At this point we don't have a clue what the rescue options were or how the negotiating was going. What's clear is that for whatever reasons the pirates decided they were in a no win situation for themselves, and that perhaps by executing their hostages they might provide other pirate bands more leverage for bargaining.

Not all encounters with pirates end up with happy endings.

Why on earth did these yachtsmen risk their lives in these waters sailing solo?

Charley Noble