It is with great sadness I report that the American sailing yacht Quest appears to have been seized by pirates somewhere in the Gulf of Aden / North Indian ocean area.

Bob in Nuku Hiva

Phyllis in Tahaa

The yacht name is familiar to me but I have not met the Owners , reported as Jean and Scott Adams. However they’re crew, Bob and Phyllis I know very well, both have been on the BWR since I joined it back in Antigua. In fact they had been on the previous rally, and were on their second trip around.

My heart goes out to Bob and Phyllis, and the Adam’s and their families. And to the rest of the BWR boats.

The yacht is reportedly being shadowed by an American warship, so there is hope that they can be intercepted before they make land fall. Reportedly the crew and pirates are still on board.

Details are still sketchy, but apparently the yacht was not with the other Blue Water Rally boats when it was captured.

The international community (hah) has been combating the piracy problem in the area, but it is a fully fledged industry. Large companies have been paying ransoms for years, giving it a large profitability, the traditional marine industries of the area have been destroyed by illegal foreign factory fishing and pollution. The intervention of the western navy’s in recent years came far to late, and is far from succeeding last I heard.

There's some video here: