British crew released by Iran

Authorities concede that the illegal entry was a ‘mistake’

The five British crewmembers, of the Kingdom of Bahrain yacht that was captured on the 25th of November while sailing from Bahrain to Dubai, have been released.

The BBC reported that the UK Foreign Office have confirmed the yachtsman, captured by the Iranian navy and held by the Revolutionary Guard for a week, have now been freed.

The crew was on board a Volvo 60 yacht, backed by the UK’s Team Pinder, and preparing for a race, Dubai-Muscat Offshore Race organisers have said.
 
The yacht is said to have mistakenly drifted into Iranian waters mid-race. Iranian radio said that the five crew had been freed at 0730 local time. It is believed they were held on the island of Sira – at least 15 miles from the Iranian mainland, but within Iranian waters nonetheless, straying into which carries stiff penalties in Iran – a country famed for its political paranoia and siege mentality.

An official in Iran had reportedly said "serious" measures would be taken if they had "evil intentions", but a statement by the Revolutionary Guard said interrogations had revealed their "illegal entry" had been "a mistake".

The Foreign Office warns that: ‘‘many areas of the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf are highly sensitive politically.  The waters around the islands of Abu Musa and the Sira in the southern Persian Gulf are particularly sensitive and are militarised.’’

Unaware of this, in 2005 a British couple who anchored at Abu Musa were apprehended and they and their vessel were detained.  Similarly, in 2005, a French and German national were arrested, put on trial and imprisoned for 14 and 15 months respectively for entering the waters near the island.  Three Finns were also detained in the area in June 2007.
 
Needless to say, mariners should not attempt to dock at all or sail into waters around these islands without express permission from the Iranian authorities.

Andrew Pindar, chairman of Sail Bahrain told reporters that the crew wouldn’t be letting this stop them: "Something went wrong, but it doesn't stop you going back. These guys want to sail the ocean - they're all professional sailors with ambitions to take part in other ocean races."