Storm in Block Island Creates Havoc, Two Boats End Beached

A strong squall which developed in the evening of Thursday third July in Block Island, Rhode Island, created havoc for boaters anchored at Great Salt Pond, intended to enjoy a long weekend break to celebrates the July Fourth United States of America Independence Day.  The storm peaked wind gusts up to fifty knots, and waves up to two meters in the bay as videos on various social media platforms show numerous boats dragging anchor and soft colliding on each other.  Ultimately no one was reported grievously injured and only two boats ended beached, which considering the storm intensity and tens of boats and yachts all anchored or swing moored at close proximity to each other it was a lucky outcome, also thanks to the harbour master who was there assisting and saving the boats and yachts with his rib.  

A nine meter sport cruiser ended beached, with a sailing yacht of about ten meters in length finishing in the same position a couple meters away.

One Injured in Boat Hunt Rage at Discovery Bay, California

A jet ski rider was lightly injured as a wake board boat collided into him, and after this smashed into some moored boats and piers at Discovery Bay, Conta Costa County County, at about 20:50 of Sunday 22 June.  Residents filmed all the scene from the initial phase as the dark coloured wake board boat is seen hunting down the jet ski on the outside of the marina at speed.  After this the jet ski and the wake board boat are seen entering into the marina slowly, only for things to turn out of control as the the dark boat spots the jet ski and opens its throttles into it, colliding and running over it, and injuring the jet ski driver.  Following this the dark coloured wake boat is seen colliding into the marina piers and other boats, including of which is a nine meter Bayliner flybridge boat, and then again into other boats on the other side of the marina.  Conta Costa Fire Department took the jet skier to the hospital, reported to have suffered only mild injuries, as the Contra Costa Sheriff opened an investigation into the case, but is reported to have arrested no one.

One of the boats collided into in this rage madness, is a Bayliner 2958 Command Bridge as produced from 1988 to 1990.  The 2958 Command Bridge was a replacement to the 2858 Ciera Command Bridge, and was replaced by the 3258 Command Bridge.

Eight Dead in Sudden Storm on Lake Tahoe California

Eight people were killed on Lake Tahoe, California, for a sudden strong storm which started around 15:00 of Saturday 21 June.  The storm caused caos to dozen of boaters in the second greatest USA lake, as eight people also lost their life as an eight meter Chris Craft boat with ten people onboard capsized during the strong squall.  Two people from the capsized boat were rescued immediately and taken to a hospital in a not reported condition.  Six lifeless bodies were recovered on Saturday evening, with a body recovered on Sunday evening, and the last body on Monday afternoon.  The sudden storm even surprised meteorologists, who forecasted some rain and nothing more, with this coming to be Force Seven Gale winds, and waves up to three meters in height, and a sudden reduction in temperature.  El Dorado County Sheriff and US Coast Guard assisted the various boaters in the storm, as this cleared after two hours of mayhem. 

A popular Summer destination Lake Tahoe straddles both the states of California and Nevada, and is the second deepest lake in the USA, with a maximum depth of 501 meters, and a mean depth of 300 meters.  Lake Tahoe has a 144 squared miles area, which makes it also the second largest lake in the USA.

Tiara Boat Hits Underwater Reef in Bosa Sardinia

An eleven meter Tiara express sportfish cruiser hit an underwater reef of the Bosa seawall, to the West of Sardinia before 18:00 hours of Sunday fifteen June.  The boaters were assisted by a rib, as they dropped the tender down.  The exact reason why the Tiara cruiser ended aground, are not reported, although it looks to be an error of navigation, as it hit the underwater reef close to the break water marker, and also tried to pass from the North part of the sea wall.  A plan to float the Tiara cruiser and take it to a yard for repairs was being organized on that same evening.

The Tiara in this grounding is a 3800 Open as produced from 2001 to 2008.  The 3800 Open was a replacement to the Tiara 3700 Open, and was replaced by the 3900 Open.

Colombo Boat Falls of Road Transport Near Lake Garda

A nine meter in length Colombo sport cruiser sustained important damage as it fell from its trailer during road transportation on the Gardesana road, between Fasano of Gardone Riviera and Maderno, near Garda lake, to the North of Italy at 16:15 of Saturday 24 May.  The dynamic of the accident as reported by local news, is that the road transport hit the wall of the street with the boats port side and on impact this fell from its trailer and on the road.  Apart important visible damage to the boat, this blocked the street in both road directions for about two hours.  The local Police of Toscalano Maderno intervened in the scene and called immediately a crane truck to remove the important damaged boat, as this blocked the road traffic in the area, with the Colombo sport cruiser removed at 18:15 and roads reopened at 18:30. 

The boat in this road collision is a Colombo 32 Romance as produced since 1997.  The Colombo 32 Romance is considered an innovative boat as she was the first to be produced with mahogany veneers glued on top of a fiberglass construction, giving it a classic look with the easy to maintain benefits of a composite structure.

Sport Cruiser Ends on Reef in Procida Island

A sport cruiser of thirteen meters in length ended on top of the reef in Pozzovecchio to the North West side of the Phlegraean Island of Procida, on Saturday seventeen May.  No one was injured in this reef impact, with the cause of the accident reported to be an error of navigation.  The sport cruiser is reported to have sustained damage and its hull breached having water coming through with the collision.  A salvage operation was being organized for the following Monday.

The sport cruiser in this collision is Gagliotta 44 Fisherman as designed by Stefano Mango and produced since 2006.  The 44 Fisherman was a replacement to the Gagliotta Camaro 43, and was an extension of the sport fisherman inspired looking line which debuted with the 34 Gagliardo in 1999.

Two Racers Injured as Skater Powerboat Flies in Lake Hivasu

Two powerboat racers escaped with mild injuries as a 38 foot Skater Catamaran Powerboat was attempting to break a speed record on a three-quarter mile course on Lake Havasu, Nevada on the afternoon of Saturday 26 April, during the 2025 Desert Storm Shootout.  The airborne Powerboat was filmed and shared on social media platforms as it flew and then spun two and half times in both up and down and sideway directions before it crashed into the water.  The two Powerboat drivers were using the names of Hollywood action actors John Wayne and Clint Eastwood to protect their real identities, and are part of the Freedom One Racing team based out of Kansas City, Missouri.  The powerboat reached 200.1 mph before it went airborne, a bit short to the 206 mph record it was trying to beat in its speed run.  Windy conditions are being thought as the cause of the accident, with one of the powerboat racers suffering a broken collar bone and ribs, and the other a fractured knee. Ultimately the powerboat still managed to cross the line and win the 2025 Desert Storm Shootout.

The Skater 388 has been produced since 2008, and is today the Douglas of Michigan catamaran powerboat builder specialist best seller in its line of eleven from 28 to 58 foot models.  The Skater 388 is also a current US national and World Offshore winning model.

Azimut Ends Beached in Bucerias Nayarit Mexico

A fourteen meter Azimut flybridge cruiser titled m/y Yalusa with seventeen people onboard ended semi beached and partly sunk at the mouth of the Arroyo del Indio river in Bucerías, Bahia de Banderas, on the Mexican Pacific Coast on Friday seventh March. Yalusa is reported to have first crashed in an Oyster farm, and then partly sunk and ultimately ended part beached.  Five days after the sinking on Wednesday the twelfth March, an excavator was filmed removing and wrecking the vessel, all this without any authorization from the federal agencies responsible for the care of maritime-terrestrial zones.  The oyster farmers in the area, pointed out that this would jeopardize the production of the mollusc for the Oyster Festival, which takes place annually at the end of March.

The Azimut in this accident is an AZ 46 model as designed by Stefano Righini for exterior and Carlo Galeazzi for interior, and produced from 1997 to 2004.  The Azimut AZ 46 came out as a replacement to AZ 43 Quarantatré, with the model evolving with minor modifications into the 46 Evolution in 2004 and then replaced by the 47 in 2007.

Boats Damaged as Boat Sheds Snow Collapse Near Ontario

Over sixty boats were damaged as boat sheds collapsed in record snowfall at Starport Marina, in Ramara Township, Orillia, near Ontario on late Monday evening 24 February.  The shed collapse came after Orillia made a new record for snow fall in February 2025 making 180 centimetres of snow, forty centimetres more to the previous February 2007 best.  Orillia has received record snowfall, with more than 460 centimetres of snow fall thus far in Winter 2025, this causing damage to roofs, decks, and gas lines..

Most of the boats in this shed collapse are Carver, Sea Ray's, and a couple of Cruisers also in the mix, all about ten to thirteen meters in length.

Owner Refuses Help as Classic Boat Ends Aground in Latisana

A classic twelve meter Italian build flybridge cruiser with one man aboard ended aground in the Lagoon of Marano, near Latisana, not so far from Aprilia Marittima to the North East of Italy at about 17:00 hours of Wednesday fifth February.  Advised of the accident the Porto Captaincy of Lignano Sabbiadoro and Vigili dell Fuoco went to the area.  But when the response squads arrived on the spot, the German owner refused the help, advising that he was in good health and will wait for high tide, for which the boat will remove itself with less damage then eventual towing.

The classic boat in this grounding is a Camuffo 40 Fly as designed by Marco Camuffo and build in wood lamellar method in the mid seventies.  Camuffo is the most long standing dynasty of boat builders having its origins since 1438, with the current Porto Gruaro near to Venice premises existing since 1843.

Explorer Cruiser Collides Into Florida St. Augustine Bridge

An explorer cruiser of thirteen meters in length titled m/y Bright Side collided and got stuck with the Bridge of Lions in St. Augustine, Florida on the early afternoon of Sunday tenth November.  The explorer cruiser just did not make it because of its mast, but also because it tried to pass under the bridge on a high tide.  Other unconfirmed reports say the bridge also has its air-draft markings damaged following the recent hurricanes and storms, and these have not yet been fixed yet.  As of the early evening of the day Bright Side was still stuck with the bridge. This Bridge of Lions collision follows that of the Nao Trinidad classic Spanish schooner which lost power, and collided with the same bridge thirteen days ago.

M/y Bright Side the explorer cruiser in this collision is a 2005 Kadey-Krogen 44.  Produced from 2002 to 2011 in 26 units, the 44 came out as a replacement to the 42, the model which debuted Kadey-Krogen in 1977, and was replaced and evolved into the 44 AE in 2012.

Ten Rescued as Sea Ray Boat Ends Powerless Near Vero Beach Florida

The US Coast Guard has rescued ten boaters as an eight meter in length Sea Ray sport cruiser titled m/y Incommunicado ended powerless and disabled about twenty nautical miles to Vero Beach, Florida at about 23:00 of Friday eighteen October.  The Sea Ray cruiser went powerless as its found itself in a rough sea state with two to three meters waves height.  Five of the people rescued needed medical assistance.  Ultimately the powerless Sea Ray cruiser ended beached the following day at Vero Beach.

The Sea Ray in this incident is a 270 Sundancer as produced from 1994 to 1998.  The 270 Sundancer came out as a replacement to the 250 Sundancer and was replaced by the more spacious second generation version in 1998.

Carver Cruiser Falls Down in Lifting Operation in Kingston Ontario

A fourteen meter Carver flybridge cruiser titled Seaclusion IV fell from the slings during a lifting operation at Treasure Island Marina, in Kingston, Ontario, Canada on the afternoon of Wednesday sixteen October.  No injuries were reported as no one was on the boat during the drop, though the Carver cruiser sustained important damage as it landed on a steel piling that went through the transom.  Ultimately the Carver flybridge cruiser partly sank in three meters of water, and sat for six days like this. We have information that the Insurance wrote it off, for a situation which could have been handled better, if for example the boat would have been kept afloat.

The boat in this lifting drop is a Carver 46 Voyager as produced from 2004 to 2011.  The 46 Voyager came out as an evolution and replacement to the 45 Voyager, with Carver never truly replacing the model as it switched to the C line classic looking models from 2012. 

Classic Chris Craft Beached In Milwaukee

A classic Chris Craft flybridge cruiser titled m/y Deep Thought ended aground in between Bradford Beach and McKinley Marina in Milwaukee on the afternoon of Sunday thirteen October.  According to US Coast Guard and Milwaukee Police officials the boat ended beached after it ran out of gas. The Coast Guard said that the vessel was a hard aground and no life or pollution threat existed, with a request to remove the classic flybridge cruiser sent to the ownership, who advised that it is working to do this with a salvage company.  Till Friday 25 October Deep Thought was still not yet removed.

The Chris Craft in this beaching is a Roamer 41 Regal produced between 1967 to 1970.  Chris Craft  build a total of 58 Roamer 41 Regals, 31 in steel and 27 in aluminium.  Chris Craft bought Roamer from Michigan in 1957, debuting a renewed Roamer line on that same year, which lasted till 1979 and a total of 1964 Roamers from ten to eighteen meters in size build.

Hurricane Milton 2024

Hurricane Milton was an extremely powerful and devastating Atlantic hurricane which became the second-most intense tropical cyclone ever recorded over the Gulf of Mexico, behind only Hurricane Rita from 2005. Milton made landfall on the west coast of the U.S. state of Florida, less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene devastated the state's Big Bend region. The thirteenth named storm, ninth hurricane, fourth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Milton was the strongest tropical cyclone worldwide in 2024 so far and the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area since 1921. Milton formed from a long-tracked tropical disturbance that originated in the western Caribbean Sea and consolidated in the Bay of Campeche on October 5. Gradual intensification occurred as it slowly moved eastward, becoming a hurricane early on October 7. Later that day, Milton underwent explosive intensification and became a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 156 knots. At peak intensity, it had a pressure of 897 millibars, making it the fifth-most intense Atlantic hurricane on record. Milton fluctuated in intensity after an eyewall replacement cycle, re-intensifying into a Category 5 hurricane the following day. Increasing wind shear caused the hurricane to weaken as it turned northeast towards Florida, falling to Category 3 before making landfall near Siesta Key late on October 9. Afterwards, Milton rapidly weakened as it moved across the state into the Atlantic Ocean, and became extratropical on October 10 as it became embedded within a frontal zone. The remnants gradually weakened and passed near the island of Bermuda before dissipating on October 12. 

Ahead of the hurricane, Florida declared a state of emergency in which many coastal residents were ordered to evacuate. Preparations were also undertaken in Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. The hurricane spawned a deadly tornado outbreak and caused widespread flooding in Florida.  Hurricane Milton killed at least 26 people: 23 in the United States and three in Mexico. Preliminary damage estimates are to be at least US$30 billion.

Marina 1 in Punta Gorda, was the most single hit marina with over a dozen yachts sank and or with important damage.

M/y Indigo a 2015 Marlow 88 seems to be the most high profile of the damaged yachts from Hurricane Milton.

Here is three grounded boats, a Chris Craft aft cabin and Hatteras sportfish in Manasota Key.  Two nearby boats a Sea Ray and Post sportfish also partly sank.

More damage from the storm surge at Manasota Key, above and below as boats end on the terraces of nearby homes. 

Hurricane Helene 2024

Hurricane Helene was a large, deadly, catastrophic, and fast-moving tropical cyclone that was the strongest on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida. The eighth named storm, fifth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season, Helene developed gradually from a mid-September disturbance in the western Caribbean Sea within a broad area of low pressure known as the Central American gyre. By September 24, the disturbance had consolidated enough to become a tropical storm as it approached the Yucatán Peninsula, receiving the name Helene from the National Hurricane Center. Favourable conditions led to the cyclone's gradual intensification, and it became a hurricane early on September 25. More pronounced and eventually rapid intensification ensued as Helene traversed the Gulf of Mexico the following day, reaching Category 4 intensity on the evening of September 26. Late on September 26, Helene made landfall at peak intensity in the Big Bend region of Florida, near the city of Perry, with maximum sustained winds of 120 knots. Helene would weaken as it moved quickly inland before degenerating to a post-tropical cyclone over Tennessee on September 27. the storm then stalled over the state before dissipating on September 29.  In advance of Helene's expected landfall, the governors of Florida and Georgia declared states of emergency due to the significant impacts expected, including very high storm surge along the coast and hurricane-force gusts as far inland as Atlanta. Helene also caused catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding, particularly in western North Carolina and eastern Tennessee. Hurricane warnings also extended further inland. As of September 30, a total of 120 deaths have been attributed to Helene.

As boating goes Helene seems more to have affected mostly smallish boats, also because the storm surge which at its peak elevated up to six meters, happened rather in land then by the coastal area.  Above is Maxum 3100 SE which ended aground, with other boats and into a block of of apartments in the big bend region of Florida.

Here is a CandL Marine Corp from Taiwan 38 model from 1981 which ended aground and blocked between trees in Sarasota.

Nine Persons Saved as Sport Cruiser Hits Reef in Procida Island

Four Adults and five children were saved from as an eight meter sport cruiser hit the Punta Serra reef, to the North West of Phlegraean island of Procida, on the afternoon of Sunday 22 September.  The boat and the boaters were blocked on the reef, as the boat was stuck on the reef.  Following a call for assistance, the Port Captaincy with CP 829 and Guardia Costiera GC B154, came to the spot, and first rescued the boaters, and then started an operation to recover the boat.  Ultimately the operation coordinated by the Direzione Maritima di Napoli and Circomare di Ischia was a success.  None of the boaters were injured and the boat was towed to a nearby marina for inspection.

The boat in this collision is a Mano Marine 26 Sport as produced in the noughties.  The 26 Sport was replaced by the walk around Mano 25_09.

23 People Saved as Carver Boat Runs Aground in Boston Harbour

 

Twelve adults and eleven children were rescued as a thirteen meter Carver cruiser titled m/y La Bella Vita ran aground at Rainsford Island, Boston Harbor on 18:00 of Wednesday eighteen September.  The flybridge cruiser was carrying the Sommerville youth hockey team for a good time cruise when it collided with the reefs near Rainford Island, ripping a hull breach with the collision, and started to sink.  Boston Police intervened to the La Bella Vita distress call, as all persons onboard were rescued with only one adult injured.  Sea Tow was later called to the scene to recover the boat, with no success, and then decided to stabilize her in the spot.  Massachusetts Environment Police is investigating the cause of the collision and sinking.

M/y La Bella Vita is a 1999 Carver 456 Aft Cabin Motor Yacht as produced from 1999 to 2000.  The Carver 456 first debuted as the 455 Aft Cabin Motor Yacht in 1996, as a replacement to the 440 Aft Cabin, and was replaced by the 466 Motor Yacht.

Two Persons Saved as Jeanneau Runs Aground at Isola Piana

Two Japanese persons and a dog were saved as a ten meter Jeanneau flybridge cruiser ended aground and was taking on water at La Pelosa beach, Isola Piana, to the South West of Sardinia on the afternoon of Tuesday seventeen September.  The Port Captaincy of Porto Torres received the call of assistance who sent the CP 894 boat to the scene, who because of a low water draft and the rough seas of the day deployed a small rib to recover the boaters and the dog.  The boaters were then taken to Stintino who found an ambulance ready to assist them.  The boat was reported to have departed from Cala Finanza and going to Capo Ceraso when for an unknown reason ended beached in La Pelosa.  After the beaching the flybridge cruiser was also taking on water, with the Port Captaincy giving a notice to the ownership to remove the damaged boat and that it is responsible for any environmental damage this has made or might make.

The boat in this accident is a Jeanneau Prestige 36 as designed by Garroni and as produced from 2002 to 2010.  The Jeanneau Prestige 36 was replaced by the Prestige 350.

Two Injured in Lake Higgins Powerboat Collision

Two persons were injured as a nine meter powerboat collided about one nautical mile offshore to the North West shore of Lake Higgins on the afternoon Monday ninth September.  The two occupants were thrown off the powerboat as it lost control and spun off, and then sustaining some important damage from stern to midship.  Other boaters were unable to help the boaters, as it seems they were unable to board a boat, with Roscommon County Marine Patrol coming to the scene with a borrowed pontoon boat.  Following this the patrol lifted the boaters from the water and took them to shore, who were then assisted by Emergency Medical Services as they suffered broken bones from the impact with the seabed.

The boat in this collision is a Sunsation 32 Dominator as produced the noughties.  Sunsation was founded in 1982 in Algonac the original Chris Craft home, by Wayne Schaldenbrand debuting with the 16 Sunburn model.