Night Storm at Staniel Cay Exumas Beaches Sea Ray Yacht

A night storm which struck Staniel Cay, Big Majors, Exumas just after 23:30 hours of Thursday 27 June, beached 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.  The 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.  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.

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.

Super Yacht Australia Runs Aground Again

The 56 meter Benetti super yacht Australia ran aground for the second time in less to eight months, ending on a sand bank in Wave Break Island, Gold Coast Broadwater, Australia at about 18:00 hours of sixth June.  Australia was assisted by a tug boat and freed at about 2000 hours of the same evening returning to the Southport Yacht Club marina from where it departed.  According to undisclosed reports Australia ran aground when it's captain was doing a channel route exercise in order to be able to do the same route pilot free.  After the grounding Australia is reported to have damaged one of its fin stabilizers.  M/y Australia ran aground just over seven months ago in Sentosa, Singapore on the afternoon of sixteen October 2023.

Australia is the last of four semi-custom Stefano Natucci designed Benetti 56M, delivered in 2012.  The current owner is Australian mining magnate Clive Palmer who has owned her since 2021.

Sanlorenzo Yacht Ends Aground in Pinedo Beach Valencia

A 25 meter Sanlorenzo yacht titled m/y Nordic Lily under British flag and with three crew onboard ended aground in Pinedo Beach, just less to one nautical outside Valencia yacht marina on 1200 hours of Monday third June.  The cause of the grounding are unknown though the captain had to be airlifted to Valencia LaFe Hospital feeling unwell.  The two other crew are still onboard with a recovery operation to tow the Sanlorenzo yacht to a boat yard currently ongoing with the yacht needing some spot repairs before this can be done as the hull is reportedly punctured and allowing some water ingress.

The Sanlorenzo yacht in this grounding is an SL86 model as designed by Mauro Micheli and debuting in the fall of 2015.  The SL86 came out as a replacement to the SL82, with Sanlorenzo so far selling fifty units of the model.

Classic Hatteras Back In News After Abandoned in Charlotte

The classic Hatteras yacht Game is back in the news after it broke its mooring line and ended aground in Charlotte Harbor, Charlotte County, Florida on Friday third May.  Following this grounding the owner of Game is being charged for abandoning his yacht even though he recessed his title about a month ago following the incident with the US41 bridge, in Punta Gorda, Florida on third April. This is the third time Game ended aground in less to six months, with the yacht first ending aground in a Low Pressure storm which hit South West Florida on seventeen December, then it followed this with the fully news covered Punta Gorda bridge collision, and now this grounding in Charlotte.  As of end May, Game was still aground, with a court hearing going up on the end of the month.

M/y Game is a first generation Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht as produced from 1969 to 77.  Designed by Jack Hargrave the 53 Motor Yacht was Hatteras flagship at launch, and one of its longest produced models, and including the second version which arrived in 1978 sold over 350 hulls in a nineteen years production up to 1988.

Super Yacht Ends Beached in Spetses

A 29 meter Posillipo super yacht titled Why with Greek flag ended aground in the Dapias area of the island of Spetses, in the Greek Aegean islands on the late morning of Friday third May.  Local news reported that the super yacht was trying to remove itself from the exposed North East looking pier which moors the yachts astern looking to the North West, after strong winds made it uncomfortable for the yacht in the last hours, only for it to end beached.  With assistance coming from the Greek Coast Guard and Spetses mayor an operation was started on the same afternoon to remove Why from the beaching, although this was more complicated then anticipated because of the strong winds, and the yacht taking on water.  

Why is a 2005 Posillipo Technema 95 as designed by Carlo Galeazzi.  Debuting in 2004 to high acclaim, Posillipo will deliver sixteen Technema 95 with the last unit produced in 2008.

Princess Yacht Stucks in Chelmsford Bridge

A fifteen meter Princess yacht collided and got stuck in its road transport journey in the Chelmsford Railway viaduct, Chelmsford, to the North East of London, UK, on the late morning of Saturday 27 April.  This Princess was on its way from Denmark to the UK to a boat yard in Essex Marina, and ended in an alternative road because the planned motorway route was closed, passing into the Chelmsford Railway viaduct and soft colliding and getting stuck with the bridge side pillars.  With this collision delaying the Princess yacht arrival, and causing some traffic mayhem.  The Princess was later freed from the the bridge and continued its journey to Essex Marina. The damage to the Princess Yacht was not reported. According to unconfirmed reports this is the same Princess yacht which ended aground in Rorvig, Denmark on the eighteen June 2023.

The Princess yacht in this bridge collision is an F50 model as released in 2019 as a replacement to the 49. The Princess F50 is designed by Bernard Olesinski and Pininfarina exterior styling. In 2022 the Princess F50 was updated with the addition of larger glazing on the hull sides.

Boca Chita Boat Yacht Collision Kills Two

A collision between a fifteen meter Azimut sport yacht and a five meter Key West open boat in South Biscayne Bay, Boca Chita Key, Miami-Dade County on 18:45 hours of Sunday 21 April killed two men.  The reason of the accident and who struck who are not reported, with both vessels having seven passengers onboard when the boats collided into each other.  The operator and a passenger of the small Key West boat where emergency transported to a hospital, and ultimately did not make it and died.  The Azimut as the picture above shows had damage on its starboard bow area, with the small Key West boat damaged on its port-side to aft.  Florida Fish and Wildlife are investigating the accident.  

The Azimut sport yacht in this collision is an Atlantis 51 model, as released in 2018 to a project of Neo Design of Salvetti and Biaggi.  Still in production today, the Azimut Atlantis 51 replaced the Atlantis 50 after five years of production.

Prestige Yacht Ends Aground in Cayman Brac

 

A nineteen meter Prestige yacht ended beached on the West end of Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands on the night between Friday to Saturday thirteen April.  A night of strong winds broke the swing mooring with the Prestige Yacht ending up beached. According to the photos and reports the yacht did try to deploy the anchor, but probably no time as the swing mooring was only located about two hundred meters away from the beach.  The Prestige yacht was rescued a week later, with reports of shafts and P-brackets hull puncturing damage coming from the beaching. 

The Prestige in this beaching is a 620 Flybridge model as produced from 2012 to 2015.  Coming from a design of ever standing Prestige designer Garroni, the 620 was Prestige flagship at launch.  The Prestige came out as replacement to the 60 model, and was replaced by the 630 in 2016.  Prestige also offered the 620 S, similar in many things but with a smaller sportier sport bridge up top.

Classic Hatteras Collides Into Punta Gorda Bridge Florida

A classic sixteen meter Hatteras motor yacht titled Game anchor drifted and collided into the US41 bridge, in Punta Gorda, Florida on the morning of Wednesday third April.  Charlotte County Sheriff Office reported that the yacht was unattended during the collision, with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission and Florida Highway Patrol being on the scene monitoring the situation.  Strong winds up to fifty knots with its anchorage drifting are the reason the yacht collided into the bridge.  Although unattended during the collision, this classic yacht is reported to be a liveaboard for one person.

The classic Hatteras in this bridge collision is a first generation 53 Motor Yacht as produced from 1969 to 77.  Designed by Jack Hargrave the 53 Motor Yacht was Hatteras flagship at launch, and one of its longest produced models, and including the second version which arrived in 1978 sold over 350 hulls in a nineteen years production up to 1988.

Princess Yacht Ends Aground in Elmwood Australia

A fifteen meter Princess sport yacht with one person onboard ended aground near Beach road, Elmwood, Victoria, Australia on the morning of Tuesday second April.  It is not understood if the person ended aground for an error of navigation or to save the yacht because she was taking on water.  Australia's Channel 7 broke the news saying the person onboard secured the yacht before parting ways.  Unconfirmed news said the Princess yacht was removed from the area after three days.  The Princess yacht in this sinking was reported sold just about a month ago.

The Princess yacht in this grounding is a V50 as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 1998 to 2005.  The Princess V50 was presented as a filling model between the V40 and V55, and was replaced by the V48 in 2006.

Azimut Super Yacht Crashes Into Haulover Bridge Safety Barriers

A 32 meter Azimut super yacht titled m/y Double Trouble collided into the bull nose safety barriers of Haulover's Inlet Bridge in Miami, Florida, on the morning of thirtieth March.  The event was filmed by Marco from Philly with Wavy Boats YouTube channel sharing the event first, with Boat Mania Hub and Haulover Inlet Boats giving a different perspective drone filming of the collision the following day.  The yacht did a big noise as it collided with the safety barriers, which caused a damage of six gapping holes damage of about ten centimeters squared, and probably some glass damage in it's midships port side.  The yacht moved away from the collision on its own power.  On Facebook Wavy Boats said that the yacht tried to make a half circle turn to allow incoming traffic to pass, while on YouTube the story is that the Azimut yacht noticed that it could not pass from under the bridge because of high tide.  

M/y Double Trouble is an Azimut Grande 32M as designed by Stefano Righini for exterior with interiors by Achille Salvagni and naval architecture by Ausonio, and produced onwards from 2018.  Designed by Stefano Righini the Grande 32M came out as a replacement to the Grande 30M, and has far sold in 26 units.

Super Sport Yacht Ends Aground in Port Ginesta Spain

A 24 meter super sport yacht tiled m/y Scandal with two crew onboard ended aground by the entrance of Molin Lars Marina in Port Ginesta, to the South of Barcelona, Spain on Sunday tenth March.  After the yacht ran aground the crew where airlifted to safety by a helicopter.  The yacht ended aground during maneuvering procedure while exiting after entering the marina because of strong winds and high seas, with an undisclosed testimony also stating that a bad trajectory also led to the yacht ending aground.  The yacht was reported leaking diesel fuel after the grounding, meaning it breached its hull and fuel tank, with a fuel protection boom not being possible to deploy because of the rough sea conditions.

M/y Scandal is a Tecnomar Velvet 83 as designed by Luca Dini and produced from 2005 to 06 in two units.  The Velvet 83 replaced the Velvet 24 model which debuted in 2001.  Velvet was Tecnomar fully enclosed hard-top sport yacht series from twenty up to 36 meters, produced from 1998 to 2011.

Viking Sportfish Yacht Ends Aground in Jupiter Inlet

A nineteen meter Viking sportfish yacht titled m/y Big Blue ended aground on a shoal on Jupiter Inlet, Florida on the morning of Wednesday fifth March.  TowboatU.S. assisted the Viking sportfish out of the shoal and then towed her to a nearby marina.   A video of the assistance and towing was posted on the Jupiter Inlet Boats YouTube Channel.  According to some local this shoal has only recently formed, and when this happens these are usually marked, but unfortunately for the Viking yacht not this time.

M/y Big Blue is a Viking 64 Convertible from 2006.  The Viking 64 was offered in three or four double cabins layout and powered by twin 1800 or 2000hp for speeds up to the high thirties.  Produced from 2006 to 10 the 64 Convertible came out as replacement to the 65, and was replaced by the 66 Convertible, with a second generation 64 Convertible coming out in 2021.  

The Wandering Hillybilly Aquila Power Cat Ends Aground

A sixteen meter Aquila power catamaran of the YouTube vlog The Wandering Hillybilly and titled with the same name, ended beached in Mountain Trunk Bay, to the West of Virgin Gorda Island on the afternoon of 23 January.  A Vlog on the The Wandering Hillybilly documented the incident, which happened because the yacht broke from its swing mooring, while the owner, i.e. Alan and five guests just swam to shore for a meal at the Sugarcane Restaurant.  As Alan arrived to the beach, who was the last of the group to make the ten minute swim to shore, the guests advised him that the yacht was following him. Seeing this Alan jumped back to save the Aquila catamaran, which at this time was just about ten meters from the beach.  With high risk Alan managed to get onboard, and as soon as he was on his way to the flybridge to save the Power Catamaran, disaster struck as the hull hit the seabed.  Alan still tried the last hope, firing her up and with the starboard engine tried to move her away from the beach, but all was too late, as the yacht was already grounded and beached.  A great moment came after all this with Alan and his guests managing to tie The Wandering Hillybilly in order to avoid her from hitting the rocks located just a meter to aft.  The day later Alan with help from Aquila dealer MarineMax salvaged the power catamaran, taking her to a boat yard in Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, some three nautical miles South from the beaching accident.  Unfortunately the damage to the Aquila Power cat was more extensive then anticipated, a few holes in the hull, both P-brackets punctured in the hull, severely bent rudders and propellers, and engine room filled with sand and sea-water.

The Wandering Hillybilly is a 2022 Aquila 54 Yacht power catamaran.  Designed by the Jacep and Jernei Jakopin brothers the Aquila 54 Yacht debuted in 2021, and is offered in a nine different layout options, three for each of the decks, and is powered by three engine choices from Volvo 380 up to Cummins 550hp.

Cruise Liner Breaks Mooring and Damages Marina in Siracusa

Gale force winds followed by a tornado gusting fifty knots of wind on 12:50 hours of Saturday sixth January broke the mooring lines to the MSC Sinfonia cruise liner, with this ending on the Marina Yachting pontoons, Porto Grande, Siracusa, on the East side Ionian sea of Sicily.  With the collision MSC Sinfonia is reported to have sunk two boats, caused damage to other boats and yachts, and to the marina.  No one was injured in the collision, with the 275 meters, 58174 gross tonnage cruise liner needing four tugs to put her back in its place.  MSC Sinfonia was on a technical stop in Siracusa, boarded only by technical crew and without any guests onboard.

In the below photo we can see a Conam 52 Chrono and a Sacs Strider 45 Gran Turismo involved with the pile up at Marina Yachting, following the collision by the cruise ship.  Marina Yachting in Siracusa opened its doors in the early 2000s, and has accommodation for up to 150 boats and yachts.

Sport Yacht Ends on Sandbar in Perdido Key Florida

A sixteen meters Cruisers Yachts sport yacht started the year in not a good way, as it ended aground on the sandbar of Perdido Key, to the South West of Pensacola in Escambia County, Florida, on the afternoon of first January.  Many locals from the area complained that the sandbars of Perdido Key, with most of these becoming bars from small islets by Hurricane Ivan from September 2022 are not marked, making it tricky and difficult to navigate and avoid.  

The Cruisers Yachts in this grounding is a 540 Express model, as produced from 2004 till 06.  The 540 Express was offered in two or three cabins layout and is powered by twin Volvo or Cat 715hp engines for speeds up to the low thirties.  Cruisers flagship model at release the 540 Express came as a soft evolution of the 5470 launched in 2002, and was renamed as 560 in 2007 before replaced by the 540 Sports Coupe in 2012.

Super Yacht Utopia IV Hits Miami Bridge Barrier

A 63 meter super yacht titled m/y Utopia IV collided with the protective barrier of NE 63 Bridge which leads to the Port of Miami on 18:00 hours of Wednesday thirteen December.  The cause of the collision was caused from current created by a cruise ship prop wash, with twenty knots gust winds not helping the situation.  According to a declaration from the yacht ownership the cruise ship had no departure declaration, putting the super yacht in a difficult spot and causing the collision with the bridge barrier in that time.  Utopia IV was reported as having only the crew onboard, with no injuries to personnel, and yacht and bridge barrier sustaining little damage.  Probably this news made more headlines because ten days short of two years ago, Utopia IV had a collision with the 48 meter cargo vessel Tropic Breeze in Nassau Bahamas.  This is more a case of a wrong place and right time to be filmed and social media shared, with the bang noise coming out of the collision making this sound worse then probably it actually was.  

Super yacht Utopia IV is a 63 meter Rossinavi hull number FR031 and launched in 2018 to a design by Angelo Gobbi Team 4 Design for both exterior and interior, with naval architecture by Arrabito.  Utopia IV is listed for charter at half a million dollars a week and for sale at just under 48 million US$.  Utopia IV is owned by Loren Ridinger, commissioned by her husband and Market America founder JR Ridinger who passed away suddenly on thirty August 2022. 

Lurssen Bremen Yard Damage Injures One Employee

A 130 meter plus Lurssen super yacht currently under construction has injured one employee when falling and damaging the shed doors in the Bremen shipyard, Germany on the afternoon of Thursday seventh December.  The one employee was reported slightly injured in the accident, with the super yacht fall damaging the shed doors and the bridge connecting the dock, which partly sank in the water.  The accident was assisted by rescue workers, which included a helicopter, water rescue units, and fire brigade teams.  The 150 meters floating dock was later secured by the Bremen police, and fire department.  Lurssen reported the accident with a press release on the same evening.  This is the second incident for Lurssen in 2023, following a fire on June 28 at the Lemwerder facility which involved one worker. 

According to unconfirmed reports the Lurssen super yacht in this accidental fall is the 142 meters Project Alibaba which is set to launch in 2024.