Hatteras Sportfish Hits Reef and Sinks in St. John, US Virgin Islands

A fifteen meter Hatteras sportfish yacht titled Lady Striker and with seven people onboard ended aground and partly sank as it hit the Moravian Reef near Cruz Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands on the afternoon of Saturday ten January.  Two of the seven boaters were rescued by a nearby boat who came to the scene after hearing the VHF call for assistance, with the other five boaters rescued by a St. John Rescue Marine unit.  According to sources the vessel lost power after hitting the reef, with the bilge pump not making up to the water entrance. No pollution was reported from the accident even though the captain reported to carrying about 1,100 litres of diesel fuel.  An investigation on the incident is ongoing though the reef marker was reported not in place.  The yacht was salvaged on Monday January nineteen.

The sportfish yacht in this accident is a Hatteras 50 Convertible Series Four as produced from 1999 to 2006.  The 50 Convertible Series Four was a cosmetic evolution to the 50 Convertible Series III.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cigarette Yacht Sinks Then Flips During Recovery in Sint Maarten

A sixteen meter Cigarette high performance center console partly sank first in St. Barthelemy, and then in its recovery operation on the island of Sint. Maarten capsized, for a story shared by revo.marine on Instagram on the sixth January.  The center console was reported to have had a collision, and partly sank, and during crane recovery operation capsized and flipped over to it's port side. Details of the actual accident are sparse, but we will update this post if these become available. 

The Cigarette in this accident is a 52 Thunder as produced since 2023.  The 52 Thunder is the second large Cigarette boat build, which today offers nine models from 39 to 59 foot.

Fairline Yacht Ends Beached in Isla Mujeres, Cancun

A seventeen meter Fairline sport yacht with two persons onboard ended beached and aground at Playa Norte to the North-West of Isla Mujeres, Cancun, Mexico on the New Years eve afternoon of 31st December.  According to news the yacht ended aground due to an error by its helmsman.  The yacht was reported to have been bare-boat charter, meaning without a captain, with the charterer helming the yacht.  Following the accident it was found that this charterer did not posses a valid yacht master licence.  An operation to remove the yacht is ongoing.

The yacht in this accident is a Fairline 58 Targa GT as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 2010 to 2012.  The Targa 58 GT was a replacement to the Targa 64 Gran Turismo, with the model evolving and replaced by the Fairline Targa 62 GT.

Azimut Sport Yacht Partly Sinks Near Porgee Rocks, Bahamas

A 23 meter Azimut sport yacht partly sank near Porgee Rocks, Providence Island, to the North East of Nassau in the Bahamas on the after noon of Friday 26 December as reported on the Bahamas, Land and Sea Facebook Group.  According to reports the Azimut yacht partly sank due to a mechanical failure, and decided to leave ship.  The type of mechanical failure which led to the sinking was not reported, but others on social media had suspect of this declaration also for the proximity to the coral reefs of Porgee Rocks.  A salvage operation is being organized, though a notice to mariners was issued as the yacht was a partly sank, moving and floating navigational hazard.  No one was injured in the accident. 

The Azimut sport yacht in this accidents is a 77S as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 2014 to 2020 in seventeen units.  The 77S was a replacement to the 72S, with the model replaced by the Azimut S8.

Super Sport Yacht Ends Aground Near Emerald Bay Marina Inlet, Exuma

The 36 meter super sport yacht titled m/y Double Shot ended aground just one hundred meters off to Emerald Bay's Marina Inlet, Exuma in the Bahamas for an accident which happened at around the early 02:00 hours of Tuesday 23 December.  The super yacht was entering the marina in what is reported a very difficult inlet to enter even in good conditions, let alone at night and in rough conditions.  To make matters more difficult the Northwest channel light at the marina entrance is also reported missing.  The number of people on board when the accident happened are not advised, but no injuries are reported from the grounding.  Salvage operations are being organized, although these are a bit difficult as the yacht is reported to have an important hull damage, and also breached its fuel tanks.  

According to some reports the same yacht also ran aground at Highbourne Cay Marina, in the Exumas on the same day but was towed away by a tug.  This grounding probably was on a soft sandbar, with the yacht probably sustaining little to no damage, as the distance between the two places is about ninety nautical miles, which is not a trip you would do if you have some important stuff broken.  

The super sport yacht in this accident is a 2011 build Tecnomar 36 Velvet as designed by Luca Dini and produced from 2008 to 2011 in three units.  The 36 Velvet was a replacement and evolution of the Tecnomar 35 Velvet, with a one meter one-off and larger 120 Velvet also being produced in 2007.

Tiara Yacht Ends Aground Near Port Salerno Florida

A sixteen meter in length Tiara sport yacht ended aground on the Sandsprit sandbar near Port Salerno, Florida for an accident shared on Captain Retriever Facebook page on Wednesday seventeen December.  Captain Retriever from TowBoatU.S. actually shows a video as the Tiara yacht is passing at the wrong side of the marker and ends aground on the sandbar.  He later assists, removes and tows the Tiara yacht off the sandbar and into deep water, who then leaves with its own power.  The cause of the grounding was passing on the wrong side of the marker.

The yacht in this accident is a Tiara 56LS which was has started production in 2025.  Tiara introduced the LS Luxury Sport in 2017 debuting with the 38LS, and today offers five models from 34 to this 56LS, what is Tiara largest outboard build yacht.

Crazy Yacht Crashes Into Moored Yacht in Dana Point, California

An explorer yacht of seventeen meters in length crashed into a moored Galeon sport yacht first, and then also into a thirteen meter Viking sportfish cruiser at the main channel of the new docks in Dana Yacht Point marina, California on the afternoon of Tuesday ninth December.  According to CBS News reporting the owner of the yacht which collided into the two boats was learning how to operate the vessel, when he pushed the throttles by error, and with this sprinted his yacht ahead and colliding into the stern of the Galeon sport yacht which was moored on the head of the pier in the marina first and then also hitting a Viking sportfish cruiser on its port side.  The Harbour Master and Orange County Sheriff came following the collision, which was witnessed by other boaters, and crews working on nearby yachts.  No one was injured as the event was filmed and shared on all popular social media outlets.

The yacht which caused this collision is a Ocean Alexander 58 Pilothouse as produced from 2004 to 2014.  The moored yachts were a Galeon 510 Skydeck as designed by Tony Castro and produced since 2016, and a first generation Viking 45 Convertible as produced from 1987 to 1993.

Sportfish Yacht Collides into North Bay Village Bridge, Florida

A sportfish yacht of sixteen meters in length collided into the bridge at North Bay Village, in Florida, for a story shared on the Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage Facebook page on Sunday thirty November.  The sportfish yacht is reported to have dragged anchored during the strong winds of the day, with the Police and Fast Response attending the scene.  The yacht was reported not attended as it collided stern to the bridge, and its transom getting stuck into it.  

The sportfish yacht in this collision is a first generation Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport as produced from 1981 to 1990 in 170 units.  The 55 Super Sport was Ocean Yachts flagship when released, with the model replaced by the 58 Super Sport.

Sanlorenzo Yacht Ends Aground Near Haulover, Florida

A 27 meter Sanlorenzo Yacht ended on top a sand bar near Haulover Park, and the YouTube famous Haulover Inlet in Florida, for a story shared on Facebook by Fast Response Marine Towing and Service on the afternoon of Tuesday eleven November.  According to some comments on the post the yacht captain went outside the channel markers, and with a yacht which drafts just under two meters ended aground.  Fast Response Marine Towing and Service and TowBoatUS assisted the yacht, in a successful operation in freeing the super yacht from the sandbar.  The damage to the yacht, if any, has not been reported.

The yacht in this accident is a Sanlorenzo SL90 Asymmetric as designed by Zuccon and produced since 2021 to date in 26 units.

3 Boaters Rescued as Flybridge Yacht Ends Aground in Lake Huron

Three boaters and a cat were rescued as a sixteen meter Carver flybridge yacht ended aground near Presque Isle Harborn in Lake Huron, Great Lakes on the night of Monday 27 October.  U.S. Coast Guard Great Lakes received the mayday call, and then gave the duty to the Coast Guard Air Station Detroit who dispatched the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter for the rescue of the three boaters and cat, who were ultimately rescued from the air.  The cause of the grounding was reported to be rough seas. 

The yacht in this accident is a Carver 530 Voyager as produced from 1998 to 2005.  The 530 Voyager was a replacement to the aft cabin layout 504 Motor Yacht, and was replaced by the Carver 52 Voyager.

Fairline Yacht Ends Aground in Yalikavak, Bodrum Turkey

A 23 meter Fairline yacht titled Alan under British flag ended aground during a sudden storm in Yalikavak, Bodrum, Turkey at around noon of Wednesday 22 October.  The Fairline yacht was anchored in the middle of the bay when a sudden thunder storm with heavy rain and strong winds drifted it into low water and aground.  The yacht captain and crew tried to avoid the grounding but to no avail, as the wind had at that stage taken control of the yacht.  With the sudden storm stopping some one hour later a rescue operation with a diver and towing boat was already underway.  No one was reported injured in the grounding, with the damage to the yacht not being reported.

The Fairline in this grounding is a Squadron 78 Custom, as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 2008 till 2018 in 86 units.  The largest Fairline ever made, the Squadron 78 Custom was a replacement and evolution of the Squadron 74.

Fairline Yacht Ends Aground in Bitez Aktur, Turkey

A twenty meter Fairline yacht ended aground and beached in Bitez Aktur, Bodrum district, Turkey on the early morning hours of Friday third October.  The yacht ended aground while at anchor and drifted to shore, as all those onboard including the skipper were asleep.  The Fairline yacht was reported to have sustained little to no damages from the grounding, also because it ended bow first in soft sand. Following checks the yacht was then later in the morning towed back to deep water.  No injuries were reported from the incident.

The yacht in this accident is a Fairline Squadron 68 Mk.3 as designed by Alberto Mancini and produced since 2022.  The Squadron 68 Mk.3 was a replacement to  the Fairline Squadron 68 Mk.2.

Carver Yacht Ends Aground in Sarasota, Florida

A fifteen meter Carver aft cabin cruiser ended aground near Big Pass Sarasota, Florida for a story shared on Florida Gulf Coast Marine Services YouTube channel on September thirtieth.  The yacht ended aground on a sandbar, with the clock ticking against an easier removal as lower tide was actually following.  Florida Gulf Coast Marine Services will actually manage to remove the yacht from the sand bar, and a bigger headache for removal, and after some checking the yacht leaves with it's own power.  

The Carver yacht in this grounding is a 500 Cockpit Motor Yacht as produced from 1996 to 1998.  Based on the 455 Aft Cabin Motor Yacht but extended with a sea level cockpit the 500 Cockpit Motor Yacht was the largest Carver on it's debut, and then evolved into the 504 Cockpit Motor Yacht and produced for another two years.

Benetti Super Yacht Ends Aground in Patroklos, Aegean Greece

The recently delivered 37 meter Benetti super yacht Angel ended aground to the North of Patroklos island, in the Aegean sea Saronic Gulf of Greece, on the early hours of Wednesday 24 September.  A Greek Patrol boat came to the scene following the accident, and after inspection found a crack in the hull, although no water is coming through the area at this stage.  The Benetti yacht had four crew onboard during the collision; three Bulgarians and one Ukrainian who are reported to have no injuries.  No pollution happened from the collision with the ownership of the yacht advised that it is not allowed to move to yacht until a survey conducts an inspection and deems it seaworthy.  The Benetti super yacht damage in its bottom bow section received a temporary repair, and was then taken to a boat yard in Lavrio on Sunday 28 September.

M/y Angel is a July 2025 delivered Benetti Motopanfilo 37m, as designed by Francesco Struglia and produced since 2021 to date in ten units.  The Motopanfilo 37m was a replacement to the Benetti Mediterraneo 116.

Storm Grounds Pershing Yacht and Rinker Cruiser in North Bodrum

A storm which hit the Northern part of the Bodrum peninsula in Turkey, on the early morning of Friday nineteen September has grounded two vessels of eighteen and nine meters respectively.  The large of the two vessels, an eighteen meter Pershing sport yacht titled Civanim ended aground in Türkbükü Hebil, and was also taking on water.  The smaller nine meter sport cruiser ended beached in Golkoy Bay.  Rescue operation for the two vessels was being organized, although the strong winds were reported to continue during the day, with the Turkish State Meteorological Service issuing a storm warning.

The Pershing in this grounding is a 62 as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 2004 to 2008.  The 62 was a replacement to the 65 Limited, and was replaced by the Pershing 64.

The nine meter sport cruiser which ended beached in Golkoy Bay was a Rinker 312 Fiesta Vee as produced from 2003 to 2004 and rebadged as 320 Express till 2009.

Azimut Yacht Partly Sank and Aground in Symi Island Greece

A fifteen meter Azimut sport yacht under British flag and with two Turkish persons onboard, ended aground and partly sank in Symi Island, in Greece and to the South Aegean sea on Tuesday sixteen September.  The cause of the part sinking is not reported with the story shared on the Boating in Greece Facebook Group, via a reel from Leuteris_frazadakis.  The persons are still seen onboard the sport yacht at the time the reel is taken.

The sport yacht in this part sinking is an Azimut Atlantis 51 as designed by Filippo Salvetti and produced since 2018.  The Atlantis 51 was a replacement to the Azimut Atlantis 50.

Azimut Yacht Ends Aground in Yalikavak, Turkey

A nineteen meter Azimut flybridge yacht titled Queen under St. Kitts and Nevis Island flag with two persons onboard, ended aground off the coast of Yalikavak, Bodrum Turkey on the afternoon of Thursday eleventh September. According to reports the yacht suffered an engine failure and due to the sea state and current ended aground, along with its large about nine meters long chase rib. Following the report, teams from the Bodrum Coast Guard and Bodrum Regional Port Authority responded to the accident, with a salvage operation started immediately afterwards. The two people on board were reported uninjured.

The Azimut in this collision is a 62 as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 2002 till 2006.  The Azimut 62 evolved into the 62 Evolution in 2007 with some subtle changes like glazed hull windows and then produced till 2009.

Classic Sanlorenzo Yacht Sinks in Spinut, Croatia

A classic not attended nineteen meter Sanlorenzo yacht titled m/y Seacret with Italian flag partly sank outside the small port of Spinut, Split, Croatia on the early 03:18 time of Wednesday third September.   According to the area harbour master, the yacht drifted its anchor due to the strong winds of the time and ended colliding with the breakwater of the Spinut harbour.  With the collision the yacht penetrated its hull and partly sank bow first.  Unfortunately the yacht has also been reported to have some pollution due to a minor fuel leak, and has been dam protected.  An order to remove the fuel and recover the yacht has been issued to the ownership by the Croatian Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.

The yacht in this accident is a classic Sanlorenzo 19 designed by Della Rolle to a wooden construction and produced from 1981 to 1984.  The 19 was a replacement to the 18 model, and was replaced by the 57 which started the Sanlorenzo fiberglass era.

Night Storm in Tivat, Montenegro Damages Super Yacht New Dream

A strong storm which hit Tivat and Porto Montenegro just before midnight of Saturday thirty August damaged the 74 meter super yacht New Dream.  The story was shared on Instagram crew.mess channel with a reel showing the crew of the super yacht organizing the yacht during the storm, and then the damage to the port side which affected the yacht the following morning, as the above screen shot shows.  According to reply comments on the Instagram channel, only this yacht got damaged during this Porto Montenegro storm, with winds reported to have gusted up to forty knots.

M/y New Dream is a 2017 Amels, second hull of the Limited Edition 242 semi custom series as designed by Tim Heywood for exterior and Winch for the interior, and produced from 2016 to 2024.  The Limited Edition 242 was replaced by the Amels 80 Limited Edition which has launched its first unit this year.