The Chandlers book

[Heckler]

Was at SIBs on Sunday, saw the book and bought it, hope they got a good cut of the proceeds, it was half the reason for buying it, am halfway through, excellent reading. Having worked in Angola, can empthasise, the scrub/landscape and conditions were the same there. We soon had air conditioned cabins as we built the camp, the thought of living like they did fills me with horror. A very brave couple
Stu

 

[deuc02]

Walked past their stand on first saturday of SIBS. just a bit of paper on the desk with their names on. no sign of Paul and Rachel. I just assumed that they'd been kidnapped again

 

[maby]

Was at SIBs on Sunday, saw the book and bought it, hope they got a good cut of the proceeds, it was half the reason for buying it, am halfway through, excellent reading. Having worked in Angola, can empthasise, the scrub/landscape and conditions were the same there. We soon had air conditioned cabins as we built the camp, the thought of living like they did fills me with horror. A very brave couple
Stu

A pair of fools who have made life far more dangerous for pleasure sailors everywhere.

Before them, the pirates attention was fixed on large cargo ships and they needed somewhere with no functioning government to hide them while they waited for the ransom to be paid. Now, the Chandlers have suddenly shown the world that it is possible to take a small pleasure craft, with no risk of it fighting back, and collect a ransom - might not be as much as for an oil tanker, but it's a lot less effort and risk.

Just been reading of inceased pirate activity along the west coast of Africa. How long before bandits start taking people off yachts along the African Mediterranean coast? Thank you, Chandlers!

 

[RichardS]

Now, the Chandlers have suddenly shown the world that it is possible to take a small pleasure craft .......

I just don't see how you can blame the Chandlers for that!

What they have shown is that the pirates can and will operate much further away from their base than was previously thought possible and, in that sense, they have done a service to the wider sailing community and to the Seychelles Government.

Richard

 

[Poignard]

Are they planning to try to reimburse whoever contributed to the ransom ?

 

[maby]

I just don't see how you can blame the Chandlers for that!


Richard

I most certainly do blame them for that. The first principle of dealing with hostage takers has always been "don't pay the ransom- that will just lead to further hostage taking". People paid to get the Chandlers back and it is now obvious that anyone armed with a pistol can take a yacht crew, abandon the ship and have a strong prospect of coming away with half a million quid or more.

They knowingly sailed close to an area that was subject to a risk of pirate activity. In her diary she made some mention of hoping they would get away with it because of the time of year. At best, it was naiive, at worst irresponsible, and their story has made life dangerous for pleasure sailors anywhere near a sparsely populated coast in a country with a weak police force. They probably even contributed towards the kidnap of that British tourist from the Kenyan coast a couple of weeks ago!

 

[Salty John]

A pair of fools who have made life far more dangerous for pleasure sailors everywhere.

Before them, the pirates attention was fixed on large cargo ships and they needed somewhere with no functioning government to hide them while they waited for the ransom to be paid. Now, the Chandlers have suddenly shown the world that it is possible to take a small pleasure craft, with no risk of it fighting back, and collect a ransom - might not be as much as for an oil tanker, but it's a lot less effort and risk.

Just been reading of inceased pirate activity along the west coast of Africa. How long before bandits start taking people off yachts along the African Mediterranean coast? Thank you, Chandlers!

Utter rubbish.

 

[clyst]

 

[Heckler]

Utter rubbish.

I know "someone" who is in charge of a medium sized boat that goes in to areas that are third world. They were offshore West Africa doing "things". Their company took the view that they would have armed ex special forces on board, they also had a "citadel" on board. Drill is, if approached, crew in to "citadel" special forces do the biz.
They got attacked, crew goes in to citadel, AF get the gimpies going.
"Someone" is so incensed that some twots are trying to attack and take "his" boat that the red mist descended. Give me a gun he shouted, they did, a 9mm handgun. So there they are, a skiff trying to take the boat, a couple of gimpies going and an old grey haired, pissed off, fart, going pop, pop, pop at them. They fecked off, they never had any more probs!
Stu
PS he is ex forces himself.

 

[Clarky]

A pair of fools who have made life far more dangerous for pleasure sailors everywhere.

Before them, the pirates attention was fixed on large cargo ships and they needed somewhere with no functioning government to hide them while they waited for the ransom to be paid. Now, the Chandlers have suddenly shown the world that it is possible to take a small pleasure craft, with no risk of it fighting back, and collect a ransom - might not be as much as for an oil tanker, but it's a lot less effort and risk.

Just been reading of inceased pirate activity along the west coast of Africa. How long before bandits start taking people off yachts along the African Mediterranean coast? Thank you, Chandlers!

Its not the Chandlers fault,what a ridiculous post... get a life.
I saw an interview on TV with them,what a nice couple.
The Chandlers were the victims,those at fault are the pirates and a number of Governments for not dealing harshly enough with the pirate situation.

 

[30boat]

Its not the Chandlers fault,what a ridiculous post... get a life.
I saw an interview on TV with them,what a nice couple.
The Chandlers were the victims,those at fault are the pirates and a number of Governments for not dealing harshly enough with the pirate situation.

I'm sure the Chandlers are the nicest possible people and weren't trying to act recklessly but they were aware of the very real risk of piracy where they were going.

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

The pirates may have done the deed but would you sail into that area knowing the recent history?
I'm not sympathetic with the Chandlers. Pleasant people they may be but possibly somewhat naive, if not reckless!

 

[Sailfree]

Its not the Chandlers fault,what a ridiculous post... get a life.
I saw an interview on TV with them,what a nice couple.
The Chandlers were the victims,those at fault are the pirates and a number of Governments for not dealing harshly enough with the pirate situation.

I agree.

Its only after reading posts like the criticism post that I realised that there are people on this Forum that have never made a mistake or an error of judgement. Gee I wish I could be like them.

 

[webcraft]

A pair of fools who have made life far more dangerous for pleasure sailors everywhere.

maby has not made any friends yet

- W

 

[Sandyman]

Anyone know the release date of the movie ? Cynical ?? You bet.

 

[maby]

I agree.

Its only after reading posts like the criticism post that I realised that there are people on this Forum that have never made a mistake or an error of judgement. Gee I wish I could be like them.

There is a big difference beween making a mistake and knowingly taking risks that could impact on other people. If I set out, against advice, across the North Sea in mid winter in a boat that is too small and not fit for the task and, as a result, a lifeboat crew has to risk their own safety to rescue me, will you be so understanding towards me? I doubt it.

I have no reason to believe that they are not very nice people, but that doesn't alter the fact that they knowingly went near an area known to be at risk of piracy. Our government stuck to the "no ransom" rule, but someone else coughed up the cash. Now, bandits the world over know that they can attack a soft target like a small pleasure boat, at very little risk to themselves and probably come away with a very respectable profit.

 

[Victoria Sponge]

There is a big difference beween making a mistake and knowingly taking risks that could impact on other people. If I set out, against advice, across the North Sea in mid winter in a boat that is too small and not fit for the task and, as a result, a lifeboat crew has to risk their own safety to rescue me, will you be so understanding towards me? I doubt it.

I have no reason to believe that they are not very nice people, but that doesn't alter the fact that they knowingly went near an area known to be at risk of piracy. Our government stuck to the "no ransom" rule, but someone else coughed up the cash. Now, bandits the world over know that they can attack a soft target like a small pleasure boat, at very little risk to themselves and probably come away with a very respectable profit.

I really think you have a point. I wouldn't have gone anywhere near that area! As for ransoms being paid, yes it sends out a clear message to the pirates that money is to be made from targeting yachts.

 

[Blueboatman]

It has also possibly and inadvertedly raised peoples consciousness that there is an escalating problem
in the area that no one seems vert determined to put axstop to.

How many ransoms still get paid by merchant shipping companies every year? Presumably because it is cheaper to pay on the one-in-whatever number of ships that get caught out. And those payments come from where exactly oh great consumers that we are?...

But hey, I am sure there is a bigger game afoot that I can't even begin to comprehend!

 

[maby]

I really think you have a point. I wouldn't have gone anywhere near that area! As for ransoms being paid, yes it sends out a clear message to the pirates that money is to be made from targeting yachts.

Thank you! I was beginning to wonder if it really was only me that viewed them as irresponsible people that have managed to make life that bit more dangerous for the rest of us.

The point is that, while the pirates were just targeting large cargo vessels, their area of operation was limited to places where you could find places to anchor them without local police forces getting in your way. Following the Chandlers' little adventure, the rules have changed - ok you don't get as much money for a middle aged, middle class European couple as you do for a supertanker, but they are a lot less risk and a lot easier to hide. Is it a coincidence that another couple have just been taken (one killed) off an out-of-the-way Kenian beach a few tens of miles south of the border?

 

[Clarky]

Thank you! I was beginning to wonder if it really was only me that viewed them as irresponsible people that have managed to make life that bit more dangerous for the rest of us.

The point is that, while the pirates were just targeting large cargo vessels, their area of operation was limited to places where you could find places to anchor them without local police forces getting in your way. Following the Chandlers' little adventure, the rules have changed - ok you don't get as much money for a middle aged, middle class European couple as you do for a supertanker, but they are a lot less risk and a lot easier to hide. Is it a coincidence that another couple have just been taken (one killed) off an out-of-the-way Kenian beach a few tens of miles south of the border?

What a load of ballocks,according to informed sources the Chandlers were not captured in a particularly dangerous area,I dont understand the mentality of blaming the victims, its the pirates who are to blame.
Some areas of London are quite high crime areas ,is it my fault if I get mugged there if I go for a walk?
The reasons the pirates have extended their area of operations is because they are paid huge sums by private companies to get their ships and crews back,this still means that the pirates are responsible not the shipping companies.
If somebody paid me lots of money to kidnap somebody I wouldnt do it because its wrong.
The only answer to this is strong action against the pirates.