Chandlers and another Yacht taken

[Sea Devil]

Apparently the Chandlers have been split up in order to make rescue more difficult - they are both alive but very depressed. Not surprising really...

There have been a spate of yacht attacks again although I fail to understand how any cruising boat would take the risk of being in this area. The latest report is:-

In a tragic event and after a chase by naval forces escalating the situation, it is now believed that the yacht is the one-mast sailing yacht SY CHOIZIL and the skipper, who had apparently jumped over board during the naval swoop, during which also shots were fired while a helicopter and a commando team in a speedboat were used, was later picked up by the navy and is safe. He is confirmed to be a South-African by nationality, his next of kin have been informed and after he already arrived at the Kenyan harbour of Mombasa on board a Dutch warship he was handed over to South African officials.
South Africa's High Commissioner to Kenya, Ndumiso Ntshinga, said he had been in contact with the rescued yachtsman on Monday and confirmed the two captives, a man and a woman, were both South African citizens.
Unfortunately, the woman and a young male, who have been abducted from that yacht, are reportedly at present held hostage south of Brawa. No ransom demands have been made.

All pretty desperate stuff... does anybody know how many cruising boats come up the Red Sea these days?

Michael

 

[Koeketiene]

All pretty desperate stuff... does anybody know how many cruising boats come up the Red Sea these days?

Both the Chandlers and this recent incident have taken place a lot further south (triangle Seychelles. Kenya & Tanzania).

The have been very few piracy incidents in the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden area recently as it's a choke point and therefore relatively easy to patrol.

PS: more details of the most recent incident here and here

 

[whipper_snapper]

Both the Chandlers and this recent incident have taken place a lot further south (triangle Seychelles. Kenya & Tanzania).

The have been very few piracy incidents in the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden area recently as it's a choke point and therefore relatively easy to patrol.

PS: more details of the most recent incident here

I would very much like to know where this happened. Heading from Dar es Salaam towards Richard's bay does not involve being 'off the Kenyan coast' unless your nav is seriously suspect.

 

[Koeketiene]

I would very much like to know where this happened. Heading from Dar es Salaam towards Richard's bay does not involve being 'off the Kenyan coast' unless your nav is seriously suspect.

Don't nit-pick.
I have said nothing about the exact position - just 'area of'.

Open to suggestions as how pirates would get to the Dar Es Salaam area from Somalia without going past Kenya

 

[Nix]

I know Choizil. Does anybody have more information regarding this? Is this the Choizil from Rbay

 

[Sea Devil]

Both the Chandlers and this recent incident have taken place a lot further south (triangle Seychelles. Kenya & Tanzania).

The have been very few piracy incidents in the Red Sea - Gulf of Aden area recently as it's a choke point and therefore relatively easy to patrol.

[/URL]

Actually the Gulf of Aden is a very dangerous place at the moment, which is why I was asking the question - does anybody know how many cruising boats are going this way?

Michael

 

[BobnLesley]

it's been on TV so it must be true

Open to suggestions as how pirates would get to the Dar Es Salaam area from Somalia without going past Kenya [/QUOTE]

Whilst accepting that they'd still technically be 'going past', the pirates might be using a similar technique to the Pirates of the Caribbean: Changing into skeletons and walking along the seabed?

 

[whipper_snapper]

Don't nit-pick.
I have said nothing about the exact position - just 'area of'.

It may be nit picking to you. For me its a matter of life and death!

Anyway, I was criticizing and quoting from the article you linked to, not your post.

Open to suggestions as how pirates would get to the Dar Es Salaam area from Somalia without going past Kenya

Well, not without a significant detour! But where is the evidence they are even in the Dar area ? I am about to sign-up for the Dar-Tanga race, so it matters!

 

[Koeketiene]

Actually the Gulf of Aden is a very dangerous place at the moment, which is why I was asking the question - does anybody know how many cruising boats are going this way?

Michael

On average we now have 2 attempted attacks per week in the Gulf of Aden.
Last successful piracy attack in that area dates from late September (Olib G).

Over the last 2 months, most attacks have taken place either way out to sea (halfway between Somalia and India) or down south.

We had one Korean yacht leaving from Oman, heading for Djibouti and up the Red Sea only last week.

 

[Koeketiene]

Anyway, I was criticizing and quoting from the article you linked to, not your post.

That's journalism for you

For obvious reasons, I can only link to/tell you about what's out there already.

PM me dates/route of your race and I'll see how I can be more helpful.

 

[rogerthebodger]

News Flash from ZLYC



Hi Charles,



I have just talked to Bernadette. She says that Peter phoned her yesterday and told her he was fortunate to have been picked up by a Dutch warship and he was taken to Dar Es Salaam. From there he was taken to Kenya where he is now. Unfortunately his two crew were taken by the pirates and they have not been heard of again. We just pray that they are O.K. Peter’s yacht Choizil is gone.



The main thing is that Peter is safe and he is fine. Bernadette asked me to tell all at the yacht club.



So, if anyone asks you about it, you can tell them please.



With kind regards.





Jill Marzinger and Stan Engblom



ABI, the Soft Drink division of SAB

Tel: +27 35 797 - 4551

Fax: +27 86 649 4083

Mobile: +27 082 935 7777

Email: Jill.Marzinger@za.sabmiller.com





Charles Fowler

Manager

Zululand Yacht Club

035 788 0256

082 936 4453

managerzlyc@zwn.co.za

 

[whipper_snapper]

So it sounds like the drama when the skipper jumped overboard, was as the boat was being run aground on a Somali beach. But still no indication of where they were when they were attacked.

Heading for SA from Dar should be pretty safe. They would not need to go over to the riskier areas off Madagascar/Seychelles as the S-bound current is close inshore all the way. But I wonder if they decided to take the scenic route via the Seychelles or even Comoros/Mayotte ? The weather and wind direction a week or 2 ago would make that a very tempting option; the tail end of the S monsoon with calm sea and moderate SE breeze. Perfect for a capable monohull. They would then reasonably expect the N monsoon to start to kick-in to launch them S.


A reasonable plan, except for the pirates.

Just to stress this is all wild speculation

 

[stevebirch2002]

Open to suggestions as how pirates would get to the Dar Es Salaam area from Somalia without going past Kenya

Whilst accepting that they'd still technically be 'going past', the pirates might be using a similar technique to the Pirates of the Caribbean: Changing into skeletons and walking along the seabed?[/QUOTE]

Now if Keira Knightley was there I might be tempted........

Steve B

 

[chanelyacht]

Given that piracy is now a mainstay of the Somali economy, the pirates are becoming more organised and better equipped. Current warnings identify them operating closer to India than to Africa, having extended their range considerably.

About the only thing that will put the lid on this is an AWACS aircraft finding them, and an Apache or similar from a carrier dealing with them on sight. The current "lets be decent" approach of detaining them then letting them go is not working.