News from Pirate Alley!

We have just heard over the radio a pirate attack taking place 60 miles ahead of us along the Yemen Coast!! A small Korean tanker called 'Brocolli 1' (strange name) had a skiff with 10 somali's on board with AK 47's try and board them with a ladder. One of the pirates fell into the water and the skiff moved off to retrieve him loosing the ladder in the process, all the time the crew of the tanker were screaming out for help on the radio to a US coalition war ship which was heading for them under full speed (very scary to hear so close to us). We've been listening as the tanker directed the war ship towards the skiff that was chasing them a mile behind. The last we just heard is that another American war ship also showed up and the original one asked them to stay out of they're line of fire. Obviously we are just hearing what is being said on the radio and not sure what the outcome is yet.

Our Convoy leader has called the War ship and alerted them to the fact that 27 yachts are heading in their direction and need to know the eventual outcome of attack...If the skiff is not apprehended then it could be a threat to us! Hopefully we will hear soon but it seems that the war ships often let the pirates go unless they catch them actually on board the ship. We're all pretty surprised that this is taking place so close to the Yemen coast as we thought it would be much safer over here. We've been advised to keep a good look out and stay in a tight formation so that's exactly what we're doing!

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