Yacht couple caught by pirates are from Tonbridge
A couple believed to have been kidnapped by
pirates in the Seychelles are from Tonbridge.
Paul and Rachel Chandler were heading for Tanzania from the
Seychelles in their yacht, the Lynn Rival, when a distress signal
was received.
Now a full-scale rescue mission has been launched to find the
pair.
Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said
an Emergency Position Indicating
Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated at 11pm on
October 23.
Audio: Paul Gelder, editor of Yachting
Monthly, on the threat of pirates
The couple are believed to have updated
followers of their trip with a regular blog.
But on the latest leg, they left the
Seychelles and were on a 150 nautical-mile journey to the Amirante
Islands.
The route would have seen the 55-year-old and 58-year-old near
Somali waters - which are well-known for pirate attacks.
A Foreign Office spokesman said officials were
investigating claims that Somali pirates had seized the couple's
yacht.
Reports claim pirates had captured the
Chandlers, and a ransom demand is due to follow.
Paul Gelder, the Editor of Yachting Monthly
told KentOnline: “The Seychelles is a great cruising area for
yachtsman.
“It is quite unusual for the Somali pirates to
have extended their territory this far out, it is the first
incident I have heard of.
“There is not a lot you could do on a yacht to
outrun some of these pirates, because if they are in speed boats
with powerful outboard engines most yachts are displacement boats
that are built to sail and they probably sail at no more than 10
knots even with the engine on so you are, in some respects, a
sitting duck.”
Tuesday, October 27 2009