Pershing Sinks in Castevi Island Formentera

An eleven meter Pershing sport cruiser sank after hitting a reef while cruising to the North of Formentera on Monday 24 July.  The Pershing hit a reef in the North West of Formentera in between the islet of Castevi and S'Espalmador.  Unfortunately after hitting the reef the eleven meter Pershing sank, first going down aft rising its bow and later sinking completely.  News of this accident are a bit sparse with the photos and incident shown on social media.

The Pershing in this sinking is the 37 presented in 1998 and produced till 2006 to a design by Fulvio de Simoni as entry level for the brand.  The 37 replaced the 38/39 model with a sleek exterior and less accommodating interior, offering a four berths interior, and is powered by twin Cats 355hp and or Yanmar 370hp for later models, with shaft propulsion and reaching top speeds above the mid thirties.  A special one off without radar arch called Pershing 38 Endurance with twin Cats 420hp and Arneson surface drives was produced in 2000 and also competed in the Venezia to Monte Carlo race.  This 38 Endurance was for a time the Pershing previous boss and founder Tilli Antonelli personal boat.  

Flybridge Cruiser Goes Down in Boston Harbor

A twelve meter flybridge cruiser with four persons onboard, two men and two women started sinking after hitting Quarantine Rocks off the North side of Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor around 16:30 hours of Sunday 23 July.  Massachusetts state Police Marine unit responded to the call of the flybridge cruiser helmsman with two officers and Marine Vessel 26 which was in patrol in the area, saving the four persons just as they jumped in the water for safety.  The four boaters where later transported to Charlestown Marina with one of the four boaters having a minor laceration injury being evaluated by Boston EMS.  The flybridge cruiser damage was a ripped port-side strut and one foot square hole, with Towboat US patching it, rigging it with half a dozen floating bags and towing her to Marina Bay for an emergency haul out. 

The flybridge cruiser in this sinking is a Maxum 4100 SCB produced from 1998 to 2002.  The Maxum 4100 SCB offers an accommodation of two cabins and was powered by twin Cummins 370hp for a top speed up to thirty knots.  Maxum was founded in 1987 by Brunswick as a bridge brand between the entry level Bayliner and up market Sea Ray.  Brunswick closed Maxum in 2009 and moved its production to Meridan only for it to close also this company in 2016.

Sport Cruiser Saved from Sinking in Procida

A twelve meter sport cruiser started sinking when cruising around Procida on the morning of Sunday 23rd July.  The reason for the sinking are a bit mixed, with some saying the sport cruiser hit a reef in the area, while others saying it had water ingress from one of the propulsions.  Procida is one of the three Flegrean Islands, the other two being the famous Capri, and the nearby Ischia which is also the largest of the archipelago.   

The sport cruiser in this sinking is a Rio 44 Sport Coupe presented in 2019 as evolution of the 2016 launched 44 Colorado but with patio door main deck.  Designed by Marino Alfani, Rio's designer for the last decade the 44 Sport Coupe offers a three double cabins layout, and is powered by Cummins 480hp on shafts or Volvo 435hp with IPS pod drives.

Stolen and Beached in Oregon

A classic twelve meters Hatteras cabin cruiser titled m/y Empress was stolen from South Beach Marina at around 20:30 hours of fourteen July, and then some hours later beached at Lost Creek seven nautical of Newport.  Serving as a liveaboard for a couple Empress was stolen by a 34 year old who will appear to court by the end of the month.  Empress was recovered and taken to a boat yard in Toledo for repairs on 22 July.  She seems to have sustained some small damage to the propellers, with the hull still looking sound.

Empress is a Hatteras 41 Twin Cabin produced from 1965 to 1971. Designed by Hatteras long lasting first generation designer Jack Hargrave, the 41 Twin Cabin, offers a fore and aft cabin layout with a central raised saloon, and powered by twin GM 200 or 300hp in line shaft propulsion.  The Hatteras 41 Twin Cabin replaced the 41 Double Cabin, with the 43 Double Cabin in the fall of 1970 taking its place.

Princess Flybridge Goes Aground Then Sinks Under Tow

A twelve meter Princess flybridge motor cruiser under Malta flag and with a Maltese couple onboard ended aground on the night of fourteen July at around 23:00 hours in Cava d'Aliga, about seven nautical miles to the East of Marina di Ragusa in the South of Sicily.  Some reports are stating the flybridge cruiser was directed to Marina di Ragusa but due to an engine or equipment failure ended aground.  On the day after, Saturday fifteen August an operation was started to move the flybridge cruiser, and tow for repairs to Marina di Ragusa, only for it to mostly sink in eight meters of water while under towing at around 15:00 hours.   

The Princess flybridge cruiser in this sinking is a 40 model produced from 1997 to 2003 to a Bernard Olesinski design. The Princess 40 features a two cabins layout, and was powered by Volvo 370hp engines.  The 40 was a good success for Princess selling around two hundred units in a five year production run and was replaced by the even more successful 42 in 2003.

Pursuit Hits Stuart Sand Bar

A ten meter express sportfish cruiser ended aground when it hit a sand bar in Stuart Florida on the late morning of eleven July.  A video doing the rounds on social media shows the sportfish doing sustained planning speeds when it practically stopped to a standstill in a space of a few seconds.  BoatU.s. assisted the express sportfish and surprisingly and thanks to a careful removal it had very little damage, and left the spot with its own steam.  In the same area or very close by a sand bar nearly sank a fifteen meter sportfish in end February and was saved by the same BoatU.s. team.

The sportfish express in this grounding is a Pursuit 3400 Express.  Produced from 1997 till 2002, the 3400 Express is one of the few inboard made Pursuit and is powered 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.

Flybridge Cruiser Sinks in Manfredonia

A fourteen meter flybridge cruiser titled m/y Antonella under Italian flag partially sank while moored and unattended at the yacht marina in Manfredonia, on Italy's eastern Adriatic coast on the early morning of July tenth.  The flybridge cruiser was later in the day recovered, by the Mandredonia marina yacht yard.  Some unconfirmed reports are saying the flybridge cruiser sank from a failing generator raw water inlet.

The flybridge cruiser in this sinking is an Ars Mare Advantage 140.  Presented in 1994 the 140 Advantage comes from a design of Fulvio de Simoni and offered a comfortable three double cabins interior layout.  Produced till 2004 the Advantage 140 was updated with a sleeker radar arch and other modifications in the year 2000.  Unfortunately Ars Mare stopped producing in around 2007 which is a pity cause it build solid and nice cruisers.

Sportfish Cruiser Ends Aground in Cape Hatteras

An eight meter express sportfish cruiser titled m/y Carol-Ina with four persons onboard ended aground in Outer Banks Beach, North Carolina's Cape Hatteras, right outside Hatteras Village on the early evening of Sunday eighteen June.  The Carol-Ina apparently lost power just 150 meters outside the breakers of the area, with the captain trying to hold her offshore on anchor, but with the wind and sea state failed, and unfortunately for the express sportfish ending beached in the Outer Banks.  The owner of Carol-Ina is currently working with the US Coast Guard in order to salvage and remove Carol-Ina from Outer Banks beach.

The Carol-Ina is a fully custom made Virginia Homemade boat with hull number starting with VAZ and build in 1979.

Classic Alfamarine Bronte Sinks in Ravenna Beach

A twelve meter Alfamarine sport cruiser with five persons onboard semi-sank in the early hours of Sunday eighteen June in Lido di Dante, Ravenna.  The sport cruiser is reported to have hit one of the artificial man made reefs created for protecting the beach and sand from rough seas and storms.  The five passengers onboard the sport cruiser used the life raft to drop off the sport cruiser and go on the beach for safety. On Sunday morning the fire fighting diving squad inspected the sport cruiser for fuel or any pollution leaks, with none being reported.  An operation to remove and salvage the Sport Cruiser was being organized.

The Alfamarine in this sinking is the 40 Bronte S model designed by Franco Harrauer and Renato Sonny Levi and produced from 1976 to 88.  Alfamarine first model was also offered in two other versions; Motoryacht with flybridge, and Fisherman with a lowered stern, and two propulsion choices of Levi surface drives and line shafts.  The Alfamarine 40 Bronte will sell in 146 units in an eleven year production run, with a shorter hulled 35 released in 1985.  Alfamarine will take six years to replace the Bronte, when in 1994 it releases the Fabio Buzzi designed 43 model.

Unattended Flybridge Cruiser Sinks in Grado

An attended eleven meter flybridge cruiser partly sank in Grado, in the Northern part of the Adriatic sea on the morning of fifteen June.  The flybridge cruiser was reported to uncared and near abandoned status for some time, with marina users reporting the danger of a sinking to the management.  Grado is a sea-side town village located just in the middle between Venice and Trieste, and in the region of Friuli-Venezia-Giulia.  The sea-side town boasts four busy marinas because of the not far away distance from the Croatian and its hundred of islands coast.

The boat in this sinking looks to be a Dellapasqua Carnevali 11 from the seventies.  These boats where usually build with a fiberglass hull and wood super structure, and powered by Ford or GM diesel engines with line shaft propulsion.

Viking Hits Townsend Inlet and Sinks

A sixteen meter Viking sportfish yacht with seven people onboard struck the Townsends Inlet Bridge, and later partially sank on its starboard side at the Avalon Yacht club, in New Jersey USA.  The collision with the Townsends Inlet Bridge happened on 2300 hours of Monday fifth June, and some fifteen minutes later the Viking yacht partially sank.  The causes of the collision are not reported, with the seven people saved from the yacht by the area Coast Guard, and Sea Tow and Northstar Marine assisting keeping the vessel afloat and then on recovering it, which they completed on Wednesday seventh June.  Due to the collision the bridge waterway was temporary closed on Tuesday morning with commercial divers and engineers inspecting and repairing the damage sustained by the impact.  

This is the second time the bridge was struck by boat traffic in less to a year, with another collision occurring in July 2022, when a steel built motor vessel under charter with 22 passengers collided with the 1939 made Townsends Inlet.  The Townsends Inlet Bridge is located in New Jersey on the Atlantic ocean, linking Sea Isle City with Avalon Bay.

The Viking in this bridge collision is a first generation 52 Convertible produced from 2002 to 08, with a three cabin layout, and standard powered by twin Man 1050hp or optional 1300hp engines, these last reaching speeds in the mid thirties.  The 52 Convertible came about as a replacement to the first generation 50 Convertible and was replaced by the second generation 54C released in 2008.

Beneteau Trawler Aground in Lynnhaven Inlet

A twelve meter Beneteau Swift Trawler titled m/y JiMaria with USA registry ended aground while entering Lynnhaven Inlet, Virginia Beach on the early evening of the fourth June. The Beneteau Swift Trawler was out of the standard channel route and entered an unmarked difficult to navigate area.  The Beneteau Swift Trawler was removed from the grounding area and taken for repairs on the ninth June.

The Beneteau 44 Swift Trawler in this grounding is a 2011 build unit.  Replacing the 42 ST aftaert a six years production run, and introduced in 2011 with  design from Joubert and Nouvelt for exterior and interiors by Frutschi, the 44 Swift Trawler was produced till 2019 in about five hundred units. The 44 was replaced by the smaller 41 Swift Trawler in 2019.

Formula Sport Cruiser Beaches and Sinks in Lake Ozarks

An eleven meter Formula sport cruiser with two persons onboard ended on top of the underwater reefs near Lodge of the Four Seasons in Lake Ozarks on the late afternoon of Friday May 27.  The Formula sport cruiser for an unknown reason ended on top the well marked with two markers dangerous reef.  Unfortunately some hours later the sport cruiser sank, and in the morning turned upside down first near a marina and later driven by the current in a nearby beach, where it was secured to not remain a semi-sinking navigational hazard.

The Formula in this accident is a 35 PC model, produced from 1986 to 1989 to a design of John Adams, Formula head designer since 1971.  The 35 PC has an interior sleeping six in an open plan layout with a double berth forward and two convertible areas, and was standard powered by twin Mercuiser 340hp on V-drive shafts which gave top speeds up to thirty knots.  The Formula 35 PC was replaced by the 36 PC in 1990.

Motor Yacht Beached in Birdie Beach

A seventeen meter Trader motor yacht finished beached on Birdie beach, to the North West of Sydney in Australia in between the night and early morning of Saturday 27 May.  Before the beaching the yacht was being towed after it developed problems to its engines to the South East of Birdie Island.  Ultimately because of the damage sustained, and problems in salvaging the yacht from its current location, reports are coming that she will be chopped and wrecked.

The yacht in this beaching is a Tarquin Trader 575 Sunliner, an evolution extended in length of the 535 presented in 1997.  The Tarquin Trader 575 Sunliner was produced from 2000 to 2008 and offered an interior with three double cabins, and was powered by twin Cats 450hp which give 22 knots top speeds.  The 575 was replaced by the slightly longer 585 Sunliner in 2008.  Tarquin Trader was a British company with boats produced in Taiwan.

Beneteau Swift Trawler Sinks in Otranto

A twelve meter Beneteau Swift explorer cruiser with two Russians onboard sank after hitting a reef in Orte, Salento, to the South of Otranto on the afternoon of Friday nineteen May.  The Beneteau Swift trawler was reported as just leaving Otranto harbour direction to Amalfi where for a reported autopilot malfunction ended on the reefs of Orte and later sank.  The two Russian crew saved themselves jumping on the tender of the explorer cruiser, rescued later by Otranto Guardia Costiera.  After the rescue the Otranto Ports Authority sent a diver to inspect the area for any fuel and environmental damage, with no damages reported.

The explorer cruiser in this sinking is a Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 Fly.  Debuting in the first half of 2019 to a design of Andreani and Beneteau's technical department, the Swift 41 offers an accommodation with two cabins sleeping four and is powered by twin Volvo 270 or optional 300hp engines on line shafts propulsion.  Still in production today the Beneteau Swift Trawler 41 is also offered in a no flybridge Sedan version which debuted in the fall of 2019.

Sport Cruiser Capsizes With Crane in Baia Naples

An eleven meter Rio sport cruiser capsized along with the crane during launch operation in Baia, to the West of Naples, Italy on the morning of sixth April.  The causes of the accident are not fully reported though some photos on social media point to the accident caused to the forward left crane foot not correctly positioned.  The crane and the sport cruiser where recovered on the evening of the same day.  The Rio sport cruiser sustained important damage to its hard-top and starboard upper hull structure.

The Rio in this accident is a 36 Air which the North Italian builder presented in 2009.  The Rio 36 Air was also available as an Art without the hard-top version and replaced the 35 Cruiser in 2008. The 36 Art features a four plus two interior and twin 320hp Mercruiser diesel engines gave speeds up to 37 knots. The Rio 36 was replaced by the Marino Alfani designed 38 Parana in 2015 which is still in production today.

Classic Riva Sinks in Sapri

A ten meter classic Riva flybridge motor cruiser sank while in her berth in Sapri yacht marina, to the South of Naples in Italy on the morning of Wednesday 22 February.  The Riva classic cruiser was unattended at the time of sinking and according to some reports had the bilge pumps going on for quite some days, before energy ended and power faded which led to its sinking.  

The Riva in this sinking is a Portofino 34 model produced between 1976 to 79 in 38 units.  Sharing hull with the longer produced Summertime 34 the Portofino was a nice mix of sportfish influence to those of a sport cruiser, with an open main deck and a double berth with head lower deck.  Powered by twin 350hp gas or 225hp diesels the Portofino 34 reached 35 and 29 knots top speeds respectively.

Three Saved from Sinking Flybridge Boat Off Key West

A twelve meter flybridge cruiser with three persons onboard sank while cruising nine miles North off Fleming Key, an island off the North West corner of Key West, Florida on the early morning of Saturday eighteen February 2023. US Coast Guard responded to the sinking call, saving the three persons, with one of the persons reporting a head laceration injury and transferred to medical services when on land.  The cause of incident is under investigation, and it is not reported if the flybridge cruiser was salvaged or not.

The boat in this sinking is a Sessa Fly 40 as designed by Christian Grande and released in 2012.  Sessa was a brand in expansion in the end of the noughties decade, launching its first flybridge yacht the Fly 54 in 2009, which was followed by smaller 45 and then this 40 model.  The Fly 40 evolved into Fly 42 model in 2019.

Stolen Boat Capsizes in Columbia Oregon

A fourteen meter flybridge cruiser titled m/y Sand Piper which was stolen from West Mooring Basin in Astoria, capsized and was rolled over by eight meters waves while in distress in the Columbia River mouth, Oregon on Friday third February at around 1300 hours.  On the first May-Day call the US Coast Guard dispatched the life motor boat Cape Flounder which found that a boat rescue was too dangerous.  Seeing this the coast guard called for helicopter assistance who sent a coast guard swimmer in the water, saving the thief just seconds before the flybridge cruiser capsized. The 35 year old man was later in the evening arrested for theft and three other charges. 

The stolen and capsized flybridge cruiser in this accident is an Ocean Alexander 440 Motor Yacht, produced from 1990 till 1999 and based on the 420/440 Sundeck's with a sleeker super structure.  The Ocean Alexander 440 Motoryacht offers a two cabins layout and was standard powered by GM or Cummins 250hp with options to twin Cats 375hp for top speeds up to the low twenties. The 440 Motoryacht was replaced by the 450 Classico Sedan in 1999.

Abandoned Sport Cruiser Sinks

A nine meter classic Bayliner sport cruiser who was left moored on the North Shore of the Allegheny River, in Pittsburgh since end of Summer partially sank following an ice and snow storm on the 28 December 2022.  Residents from the area said the boat arrived during the Summer time, and unlike the other boats who come in the nice weather season remained on the spot.  An end December cold crunch and snow storm, with temperatures going down to minus twenty degrees Celsius, partially sank the boat, as when the ice defrosted it became water which entered its bilges and hull.  

After the storm Pittsburgh authorities have been trying to contact the ownership since early January who was not interested in salvaging the partly sank boat.  Becoming a huge eye soar the Sports and Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County finally intervened, and on 28 March at 1300 hours local time removed the boat from the spot.

This Bayliner in this part sinking is a 3150 Conquest, as produced from 1978 till 1980, with the model evolving into the 3250 Conquest in 1981.  The Conquest was a sport cruiser which was ahead of its time when it debuted, and important in creating the medium sized express cruiser which dominated the sub fifty foot market in the eighties and nineties.