Storm Harry Wrecks Boats and Yachts in Sicily, Malta, and Rhodes

Storm Harry was named by AEMET on 16 January 2026. A weak area of low pressure meandering over the Iberian Peninsula for a few days, then emerged as a broad area of low pressure over the western Mediterranean.  Storm Harry is reported to have reached wind speed up to seventy knots, and also created a record breaking wave of 16.6 meters on the South Ionian Sea.  Harry caused major damage to the East part of Sicily, Maltese and some parts and islands of Greece.  Storm Harry lasted till Friday 23rd January. 

On Monday nineteen January the 2026 Storm Harry arrived in the Central Mediterrean; Channel of Sicily, Ionian Sea, and Tyrrenian sea areas touching the Maltese Islands, Sicily, South Sardinia, and parts of South Ionian Italy with gale force winds from the South-East and Easterly winds, which reached wind speeds up to Beaufort Scale 12 in some hours of Tuesday evening.  Harry landed on Monday nineteen January intensifying its intensity at night up to Beaufort Force 9, decreasing to Force 8 in late morning only for it to reach Hurricane Storm Force 12 in some of the areas on the evening of Tuesday, and lasting till the early hours of Wednesday 21 January as it's intensity started to slow.  Apart the force of the storm, Harry was impressive for keeping over fifty knots of wind speeds for long hours, with this generating average waves of eight meters in height, and a record maximum wave height for the Mediterranean of sixteen meters being recorded near Capo Passero to the South-East of Sicily.  The storm caused catastrophic damage to the Eastern Ionian sea coast, the South, and North coast of Sicily.  The Eastern coast of Malta in particular the villages of Birzebbuga, Marsascala, and Marsaxlokk also sustained important damage.  The Pelagic Islands of Lampedusa, Linosa, and Pantelleria were also hit, with this last having the strongest seas and winds in the storm, as sea conditions reached maximum Douglas Scale 9.

Boating wise the most high amount of damage was generated to Porto Rossi, located to the North East of Catania's center. Dozens of boats were thrashed, as waves passed over the East wall of this usually safe marina, which is also sea locked during Winter season. In this photos we can see an Absolute Navetta 52, Apreamare Gozzo 35, Carnevali 42, Dalla Pieta 48 Altair, a classic Glastron cuddy cruiser, second generation Sea Ray 240 Sundancer, and a Tecnorib Pirelli 35 all on each other.  Following the storm Porto Rossi is partially destroyed and also inaccessible as the road which leads to the marina has also been wrecked in some parts.

Other Catania marinas, in particularly the Circolo Nautico V.I.C. located under the Eastern breakwater arms also suffered damage with some small boats sunk.

Palermo's Villa Igiea marina suffered the most high profile sinking, as the Eastern break water lost part of its structural integrity with this leading to boats and yachts from eight to twenty meters breaking there moorings on Tuesday night.  The Diano 24 m/y Charlie Elle suffered the worst fate and partially sunk as it was hit on it's starboard by the bow and anchor of a nearby Jeanneau Yachts 60 named Cecille which broke free from its forward lines.  A sailing catamaran of about fifteen meters also partially sunk.

In Palermo the other more exposed to the East Marina Arenella had important damage with wrecked marina piers and sunken boats reported.  In this picture we can see a Cranchi 39 Endurance near another not identifiable sport cruiser.  Picture credit to Giuseppe Alioto.

Malta suffered its fair share of damage with a swing moored twelve meter aft cabin cruiser sunk at Kalkara, to the East of Valletta's Grand Harbour.  Two sailing boats also ended beached in Birezebbuga and Marsascala, while some yachts also fell from there blockings in a communal yard at Marsascala.  

Gozo Marina in Mgarr harbour on sister island Gozo also had a broken pontoon, with a yacht filmed running around as it broke free from its mooring.  The yacht was fortunately secured, before it caused some major damage.

Following its destruction in the Ionian Sea, Storm Harry then landed on the Aegean Sea, on Wednesday night causing damage to the Rhodes Marina to the North-East of Rhodes Island. In this picture above the yacht Queen Mare a 2012 Alpha Marine 58 meter as designed by Tasel Form damaged its port side. A couple of yachts also sank, including a catamaran which capsized, and a Prestige M48 power catamaran partly sank, see picture below.

Classic Bayliner Wrecked by Fire at Parramatta River, Sydney

A nine meter classic Bayliner sport cruiser went ablaze in Parramatta river, Glanville, to the West of Sydney on the afternoon of Sunday 28 December.  The sport cruiser was swing moored, and was tended by fire fighting services from the water.  Ultimately the boat was wrecked by the fire.  No reported of injuries and the cause of the fire are not reported. 

The boat in this fire is a Bayliner 3250 Conquest as produced from 1981 to 1987.  The 3250 Conquest was a replacement and soft evolution of the 3150 Conquest and was replaced by the Bayliner 3255 Avanti Sunbridge.

Tiara Sport Cruiser Wrecked by Fire in River Reach Drive, Fort Lauderdale

A ten meter Tiara sport cruiser went ablaze near a water front canal property to the South of 1000 River Reach Drive, Fort Lauderdale at around 23:30 of Christmas 25 December day.  Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded the blaze which they controlled and managed to extinguish the blaze.  No injuries were reported as the boat was reported not attended, with the boat becoming a wreck as its top cabin was wrecked by the fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Tiara 3600 Sovran as produced from 2004 to 2006.  The 3600 Sovran was a replacement to the 3500 Express with the model replaced by the Tiara 3500 Sovran.

Boats Fire Set House Ablaze in Georgina, Ontario

Two boat fire sets house ablaze in Georgina, Ontario, on the afternoon of Monday 24 November.  Canadian Fire and Emergency Services who shared the story on its Facebook page responded to the blaze, and found a complicated state of affairs as the two boats also set the adjacent house on fire.  The fire was reported controlled in about three hours.  The cause of the blaze is not entirely reported, with the fire starting in one of the two boats and then jumping to the nearby house.  Injuries were not reported, with the boats ending wrecked, and the damage to the house being extensive.  

The boat in this fire is a Sunray 27 Mirage as produced in the eighties.  Sunray was founded in the late seventies and closed in the early nineties, and was located in St. Germain de G. Quebec, Canada .

2 Saved as Fjord Cruiser is Fire Wrecked Off Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale

Two people were saved as a fourteen meter sport cruiser went ablaze six nautical miles off Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Fort Lauderdale on the afternoon of Monday third November.  The boaters were rescued by a boater who spotting the smoking vessel called a mayday and turned his attention to assist, rescuing one of the boaters first, and the second later.  The fire was then attended by Hollywood Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriff’s Office Fire Rescue, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and US Coast Guard units.  The US Coast Guard collected the two boaters from the Samaritan boater, with the blaze fought by the three fire rescue agencies, with a towing boat also coming for nothing to tow the wreck as this ultimately sunk in around 250 meters of deep water.  The two boaters had no injuries and were then taken to the Coast Guard Station in Dania Beach.  The cause of the fire is under investigation, with social media chatter saying the particular boat was displayed at the just finished 2025 Fort Lauderdale Boat Show brokerage section.

The sport cruiser in this fire is 2015 Fjord 48 Open as designed by Patrick Banfield and produced from 2014 to 2017.  When debuting the 48 Open was Fjord flagship, with the model evolved and replaced by the 52 Open.

Two Boats Wrecked One Damaged In Fire at Poquoson, Vancouver

Two cruisers of thirteen meters in length were fire wrecked, while a sportfish cruiser of about the same size also received minor fire damage near the Surf Rider restaurant, Whitehouse Cove Marina, Poquoson, Vancouver at 09:28 morning time of Tuesday 28 October.  The fire started on the thirteen meter Trojan express style cruiser, and with wind coming from its starboard jumped to the Fairline flybridge cruiser on its port side.  An express sportfish cruiser located to the starboard of the fire starting boat also received some fire damage.  Poquoson Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze, as the two boats ended wrecked, but were saved from sinking.  The sportfish which received minor damage was moved in time to avoid further damage.  No one was injured in the fire as the boats were not attended, with an investigation on the cause of the blaze ongoing.  The wrecked boats were removed by SeaTow Lower Chesapeake the following morning.

The boat which started this fire is a Trojan 13 Meter Express as designed by Harry Schoell and produced from 1984 to 1990.  The flybridge cruiser which ended totalled in this fire is a Fairline Phantom 46 as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 1999 to 2006.

One Dead in Boat Fire Near Falmouth, Massachusetts

A boat fire involving three boaters and a ten meter Chris Craft cabin cruiser titled Third Wave at Tarpulin Cove near Naushon Island, Falmouth, Massachusetts, ended in tragedy as one woman died following a difficult to reach area and loss of communication for two days.  The boat fire incident happened on the night of Monday twenty October, and following this the three onboard, a father, mother, and son abandoned boat, and swam to nearby Naushon Island, located between Massachusetts and Martha's Vineyard, sheltering in a barn.  With the boat wrecked by fire and no communication available, no one knew about this incident until luck makes it that the boats VHF washed ashore, and was found by the son who called a May-Day on Wednesday 22nd.  This call was taken by Naushon Trust who made it to the scene and administered first aid to the three boaters, with the Coast Guard coming later to airlift the family to Cape Cod Hospital.  Ultimately the 72 year old woman died following severe hypothermia and smoke inhalation, going to the better World on Thursday afternoon.  The father was also under observation treated for burns at a Boston hospital, but is awake and breathing on his own.  The cause of the fire is not reported, with the family opening a GoFundMe raiser for the incident and to raise the wreck of the boat.  The above picture shows the boat before the fire.

The boat in this fire is a Chris Craft 33 Corinthian as produced from 1978 to 1981.  A replacement to the 33 Coho, the 33 Corinthian debuted as the 33 Offshore in 1976, and was replaced with the Chris Craft 333 Commander.

2 Injured in Maxum Cruiser Fire on Intercoastal, Fort Lauderdale

Two people suffered minor injuries as a nine meter Maxum sport cruiser went ablaze at the Intracoastal Waterway near the Commercial Boulevard bridge in Fort Lauderdale, just before 17:00 of Sunday twelfth October.  Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to the blaze, saved the two people onboard and tended to there injuries.  The two people refused to be transported to a hospital.  The fire was controlled in relatively fast, with it's cause being under investigation.

The boat in this fire is Maxum 2800 SCR as produced from 1997 to 2000.  The 2800 SCR was a replacement to the 2700 SCR, and was replaced by the Maxum 2900 SCR.

Two Yachts Ablaze at Marina Del Cavallino, Venice

Two yachts of eighteen and thirteen meters in length respectively went ablaze at Marina del Cavallino, Venice, Italy at 17:30 of Wednesday tenth September.  The fire is reported to have started on the large classic Riva yacht, as some works were being carried out in the forward cabin, with this then jumping to the smaller flybridge cruiser with the wind.  Fire fighters from the Vigili del Fuoco of Jesolo with a second squad from San Dona di Piave coming later, fought the blaze.  Ultimately the fire was controlled with no injuries, with both boats ending wrecked.  Both yachts were reported to have been dry docked in recent days for some maintenance works.

The classic Riva yacht in this fire is a Corsaro 60 as designed by Giorgio Barilani and produced from 1982 to 1989 in 43 units.  The Corsaro 60 was evolved and replaced by the Corsaro 20.  The other boat is a Marchi 44 as designed by Yankee Delta of Massimo Gregori and produced in the nineties. The 44 was a replacement to the Marchi 45 and then evolved into the 46.

Boat Wrecked by Fire in Gundogan Bay, Mugla, Turkey

A sport cruiser of nine meters in length with one person onboard went ablaze in Gundogan Bay, in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey at noon of Monday eighteen August.  The fire which started for unknown reasons, was extinguished following the intervention of teams from the General Directorate of Coastal Safety and the Coast Guard, while the one person onboard jumped in the sea and was rescued by nearby boaters.  He was reported to have sustained no injuries.  Ultimately the boat was reported wrecked by the fire.

The boat in this fire is a Sancak SVT 9.20 as produced since 2023.  Located in Izmir, Turkey, Sancak Yacht was founded in 2009 by Volkan Önterlikçi, and today it produces sport cruisers from six to eleven meters.

4 Saved as Classic Bertram Goes Ablaze in Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis

Four boaters were saved as a classic thirteen meter Bertram sportfish cruiser went ablaze in Chesapeake Bay, Annapolis on the morning of Saturday sixteen August.  The four boaters were saved first by nearby boaters, as Anne Arundel County Fire Department, Annapolis Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard Mid-Atlantic Maryland, Department of Natural Resources, and Natural Resources Police responded to the blaze.  No injuries were reported from the blaze as the classic Bertram sportfish was ultimately wrecked.

The Bertram in this fire is a 46 Convertible, as designed by Dave Napier and produced from 1971 to 1987.  When launched the 46 Convertible was Bertram's largest boat, keeping the flagship status for five years.  The 46 Convertible evolved into the Mk.II in 1982 and then Mk.III in its last two years of production before being replaced by the Bertram 50 Convertible.

One Injured as Boat Explodes in Put-In-Bay, Lake Erie

One man was injured as a sport cruiser of nine meters in length exploded first and then went ablaze in Put-in-Bay, South Bass Island, Lake Erie at about 14:30 of Saturday ninth August.  The injured owner jumped in the water after the explosion, while the boat which drifted ablaze, set another swing moored with no one onboard cuddy cabin boat sportfish cruiser on fire.  The injured boater was air-lifted to a hospital on the main land by Emergency Medical Services.  The fire was fought first by nearby boaters, with the Miller ferry boat also coming to help, as the U.S. Coast Guard and Put-in-Bay Fire came later and extinguished the blaze.  Both boats becamse a a total loss from the fire, with the cause of the explosion not being reported.

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Cruisers 297 Elegante as produced from 1986 to 1987.  The 297 Elegante was a replacement to the 296 Avanti Vee, and was evolved and replaced with some changes into the 2970 Esprit.  The smaller sportfish which went ablaze was a Wellcraft 270 Coastal.

Mazu Yachts Founder Lost Following Collision Near Marmara Island

Searches are ongoing for Mazu yachts founder Halit Yukay, as his eleven meter Mazu sport cruiser titled m/y Graywolf was founded severely damaged and partly submerged near the Island of Marmara on fifth August. Later it was found out that the Mazu cruiser collided with m/v Arel 7 a dry cargo vessel which operates in the area, with the captain reporting to feel an impact at around 17:00 of Monday fourth August, and after observing two pieces of wood floating in the water, stopped the vessel and here also spotting a life buoy. The captain of the cargo vessel said he informed the ships company but not the coast guard, and was later detained on suspicion of manslaughter through negligence and has since been released under judicial supervision, including a travel ban, as the Turkish Coast Guard reportedly discovered scrape marks on the bow of the cargo ship which indicate a collision with the sport cruiser. Yukay departed on 15:10 of the fourth August with Graywolf from Yakova, for a stop in Athens to collect his wife and child, with Mykonos reported to be a next destination.

Halit Yukay's body was found on the 23rd August at 19:00 in a depth of 68 meters near the reported collision site.  The body was found as divers used side-scan sonar and ROV devices.  A recovery of the body is being organized.

The Mazu in this collision is the Fortytwo model as designed by the same Halit Yukay and produced since 2017. The Mazu 42 is mostly based on the 38, with the difference that it is a walk around sport cruiser with integrated T-top.

Sport Cruiser Goes Ablaze in Porto Azzurro, Elba Island

A sport cruiser of twelve meters in length went ablaze as it was in a boat yard in Porto Azzurro, in the Gulf of Mola, to the West of Elba Island on 01:00 of the early hours of Sunday third August.  The report of the blaze was made by other boaters who were moored in the area, as Vigili del Fuoco fire fighters from the Portoferraio section responded and controlled the blaze, limiting it to this one boat.  No one was injured in the fire.  According to unconfirmed reports the sport cruiser was lifted the previous morning for a technical problem. 

News have reached us that the sport cruiser in this fire is a Jeanneau Prestige 42S as designed by Garroni and produced from 2008 to 2011.

Eleven Injured as Sport Cruiser Explodes In Prescott, Mississippi River

Eleven boaters were injured as a classic sport cruiser of ten meters in length exploded at Miss-Croix Yacht Harbor, Prescott, Wisconsin, Mississippi river on the afternoon of Saturday 26 July.  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the blaze, as the boat burnt its mooring lines and also did some fire damage to another boat, with a big merit going to the owner of nearby Leo Landing marina owner who used his flat boat to move the sport cruiser away from nearby boats.  Eight of the people were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment of light injuries. The cause of the fire is reported to be a gas build up, as the skipper of the sport cruiser reported the boat exploding at the third try of ignition.    

The sport cruiser in this explosion is a Wellcraft 3200 St. Tropez as produced from 1985 to 1993 in 1700 units.  The 3200 St. Tropez was a replacement to the 3100 Express and was replaced by the 3200 Martinique.  While the other boat which was involved in the fire was a Carver 36 Aft Cabin.

12 Saved in Sport Cruiser Fire Near Princes Islands, Turkey

Twelve Persons were saved as a sport cruiser of twelve meters in length went ablaze off the coast of Kınalıada, one of the Princes’ Islands near Istanbul, Turkey, on the afternoon of July 25. The fire spread very quickly as the twelve boaters are filmed jumping in the water in a panic situation. The Turkish coast guard later came to collect the boaters with none of them reported injured, and then fought the fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with the sport cruiser ending wrecked from the blaze.

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Marquis 420 Sport Coupe as designed by Nuvolari Lenard and produced from 2008 to 2012.  The 420 SC was announced as 40 SC and was Marquis entry level and smallest model produced.  Founded by Genmar-Carver in 2003, Marquis was closed in 2019. 

Regal Sport Cruiser Wrecked by Fire in Brindisi

An eight meter sport cruiser went ablaze as its was berthed at Forte a Mare, Marina di Brindisi, in Brindisi, South East of Italy on about 19:45 of Thursday 24 July. The Vigili dell Fuoco fire fighters responded to the blaze with a fire fighting vessel, and were assisted by the Port Captaincy as they towed the sport cruiser away from nearby boats, and fought the blaze. The fire fighters managed to control the fire, as they saved the boat from sinking. The cause of the fire is under investigation, with no injuries being reported as no one was onboard the boat at the time of the blaze.

The boat in this fire is a Regal 270 Commodore as produced from 1990 to 1993.  The 270 Commodore was a replacement to the Regal 280 Commodore and was replaced by the 272 Commodore.

Couple Saved as Cabin Cruiser Goes Ablaze in Magdeburg, Germany

A Danish couple was saved as their classic Danish flagged nine meter cabin cruiser went ablaze between the Editha and Zollbrücke bridges on the Elbe in Magdeburg, Germany at 05:00 early morning time of Thursday seventeen July.  Magedburg Fire Police assisted to the blaze with 41 men, two ambulances, five police patrol cars, and a water protection police boat also because the boat was located near two important bridges.  The Danish couple escaped by jumping in the water, and were assisted with first aid by local emergency services on the spot, and then taken to hospital with suspicion of hypothermia and smoke gas poisoning.  The fire was controlled after an hour, at about 06:00 morning time, although the boat ended wrecked.  The cause of the fire was not advised, though it was reported to have started with loud explosion.

Traditional Cruiser Destroyed by Fire in Marina di Stabia, Naples

A traditional looking cruiser of ten meters in length, went ablaze as it was berthed at Marina di Stabia, to the South of Naples, on the early afternoon of Thursday ten July.  Immediate the reply of the Marina di Stabia staff who tended to the fire first, and were then later assisted by the Vigili dell Fuoco fire fighters, and 118 emergency services, and thanks to their fast reaction the blaze was limited to this one boat.  No one was injured in the fire, as no one was reported onboard.  According to initial investigations a short circuit generated the fire.

The boat in this fire is a nearby built Esposito Positano 32 Open as designed by 20 Maree and produced since 2023.

Seven Injured as Sea Ray Cruiser Explodes on Lake Lanier

Seven boaters including a kid of five were injured as a seven meter Sea Ray sport cruiser exploded on Landshark Cove near Margaritaville, Lake Lanier, Georgia at around 19:00 of Friday fourth July.  Hall County Fire Department responded to the assistance as five people were taken to hospital; one of which air lifted, and two were treated on the scene with minor injuries.  The fire was also controlled thanks to the assistance of the Gainesville Fire’s Marine Rescue boat.   The boat skipper later reported having trouble in starting the Sea Ray cruiser and on the third attempt it exploded.

The Sea Ray in this explosion and subsequent fire is a 220 Sundancer as produced from 1989 to 1992.  The smallest Sundancer ever made the 220 DA was a replacement to the 230 Weekender, and was replaced by the Sea Ray 230 Sundancer.