An Australian couple were robbed after their yacht was boarded by an armed gang in the waters off New Caledonia.
They were only ‘lightly injured’ said public prosecutor Alexis Bouroz, although they were shaken up.
The captain of the vessel was struck and knocked to the floor by one of the ‘seven to eight’ people who came aboard carrying rifles and machetes.
The boat was looted and an engine and electronic equipment destroyed to stop the crew from raising the alarm.
Bouroz said shots were fired into the air and into the side of the boat.
It was condemned by New Caledonia’s tourism department as a potential blow to its aim of attracting more high-end tourism.
"These tourists were staying on a luxury yacht, a trend with high growth potential", the department said.
Bouroz said a full investigation into the incident last week is still ongoing and the ‘main perpetrator’ has been identified.
The French Pacific territory of New Caledonia is popular with small ship cruises and private yachting due to its pristine corals.
It also has the world’s largest enclosed lagoon.
The Australian department of foreign affairs said it was aware of the incident and ‘we stand ready to offer consular assistance.’
