Somalia ? International naval forces hunted on Tuesday for a British couple feared taken by Somali pirates while sailing from the Seychelles islands, and as night fell units were trailing three suspicious vessels.

Cmdr. John Harbour of the European Union Naval Force said one of its helicopters spotted a yacht towing two skiffs about 200 miles from the pirate stronghold of Haradhere. He said it was too dark to read the vessel’s name but its location suggested it could be the Chandlers’ yacht.

“We have two ships in the area and a helicopter and they are continuing their investigation,” Harbour told Sky News from the EU force’s headquarters near London.

Paul and Rachel Chandler were heading to Tanzania in their yacht, the Lynn Rival, when a distress signal was sent early Friday, according to the U.K. Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.