The Tanit is a 41-foot personal yacht owned by the French couple Chloe and Florent Lemacon. The Lemacons sailed from France in July 2008 with their 3-year-old son, Colin to "to flee the consumer society and its routine". On the weekend of April 4, 2009, the Tanit and its crew was seized by pirates off the coast of Somalia.USA Today: 1 French hostage, 2 pirates die in yacht rescue (April 10, 2009)Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
On April 10, 2009, French forces attacked the pirates holding the Tanit in an attempt to rescue the Lemacons and another family who were being held hostage. During the rescue effort Florent Lemacon, as well as two Somali pirates were killed. French officials did not rule out the possibility that the 28-year-old Lemacon had been shot by French fire, rather than executed by the pirates.BBC News: Freed hostages arrive in France (April 12, 2009)
French Warning
I repeat in the clearest manner and with the most forthright warning to any of our citizens who are thinking about venturing into this area of the Indian Ocean, I ask them to forget it.—French Defense Minister Herve Morin
Tanit Yacht News
Official Site: Le voyage de Tanit Blog
BBC News: Freed hostages arrive in France (April 12, 2009)
Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
Bloomberg: French Commandos Free Yacht... (April 10, 2009)
Guardian UK: Hostage killed as French storm yacht... (April 10, 2009)
BBC: French hostages freed off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
Forbes: Pirates defy U.S. navy...French free yacht (April 10, 2009)
Tanit Yacht News, Blogs and Commentaries
- BBC News: Freed hostages arrive in France (April 12, 2009)
- CNN: Hostage dies as French attack Somali pirates (April 10, 2009)
- Times Online: Hostage dies as rescuers attempt to free family (April 10, 2009)
- Fox News: Officials Say Pirate Fired Weapon... (April 10, 2009)
- USA Today: 1 French hostage, 2 pirates die in yacht rescue (April 10, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
The Lemacons sailed from France in July 2008
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Fact:
They documented their adventure on their blog "Le voyage de Tanit"Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
The Lemacons had been warned by French officials not to sail off the coast of SomaliaReuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
The Lemacons mention the threat of piracy in their blog, but do not appear to have taken the warning seriouslyReuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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From a January 2009 blog post
"The danger exists but the ocean remains huge. The pirates must not destroy our dream."Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
Their boat was seized by pirates on the weekend of April 4, 2009Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
The French navy made contact with the pirates on Thursday, April 9, 2009Reuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
They decided to attempt a rescue effort after the pirates reportedly refused their offer of a ransomReuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
This is the third time in a year that the French navy has stepped in after a French-registered yacht was seized by piratesReuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
It is the first time the death of a hostage has occurredReuters: France frees yacht off Somalia (April 10, 2009)
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Fact:
Chloe and Colin Lemacon arrived on French soil on April 12, 2009BBC News: Freed hostages arrive in France (April 12, 2009)
