A couple believed to have been kidnapped by pirates in the Seychelles are from Tunbridge Wells.

Paul and Rachel Chandler were heading for Tanzania from the Seychelles in their yacht, the Lynn Rival, when a distress signal was received.

Now a full-scale rescue mission has been launched to find the pair.

Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency said an Emergency Position Indicating

Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was activated at 11pm on October 23.

The couple are believed to have updated followers of their trip with a regular blog.

But on the latest leg, they left the Seychelles and were on a 150 nautical-mile journey to the Amirante Islands.

The route would have seen the 55-year-old and 58-year-old near Somali waters - which are well-known for pirate attacks.

A Foreign Office spokesman said officials were investigating claims that Somali pirates had seized the couple's yacht.

Reports claim pirates had captured the Chandlers, and a ransom demand is due to follow.

Paul Gelder, the Editor of Yachting Monthly told KentOnline: “The Seychelles is a great cruising area for yachtsman.

“It is quite unusual for the Somali pirates to have extended their territory this far out, it is the first incident I have heard of.

“There is not a lot you could do on a yacht to outrun some of these pirates, because if they are in speed boats with powerful outboard engines most yachts are displacement boats that are built to sail and they probably sail at no more than 10 knots even with the engine on so you are, in some respects, a sitting duck.”

Tuesday, October 27 2009