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British yacht couple kidnapped by Somali pirates
Kiran Randhawa and Mark Blunden27 Oct 2009
Pirates are holding a British couple to ransom after storming their yacht in the Indian Ocean.
Paul and Rachel Chandler, who sold their home in Tunbridge Wells to fund their dream trip, sent a distress signal on Friday.
It is thought this went out just before a boarding party of six Somalis took control of their 38ft yacht Lynn Rival.
It is believed they were being taken to the pirates' stronghold, a town called Harardhere, where a ransom demand will be made. But their family said they were doing their trip “on a shoestring” and had no money.
Two Royal Navy ships were today searching for them. The Foreign Office said it is in touch with the family but a spokeswoman said the Government's policy remains never to give in to ransom demands.
Mr Chandler's sister Jill Marshment said: “We are very, very worried and concerned that this has happened and now everything is being handled on a diplomatic level.”
Retired engineer Mr Chandler, 58, and his 55-year-old wife, a former civil servant, were 950 miles off the Somali coast as they sailed from the Seychelles to Tanzania.
A ship carrying about30 pirates was in the area looking for larger boats to hijack when they saw Lynn Rival. The pirate's commander, known under the pseudonym Hassan, said the couple were “in our hands now” and that ransom demands would follow.
But Mrs Marshment said they do not have the funds. She told how the pair, who have been married 25 years, took early retirement and went sailing three years ago. Mrs Marshment said: “It's a very basic yacht and they don't have the money to pay a ransom. They don't have any children so that's why they could go around the world because they don't have any dependants."
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She said her father Alfred, 98, from Dartmouth, had taken the news badly and that she was in contact with Mrs Route the Chandlers took on their yacht Lynn Rival Distress signal they sent off Seychelles Chandler's sister Sarah and brother Stephen who were “extremely worried”.
Mrs Marshment said of the Chandlers: “They are very independent people. I think the pirates are obviously only interested in money, so at least they have to keep them safe and well. She added: “This is their life, really. They do sailing, they live for this.”
Reader views (7)
"Pirates made up to $80 million in ransoms last year" how much of that contributes to Somalia's GDP?
What do you mean contributes - that IS the Somali GDP!
- Rogan, Irving, 27/10/2009 18:00
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They sailed those waters for two years - kinda invites the bad guys, don't you think? I feel sorry for them, certainly - they'll probably lose everything they own to pay off any ransom. Much of the blame for their capture though is on their own heads.
- Rogan, Irving, 27/10/2009 15:34
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Surely these people knew that this area was dangerous and full of pirates. Didn´t they ever read a newspaper, watch the news on TV or listen to it on the radio? Foolish people.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 27/10/2009 15:12
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If they wanted to put themselves in jeopardy from money-hungry somalis they could have just pottered around Cardiff Bay.
- Squiz, Islington, 27/10/2009 15:12
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With all the rest of the ocean to wander abut it, why in God's name would anyone wants to be where there are known pirates in the area?
It beggars belief but I hope they are rescued safely.
Amber in Mitcham
- Amber In Mitcham, Mitcham Surrey, 27/10/2009 14:48
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"Pirates made up to $80 million in ransoms last year" how much of that contributes to Somalia's GDP?
- Don Raj, west london, england, 27/10/2009 12:56
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One assumes they knew the risks in entering the area. It is difficult to feel sorrow under those circumstances.
No sat phone coverage and in a conflictive and dangerous area of the world. Are they stupid or what?
- Jaime, Madrid, Spain, 27/10/2009 11:59
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