Danish Yacht family taken by pirates

The family reached the Somali coast yesterday afternoon. They'll probably be taken ashore and split up like the Chandlers to prevent a rescue attempt. The questions now I guess are:

How will they be split?
Will the men be separated from the women?
Will there be a fight to control such valuable hostages between pirate gangs?
Will Islamist insurgent forces attempt to intervene?

I've met a lot of former piracy captives over the past few years - some treated badly and some a bit better - but I have yet to find one who got captured deliberately.
 
VO5 said:
I am very aware as is everybody reading this thread what initiated it. There is no need for you to come in at this stage like a self appointed thought policeman to remind us of the fact. The discussion is not ridiculous. It points out the cardboard cutout hypocrisy that permeates scenarios such as these in which governments go to great lengths to induce citizens to believe that corps of trained men and women exist to protect us when needed.

In the end analysis none of it true. Not anti terrorism, or homeland security, or the war against crime, or drugs, or any other fanciful notion we are expected to take as given.

I have explained very clearly (and if you do not understand it I will explain it again, for your personal benefit and my satisfaction) how this time there is a decided rewluctance to deal with a very serious problem that affects everybody because the mission is percieved as too difficult. For this reason, and to pacify critics, the terorists who are terrifying seafarers are described as pirates, thus minimising their status.

The problem is that their status as very dangerous and malevolent organised groups cannot be minimised. Attempts can be made to discredit their status by brushing them off and calling them pirates. Pirates they are not. The media persists in bleating from a point of view of hand wringing helplessness that is grist to the mill of those paid to do their job properly and engage this menace squarely with the resolve to rid us of the nuisance.

Enough warnings have been given to seafarers about the risks.

Those who do not take heed of these warnings whilst the situation continues and deliberately meander into areas that are not safe are at risk of being taken.

Now you wonder why people would disregard warnings and venture into dangerous waters. The answer is simple. They don't believe it may happen to them. They believe themselves to be immune. They think luck plays a part in all this. They think they know best. None of their assumptions prove themselves to be correct. The risks are enlarging every day that passes and the danger is widening and spreading.

As for adventure, I don't think so.

But on the other hand, considering the quality of thought often expressed on these boards I would not be surprised to learn that some people would consider venturing into danger as an adventure.

As for those who venture in the full knowledge of the risks and dangers beforehand and who go inwith their eyes wide open, that arena is reserved for professional reporters and journalists, not for ordinary sailors.

I hope and expect this serves to clarify your thinking.
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I don't think anybody needs to re-read your turgid mis-spelt posts to give you personal satisfaction and it certainly won't make anybody's thinking any clearer. I'm sure you're quite capable of satisfying yourself in any given situation.:eek:
 
AfriKat said:
The family reached the Somali coast yesterday afternoon. They'll probably be taken ashore and split up like the Chandlers to prevent a rescue attempt. The questions now I guess are:

How will they be split?
Will the men be separated from the women?
Will there be a fight to control such valuable hostages between pirate gangs?
Will Islamist insurgent forces attempt to intervene?

I've met a lot of former piracy captives over the past few years - some treated badly and some a bit better - but I have yet to find one who got captured deliberately.
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Great final lines...

I have been following this closely on news channels and was heartened when they were reported to have made it to shore. I am sure that this hugely increases their survival chances.

Regardless of my (or anyone elses) feelings or posturings on this situation (I'm a hard liner, go in and gun the pirates brigade myself) I hope that in this particular situation with young adults / children aboard the Somali's at least have the humanity of releasing them even if they retain the adults for hostage negotiations.
 
SHUG said:
This may have been included already but this map of 2010 piracy incidents would persuade me to stay clear of the area. See http://tinyurl.com/68y2jl7
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With that information available I struggle to understand how can someone even consider sailing in that area.More so with their children onboard.Reckless to say the least.I hope they make it but they deserve a slap on the head afterwards.
 
Yes, really good map.

Jamie and I blogged about the increase in piracy last year after the Chandlers were released. Scroll down my link and you will find the maps shown in succession, from 2007 to date. You can see how the pirates have pushed further and further east. Add the 2011 map and it is clear that they have been operational throughout the Arabian Sea.

Armed with this freely available information it beggars belief that people think they will be safe heading into this part of the Arabian Sea...
http://www.followtheboat.com/2010/11/15/the-chandlers-are-free-–-so-where-does-this-leave-us/

@Whiskey Bravo - nice one.
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Indeed, fascinating. And it clearly shows that no part of the Indian Ocean west of India and north of Madagascar can be regarded as safe.

Looks like the only route that is safe for RTWers is south of the great capes.
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Best route from the UK (Europe) east-bound is: Canaries, Cape Verde, Ascension, St Helena, Walvis Bay or Sandwich Harbour Namibia, south to Cape Town then north east to Reunion, Mauritius and then to BIOT or down to Cocos and then east to Australia and onto FP etc.

North east coast of South America has been known to be very risky as has the west African coast south of The Gambia. Both these coasts are known not to take prisoners and have a habit of stabbing or shooting you to death. :mad:
 
A Danish family have been released by Somalian pirates after a reported $3million (£1.9million) ransom was airdropped.

Jan Quist and Birgit Johansen and their three teenage children, Rune, Hjalte and Naja, were captured from their yacht alongside two Danish crew members in February 600 miles off the Somalian coast.

http://www.yachtingmonthly.com/news/529655/seven-danes-released-by-pirates-after-ransom-drop

ps: I understand their boat S/Y "Ing" was scuttled in the Arabian Sea about 2 months ago as it was a hazard to shipping. :(
 
One serious problem now is the Red Sea route is no go to sensible yachts. We know a number of yachts who chose to go down the Mozambique Channel and round the tip of South Africa. Now the pirates are also operating there I wonder how many people will not do their cicumnavigation. It's a real shame.
 
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