William Nocker 1965 - 2012

William Nocker, aged 47 years old of Cheltenham, died after the powerboat Class 1 powerboat Welmax no.9 flipped on the water during the Gabon Grand Prix. His co-driver, Norwegian Kurt Olsen, also suffered critical injuries in the collision and was recovered in intensive care.  Nocker and Olsen were helming the Welmax no.9 catamaran powerboat of Welmax Offshore Racing Team, when this flipped at 104 knots following the hitting of a double wave.  A long coming powerboat racer William Nocker had previously competed in the Honda 225 UK championship, with stints in the Powerboat P1 endurance class, and entered Class 1 when he joined Welmax in August 2011 before the Italian Grand Prix.  Nocker was returning to the sport following a five-year suspension after he was found guilty of tampering with a competitor's fuel supply. A tribunal upheld charges of gross misconduct and unsportsmanlike behaviour against Nocker and fellow racer Rob Lister. Water had allegedly been poured into the tank of a rival boat during the Liverpool Powerboat Grand Prix Honda Formula Four-Stroke Series in 2006.

Project: ISA Yachts GTO 70

ISA Yachts presents the GTO 70 project, its smallest build to date and the second GTO line project. Unlike the GTO 100 which was designed by Marco Casali the GTO 70 is developed by a new collaboration with Galeazzi Design, which penned both the exterior and interior lines.  For the ISA GTO 70 Galeazzi presents a contemporary interpretation of a luxury Mediterranean speed sport yacht with an aggressive and functional design language, subdued to performance with an open hard-top design.  Compact, lightweight and radically geared toward speed, the ISA GTO 70 is not an exercise in style but an advanced engineering platform. The ultra-high-performance planning hull, developed by the ISA Yachts naval engineering team through in-depth computational fluid dynamics studies, is optimized to ensure stability, efficiency and precise handling even at top speeds.  The ISA Yachts GTO 70 offers a traditional Mediterranean open yacht layout with a cockpit offering a central sun-pad aft, C-shaped dinette to starboard, Summer galley to port, and dual helmsman seats seats to starboard and identical companionway seats to port.  The lower deck offers a three double cabins layout, with an owner stateroom at midships.  A separate galley with adjacent two berth crew cabin is located to starboard.  The ISA GTO 70 is to be powered by twin MAN 1800hp, but propulsion is not advised but with declared top speeds up to 55 knots, I'd imagine this to be surface drives.  

www.isayachts.com

Eight Boats End Aground in Storm at Gumbet Bay, Turkey

Eight boats and yachts varying from four to eighteen meters in length ended aground and beached in Gumbet Bay, province of Bodrum, Turkey on Sunday first February.  The boats ended beached due to the strong winds, which the Meteorology Department had issued a warning about. The boats and yachts were anchored offshore of the bay, and some of them as the above picture shows collided into each other.  Following the calming of the winds some boats were later towed back in deep water, indicating that they did not sustain big damage also because they ended aground on a sandy beach.

The flybridge boat in this grounding is a Sealine 420 Statesman as produced in the nineties, while the hard top sport yacht is an Off Course Comfort Class 60.

Two Boats End Aground in Iron Cove, Sydney

Two cruisers of ten meters in length ended aground at Iron Cove, in Drummoyne, to the West of Sydney on the early hours of Friday seventeen January 2025. Strong winds which were reported to reaching wind speeds up Beaufort Force Eight caused the grounding as the boats broke their swing mooring.  Low tide also made the situation a bit more difficult.  A salvage by Aus Coastal Diving and Marine was organized the following day, with no injuries reported from the accident, although the boat will need some repairs.

The boats in this accident are a Greenline 33 Yacht as produced from 2008 to 2022 to one on the rocks to the right of the picture, and a Bayliner 3688 Motor Yacht as produced from 1992 to 1994.

New Model: Beneteau Antares 12 Coupe

Beneteau present the new Antares 12 Coupe, the enclosed hard-top version for the 12 Fly model which arrived in 2024. The Antares 12 Coupe is a versatile fully enclosable family cruiser, designed for cruising in all latitudes, and complements the Antares 12 Fly; with this hard-top version offering versatility.  For example the extended part of the sunroof, which comes standard in fiberglass can be optional fitted with solar panels, and or ordered with a canvas opening system.  For the Antares 12 Coupe Sarazin designed a modern shape, and brings an asymmetric main deck with port side deck being slimmer to the one to starboard. The hull glazing and gunwale create sleekness, while the protective, streamlined aft roof enhances the overall balance of this enclosed sport cruiser. The electric starboard drop down bulkhead naturally extends the outdoor living space and simplifies access to the water. The Antares 12 Coupe offers an interior with living on the main deck offering a dinette and galley, and a three cabin lower deck; forward master cabin with private en-suite bathroom, and two guest cabins at midships, twin berths cabin to port side, single and a half berth to starboard, and port side guest shower head. The Beneteau Antares 12 Coupe is powered by twin Mercury 400hp outboards and or optional triple 300hp.

Technical Data:

LOA - 12.97 m (42.7ft)

Beam - 3.78 m

Draft - 1.1 m

Displacement - 9029 kg 

Fuel Capacity - 2 x 587 l

Water Capacity - 400 l

Accommodation - five berths in three cabins

Engines - 2 x Mercury 400hp, optional 3 x Mercury 300hp

Propulsion - twin or triple outboards

Speed - 37 knots top speed

Project - Sarazin

Certification - CE B10/C12

www.beneteau.com

competition = Jeanneau Merry Fisher 1295 Coupe

Sealine Aft Cabin Cruiser Ends Aground in Sarasota, Florida

A thirteen meter Sealine aft cabin cruiser with two persons onboard ended aground at Big Pass, Sarasota, Florida for a story shared by Florida Gulf Coast Marine Services of TowBoatU.S on his YouTube Channel on thirteen December 2024.  Following the removal from the sandbar the Sealine aft cabin cruiser is shown leaving with its own power meaning it sustained little to no damage.

The boat in this accident is a Sealine 450 Statesman as designed by Bill Dixon and produced from 1992 to 1997.  When launched the 450 Statesman was Sealine largest model, then replaced by T51 which arrived in 1999.

Project: 3B Craft 335 LX

3B Craft from Fano Italy presents the 335 LX project, it's second model in the LX range which debuted with the 270 LX in 2018.  It's been seven years coming for a second LX model, and 3B Craft does not disappoint in the 335 LX, its new flagship what is a boat which really is a 50/50 split sportfish-sport-cruiser offer.  The sleek and modern lines integrated with the large T-top characterize the 3B Craft 335 LX with other details as the hull glazing which serve the lower cabin deck adding a modern flair to the project.  Speaking of lower deck, the 3B Craft here shows it is a cabin cruiser offering a forward double berth, mini galley, L-shaped lounge sofa, and a double berth at midships.  Amazing cabin spaces for a boat just measuring over ten meters.  The aft part of the cockpit is also very customizable, able to be fitted with a fish box and dual entrance, or an L-shaped settee with entry from port side.  Hull one which was presented in Genoa boat show was actually fitted with a cruiser friendly forward facing settee, and the lower deck offered a forward U-shaped dinette which converted to a double versus the double berth showed in the plans.  Beside the customizable aft part of the cockpit, the 335 LC offers a second summer galley with drawer hide system located to port side and under the C-shaped dinette, this located two steps up and in the central under the hard-top part of the cockpit and on the opposite starboard side has the helm station and a drawer with wash basin.  The 3B Craft 335 LX is to powered by twin 400hp outboards, and twin 450hp available as option.   

www.3bcraftsrl.com

Flybridge Cruiser Beached in Macleay Island, Queensland

A twelve meter flybridge cruiser ended washed on the beach close to the boat ramp in Macleay Island, Moreton Bay, West Queensland, Australia on the morning of Saturday fourteen February.  The boat was not attended at the time of the beaching, and is reported to have broken its swing mooring following the passing of a cyclone on Friday night.  The ownership was advised of the accident as the coast guard was reported to be on the scene inspecting the incident.  The story was shared on the Macleay Island Community group on Facebook.

The flybridge cruiser in this accident is Silverton 42 Convertible as produced from 2000 to 2012.  The 42 Convertible was a replacement to the Silverton 41 Convertible.

Sport Cruiser Ends Aground in Carneiros Beach, Tamandare Brazil

A fourteen meter sport cruiser titled Marias ended beached and aground in Carneiros Beach, Tamandare Brazil for a story reported on some Instagram channels on the fifth January.  According to some unconfirmed news the boat ended aground as the tide was going lower, with the skipper not noticing and ending beached.  The boat had also a broken hull window on its starboard side, but it is not reported if this was damaged by vandalism or during the incident.  A recovery operation for the sport cruiser was being organized.

The sport cruiser in this accident is an Azov Yachts Z480HT as produced since 2020.  Azov Yachts from Cabo de Santo Agostinho, Pernambuco, Brazil was founded in 2019 and today produces six models from 26 to the 48 foot Z480HT.

New Model: Tiara 39 LE

Tiara presents the 39 LE new entry level to its Luxury Express line which now features three models from eleven to fourteen meters. Sharing hull with the fall 2025 debuting 39 LS the 39 LE brings innovation and versatility while remaining committed to the heritage of Tiara timeless design.  Featuring a salon social zone with versatile seating, the helm seat rotates inward while the companion seat adjusts to form a comfortable L-shaped lounge, ideal for entertaining. The aft cockpit offers a customizable experience, featuring the choice of a Buffet Lounge or the Adventure module.  The aft facing cockpit seat with storage complements either modules. The galley is thoughtfully positioned below to enhance the social space above deck, and is outfitted with sink, microwave, cooktop, and premium amenities. Two well-appointed sleeping quarters offer comfort on longer cruises and a three-zone head complete the lower accommodation deck.  The Tiara 39 LE is powered by twin Mercury 600hp for top speeds up to 46 knots and a cruise of 34.

Technical Data:

LOA - 12.04 m (39.6ft)

Beam - 3.81 m

Draft - 1.12 m

Displacement - 10,365 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 1893 l, plus 114 l diesel

Water Capacity - 189 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins

Engines - 2 x Mercury Verado V12 600hp

Propulsion - duo prop outboards

Speed - 46 knots max 34 cruise

Range - 271 nautical miles at cruise

Hull Shape - planning deep Vee with 21 degrees deadrise aft

Construction - resin infused with painted hull, sandwich foam core for all hull

Certification - NMMA, ABYC, USCG

www.tiarayachts.com

competition = Boston Whaler 405 Conquest