There’s nothing inherently “stupid” about sailing in the Indian ocean. Thousands of vessels do it every day. It’s a key route for all shipping traffic. I don’t think we should just give it over to the pirates.
Are you a bluewater sailor?
Right!
"As yachts do not carry cargo, they have never fallen under a protection category, and all authorities, including the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) have recommended that yachts do not transit the Gulf of Aden, traditionally the danger zone for pirates."
http://www.sail-world.com/USA/Yacht-seajacked-in-the-Indian-Ocean/80430
From the same link:
"Tiemessen had forbodings. 'Something bad is going to happen,' he told me two weeks ago by satellite phone, 'The families on these boats are starting to panic and go off in different directions. With the dramatic increase in pirate activity in the Indian Ocean I cannot believe that all 100 yachts can get through unscathed.'"
>There’s nothing inherently “stupid” about sailing in the Indian ocean. Thousands of vessels do it every day.<
Stolnitz, who also travels around the world with his wife via boat, said he and Scott Adam had previously discussed the dangers of piracy when navigating the Arabian and Red seas.
Scott Adam, 70, had considered shipping the boat to avoid the dangers of the trip, a costly option, but decided instead to join a rally of yachts heading to the same location, Stolnitz said.
The couple, however, apparently decided to break off from the Blue Water Rally, which organized and supported the group of boats headed toward the Mediterranean.
Blue Water Rally organizers released a statement on their website Saturday that said the Adams chose to take an independent route from Mumbai to Salalah, Oman, and left the rally on Feb. 15. With them on their boat was another American couple, Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle.
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/20/local/la-me-somali-pirates-20110220