
Were you aware the Somali pirates were active around the Seychelle Islands because I sure wasn't.
JOHN

There was an alert on Noonsite a few days before the media got a hold of the story because the emergency signal was activated. The couple was warned by both employees at the marina and by other sailers not to go where they wanted to go.

Maje

[sarafina]

Reminds me of what my Dive Master used to say about diving the Farallones...

'People, DO NOT dress up as shark's favorite food and go swim in their dining room!'

I can see how it would be easy to think 'it won't happen to us' until it does. I hope they come thru this safely.

In cases like this will their boat be held for them somewhere? It sounded like it was found, but nothing was said about if it was recovered.

Last I read they have been taken to land, to a village, and spotted by residents.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sarafina

I hope they come thru this safely.

Lets hope.

Originally Posted by sarafina

In cases like this will their boat be held for them somewhere? It sounded like it was found, but nothing was said about if it was recovered.

The Navy does not pop prize crews on board anymore. They would have sunk it as a nav threat.

[sarafina]

well that double sucks... but I guess it sort of makes sense...

[sabray]

This from the bbc article.

The yacht, the Lynn Rival, which was found in international waters, had been secured by the Royal Navy and was being escorted to shore.

So it still double sucks but it sounds like the boat minus a bunch is floating.

[Eleven]

LATEST ON THE 30th.
Boat has been found, deserted and adrift, by the UK Navy.
The Chandlers have been in touch with ITN, the other big news channel in the UK, again on the 30th. Apparently well but distressed. This morning, 31st a ransom of 7 million dollars has been levied.

[Eleven]

There was some one asking advice on this site a couple of weeks back.
I blogged, among other things:-
Don't tell any one locally where or when you are going.
Strip off all radar detectables from your mast.
Change course after dusk and after dawn.
Keep a good binocular watch at night, especially pre dawn and post sunset.

Is there any value in convoying, they are well armed and able to take the whole convoy.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Eleven

Is there any value in convoying, they are well armed and able to take the whole convoy.

Yes, because they can't take the whole convoy and the other un-taken boats can keep up a steady stream of infomation to the authorities... unlike what happened here wher the navy failed to intercept beofre the coast.
If the navy can be given up to date info they will get them before the coast and then its ta ta pirates.

[creakyboy]

Would a convoy be easier for the pirates to find?

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by creakyboy

Would a convoy be easier for the pirates to find?

I don't know, but I was wondering if there was a good book on tactics used in convoys in WW2 that maybe usefull before our trip up.

Anyone know one?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

I don't know, but I was wondering if there was a good book on tactics used in convoys in WW2 that maybe usefull before our trip up.

Anyone know one?

I think the convoy tactic was most useful against submarines & aircraft............this time next year?


One old British tactic used in that part of the world that might still be useful is the issue of "Gooley Chits"........... If the bearer was returned (alive and with his goolies still attached!) then 100 gold sovereigns was paid out no questions asked or penalty incurred.

Of course puts a bounty on the head of folk, but provides a means of resolving these issue with certainty for both sides.

[stevensc]

After this latest event I doubt (hope) enough boats willing to make the trip could be found to make up a convoy through the area.
Steve

[Eleven]

There has been talk of the 'navies' escorting vessels through.
There is a designated channel down the red sea where the navies try to keep patrols in place to support passing freight.
Freight nowadays runs at eighteen knots so a danger to yachties.
The WW2 tactics were secrecy, course changes and aggressive escorts.
It's a big problem if you are going that way.

[Stillraining]

Mark brings up a good point in the benefit of multiple boats ability to continue to communicate the situation better....I was however thinking he was going to say..."Yes because were on a cat and all we have to do is out run you ".
..


You know....The old tennis shoe and bear joke?......OK never mind....I'll go stand at my chart table..

Carry on.

[speakeasy]

I haven't closely followed the piracy stories, but realized that Somalia and The Straits of Mullucca & SE Asian coast were trouble spots. How about the north coast of Somalia? If the pirates are ranging 1000nm from the Somali coast, it would appear that the Red Sea route would be "asking for it" now also.