Thye were nowhere close to Somalia nor did they plan to sail off Somalia. Here is their web site and ship’s log.
http://svquest.com/2011_travels.htm
They were out of India and bound for Oman, as you can see from their log, their intended track was far from Somali waters. They were traveling in international waters as every sailor should have the right to do. For most of their voyage they had been in company with 100 other yachts in the Blue Water Rally.
Being PC about black muslim murderers has led to the US tolerating murder on the high seas further and further from the coast of Africa. And some folks here are blaming the victims for sailing in the nwestern Indian Ocean and being an inconvenience to the US Navy?
Sadly, ignorance rules the day. Just see the post following yours, and many above as well, as on other threads. The rule is to first form and opinion (”I am superior to everyone else”) and then, if ever, to inform oneself. The four were nowhere near the Somali coast.
The buck stops on the desks of paralyzed by PC Western leaders who for long have ignored the problem that one and two hundred years ago would have been solved in no time.
Please call the Russian, Indian and Chinese Navies!