“Disaster! Our yacht has been stolen. We were on Reunion Island when someone cut the ropes and took it. Where is it – and how are we going to find it? Does this mean we’re going to lose the race?”

Phil

Day 38 – Disaster! Our yacht has been stolen. We were on Reunion Island when someone cut the ropes and took it. Where is it – and how are we going to find it? Does this mean we’re going to lose the race?

PP

Well that’s it then. We might as well give up and go home.

Phil

We can’t stop now – we’re having so much fun. And anyway, we can’t go home without our yacht. Oh look, there’s that man who gave me the coffee beans. Maybe he can help…

Man

Hello, how’s the satnav now? All working?

Phil

Well, err, yes – it’s working, thank you very much. But we have another slight, little problem. We haven’t got a yacht to put it on anymore.

Man

Really?

Phil

Yes, I’m afraid so. It looks like it’s been stolen… you know, pinched… nicked.

Man

Surely not. This sort of thing doesn’t happen around here. It must be… pirates!

Sophia

Pirates! Real-life pirates?

Man

Yes, they do exist but they’re not like the pirates in stories. They will steal almost anything and they are very, very dangerous. But we must get your boat back so let’s hope these pirates aren’t too bad. Come on, let’s use my fishing boat and go looking for your missing yacht. They can’t be very far away.

Phil

The man who gave me the coffee beans is taking us out to sea in his fishing boat. But how are we going to find our yacht? Pirates are lawless and will do anything to protect their bounty – but why does it have to be our yacht? Oh, it could be anywhere now. But hold on… what is it? I think Passepartout has seen something…

PP

Over there, look! That’s our yacht… and I think I can see one… two people on board. Let’s hope they haven’t sabotaged our yacht.

Phil

What are we going to do? We don’t want to get too close – they might have guns.

Man

OK, we need to slow down and approach carefully. Let me just look through my binoculars to see if they have guns… hold on! They look familiar.

Phil

Do you know them?

Man

Errr… yes! I do.

Sophia

Are they dangerous?

Man

Absolutely not. They are not fearsome pirates: I used to play with them in the island football team. They didn’t score any goals then and they’re not going to sabotage your journey now. Come on, let’s get your boat back.

PP

It’s a yacht!

Phil

We’ve caught up with our yacht – The Mermaid – and the would-be pirates have given it back to us, and we got an apology. These guys were ‘joyriders’ – they stole our boat just for a bit of fun – luckily they didn’t cause much damage but they’ve almost ruined our chances of getting back to London on time.

Man

So sorry again about these guys. I will make sure they pay for what they did.

Phil

Farewell and thanks for your help.

PP

Well, that was a real adventure – now can we get back on course and try and make up for lost time? We have a long way to go.

Sophia

Passepartout, don’t forget it was you who hit his head and had to go to hospital remember?

PP

Err, well, I think it was you who sailed us 500 miles in the wrong direction.

Phil

Will you two just stop it – we all need to get on and try and work out how we’re going to win this challenge and get back to London on time.

Sophia

Don’t worry Phil, it’s easy – if we head south we’ll pick up some trade winds – that will make us much faster. We’ll get to Indonesia in just a few days.

Phil

Sounds like a plan. Passepartout?

PP

Fine by me. But we’ve got a long, long way to go – I think we’ll need to take turns in sailing while the other two get some sleep.

Sophia

Good idea. I’ll steer first and get us back on course. You guys get some sleep – it’s been a long and busy day. First Phil, perhaps you can make some of that delicious tea you’re good at making, hmm?

Phil

Aye-aye captain! I’ve always wanted to say that. Right away Sophia.

Phil

Making tea! It seems to be the only thing I’m good at doing on this yacht. Ah well, if it keeps the crew happy! Well, we’re out in the middle of the Indian Ocean now and we have the wind in our sails. Sophia is on deck and Passepartout is here asleep – you can probably hear him snoring! Actually, I’m feeling… quite sleepy… now. The rolling of the yacht on the waves seems to be rocking me to sleep… like a baby. Maybe I… should get some sleep before… I have to steer… the yacht.

PP

What? Huh? What was that?

Phil

I think we’ve hit something – but what?

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Vocabulary

pinched – stolen

lawless – not obeying laws, sometimes by using violence

bounty – (here) large amount of stolen money and valuable things

sabotage – doing something, for example, causing damage, to stop something else being successful

joyriders – people who steal a vehicle (or boat) and drive it fast and dangerously just for pleasure