A Microburst - a fierce vertical wind - was responsible for sinking the Canadian tall ship 'Concordia', says it's Captian, William Curry.  48 students and the 16 professional crew and teachers from the Concordia, which sank 300 miles off the coast of Brazil, have been rescued successfully.

The Concordia is a Canadian floating classroom which has taken over 1000 GAP and university students, who have earned both high school and university credits while sailing around the world.

The spokesman said that couple are said to be being held in separate locations near the coastal town of Haradheere in case the British military tried to rescue them, and had not seen each other since a Somali doctor visited them last month.  Further news can be found on the 'Save the Chandlers' website.

See also our article on piracy avoidance here.