Sportfish Cruiser Sinks in White Marlin Open 2021

A ten meter Sportfish Cruiser with six men onboard sank during day one of the White Marlin Open 2021 on second August.  The sportfish cruiser sank while fighting a blue marlin, and in backing down had an exhaust fail which resulted in the boat taking water and sinking.  Lucky for them motor yacht Fishbone a sportfish yacht of nineteen meters in length heard the MayDay and went immediately for the rescue with all the 3100hp available, rescuing the six fisherman who at this stage where already to safety on the life-raft, and the Pursuit sportfish nearly all sank behind them.  

The 2021 48th edition of the White Marlin Open is located in Ocean City, Maryland being held from second to the sixth August, and is considered one of the largest Billfish Tournaments.  The 2021 edition had 444 boats entered and a prize money of just over nine million US$.

The sank sportfish cruiser is a Pursuit 3400 Express produced from 1997 till 2002.  The 3400 Express was one of the few Pursuit's with inboard powered, equipped by twin Cummins or Volvo 370hp diesels with shafts.  The Pursuit 3400 Express offered an interior sleeping four with a double berth forward and a convertible dinette.

The sportfish yacht which performed the rescue is m/y Fishbone an Island Boat Works 65ft Custom powered by twin 1600hp Cat engines giving a thirty knots cruise.  This North Carolina custom sportfish yacht was build in cold moulding and offers accommodation for six in three double cabins.