Pirates: Warship Shadowing Hijacked American Yacht

MOGADISHU, Somalia (CBS/AP) — Two pirates and a Somalia official say a hijacked yacht with four Americans onboard is nearing the Somali coast, and that it's being shadowed by a warship.

KNX 1070's John Brooks Reports

The three say the yacht Quest is in the waters between Yemen and northern Somalia. One pirate gave his name as Bile Hussein, the second gave his name only as Hassan, who said he is in contact with pirates on the Quest. The Puntland official asked not to be named because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly.

Hussein said a warship with a helicopter on its deck is near the Quest.

Four Americans sailing around the world are aboard the yacht, which was hijacked off Oman on Friday. If they are taken to land, it would likely lengthen their hostage ordeal considerably.

The organizers of the Blue Water Rally said late Saturday on their website that a yacht belonging to Scott and Jean Adam, of Marina del Rey. They had been participating in the race, but left it Feb. 15 to take an independent course from India to Oman.
 
For the past seven years, the couple has been sailing around the world to distribute Bibles.

Jean's former brother-in-law, Mark Savage, told CBS2/KCAL9's Stacey Butler that the couple was well aware of the danger of sailing through pirate-infested waters.

The Blue Water Rally organizers identified the other two Americans aboard as Phyllis Mackay and Bob Riggle of Seattle.

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