Moonen Yacht Ends Aground in Big Pass Sarasota, Florida

A 25 meter Moonen yacht with seven people aboard ended aground at Big Pass in Sarasota, Florida on a story shared sixth March on the Florida Gulf Coast Marine Services YouTube channel.  The yacht ended aground at late night on a sand-bar, and following the grounding also had one engine incapacitated.  Florida Gulf Coast Marine Services who is part of TowBoatU.S towing fleet assisted the yacht, and managed to put it into deep water.  The yacht then proceeded with it's own power but on one engine to its berth.

The yacht in this accident is a Moonen 83 as designed by Mulder and produced from 1994 to 1998 in four units.  The Moonen 83 series debuted with the one off 80 YN150 in 1992 and featured five other same platform but different sister vessels; 84 YN156 from 1992, the 82 YN159 from 1994, 86 YN168 from 1999, 75 YN170 from 1999, and 89 YN173 from 2001.

Two Saved as Flybridge Yacht is Fire Wrecked in Yucatan

Two men, a captain and one crew were saved as an eighteen meter motor yacht titled Twist Party II went ablaze about one nautical mile offshore near Poseidon Statue, in Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico on the afternoon of Saturday seventeen January. The two men jumped in the water as the fire spread, holding on an inflatable mat as the Secretariat of the Navy Semar, Fire Department of the Secretariat of Public Security, and support vessels came to the assistance and to fight the fire.  Ultimately the yacht burned for fifty minutes, and was declared a total wreck.  The yacht which is used for charter departed Puerto de Abrigo de Progreso, was apparently at anchor with generator running when this exploded and went ablaze. 

Sport Cruiser Ends Beached at Boat Harbour Beach, Tasmania

A not attended nine meter sport cruiser ended aground at Boat Harbour Beach, in the island of Tasmania on Monday 29 April 2024.  The sport cruiser was also reported to have hit a trawler cruiser on its starboard side as it was drifting, and before ending beached.  Later it was reported the sport cruiser broke its swing mooring, ending adrift along the North Tasmania coast part of the Bass Strait.  A recovery operation for the sport cruiser was organized on the second May, with the boat taken to a boat yard for repairs. 

The sport cruiser in this accident is a Mustang 2800 SE Series II as produced from 2001 to 2003.  Mustang Boats from Australia was founded in 1974 by Graeme "Noddy" Williams, sold to Gary Garoni in 1998, and then following financial difficulty purchased by Bill Barry-Cotter of Maritimo in 2010, who stops production in 2019.

Explorer Cruiser Wrecked by Fire at Van Isle Marina, Sidney Canada

A not attended eleven meter explorer cruiser went ablaze at Van Isle Marina in Sidney, province of Victoria Canada on the early hours of Thursday eighteen September.  Sidney Fire Department responded to the blaze, and thanks to the quick response contained the fire to this one vessel.  The cause of the blaze is now under investigation, with no injuries being reported as no one was onboard the vessel at the time of the fire.

The boat in this accident is a Nordic Tug 37 as designed by Lynn Senour and produced from 1998 to 2010.  The 37 was replaced by the evolution and updated Nordic Tug 39 in 2010.

Boater Injured as Boat Collides in Tree at Tacoma, Maryland

One boater was injured as a seven meter explorer cruiser ended aground and then collided with a tree near Tacoma Narrows Park, in Maryland for an accident which happened on the evening of Thursday 26 February.  Gig Harbor Fire and Rescue crews assisted the man before 07:00 of the following morning after reports came in of the accident.  Pierce County Sheriff’s Office and U.S. Coast Guard also tended to the scene, and transported the boater, who was reported of suffering minor injuries to a hospital.  The cause of the accident is not reported, with the man coming out as intoxicated following a test and without impairment problems.

The boat in this collision is a Ranger Tugs R-23 as produced since 2016. The R-23 was a replacement to the R-21 EC.  Ranger Tugs was founded in 1958, and started its today seven models explorer style of boats in 1992 with the R-21.

One Man Dead as Pilot Boat Collides with Mega Yacht in Livorno

A 31 year old maritime pilot was killed in a collision between a pilot boat and the 61 meters mega yacht Calypso at the entrance of Livorno's harbour in West Italy, at around 14:30 of Tuesday 24 February.  The capsized collided pilot boat was assisted by the port captaincy, the divers of the Vigili dell Fuoco squad, and 118 doctor but to not avail as the trapped maritime was reported deceased.  According to reported events, the pilot boat with the 31 year old maritime at the helm had just transported a pilot to guide Calypso into Livorno's harbour, when for yet not understood events collided with the yacht and then capsized remaining stern sunk and bow out of the water after the collision.  In the aftermath of the collision the maritime pilot ended trapped in the pilot boat, and ultimately lost his life.  The damage to the yacht from this fatal collision is not reported.

The yacht in this accident is the 2003 custom built Amels 61.5 m hull number 435 as designed by  Michael Leach.  Yacht Calypso was launched as Solemar, and in 2016 received a major refit back at Amels.

Pursuit Sportfish Cruiser Ends Aground Near Sarasota, Florida

A ten meter sportfish cruiser with one person onboard ended aground on top a sandbar by the entrance of Sara Bay marina in Sarasota, Florida at 15:30 hours of 22 February.  The boat was assisted by Florida Gulf Coast Marine Service of TowboatU.S who removed the boat from the sand-bar and then towed to a private dock at Sara Bay Marina.  The boat was reported as ending aground after its lost power to one engine, it's steering, and then to make matters worse also its anchor, in a difficult situation as the wind was blowing North-Westerly force six.  Ultimately the boat saving operation was a success, even in a not so easy to operate conditions.

The boat in this accident is a Pursuit 3400 Express as produced from 1997 to 2003.  The 3400 Express was a replacement to the 3100 Express and was replaced by the outboard powered 3370 Offshore, as Pursuit switched its line to outboard boats only.

Super Yacht Ends Aground Following Dry Docking in Phuket

The 54 meters super yacht Purpose ended aground atop a sandbar at Mai Khao, Thalang district, Phuket in Thailand just before 01:00 local time of the early hours of Saturday 21 February.  According to data and news shared by The Yacht Report YouTube channel which also broke the story, the yacht ended aground after it was launched the previous morning following dry docking at the Phuket Superyacht Shipyard.  The super yacht then as AIS data shows stayed aground for about eight hours, and then with high tide coming in proceeded with its power to Phuket Yacht Haven Marina for a check.  The cause of the grounding and how many persons were onboard the yacht at the time of the accident are not reported.

The super yacht in this accident is a 2005 one-off build Trinity 180 hull number T027 as designed by Geoff van Aller.  Founded in 1988 by John Dane III, Trinity was first located in New Orleans, Louisiana, and then following 2005 Hurricane Katrina relocated to Gulfport, Mississippi in 2008.  Trinity has build 54 super yachts from 28 to 73 meters from 1991 to 2016, as new ownership in 2015 stopped yacht production.

Four Boats Wrecked by Fire at Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth

Four boats of about ten meters length were wrecked in a fire at Hillarys Boat Harbour, to the North of Perth, West of Australia on 22:35 of Saturday fourteen February.  Department of Fire and Emergency Services from Duncraig Fire Station with thirty fire fighters responded to the blaze which took till 02:00 morning time to control.  A boater who sounded the alarm also tended to the fire before the fire fighters arrived but to no avail.  The fire was reported starting on a boat, and then spread to the other three boats.  Department of Transportation has now been advised for the clean up of the area and pollution response to the sunk boats.  No one was injured in the fire as the boats had no one onboard.

This is the second blaze at Hillarys Boat Harbour in just over four months when a twenty meter Fairline sport yacht was wrecked by fire on the morning of 27 September.

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.

Four Saved as Ferretti Yacht Ends Wrecked in Peloponnese, Greece

Four Greek mariners were saved as a thirty meter Ferretti super yacht named H and Co and under French flag ended aground and then wrecked off the cape of Agia Marina, to the South of Peloponnese, South Greece on the afternoon of Wednesday eleventh February.  Following a may day call the four mariners; three man and a woman were rescued by three local fishermen first, as the Greek Hellenic coast guard dispatched three patrol boats and an Air Force Super Puma helicopter to assist the mariners.  According to reports the yacht which was being delivered from the South of France last departed Tunisia direction to Piraeus, encountered difficulties off the island of Elafonisos as it ran into a thunder storm with heavy rain, and south-west Beaufort force eight gale winds with forty knots winds.  The yacht then ended without power and ultimately aground, and following this was then wrecked as it kept on being smashed on the rocks by waves of seven meters in height.  The four sailors are reported not injured but were taken to Molaoi hospital for a medical check.  No pollution is reported from the wreckage even though the yacht is reported to be carrying about six thousand litres of diesel fuel.  

The yacht in this accident is a 2022 Ferretti 1000 as designed by Filippo Salvetti for exterior and Ideaeitalia for interiors and produced since 2021 to date in 26 units.  The 1000 was a replacement to the Ferretti 960.

Bayliner Cruiser Fire in Bribie Island, Queensland Australia

A not attended seven meter Bayliner sport cruiser went ablaze in Banksia Beach on Bribie Island, Queensland, Australia before 11:00 morning time of Monday ninth February.  The sport cruiser was berthed to a channel pontoon, when it exploded first and then went ablaze.  Fire fighters tended to the blaze, with the boat ending wrecked in the fire.  No injuries were reported from the fire, as no one was onboard at the time of the accident.

The boat in this fire is a Bayliner 2352 Capri second generation as produced from 1999 to 2001.  The 2352 Capri was a replacement and evolution to the first generation 2352 Capri, with the model replaced by the Bayliner 249.

Storebro Royal Boats Factory in Vimmerbyvägen Goes Ablaze

A fire interested the warehouse building of the Storebro Royal Yachts facility in Vimmerbyvägen, Malmo, Sweden at 07:31 morning time of Sunday eight February.  Police intervened to the fire, and cordoned the area.  Following the fire the Police opened an investigation.  On the same Sunday morning Storebro advised on it's Facebook page, that the fire effected a warehouse adjacent to the factory production building, and that boats and the production side of the business are not affected by the blaze.  No injuries are reported from the accident.

Storebrovarvet as was its first name was founded in 1946 by Ivar Gustavsson, starting with a wood build rowing boat.  By 1955 Storebro will build its first cabin cruiser the 9.25 meter Britt Mari, and in 1967 enter fiberglass production.  Today Storebro is producing the 435 Commander and 435 SunTop models.

Two Persons Saved as Flybridge Yacht Goes Ablaze Near Antibes, France

Two boaters were saved as a twenty meter flybridge motor yacht named The Bridge and under Belgian flag went ablaze between Cap d'Antibes and Lerins at about 1.5 nautical miles offshore to the coast at 09:30 morning time of Wednesday fourth February.  The two boaters of 71 and 65 years old alerted the Mediterranean Regional Operational Surveillance and Rescue Centre and after jumping in the water were assisted by a 24 meter motor yacht who was in the vicinity, with the Alpes-Maritimes, and Service Départemental d'Incendie et de Secours following later to the rescue and to fight the fire with 25 fire-fighters and twelve men respectively.  Ultimately the yacht was wrecked, but was saved from sinking and doing environmental damage, with the wreckage towed to Golfe-Juan for recovery.  The cause of the fire is not known, but was reported starting from the engine room.

The yacht in this fire is a 1994 Astondoa 68 GLX as produced from 1992 to 1996.  The 68 GLX was replaced by the Astondoa 72 GLX.  The yacht which assisted the boaters is a Falcon Yachts 82S as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 1994 to 1998.

Power Catamaran Ends Beached in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

An eighteen meter power catamaran broke it's mooring and ended aground in Muller Bay, on the Island of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands on the morning of Tuesday third February.  US Coast Guard marine safety detachment of St. Thomas US Virgin Islands responded to the accident, as the catamaran also ended aground in a environmentally sensitive area.  There is no pollution from the vessel at this time, but a containment boom was placed as a precaution, as the ownership is working to organize a salvage of the power catamaran.

The power catamaran in this sinking is a Silent Yachts 62 3-Deck Open as produced since 2024.  Founded in 2018 and debuting in 2019 with the 55 model, Silent Yachts focuses on electric solar powered catamarans, and currently produces three models from sixteen to 24 meters.

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 and yachts 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 deeper in the picture is an Off Course Comfort Class 60.

Three Yachts Wrecked in Fire at Van Isle Marina, British Columbia

Three yachts of nineteen to 21 meters in length were wrecked by fire at Van Isle Marina, Sidney, British Columbia, Canada with the blaze starting at 07:30 morning time of Sunday first February.  Sidney Fire Department responded to the blaze and were later assisted by North Saanich Fire Department, and the Canadian Coast Guard.  The fire took ninety minutes to be controlled, and started in the Marquis yacht, located in the center of the above photo, and then jumped to the yachts to its port and starboard sides.  No one was injured in the fire, as all yachts were not attended, with the cause of the blaze being under investigation.

This is the second fire at Van Isle Marina in just over four months, with a fire wrecking an eleven meter explorer cruiser the past eighteen September.

The yachts in this fire are a Marquis 720, the one in the center, a Horizon V68, and a Nordhavn 62 looking bow to the photo.  A Nordhavn 60 also suffered some fire damage to its starboard side.

Feadship Yacht Collides Into Pier Then Beaches In Palm Beach, Florida

The 75 meter Feadship mega yacht Arrow was filmed as it collided with the external concrete pier of the Sailfish Club Marina in Palm Beach Shores, Florida first and then ending aground on a sand bank some meters away from this area all happening before 14:00 of Monday 26 January.  The yacht was freed from the sand-bank after about twelve hours. Departing the Safe Harbor Rybovich in West Palm Beach, Arrow collided and ended aground as it was dragged into the pier by strong winds of the moment.  Some reports are saying that yachts of this size are usually tug guided in the area, but somehow this was not the case with Arrow today.  It was also a bit lucky that no further damage happened as those piers have yachts berthed alongside, but were requested to be vacant for a sportfishing tournament which is currently ongoing.   Following the accident the yacht was towed and berthed in the Port of Palm Beach.

Yacht Arrow is a 2020 Feadship 75.00m Hull.703 as designed by Jonny Horsfield of H2 Design for exterior and interior, and naval architecture by Feadship de Voogt.

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 in the Channel of Sicily.  Harry caused major damage to the East part of Sicily, Maltese and some parts and islands of Greece, and lasted till Friday 23rd January. 

On Monday nineteen January the 2026 Storm Harry arrived in the Central Mediterrean; Channel of Sicily, Ionian Sea, and Tyrrhenian sea areas touching the Maltese Islands, Sicily, South Sardinia, and parts of South Ionian Italy with gale force winds from the South-East and East 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 wreck, 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 the pictured below Prestige M48 power catamaran which partly sank.

Flybridge Yacht Wrecked by Fire in Club Arenal Mallorca

A not attended 23 meter flybridge yacht went ablaze in Club Nautico del Arenal in Llucmajor, Mallorca with the fire reported just before 02:00 early morning hours of Thursday 22 January.  Guardia Civil and multiple fire crews from Bombers de Mallorca tended to the fire taking three hours to control, with big efforts going and succeeding to keeping the fire to this one yacht.  Ultimately the yacht was wrecked by the blaze, with an investigation on the cause of the fire being opened.

The yacht in this fire is an Antago 76 as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 1999 to the early noughties.  Antago from Viareggio, Italy was founded in 1991 by Sebastian Gravagno and will close its doors in 2006, with the company returning in 2025 as a US holding.