Fai Tira blog Wednesday 23rd February 2011  

Somewhere in the Indian Ocean

Disastrous news of those aboard SV Quest.

Please see pree release at the end of this blog.

Last night we received a devastating message that almost immediately transformed our already wound-up anxious emotions - over the kidnapping of one of the fleet - into ones of anger, sorrow and fear.

We’d received the news, in Email form from Rally Control, that the hostages aboard Quest had been murdered.

At this moment, all else feels of little consequence. My brain finds it almost  impossible to accept that our fellow travellers are no longer with us, and my mind refuses to dismiss the ingrained images of Phyllis and Bob, who were very close friends (they’d sailed the previous Rally together aboard Bob’s boat), nor will it let go  the images of the good times that we spent together, refusing to let my mind escape and rest.

The terror and violence of this horrible episode is too difficult to comprehend or reconcile.

The details provided by our limited sources are sketchy and most likely incomplete. However, it seems that they might have been caught in the crossfire of a rescue attempt, or been victims of a vendetta between arguing groups among the band of 19 pirates involved in the hijacking of the boat.

The initial response of anger comes from the feeling of intense outrage at the callous and barbaric act that led to the needless sacrifice of innocent lives that still had so very much to offer. The overpowering sense of sorrow at the thought of losing friends, some of them very close, in such sudden, unforeseen, and premature circumstances, has had the effect of leaving emotions drained and shattered. Then the fear: firstly for our own safety and that of others, and also the stress all this may be having on family and friends waiting for news and left worrying at home.

We’re still safe and very near to our next port of call, in amongst a well co-ordinated group that has complete understanding and is working well together. We feel confident and hope everyone back there can take comfort from it.

 Nevertheless, a very black day that I hope is never repeated.

Both will be sorely missed and tears have been shed.

Footnote from Pete.

I built up a lovely relationship with Phyllis and Bob since we first met in Gibraltar and Fatu Hiva respectively.  Although not officially a couple, they spent a lot of time together and seemed to jell very well.  Phyllis was vibrant, with a gregarious personality.  Bob on the other hand was very laid back and quiet.  They both had the same nickname for me and used it every time we met: “How you doing BAD BOY?!”. This will stick with me for the rest of my life.  We all will miss these two Americans who have been part of our lives for the last fourteen months. 

Our thoughts also go out to Scott and Jean, the owners of Quest, who had kindly offered Phyllis and Bob a passage to Crete.

Footnote from Jeremy:

Phyllis, whom I met originally in Gibraltar, was excellent company and I shall miss her immensely.  She was full of good humour and joie de vivre. I have a photograph of her and me – taken in Bloody Mary’s bar in Bora Bora – which I shall treasure.                 Bob joined the previous boat I was on in French Polynesia.  He was also good company, albeit in a quieter more philosophic way, notwithstanding which he also knew how to have a good time! I shall miss him too. This world is a poorer place for their untimely departure from it. My condolences to their other friends and relatives, and indeed to those of Scott and Jean, with whom my acquaintance was very recent and therefore sadly brief.

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HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; Fax: (813) 827-2211

Feb. 22, 2011
Release Number: 022211-1

 U.S. Forces Respond to Gunfire Aboard the S/V Quest

TAMPA, Fla. (Feb. 22, 2011) - Tampa, FL - At approximately 1 a.m. EST today,
while negotiations were ongoing to secure the release of four American
hostages, U.S. forces responded to gunfire aboard the pirated vessel (S/V)
Quest. As they responded to the gunfire, reaching and boarding the Quest,
the forces discovered all four hostages had been shot by their captors.
Despite immediate steps to provide life-saving care, all four hostages
ultimately died of their wounds.

"We express our deepest condolences for the innocent lives callously lost
aboard the Quest," said Gen James N. Mattis, U.S. Central Command Commander.

During the boarding of the Quest, the reaction force was engaged by pirates
on board the vessel. Two pirates died during the confrontation and 13 were
captured and detained along with two pirates already in US Forces custody.
The US Forces also found the remains of two other pirates already dead
aboard the Quest. In total, it is believed 19 pirates were involved in the
hijacking of the S/V Quest.

US Forces have been closely monitoring the S/V Quest for approximately 3
days, once it became known to be pirated. Four U.S. Navy warships comprised
the response force dedicated to recovering the S/V Quest: the aircraft
carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65), the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf
(CG 55), the guided-missile destroyers USS Sterett (DDG 104) and USS
Bulkeley (DDG 84). The ships are deployed to the region to conduct maritime
security operations and to provide support to operations Enduring Freedom
and New Dawn.