Stolen Yacht Drama in Martin County, Florida

A twenty meter motor yacht which was stolen was force collided in a corner by officials near Hobe Sound Bridge, Martin County, Florida for a theft which was reported at 15:55 of Monday fifth May.  The thief a 29 year old Russian native with US citizenship is reported to have made quite a journey and actually stole more then one boat.  The story actually started as the Russian Native stole a TowBoatU.S response boat from Jupiter, Florida on 01:00 early Monday time which he grounded, and then twelve hours later went on to steal the twenty meter yacht from Blowing Rocks marina.  Seeing the yacht moving away without a call at 15:55 hours the marina dock master called the owner and then understanding that it was being stolen, contacted the police.  Marine units from multiple police agencies pursued the yacht until about 17:30 hours, when they pushed it into a mangrove thicket near Hobe Sound Bridge, about six miles north of the marina where the theft began.  According to the police the Russian native was attempting to make it another eight miles north to St. Lucie Inlet, then head for sea and make a run for the Bahamas.  His motives are unclear.

The yacht in this theft is a Dyna 68 as designed by Cor. Drover and produced since 2019.  The 68 was a replacement to the Dyna 65.

Mangusta Yacht Ends on Sandbar in Bahia Mar Fort Lauderdale

The 39 meter Mangusta m/y Mirage ended stuck on a sandbar in-front and to the South side of Bahia Mar Yachting Centre, Fort Lauderdale on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 April.  The Mangusta super yacht was reported exiting the marina, when for an unknown reason it ended on the sandbar and outside of the marked zone.  Steel Towing were filmed trying to tow the yacht and take it into deep water, but because of low tide the operation was not successful and had to be postponed for at least another eight hours, and a higher tide coming in.  No environmental spill was reported from the yacht's sand bar grounding, with the extent of its damage not advised. 

M/y Mirage is a January 2025 delivered Overmarine Mangusta Oceano 39 as designed by Alberto Mancini and produced since 2023.  Build for a repeat client who is on his third Mangusta, Mirage is the third and latest hull to launch of the Oceano 39 of which three other units are currently inbuild.

Out of Control Hatteras Yacht Collides Into Pershing in Miami River

A 24 meter Hatteras yacht titled m/y Top Shelf was filmed as it collided with a fifteen meter Pershing yacht and then a sailing yacht of about thirteen meters at the Miami River, on the afternoon of Monday 24 March.  The cause of the collision was not reported though in the short clip shared on social media outlet Facebook by Lacey Meade, it seems the yacht is only running on the port engine, but still pushing to port.  The yacht collided with a Tiki Company cocktail boat first, then colliding scrubbed its port side with the Pershing yacht port side, and to the smaller sailing yacht.  The incident was reported to the police, who came to the scene and took photos of the cocktail boat and damaged yachts, and is doing an investigation on the incident.

M/y Top Shelf is a 2007 Hatteras 80 Motor Yacht as produced from 2004 up to 2015 in twenty units.  The involved Pershing is a 50.1 model as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 2010 to 2015 in about forty units.

Prestige Yacht Crashes Into Haulover Inlet Bridge

An eighteen meter Prestige flybridge yacht collided with one of the Haulover Bridge arms, at Haulover Inlet, Miami on the afternoon of Sunday second February.  The scene was filmed by Wavy Boats, as he showed the yacht already collided with the bridge, and then as it left the scene and zooming to show its not so big damage to its midship starboard ship-side.  The reason of the collision is not reported.  This is the second collision in less to a year with Haulover Bridge, as a 32 meter Azimut super yacht collided in the same spot on 31 March 2024.

The Prestige in this accident is a 590 F as designed by Garroni and produced since 2018.  The Prestige 590 F came out as a replacement to the 560 Flybridge.

Sanlorenzo Yacht Loses Control Near La Spezia, Italy

A 31 meter Sanlorenzo super yacht lost control and ended in a mooring dock wall at La Grazie, to the South East of La Spezia, Italy after 09:00 morning time of Monday 27 January.  The Sanlorenzo yacht was reportedly moving in the harbour going into to the Valdettaro shipyard, to be dry docked for some works, when its controls malfunctioned, with the yacht crossing the bay from North West to South East uncontrolled but making way through the water before hitting the dock wall.  In the collision the Sanlorenzo also reportedly sank a small speed boat, but no injuries are reported.

The Sanlorenzo in this collision is an SL104 as designed by Francesco Paszkowski and build from 2009 till 2015 in fifteen units.  The SL104 came out as a replacement to the SL100 and was replaced by the SL106, what is a soft evolution of the same model.

Viking Sportfish Ends Beached in Cancun Mexico

A 21 meter Viking sportfish yacht titled m/y Blue Rush ended beached and aground in Punta Sam, to the North of Cancun, Mexico on a story which was shared on TheQualifiedCaptain Instagram page on nine January.  The sportfish is filmed beached, and what looks a surveyor is taking photos of the hull.  The causes of the grounding are not reported, with the usual Instagram speculation comments following the story, from those of a sleeping captain to the voluntary dry dock and free bottom job for the cheap.  It will be interesting to know more at this stage, although because of insurance claims doubt we will ever hear about it.  The damage to the Viking sportfish is social media reported the be only to its propellers, with the yacht dry docked a couple of days later to the grounding.

Motor yacht Blue Rush is a 2023 Viking 72 Convertible as produced from 2016 to 2024 in 75 units, these numbers including the Enclosed Bridge version.  The Viking 72 Convertible came out as a replacement to the 70 Convertible and was replaced by the 74 Convertible.

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.

Classic Azimut Yacht Ends Aground in Culebra, Puerto Rico

A classic 23 meter Azimut yacht titled m/y Runaway with four people and two dogs aboard, ran aground on a reef near Ensenada Honda, to the South of the island of Culebra, Puerto Rico on 10:30 of Monday thirtieth December.  The Azimut yacht was taking on water, as the US Coast Guard intervened by disembarking two passengers, and bringing a dewatering pump to help control the flooding.  Two crew remained onboard the yacht, as its hull was penetrated on the port quarter during the grounding. The flooding was contained, as the Coast Guard reported that it poses no immediate threat to the rest of the vessel. The responders also anchored the yacht fore and aft to prevent movement on the reef and further damage, as a full floating and towing operation is being organized, with this being reviewed by Puerto Rico’s Department of Natural and Environmental Resources personnel, as the affected reef area is home to three species of endangered coral, along with sea turtles and manatees.

The Azimut in this grounding is a 1988 AZ76 as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 1988 to 1991.  The AZ76 was a cockpit extended AZ71 studied for the American market, with the model replaced by the Azimut 78 Ultra.

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.

Two Super Yachts a Dock a Boat Crash in Aventura Florida

A thirty meter Ferretti yacht has collided into a dock first and then a seven meter boat by the Turnberry Property, in Aventura, Florida on the night of Sunday first December.  But this story has much more then a captured mobile phone video shows, as the thirty meter was reportedly hit by a bigger yacht which lost power during manoeuvring operation, and raptured its mooring lines freeing it from its dock, creating a chain reaction of events as the thirty meter was pushed in the water uncontrolled and unchecked impacting with the dock and then the small boat.  The first super yacht which lost power and hit the thirty meter Ferretti is not reported. Fortunately no one was injured in this collision as Aventura Police and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is leading the investigation into this two super yacht a dock and one boat crash.

The yacht in this collision is a Ferretti Custom Line 100 as designed by Zuccon and produced from 2011 to 2014 in twelve units.  The 100 introduced the semi-wide body layout into the Custom Line range, with a similar layout and design then used for the Custom Line 108.

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.

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.

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 Spadolin as produced from 2007 to 2015 in six units.  A.Mey should be the first hull of the Numarine 102 RPH series.

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.