Couple held hostage by pirates to set sail again

Paul and Rachel Chandler, the retired British couple who were held captive by Somali pirates for more than a year, are preparing to set sail round the world again as soon as their damaged boat is fixed.

The couple, who were seized from their yacht when they were sailing off the Seychelles in October 2009, were held in solitary confinement in Somalia for 388 days. They were released last November after a ransom of about £1 million was reportedly paid.

In an interview with The Scotsman Magazine Mr and Mrs Chandler, of Tunbridge Wells, Kent, say their experience has not put them off completing their dream retirement trip. “It hasn’t dampened our will to enjoy the adventure. We are very lucky that we have had our boat returned so that we can carry on,” said Mr Chandler, 60.

Since returning home, the Chandlers have started work to repair the damage inflicted by pirates on their yacht, Lynn Rival. They have also written a book, Hostage.

The Chandlers say they don’t harbour hatred towards their captors, most of whom they say were misguided opportunists.The exception is the gang leader, who was violent towards Mr Chandler, who says: “If I had the leader here I would still carry out acts deemed unprintable on him.”