Slain yachters called 'brave adventurers'

CNN.com ^ | February 22, 2011 | Mike Pearson

[ColdOne]

(CNN) -- Phyllis Macay wrote of her travels around the world with the breathlessly joyous and staccato style of a teenager.

"I can say that I want to spend a week here ... month here ... maybe a year," she once wrote of visiting Corsica. "It is exciting, vastly busy ... and beautiful at the same time."

That sort of infectious love of adventure, of sailing, of seeing the world was a defining characteristic not only of Macay, but also her companion Bob Riggle and friends Jean and Scott Adam, friends and family say.

All four died early Tuesday off the coast of Somalia at the hands of pirates who had hijacked the Adams' yacht, the Quest.

[Ramius]

So... people shouldn’t venture out on to the sea? People shouldn’t try new things? How about astronauts? or was Magellan an idiot too? Vancouver? Columbus? I guess we have to suppress all those risk-taking people and keep them from doing anything.

Do you wear a helmet when you’re out in public? You wouldn’t want to take a risk, you know... any risk is bad according to you.

Piffle. Please... for the luvva God, stay indoors in your safe little world and let the your betters do things that matter. It’s pretty clear that you never will.

[ICCtheWay]

Oh Blah Blah Blah ... yada yada yada ... how old are you anyway? Naive fools pave the way with their own blood...

And I am a combat veteran ... and there is a reason I am alive ...

[Ramius]

And I am a combat veteran.

Thank you for your service. Really.