Azimut Yacht Hits Submerged Reef Near Espiritu Santu La Paz

A thirty meter Azimut super yacht titled m/y Ragazza with ten persons onboard started to take on water as it hit a submerged reef near La Partida islet, Espiritu Santu island, in La Paz, Mexico on the night of Wednesday second October.  The yacht made a May-Day call following the accident as it was first assisted by a centre console boat of about eight meters, who took over the guests.  Later on the Mexican Navy came to the rescue as they towed the Azimut yacht to a nearby yacht yard for repairs.  Regazza was reported traveling from Cabo San Lucas when the collision to the reef happened.

M/y Ragazza the yacht in this part sinking is a 2004 build Azimut 100 Jumbo, as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 1995 to 2005 in 38 units.  The Azimut 100 Jumbo came out as a replacement to the 96 Starlight, and was replaced by the 105.

Princess Yacht Ends Beached in Redhead Beach New South Wales

A sixteen meter Princess sport yacht with two woman onboard ended beached to the South of Third Creek of Red Head Beach, New South Wales, Australia, on the morning of Friday third January.  The Princess yacht is reported to have suffered engine failure during navigation and ended beached.  Both woman onboard did not have any injuries. The area where the yacht beached was cordoned by the authorities as a salvage operation was organized the following day on Saturday, after which it was towed to a nearby marina.  The Princess yacht is reported to have had minimal damage from this accident.

The Princess sport yacht in this beaching is a V53 as produced from 2005 to 2009 to a design of Bernard Olesinski.  The Princess V53 came out as a replacement to the V55 and evolved into the V56 with the addition of a larger bathing platform aft.

Six Injured as Yacht Loon's Chase Boat Crashes in Rocks at Saint Barths

Six persons were injured as a fifteen meter chase yacht titled m/y Reel Wild ended on the rocks at Anse des Cayes, Saint-Barthélemy, in the Caribbean on the night of Saturday 21 December.  Five of the eleven crew onboard the chase yacht were taken to the Bruyn Hospital for treatment to the light injuries, while a female had to be flown in Miami as she is reported to have suffered more grievous injuries after she flew off the boat on collision impact.  Service Territorial d’Incendie et de Secours firefighters responded to the accident in addition to three STIS ambulances. The Gendarmerie also arrived as back-up, followed by the mobile emergency and resuscitation service for a situation which was difficult to coordinate as the yacht ended in area hard to reach by sea cause of the reefs, and 250 meters from the nearest road.  The causes of the accident are not advised with the chase yacht reported to be returning to its mother super yacht after the crew Christmas party.  The fifteen meter chase boat had visible damage on both sides of its hull with impact delaminated areas and also to its quadruple outboard engine set up.

M/y Reel Wild is a 2024 Hydrasports Custom Boat 53ft Suenos RXV, a fifteen meter center console powered by a quadruple or quintuple outboard set up.  The HCB 53ft Suenos RXV debuted in 2015 as the 5300 Suenos, and at launch she was the largest outboard centre console ever build.

Reel Wild is the North American chase boat for the YouTube popular super yacht Loon, a 2010 68 meter Icon Yachts designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon. Launched as m/y Icon, she was actually the first Icon new build yacht which also debuted the 62 semi-custom series launched in two other units, with Loon extended by five meters in length by it's builder in 2014.  After delivering four yachts Icon has since 2014 specialized in ship to yacht conversions rather then new builds.

Nordhavn Yacht Collides with Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship in Nassau

The 36 meter Nordhavn super yacht m/y Aurora was filmed as it collided with the 362 meter Royal Caribbean cruise ship Allure of the Seas in Nassau, The Bahamas on Wednesday eleven December.  Allure of the Seas was docked during the collision, which saw Aurora collide bow first into the cruise ship port side, and then hug the ship with its starboard and during this damaging its top mast and satellite antennas as they hit the stowed life boats.  It is not reported how many persons where onboard Aurora, but one crew member is seen on the fore deck, who after the first impact drops down the fenders to avoid further damage.  According to unconfirmed news Aurora lost power as it was under way near the cruise ship, ending without control and colliding.  The extent of the damage to both vessels is not known, with Aurora reported docked in Paradise Island, Bahamas after the collision, and the cruise delaying its departure from Nassau by some time but still continuing its four day cruise.

Aurora is a Nordhavn 120 delivered in 2013 to a design by Jeff Leishman with interiors by Destry Darr.  Announced as a project in 2008, Nordhavn has only build this 120, its largest yacht to date which is still being offered in its web-site as today.

Allure of the Seas is an Oasis Class Cruise Ship as build by STX Europe Turku Shipyard, Finland ordered in March 2007 and completed in November 2010.  She is currently the seventh largest cruise ship in the World, and since 20 April 2012 has had nine accidents, with five passenger fatalities involved.

Unattended Yacht Collides Into Container Ship in Biscayne Bay Miami

A 26 meter super yacht titled m/y Waku collided with a CMA-CGM container ship as this was being towed and tug controlled in Biscayne Bay, Miami on 25 November.  Instagram Seafarer_Obscura posted the video on his channel to what looks a strange accident, for the fact that there seems to be no one on the yacht before and just after the collision.  Waku looks also to be powerless in the video clip, with its anchor fully up and current drifting as it collides bow first into the container ship starboard side, damaging its safety railing with the impact.  With the anchor fully up the first thought on what happened is that the yacht broke free from its mooring, but it is not understood as the video is cut after the collision.  If anyone has more information about this collision please send a message or leave a comment below.

M/y Waku is a Cheoy Lee 84 as designed by Tom Fexas and produced in three units in the mid noughties.  The Cheoy Lee 84 came out came as a replacement to the 81 and then evolved in the 88 model.

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. 

Previous Trump Owned Super Yacht Crashes Into Marina Bizerte Pier

The 85 meter Benetti super yacht m/y Kingdom 5kr has collided with the outside berth pier at Marina Bizerte, to the North of Tunisia, on 12:30 afternoon of Friday eleven October.  Kingdom 5kr was reported doing manoeuvring operation to berth for fuelling, when for an unknown reason the super yacht lost control, and collided its bow into the East looking outside berth pier of the marina.  With the collision Kingdom 5kr sustained damage to its lower bow section.  The area of the collision has since then been closed to the public as the Bizerte Maritime Guard opened an investigation on the cause of the incident.

Kingdom 5kr is a custom Benetti 85 meters hull number FB116 from 1980 designed by Jon Bannenberg for exterior and interior by Luigi Sturchio. Named m/y Nabila at launch, in 1980 FB116 was the largest super yacht in the World, and is famous for appearing in the 1983 James Bond Never Say Never Again movie, but also for being owned by four high profile billionaires, including from 1988 to 1991 by 45th USA President Donald Trump then named as m/y Trump Princess.

Classic Chris Craft Ends Beached in Jones Beach Following Storm

A classic Chris Craft cruiser under Toronto Canadian flag with one man aboard ended beached at Jones Beach, to the East of New York on the morning of Saturday 28 September.  The classic cruiser and one passenger were first assisted by Jones Beach Lifeguards.  The yacht is reported to have found difficulty in the storm of the night and following morning, ending beached.  The one man onboard was not reported injured from the beaching accident. 

The classic Chris Craft in this beaching is a steel Roamer 46, as produced in the sixties and available in steel and or aluminium builds.  Chris Craft Roamer line debuted in 1957, as it purchased Roamer from Michigan, lasting till 1979.  Chris Craft build a total of 1964 Roamers from ten to eighteen meters in size.

Super Yacht Collides Into Fort Lauderdale 17th St Bridge

The 94 meter Feadship super yacht Viva has collided into the 17th St Bridge in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the late morning of Tuesday tenth September.  The yacht is reported to have drifted in an outgoing tide, hitting two of the bridge protective arms on its starboard side.  It is not yet understood what happened for the yacht to collide with the bridge, with some unconfirmed news saying it had some mechanical issues as it was manoeuvring.  TowboatUS arrived first on the scene to assist the yacht, although following videos show it removing itself from the awkward spot. Videos on social media also show the crew of the yacht putting fenders between the yacht and bridge arms in order to minimize the damage.  The damage to the bridge arms and the yacht is not reported.

M/y Viva is a 2021 Feadship 94 meter hull number 817, build to an exterior design of De Voogt and Azure, with interiors by Peter Marino.  Viva was commissioned by Frank Fertitta III an entrepreneur in the World of casinos and MMA, with the yacht sold earlier this year to hedge funder Ken Griffin.

Princess Yacht Collides Into Fishing Boat Near Sant Lluis Menorca

A twenty meter Princess sport yacht titled m/y Laya with eight persons onboard collided with a small six meter fishing boat named Galup and sank it off the coast of Sant Lluis, to the South East of Menorca on 12:48 of third September.  Galup had one person onboard at the time of the collision, who seeing the boat navigating into him, jumped off board in order to save himself.  Noticing about the collision Laya, stopped and recovered the man from the sea, who was then retrieved by another boat and taken to land unharmed.  CCS Palma mobilized Salvamar Antares, who then towed Laya to a Mahón dry dock, probably for sustaining damage to its running gear from the collision. The Maritime Authority and Guardia Civil have been informed, with Laya running a charter of six guests and two crew at the time of the collision.

The Princess Yacht in this collision is a first generation V65 as produced from 2000 to 2004 to a design of Bernard Olesinski.  When released the Princess V65 was the V-series flagship extending its size from the previous larger V55 by ten feet.  The V65 was replaced by the V65 Mk.II in 2006 which used the same hull, but offered a total different layout and an enclosed main deck.

Super Yachts Collision in Bodrum Turkey

Two super yachts, the 90m m/y Ice and thirty meter m/y A.Mey collided in Yalikavak, Bodrum, Turkey on the afternoon of Friday thirtieth August. The causes of the collision remain unknown, with the larger yacht going under way into the smaller vessel, as this at anchor and moored astern with two lines.  A video posted on various social media outlets shows the bigger Ice crashing on the port side of the smaller yacht and then rotating her by ninety degrees.  The smaller yacht received important damage to its flybridge, and port side area, with the larger yacht receiving what looks cosmetic scratch damage to its bow and port side.  Nearby boaters rushed to the scene following the collision to help the smaller yacht, with the Turkish Guvenik Coast Guard coming later to the assistance of the smaller yacht first and report on this collision.  No one was injured in the collision, considering there was eleven people on the smaller A. Mey, which is in itself a miracle seeing the gravity of the impact.

M/y Ice is a fully custom Lurssen 90.1 meter launched in 2005 as designed by Tim Heywood for the exterior and interior by Terrence Disdale.  The smaller A.Mey is a 2007 Numarine 102 RPH to a design of Tomasso Spadolini.  A.Mey should be hull #1 of the 102 RPH series which sold six units till 2015.

One Dead as Riva Yacht Collides with Fishing Boat in Mallorca

One person is reported to have been killed after a twenty meter Riva sport yacht, titled m/y La Luna under German flag collided with a small outboard powered fishing boat near Cala Bona, to the East of the Balearic Island of Mallorca, on 22:00 of Friday 23 August. The small fishing boat is reported to have had three persons onboard, with the deceased twenty year old Guiem Comamala falling over board with the collision, and then hit by the propellers of the larger yacht causing his death. The Riva was reported helmed by Dennis Viehof, 34 year old German, and son of the owner of the yacht La Luna. According to the testimonies of the skipper and guests, they did not even notice about the collision, and entered harbour in Porto Cristo, planning to leave the following morning, that is until the yacht was arrested and detained.  According to a separate witness, the yacht also nearly hit another boat that night, and described the guest onboard as drunk and partying, something which those onboard have denied. Dennis the skipper of La Luna that night is being investigated by the Guardia Civil for alleged reckless homicide and failing to stop to help the victim.

The Riva in this collision is a 66 Ribelle model as designed by Mauro Micheli and produced since 2018.  The Riva 66 Ribelle came out as a replacement to the 63 Vertigo.

Princess Collides with Mangusta Yacht in Ponza

A British flagged 23 meter Princess sport yacht collided with the fifty meter Overmarine Mangusta m/y Eternity near Ponza Island at 14:30 of Friday 23 August.  The Port Captaincy and Guardia Costiera of Ponza intervened after the accident.  The dynamics of the accident are not reported, though the two British boaters onboard the smaller yacht did not notice straight away that they collided, stopping the yacht some seconds after the impact. Witnesses also said that the larger Eternity made a couple of horn blasts, to try and advise the smaller yacht of its collision route.   No one was injured in the collision with the small Princess yacht sustaining the worst, with an important damage to its bow, railing and structure, while the larger Eternity is reported to have taken mostly cosmetic scratch damage to its port side.

The Princess yacht in this collision is an S78, as produced to a design of Bernard Olesinski from 2017 to 2022 in 21 units.  The Princess S78 was also offered in the V78 no sport bridge version and came out as a replacement to the S72, with the model replaced by the S80 this year.  

M/y Eternity is an Overmarine Mangusta Oceano 50 launched in 2023, build in a steel hull and aluminium superstructure to a design of Alberto Mancini and naval architecture by Pierluigi Ausonio.  The Mangusta Oceano 50 debuted in 2021, with Eternity being the third hull of a semi-custom series which has so far sold six units, of which two are still under construction.

Princess Yacht Saved from Sinking Near Marinella Olbia

A 21 meter Princess sport yacht was saved from sinking as it hit some reefs during navigation near Cala Sabina and the beach of Marinella, to the North of Olbia on the morning of fourteen August.  Italian Military and Guardia Costiera personnel rushed to the scene of the accident, saving the passengers first, and then investigating that no pollution from the yacht is coming out.  The Princess Yacht was reported to breaching its hull at the back, and was kept from sinking with big floating bags, with a towing to a yard for investigation and subsequent repairs being organized.  No injuries to the boaters was reported from the collision. 

The Princess yacht in this near sinking is a V70 as produced from 2004 to 2010 to a design of Bernard Olesinski.  When released the V70, was the largest Princess V series yet produced, with the model replaced by the V72 in 2011.

Two Injured in Azimut Yacht Small Boat Collision Near Savona

A collision between an eighteen meter Azimut flybridge yacht and a seven meter traditional cruiser, about half a nautical mile off the coast between Savona and Albissola at 15:20 hours of Tuesday sixth August injured two persons.  The dynamics of the collision are not fully reported, though the boaters of the small cruiser, a husband and wife ended both injured, with the man ending in the water and with grievous code red injuries.  The Azimut yacht involved in the collision assisted the distressed boaters of the smaller cruiser, with the Guardia Costiera m/v CP 863 intervening later with a medical team, and then taking the two injured boaters to a hospital in Pietra Ligure and Savona.  The small traditional cruiser partly sank with the collision and was then refloated, and along the Azimut yacht have been taken into custody for investigation on the collision by the Savona Captaincy.

The Azimut yacht in this collision is a 60 Flybridge model which debuted in the 2017 to a design of Stefano Righini, and came out as a replacement to the previous 60 model.

The traditional cruiser in this collision is a Ligurian gozzo Sciallino 23.  The 23 is a long standing model in Sciallino line up, which was first produced in wood, and then renewed to a fiberglass build with an updated design in around the mid nineties.

Ferretti Yacht Saved from Sinking Near Punta Ala

 

A 23 meter Ferretti motor yacht with five persons onboard was saved from sinking or doing further damage, as it ended a top a reef in Punta Hidalgo, to the East of Punta Ala, Province of Grossetto, Tuscany on the afternoon of Sunday fourth August.  The Ferretti yacht ended atop a soft reef and was assisted by the marine section of the Guardia di Finanza with the vessel V.839, who with gentle care towed the yacht to safety without doing further damage.  The yacht was later assisted and returned to Punta Ala Marina for an inspection of the possible damage from the collision.

The Ferretti yacht in this reef collision is a 750, as designed by Zuccon and produced from 2014 to 2017.  The Ferretti 750 came out as a replacement to the first generation 720, of which she was an evolution, and was replaced by the 780.

Steve Jobs Super Yacht Collision in Naples

Two famous super yachts, the 78 meter m/y Venus and 120 meter m/y Lady Moura collided while at anchor near Naples on the morning of 22 July, for a video footage filmed from the larger yacht, and was published online on the seventh August.  The accident happened as a gust of wind reportedly of over fifty knots interested the area the super yachts were anchored.  According to reports both of the yachts did not drag anchor, though one of them was reported to have had double the needed chain, which probably is what might have led to this collision.

M/y Venus is a 78 meter Feadship hull number 684 completed in 2012 to a design of Philippe Starck.  Motor yacht Venus is famous because it was commissioned by Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, although he actually never got to see it personally as he died one year before completion, with his widow wife Laurene Powell Jobs taking commission of the yacht and using it privately ever since.

Lady Moura is a 105 meter Blohm and Voss launched in 1990 to a design of Italian Paolo Scanu with interiors by Luigi Sturchio and commissioned by Saudi Arabian Nasser Ibrahim Al-Rashid.  When launched Lady Moura was the ninth largest super yacht, today she sits at number 48, although she still remains the third largest Blohm and Voss yacht, behind the 2008 119 meter m/y A and the 1931 build 136 meters m/y Savarona.  Founded in 1877 Blohm and Voss was purchased by Lurrsen in 2016.

Exumas Night Storm Beaches an Azimut and Sea Ray Yacht

A night storm with wind speeds over forty knots which struck the Exumas, the Bahamas just after 23:30 hours of Thursday 27 June, beached a 25 meter Azimut super yacht, an eighteen meter Sea Ray yacht, a rib, and a couple of jet skis.  Video footage from the helm of a Lazzara super yacht shared on social media by its captain Pascal Gademer shows as two Sea Ray sport yachts pass forward, drifting and dragging anchor as the sudden announced storm creates mayhem in this partly protected bay at Staniel Cay.  Pascal's super yacht actually avoids these drifting yachts with engines and thrusters, as they pass very close by.  The Sea Ray sport yacht is reported to have sheared one of its pod drives and probably has some hull damage to account for.  The Azimut super yacht grounded in Little Farmers Bay further South.  No injuries to persons are being reported.  

The Sea Ray yacht in the grounding is an L590 as produced from 2015 to 19.  Sea Ray introduced its L yacht series in 2014 with the L650 Fly, a Euro looking line up of yachts to compete with European exports but with US amenities.  Ultimately the L series offered five models from 55 to 65 foot with Sea Ray stopping the line up in 2019.

While the grounded pictured Azimut is a Magellano 25 Metri, a model which debuted in 2020 to a design of Ken Freivokh, with naval architecture by Pierluigi Ausonio, and has so far been delivered in twenty units.

Pershing Yacht Ends Beached in S'Espalmador

A seventeen meter Pershing sport yacht titled m/y Sophia 1 with two persons onboard ended beached in Pas de Trucadors on the islet of S'Espalmador to the North of Formentera, before 22:30 hours of Saturday 22 June.  Salvament Maritim received a call from third parties that a yacht had ended aground and sent a vessel plus a research helicopter and a notice to other boaters for search.  Ultimately the vessel Zinit finds the yacht and reports its position and that two persons are onboard and not injured.  Following this Salvament Maritim m/v Acrux comes to the scene and offers to take the boaters to Ibiza, which they refuse and say that they are waiting for a private company to come and tow the yacht to a boat yard for inspection and eventual repairs.  Speculation is suggesting that the Pershing yacht had to be traveling at a speed of 35 knots to end in this way on the sand dunes.  The damage is not reported but since the Pershing yacht is on surface drives it will be less to a shafts or pod driven yacht.

The Pershing in this beaching is the 54 model, as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 1995 to 2003.  Considered a classic the 54 is one of Pershing's most important models and was it's best seller up until 2007.   The 54 was available with both shafts and surface drives in its first four years production to then only be available with the later.  The Pershing 54 came out as a replacement to the first generation 52 and was replaced by the 56 in the fall of 2005.

Sunseeker Yacht Collides with Fish Farm Near Zadar

A 31 meter Sunseeker super yacht titled m/y Baby 1 collided with a Cromaris Kosara fish farm in the Zadar archipelago just before midnight of Tuesday eighteen June. The cause of the collision is not reported, though lack of attention during navigation might have played a part, with the fish farm being marked both with marking lights and on the charts. The Cromaris staff worked through the following day to save the cages first and then free the yacht. The Zadar Port Authority has opened an investigation on the collision. 

Cromaris has five more fish farms in the Zadar archipelago, and one in Istria in North Croatia.

The Sunseeker in this collision is a 2003 105 Yacht model as designed by Don Shead and the Poole builder design team.  The 105 Yacht was an important step in Sunseeker quest to go larger and beyond 100 feet, its first model to do this and produced from 2000 to 05 in thirteen units.  The 105 Yacht was replaced by the 30M in 2009.