This is an interesting story. According the reports I read, a luxury yacht was captured by Somali pirates off the coast of Puntaland as it was sailing between the seychelles and the mediterranean. USA Today says there were 10 ukrainians on board, the French government says up to 20 and the Ukrainian governments says there was one. All were apparently crew - no passengers.

Is it common for Luxury yachts to sail near the coast of Somalia?

Apparently, the French government sent a "commando force", GIGN, to "reinforce" the negotiations (see http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...d/5680051.html and http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp..._yacht_pirates