Motor Yacht Sinking in Belleair

A 23 meter motor yacht titled Christmas Spirit, partly sank near Belleair boat ramp, in Tampa on the afternoon of third September.  United States Coast Guard and Police Community Support Officer went to the scene to assist the boater and evaluate the scene.  The boater sustained no injuries and during inspection it was seen that the yacht was leaking fuel in the sea, and was later surrounded and protected with a hard boon and absorbent pads.  The motor yacht had to be left boomed till Tuesday fifth September when a cleaning up process had to be made.  

M/y Christmas Spirit is a 1992 Lazzara 76.  Produced from 1992 to 2002, Lazzara build 48 units of the 76, which offered a five stateroom layout and two important options; wide-body deck house and enclosed skylounge flybridge.  Lazzara made thirty in each of these versions.  The Lazzara 76 was powered by twin MTU 1150hp for speeds in the mid twenties. The Lazzara 76 was replaced by the 80 in 2003. 

Unfortunately the last twelve months have been tough on m/y Christmas Spirit, which was sold as salvage from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian from end September 2022, the worst hurricane to hit Florida since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.