Volvo 60 'Kingdom of Bahrain' 

A hard scenario to predict...

Foreign Office efforts are continuing in an effort to try and secure the release of five Britons detained by the Iranian Navy on November 25 while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai.

The Volvo 60 'Kingdom of Bahrain' yacht was due to take part in the Dubai to Muscat Race on 26 November.

The RYA advice to yachtsman looking to sail in potentially dangerous waters, whether it be from the threat of pirates or through areas which are politically sensitive, is to seek advice from the Foreign Office before setting sail.

Rod Carr, RYA CEO said: “This would have been a hard scenario to predict. There has never been an incident previously where civilian sailors have been taken by a national authority in this manner”.    Information from the Foreign Office and other sources suggest that the boat, Kingdom of Bahrain, may have inadvertently drifted into Iranian waters due to technical difficulties.  

“We await news from the Iranian authorities as to what their intentions are and in the meantime our thoughts are with the families at this difficult time” concludes Rod.  

The Team Pindar crew on board are all qualified sailors with Oliver Smith (31) and Oliver Young (21) and Luke Porter (21) all holding a RYA Yachtmaster qualifications and Sam Usher working as a dinghy Instructor at a RYA recognised training centre.  

Information on cruising abroad can be found here