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Pirate Hostage Killed in Raid

On April 4, the French-flagged 47-ft Colin Archer-designed Tanit, bound for Kenya and 500 miles off the Somali coast, was seized by Somali pirates who took the yacht’s five passengers — two couples and a three-year-old boy — hostage. The French Navy has steadfastly refused to negotiate with pirates in the past, and this morning reaffirmed their committment to that policy by storming Tanit. One of the hostages and two pirates were killed in the raid, with three other pirates arrested. There’s no word on the identity of the slain hostage, other than it wasn’t the child.

In the meantime, negotiations are continuing for the release of the captain of a U.S.-flagged cargo ship that was boarded by Somali pirates on Wednesday. The crew of the ship retook control of the vessel, but the captain was taken hostage as the pirates fled.

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Whether you were sailing in the regatta’s only one-design division, the IC 24s, or even Bareboat B, the B.V.I.