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Yacht family not 'over-worried' Yacht family not 'over-worried'
(about 4 hours later)
The brother of a woman thought to have been captured with her husband by Somali pirates has said he is not "grossly over-worried".The brother of a woman thought to have been captured with her husband by Somali pirates has said he is not "grossly over-worried".
Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 58 and 55, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, sent a distress signal on Friday from the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles. Paul and Rachel Chandler, aged 59 and 55, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, sent a distress signal on Friday from the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles.
A possible yacht sighting 200 miles from Somalia is being investigated.A possible yacht sighting 200 miles from Somalia is being investigated.
Stephen Collett, of Ixworth, Suffolk, said the family was waiting for news and "keeping their fingers crossed".Stephen Collett, of Ixworth, Suffolk, said the family was waiting for news and "keeping their fingers crossed".
Mr and Mrs Chandler were heading on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands en route to Tanzania in their yacht the Lynn Rival when they used the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.Mr and Mrs Chandler were heading on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands en route to Tanzania in their yacht the Lynn Rival when they used the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon.
'No evidence''No evidence'
The route would have taken the couple near Somali waters which are notorious for pirate attacks on ships and smaller boats.The route would have taken the couple near Somali waters which are notorious for pirate attacks on ships and smaller boats.
A Somali pirate told Reuters news agency they had captured the couple and they were healthy but ransom demands would follow.A Somali pirate told Reuters news agency they had captured the couple and they were healthy but ransom demands would follow.
A yacht similar to the Lynn Rival has been spotted 200 miles from SomaliaA yacht similar to the Lynn Rival has been spotted 200 miles from Somalia
A yacht was seen about 200 miles to the east of the Somali port of Haradheere on Tuesday.A yacht was seen about 200 miles to the east of the Somali port of Haradheere on Tuesday.
Mr Collett said: "We haven't heard anything since last night. "The last we heard was a vessel had been sighted being towed by two skiffs.Mr Collett said: "We haven't heard anything since last night. "The last we heard was a vessel had been sighted being towed by two skiffs.
"There's no evidence that it's the vessel. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."There's no evidence that it's the vessel. We're just keeping our fingers crossed.
"It may still be that they're sailing across the Indian Ocean. We're not grossly over-worried at the moment.""It may still be that they're sailing across the Indian Ocean. We're not grossly over-worried at the moment."
On Tuesday, Mr Chandler's sister, Jill Marshment, 69, of Bredon, Worcestershire, said her family were praying for the couple's safety.On Tuesday, Mr Chandler's sister, Jill Marshment, 69, of Bredon, Worcestershire, said her family were praying for the couple's safety.
She told BBC Radio Kent that the couple were unlikely to have money for a ransom.She told BBC Radio Kent that the couple were unlikely to have money for a ransom.
This yacht is not confirmed as being the one we're looking for Commander John HarbourEU NAVFORThis yacht is not confirmed as being the one we're looking for Commander John HarbourEU NAVFOR
"All their money is literally sunk in that boat as far as I know."All their money is literally sunk in that boat as far as I know.
"They haven't got wealth, they are just an ordinary couple enjoying early retirement, to do what they've always wanted to do.""They haven't got wealth, they are just an ordinary couple enjoying early retirement, to do what they've always wanted to do."
She added: "If I was to give a message to the pirates, I'd say you've got the wrong people.She added: "If I was to give a message to the pirates, I'd say you've got the wrong people.
"They are resilient people. They won't be weeping. Instead, they'll be thinking, 'What are we going to do? What are we going to say'?""They are resilient people. They won't be weeping. Instead, they'll be thinking, 'What are we going to do? What are we going to say'?"
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it still could not confirm whether pirates were involved.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said it still could not confirm whether pirates were involved.
The European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) said it had located a yacht at about 1500 GMT on Tuesday, but did not want to give the family "false hope".The European Union Naval Force Somalia (EU NAVFOR) said it had located a yacht at about 1500 GMT on Tuesday, but did not want to give the family "false hope".
Commander John Harbour, spokesman for EU NAVFOR, said the yacht was continuing to sail towards the Somali port of Haradheere.Commander John Harbour, spokesman for EU NAVFOR, said the yacht was continuing to sail towards the Somali port of Haradheere.
He said: "We are monitoring the situation. This yacht is not confirmed as being the one we're looking for."He said: "We are monitoring the situation. This yacht is not confirmed as being the one we're looking for."
Seven suspected pirates were detained in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday after a French fishing vessel was attacked 350 nautical miles east of Mogadishu but the operation was not linked to the Chandlers' disappearance, an EU NAVFOR spokesman said earlier.Seven suspected pirates were detained in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday after a French fishing vessel was attacked 350 nautical miles east of Mogadishu but the operation was not linked to the Chandlers' disappearance, an EU NAVFOR spokesman said earlier.
Paul and Rachel Chandler were on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante IslandsPaul and Rachel Chandler were on a 150 nautical-mile passage south-west to the Amirante Islands