Another Yacht Has Been Pirated

[Hud3]

Alright, folks. This thread's about a boat that's apparently been hijacked by Somali pirates. It's not about weapons, rape, firebombs, etc. It seems every time a topic like this is started, certain members divert the discussion to talk of how to kill, maim and dismember pirates. Others chime in to say how it won't work. The end result is usually very predictable--the threads get heated, un-polite, and/or totally asinine, and are shut down.

If you want to post about that sort of stuff, start your own thread about it. Don't junk up someone else's. Posting off-topic makes it difficult for people who want to post or read about the actual event and any updates to sort through the unrelated stuff, plus many people are totally turned off by the constant repetition of the same old stuff about carrying weapons on board, and don't want to read about it in a thread they're interested in following.

Please have some consideration for others. We'd really appreciate your cooperation in keeping this thread on topic. Thanks.

[Connemara]

what he said.


Connemara

[goboatingnow]

Reuters is carry this story ....

Dave

[goboatingnow]

Good rant lost on this site though. Too many shoot em up types

Perhaps we can return to discussing the topic. Anyone hear any new on this.

Dave

[Mark1977]

Not sure what country...... but i hear they have room at guantanamo bay???? I will start a new thread in off topic stuff so this one can stay on the topic at hand.....
Cheers
mark.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by Mark1977

I will start a new thread in off topic stuff so this one can stay on the topic at hand.....
Cheers
mark.

Thanks Mark! Goodonya the new thread is at
http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...tml#post552544


Then this one can stay concentrated on confirming this news and the facts of this case.

Still no confirmation.

Thats weird as the news would normally be jumped on by the Brittish press... and its halfway into a working day in the UK.

[Roaring Girl]

The story as linked above - ie as an investigation into whether a hijack of a yacht and if so who was aboard - has been picked up by tabloids and broadsheets online editions here, but the reputable press are not claiming the hijack has been confirmed. This report suggests high numbers but most of those will be commercial mariners on big ships. (Not that they don't count but their problems and solutions will be different.) There is a similar report from the Daily Mail (not so reputable!) with a frightening picture which is actually of the French kidnap last year.

If this story is true and the pirates were operating just off Lamu, that opens up new questions about waters further south and possibly territorial Kenyan waters.

[Therapy]

Originally Posted by ollie820

Huh? So by carrying a gun we are safer? How about they start to figure we are packing and instead of firing warning shots they circle the boat and fill it full of lead and when everything is quiet they board the boat and take what they want.

I thought they only wanted YOU for ransom. They aren't taking stuff to sell on the street are they?

[capt_douglas]

Originally Posted by Unicorn Dreams

I guess they couldn't make it to their safe room, at least the pirates don't mess with yachts. At least that's what I read on another thread.

Hope everything turns out good for the yachtsmen.

That's because we "yachts" pay a very stiff fee to be escorted. And if you have to ask how much, you can't afford it.

[boatman61]

Are we sure its a Hijack and not just overdue.... would have thought the BBC/Sky would be covering it by now...

[Capt Phil]

I am really confused about why anyone would sail their yacht into perilous waters known for violence and piracy. These same folks I'm sure are scrupulous about safely fitting out and monitoring weather and choosing crew mates before embarking on any passage. Is there something I'm missing?

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

I am really confused about why anyone would sail their yacht into perilous waters known for violence and piracy. These same folks I'm sure are scrupulous about safely fitting out and monitoring weather and choosing crew mates before embarking on any passage. Is there something I'm missing?

..................................to get to the other side

[rgscpat]

Dead reckoning:

Dead yachties pay no ransoms.

Dead pirates capture no yachties.

I HOPE and pray that this story turns out to be exaggerated and that the sailors are well. But I realize there's no way to guarantee safety running the "gauntlet" and that the pirates are not confined to the near shore.

[Aussiesuede]

Originally Posted by Capt Phil

I am really confused about why anyone would sail their yacht into perilous waters known for violence and piracy. These same folks I'm sure are scrupulous about safely fitting out and monitoring weather and choosing crew mates before embarking on any passage. Is there something I'm missing?

There are no guarantee's in life - period. Choosing to traverse oceans subjects one to increased risk of harm via a myriad of things - many of which pose a much more realistic peril than do pirates, even in that area. I'll venture a guess that lightening, collisions with objects/sealife, and equipment malfunction have claimed the lives of far more cruisers than has piracy over the past decade. I think it's prudent to order concern based on level of real world threat. Personally, I'd be more worried about a lightening strike than a pirate strike, even in that well advertised area. Should the threat of lightening, or thru-hull failure, put me off of cruising just because they present a greater threat than do pirates? And if those realistic concerns don't put me off sailing ANY area of the world, then why should a pirate threat be any different? Like with anything else - prepare accordingly and them proceed with RELATIVE caution.

[Patient]

Second incident near the Seychelles, sheesh.

It doesn't say where they came out of, but I wonder if someone is relaying information about people leaving there via a satphone etc. The Chandlers were only 60 miles off of Victoria when they were nabbed. Thats some 700+ miles from the coast of Somalia. Long way from home.

Forgive the conspiracy theory, but it does make you wonder if keeping your planned routes and departure times to yourself at the bar might be a good idea.

Best of luck to them and also to the Chandlers who have been held for over a year despite their family and friends dropping off $500k in random fees.