Somali Marine and Coastal Monitor website Ecoterra International has published an as yet unconfirmed report that a sailing yacht with possibly two British couples on board was captured off the Seychelles within the last 24 hours.

The report states: ‘While official records show the report of a missing yacht, local reports say the yacht is being commandeered towards Somalia, possibly Hardheere (the notorious pirate town north of the Somali capital Mogadishu) and even more likely Hobyo.