Pirates Exist, They Do Pose a Risk

Today we received a number of emails pointing us to the story about the 4 American's killed by the pirates just off the horn of Africa.  Interlaced within the emails were loving sentiments of concern.  Thank you for all the concern.  We want to chronicle in the diary what our thinking is on this.

Pirates are real, and not just as some fad because of Jack Sparrow.  There is a large population of people whom make their way through this world through piracy.  I suspect their have been pirates about as long as there have been people taking to boats.

There is risk in taking this journey.  There is a risk that we could be captured and killed by pirates, like the 4 Americans who died today, or that we make a mistake and sail into a horrible storm.

It is our belief that there is no more risk taken by this journey, as it relates to mortality, than there is staying in the US living normal lives.  It may be possible to argue, in fact, that it is safer to go on the trip.

I pulled up some interesting data from the CDC:
http://www.cdc.gov/NCHS/data/nvsr/nvsr58/nvsr58_19.pdf

Deaths in the US attributed to homicide in 2007, according to the CDC, was 18,361.  This means, on average, 50 people a day are killed in the USA.  Every day, on average, more than 2 people every hour are murdered in the USA.

Deaths in the US attributed to accidental causes in 2007, according to the CDC, was 123,726. This means, on average, 339 people a day accidentally die in the USA.  Every day, on average, more than 14 people every hour die from an accidental cause in the USA.

4 American's were captured by pirates and killed.  Tragedy. How many American's have died this way in say the past 10 years?  I can't seem to find the answer, which in and of itself is a directional arrow that it isn't that many.  We know that none have made the news in the past few years, which is why the 4 recent deaths are getting so much air time.

Loading the family up on the sailboat and venturing off into the world is a risky proposition.  I would submit that it is no more risky than living the typical American life.  If something happens to our family on this trip, it will be devastating.  If something happens to our family while not on the trip, it will be devastating.  Not taking the trip because of a fear that something might happen, and that something is super remote, that is devastating.