Princess Yacht Fire in Fort Lauderdale

A 26 meter Princess yacht titled m/y Hot Pursuit went in flames while berthed in her berth at Las Olas Isles, in Fort Lauderdale on 10:30 morning time of Wednesday March eight.  No one was aboard the yacht when Hot Pursuit's flybridge started to burn, with Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responding to the fire and managing to control the flames, limiting the damage to the flybridge.  The causes of the fire are unknown with the first indications showing that it was an electrical fault which started the flames.

M/y Hot Pursuit is a Princess 88 MY from 2018.  Designed by Bernard Olesinski the Princess 88 MY was launched in 2013 and produced till 2019 in 27 units.  The 88 MY offered an interior with four double guest cabins, and two crew rooms and was powered by twin Cat 1825 or 1925hp engines.  A replacement to the Princess 85, the 88 MY was replaced by the half a meter smaller Y85 in 2019.

Prestige Yacht Catches Fire at Ruskin Tampa

An unattended sixteen meter Prestige flybridge motor yacht titled m/y Flood Cuts under Warwick registry went ablaze while berthed in Little Harbor Marina, Ruskin, Tampa on 09:12 hours morning of Thursday 26 January 2023.  Hillsborough Fire County responded to the fire from land first with Engine Seventeen, and later on from the sea with Fire Boat 29, to de-water the vessel in order to avoid her from sinking. No one was injured in the fire, with the damages being limited to the yacht.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

M/y Flood Cuts is a Prestige 550 Flybridge as designed by Garroni, and produced from 2012 to 15.  The 550 Flybridge and S is one of Prestige most successful models above fifty feet, with the model selling 170 units in a production run of just three years, and then evolving into the 560 in 2016.

Vanquish Sinks in Miami River

A sixteen meter Vanquish sport yacht titled m/y Falcon with a captain and crew onboard sank in the Miami river just before 1400 hours of 25 November.  The causes of the incident are not reported.  Being on the Miami river which is one the most Vlogged areas in the World for boating we have Boat Zone giving a bit of previous history before the sinking, as Falcon is seen dropping six passengers near a construction locality in the area.  At this stage it is not understood if Falcon's captain is aware of some problems as this is just twenty minutes before the yacht sinks.  The incident is later reported and assisted by Miami Police Department and Miami Fire Rescue, possibly also because in the filmed videos the Vanquish yacht is still a semi-floating-sank wreck hazard moving around with the current in the Miami River.

The Vanquish in this accident is a VQ54.  Debuting in 2017 the Vanquish VQ54 is build in aluminium and comes from a Guido de Groot design, offered in one, two, or three cabin interiors, powered with Volvo 610 or 725hp with IPS pod drives, and or Man 800hp with surface drives.  The Vanquish VQ54 was replaced by the VQ58 in 2021.

Hurricane Ian

Hurricane Ian is the ninth named storm and fourth hurricane of 2022.  Ian originated from a tropical wave which formed on 19 September on Windward Islands before moving to the Caribbean sea where it brought wind and heavy rain to the ABC Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and North coasts of Venezuela and Columbia on September 21-22 where it became a storm.  As it neared the Cayman Islands Ian reached hurricane grade three hitting Cuba, Southern East gulf of Mexico, and Dry Tortugas.  As it entered into Florida on 28 September Hurricane Ian hit high end grade four status, causing tremendous damage to South-West Florida especially to the cities of Fort Myers and Naples. After this damage Hurricane Ian returned to the Atlantic Ocean where it weakened for a couple of hours to a tropical storm, where it has returned to a Hurricane Two status touching the Carolinas on October one.  Hurricane Ian dissipated on second October. Hurricane Ian has killed at least 88 people, and has displaced over forty thousand.  Ian is considered the fifth deadliest storm to have hit the United States of America mainland, with sustained 75 gusting to ninety, and peaking 134 knots winds, with its heavy flooding and storm surge causing billions of US dollars in damage.

Hurricane Ian caused damage to over a hundred of boats and yachts, to what is the most boat and yacht rich state in the United States and the World; Florida.  Pictured above is the Legacy Marina in Fort Myers, so far the worst reported extensive single area damaged.  Other damage is also reported in Venice, Florida and all the canals and small marina around the area of Fort Myers. 

Classic Motor Yacht Ends Aground in Hurricane Fiona

A 21 meter motor yacht titled Cortina ended aground and on the rocks to the South East of Warwick, in Ports Island, Bermuda following the events of Hurricane Fiona on 25 September, 2022.  Cortina was reported unattended when it broke its mooring and ended on the rocks.  Hurricane Fiona was mostly a non event in Bermuda and on the water, with only another small sail boat reportedly breaking its moorings.  The extent of the damage of Cortina was not reported, though the yacht was later protected with a boom.  The ownership and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are working for a way to remove the yacht, which as at 10 January 2023 was still in the same place.

Hurricane Fiona formed on fourteen September, reached category four on the nineteen September and dissipated on 27 September.  Fiona was the sixth named storm, third hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season.

Cortina is a Kong Halvorsen 68 model, from 1986.  Kong Halvorsen was a boat builder from Hong Kong, which also used other Fairview and Kong-Richardson names with the same KHE hull identification code, with the yard mostly known for its Island Gypsy explorer cruisers and yachts.  Kong Halvorsen started operating in 1978 and went of business in 1994.

Medicane in Corsica 2022

A fierce storm with hurricane strong winds hit Corsica on the morning of Thursday eighteen August.  The worst hit was the West and Northern part of Corsica with winds reaching record speeds of 121 knots, this recorded at Marignana to the West of Corsica.  The same storm also hit the North Tyrrhenian sea particularly the region of Tuscany couple hours later.  Over five hundred boats and yachts received some damage, with about one hundred of these receiving extensive damage which made them unusable to use before repairs are done.  Some of these unusable boats and yachts also ended up beached or sank and are a wreck.  Six people where reported dead in Corsica with three dying in Italy because of the storm with one of these being related to boating. 

The 2022 Mediterrean Summer season was particularly hot, with sea temperatures reaching thirty degrees at the beginning of August, result is that a medium strong cold front ends turning in a Medicane, a Mediterrean Hurricane.  Storms like this has happened in the past, possibly of lower intensity, but it is also important to note that our weather reading has become much more precise and sophisticated in recent years.  Being in high season and Corsica a popular destination created the right dooms day environment for all this chaos to happen.  

A Mondomarine Arrow 50 is seen before sinking outside the Saint Florent marina.  Designed by Cichero the Mondomarine Arrow was released in 1984 first as 52 and then rebadged as 50.  The model was produced till 1992 with an Open version released on the same hull in 1987.

This eighties Raffaelli Middle Flying mt 12 was a lucky one at Saint Florent who ended starboard side on the South West breakwater of the harbor, while a sail boat unknowingly pulled him to the middle of the marina before the boat suffered further damage, and possibly a sinking. 

A Princess V53 is seen beached in Calvi the worst hit area with tens of boats, most of which sailing yachts finishing beached.  In Calvi most of the swing moorings failed with boats ending up hitting each other, with the end result being tens of boats and yachts damaged.

Another Calvi victim here a Beneteau Swift Trawler 34 ended in a difficult beaching, in between rocks and extensive damage to its bow.

Possibly this was the worst damage in a beach near Calvi where this Cranchi E52 F Evoluzione has separated from its upper deck and had its hull split in two.  Forward to this was also a beached Beneteau Antares 9.80.

An Absolute got some damage to starboard stern side when a classic sailing yacht broke its moorings in Marina di Carrara in Tuscany.  Important damage in Carrara also happened to dry stacked racing sail yachts, which flew off there cradle.  The World beating Maserati trimaran of Giovanni Soldini also sustained damage in this storm.

Sportfish Yacht Sinks in Pensacola Pass

A sixteen meter sportfish yacht with nine persons onboard sank while entering the Pensacola Pass, on the morning of ninth June just after 1030 hours.  The yacht hit the USS Massachusetts artificial reef located one an half miles which in low tide is tricky and a navigational hazard, damaging its starboard rudder, and prop shaft to take on water and started sinking.  Hearing the MayDay Pensacola Coast Guard sent a thirteen meter Response Boat which was patrolling the area, who assisted the crew in just ten minutes after the call, and led all nine persons to safety.  The sportfish located near the Massachusetts still partly floating was a navigational hazard and was reported as lost on the twelfth July, that is until the yacht finally was found and salvaged on the morning of fourteenth July. 

The sportfish in this sinking is a second generation Ocean Yachts 50 Super Sport, released in 2004 and still offered today.  The 50 Super Sport replaced the best selling 48 and became popular for its three cabins layout, and comfortable medium-V hull shape closing at 15.5 degrees.  The Ocean Yachts 50 Super Sport is standard powered with twin Cats 715hp, optional up to 1015hp, reaching speeds up to 35 knots with the last large engine option.

Ferretti Super Yacht Sinks Off Chub Cay Bahamas

A 25 meter Ferretti super yacht, hit a reef and sank off Chub Cay, in the Bahamas on third July 2022.  Four persons where onboard the super yacht on the time of sinking, with all being rescued and no one reported to be injured.  The Ferretti super yacht hit a reef and sank in the shallow area which marks all around the Chub Cay island to the North of the Bahamas.  Reports are coming that this Ferretti super yacht was being lifted and towed to a yard on the morning of 8 July.  

The 25 meter Ferretti in this sinking is the popular 830 model, presented in 2006 and produced till 2011.  Designed by since 1990 till 2018 Ferretti designer Zuccon the 830 offered a four double cabins plus two crew cabin interior.  The Ferretti 830 was powered by twin MTU 1823hp or 1948hp, with the large engines giving speeds up to 33 knots.  42 Ferretti 830 have been made, with the model developing and extended in length to become the 870 in 2012.

Ferretti Super Yacht Sinks Near Paxos

A 27 meter Ferretti super yacht titled Green Whisper with three persons onboard hit the Yfalos Panagia reef while cruising between the Island of Paxos and mainland Greece, on the morning of second July.  After the collision the Greek sent three boats to assist the crew, and put the vessel to safety. After the collision the super yacht was tilting to port side due to the damage sustained to that underwater side of the hull.  With the crew safe and taken to the port of Gaios for a health check, the Greek Coast Guard marked the yacht and the area, for safety to other navigators.  Green Whisper was recovered on the eight July.

Green Whisper is a Ferretti 880 model from 2005 designed by Zuccon with a four double cabins and two crew cabin lower deck layout.  This Ferretti 880 was powered by twin MTU 2030hp which give it a top speed up to 31 knots. Ferretti built fourteen 880 from 2003 till 2006, with the model becoming the 881 with hull window upgrades from 2007 till 2012, and then some other thirty units being made.  Ferretti's flagship model from 2003 till 2012 the 880 and 881 was replaced by the 960 as the brands largest model in 2013.  Ferretti also offered an RPH raised pilot house version of the 880/881.

Abandoned and Sunk in Rosslyn Bay

Some stories are beyond understanding and this is one of them for this 23 meter Azimut motor yacht titled M/Y Hey Mon which sank in Rosslyn Bay Marina, East of Rockhampton, in Queensland Australia on the eleven of May after hitting its bottom.  Hey Mon was anchored for over a week in Rosslyn bay, but the Azimut motor yacht lost its anchor hold with winds on the day reaching thirty knots and beaching the yacht at Lammeroor Beach.  Mostly because in all photos the main deck was always above the water.  A few days later the yacht ended beached, with parts from the yacht and it's toys, ended up scattered on the beach.

Hey Mon has had a colorful history in recent times, first being kicked out of a marina and ending up blocked on the Sundale bridge and damaging the radar arch in the process, then ending up beached in Bums Bay boat ramp.  Unfortunately this last event at Rosslyn Bay might be this yacht final nail in the coffin, with the yacht gutted in several pieces for removal on the 24th May.  

This Azimut motor yacht titled Hey Mon registered under Jamaican flag is a 78 Ultra model built in 1995. Released in 1993 and produced till 2000 the 78 Ultra was Stefano Righini first design for Azimut, a relationship which will last till 2017 and the Italian designer retirement from his duties.  For being Righini's first the 78 Ultra is an important milestone in Azimut history and success.  The 78 Ultra features an interior of four double guest, plus two crew cabins, and was powered by twin MTU 1150hp or Cats 1250hp which made her reach top speed up to about 28 knots.  The Azimut 78 Ultra evolved into the 85 Ultimate in 2000. 

Classic Benetti Ends Aground in Eboli

A 24 meter Benetti yacht named m/y Mensh II under Polish flag with a French national Spanish resident ownership ended beached on the beach of Campolungo, in Eboli following a storm on the night between second and third December.  Mensh II was reported travelling from Marina di Camerota, South West of the Italian Tyrrhenian sea returning to Spain on the night when it hit the storm, first stopping in an emergency at Foce Sele, where with the help of the Agropoli Coast Guard dropped its passengers to safety, for it and some hours later ending up beached in Campolungo.  The cause of the beaching was reported to be loss of power to both engines.  

As at Summer 2022 Mensh II was still beached, and looted of anything of value, with the Eboli local council looking for the ownership to organize and or pay for the removal of the Benetti 24 meter motor yacht from the Campolungo beach.  

M/y Mensh II is a Benetti 23M S build in 1983 with accommodation for nine guests in four cabins, and four crew in two.  Benetti sold eight 23S, a project which was presented as 22S in 1975, with the first unit delivered in 1977 and the last one in 1983.  Build of steel with an alloy upper structure the Benetti 23S is powered by twin Man or GM 550hp as standard or optional 650hp.  Mensh II was reportedly last sold in December 2017, after a thirty year ownership. The Benetti 23M S shared its hull platform with FB 22, which while still featuring two and half decks, offered classic looks outside.

Azimut Crashes Into Northerly Island Shore Wall

An eighteen meter Azimut sport yacht called Red Baron crashed into the Northerly Island, Eastern shore wall in Chicago on the night of 31 July at around 2300 hours.  The Chicago Police Marine Unit rescued the six passengers onboard Red Baron, with two of them being injured and taken for additional treatment to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital.  The causes of the accident are unknown but reports are calling for a human error, with the Northerly Island harbour entrance being difficult to get right in some nights more to others.  Due to wind and high waves the Azimut salvage was delayed till August third, though it might still be a total loss for the owner.  Northerly Island is a Chicago marina located at the South West of Lake Michigan in the East centre part of the USA.

Red Baron is an Azimut 62S a popular model for the famous Italian builder presented in 2005 and produced till 2013.  Over 150 units of the 6 S are said to be built, making her one of the most popular S series model.  The last 2012 model year was a limited edition larger engine powered Italia named series. Designed by Stefano Righini with hull by Michael Peters the 62S offered a two double cabins layout, with an optional third cabin choice, and a crew cabin aft.  The standard Azimut 62S was powered by twin 1015hp Cat engines with top speeds up to 34 knots. 

The Azimut S series which launched with the 68S in 2003 changed how sport yachts are designed; thanks to minimal interior styles, patio door main deck, and a separate galley layout.  These design choices while common today where unseen before the S series arrived, and they prized Azimut first S model the 68S immediately, selling two years plus of production of forty plus units just few months after the first private appearance.

Five Yachts Destroyed at Marina Kastela Fire in Croatia

A huge fire broke out in Marina Kastela, to the North West of Split, in Croatia on Saturday 29th May 2021 around 2140 hours.  The fire broke out apparently on a 22 meter motor yacht, and then went on to the other nearby and opposite yachts.  The result is that five boats have been totalled, and eighteen have been damaged.  Fire fighters from Kastela, Split, and Solin spent up to the following morning controlling and reducing the fire.  Only one person had minor injuries which considering the time of the accident and the period in the season it could have been much worse.

The yachts involved in the accident seems to be a Fipa Maiora 24S, Sunseeker 72 Predator, and a Ferretti 760.  We still do not know the full dynamics of the accident but some Croatia news are reporting it all started from a galley fire.

Super Yacht Partially Sinks Near Chud Cay

A 25 meter super yacht titled m/y Adamo with only its captain onboard hit a reef near Chud Cay in The Bahamas, and partially sank with bow sticking out of the water on 29 April.  Some days before Adamo was reported for having a previous collision with a coral head reef in the Yellow Banks, damaging its running gear, with the captain having a brawl with the crew and guests and these abandoning the yacht in Nassau. Because the yacht was single handed by the captain the insurance refused cover and assistance in salvaging Adamo, which in the meantime became a navigational hazard drifting around partially sank in the area.

M/y Adamo is a Peer Gynt 85 build in Turkey in 2008 to a design of Bill Dixon.  Adamo previously named m/y Mr K, and Rubber Duck offers guest accommodation for eight guests in four cabins, and two crew in two cabins, and powered by twin Man 1550hp reaches top speeds up to 23 knots.   Adamo is the only Peer Gynt 85 unit launched, tough the hull, but longer and a bit different super structure was the same basis for the Peri 29 which sold in five units from 2007 to 2011.

Riviera Yacht Ends Aground Near Tamaki River

A fifteen meter Riviera sport fish yacht with two persons onboard ended aground and on the rocks near the Tāmaki River entrance, off St Heliers Beach in Auckland on 23rd December. The two people onboard where rescued with no injuries, while the yacht did not cause any environmental or pollution damage.  According to unconfirmed news the Riviera yacht was a day later pillaged to some of its equipment even though it was reported as locked.  The Riviera Yacht was salvaged on the 29 December.

The Riviera in this grounding is a 51 Enclosed Bridge produced from 2008 to 2015.  The Riviera 51 Enclosed Bridge was powered by twin 715hp with triple Volvo 435hp with IPS options coming with the series II in 2008.  Offering a three double cabins layout, Riviera build a total of 181 51's replacing it with the more yacht 53 Enclosed Flybridge in 2011.

Hurricane Sally

Hurricane Sally is the seventh hurricane of 2020, and the eighteenth named storm.  Sally formed as a Tropical storm on the Bahamas on September 10, and on September 14 it was classified as a Category One hurricane and in the evening reached Category Two, only to be declassified back to C1 a few hours later.  On September 16 and upon reaching Alabama state Sally surprisingly reached again Category Two.  Sally destructive power was centred between the areas of Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida. With Orange County just in the middle of this area being one of the worst hit, damaging hundred of all types of boats and yachts.  Hurricane Sally killed two persons with one missing, and the damages caused are estimated to be of at least five billion US$.  Sally is the first hurricane to have arrived in Alabama, since Ivan in 2004.  Sally landing coincided exactly sixteen years later on the same day.  Hurricane Sally ended on 18 September.

Classic Benetti on Fire in La Spezia Boat Yard

A classic Benetti super yacht went on fire on the morning of September 15, in La Spezia. the Benetti super yacht was dry docked at the Muggiano shipyard. The cause of the blaze is unknown, and the fire fighting squad was quick to intervene to control and turn off the fire. No spread to nearby yachts was reported.  Muggiano Shipyard is located at the East part of the large La Spezia basin bordering with Lerici, founded in 1883, and since 2004 owned by Fincantieri shipyard.

The Benetti in the fire is the 34 meter super yacht Hidalgo, which was custom built in Viareggio in 1968 to an in house design and naval architecture.  This Benetti 34 meter offers accommodation for eleven guests in five cabins, with five crew berths.  Power comes from twin GM 590hp which give top speeds up to 14 knots and a cruise of eleven knots for a range of four thousand nautical miles.  Hidalgo was last refitted in 2008.

Aicon Yacht Sinks in Isola di Cavallo

An Aicon 72 SL sport yacht titled motor yacht Regis with Italian flag sank outside of Isola di Cavallo, an island on the South East coast of Corsica, the late morning of third August,  The sport yacht hit one of the submerged unmarked reefs in the area close to Cala Zerri, while running a charter with eleven people a captain and a crew onboard. The area between Cavallo and Levezzi is famous for unmarked semi submerged reefs.  Regis hit a reef outside of Cala Zerri with the propeller and P-bracket which pierced a hole in the aft part in the hull of the 22 meter Aicon Sport Yacht which started to take on water and sink.  The sport yacht sank in eighteen meters though it was still partly floating, with the stern touching the bottom of the sea and tip of the bow showing as of late afternoon of the same day.  The eleven passengers crew and captain onboard are all reported safe with no injuries.

The Aicon 72 S was produced from 2005 till 2012 and was part of the expansion of the Sicilian, Messina region located boat builder, which had great success in the early first decade of the second millennium, up until the 2009 global recession.  In 2001 Aicon presented itself with the Fulvio de Simoni designed 56, a model it delivered in over one hundred units up until 2009, and was a catalyst for more models, expansion and growth.  The Aicon 72 S had a fully enclosed hard-top, with living on the main deck and three cabins, or optional SL four guest cabins layout version.  Power came from standard twin Cats 1320hp or optional 1550hp engines with line shaft propulsion, and top speeds of  35 knots and 38 knots respectively.  After going bankrupt in 2012 Aicon has in 2018 been bought by an American investor and has started production for a new 66 model set to launch late in 2020.

Sport Yacht Fire in Gouvia Marina Corfu

A sport yacht of about sixteen meters in length caught fire in Gouvia Marina on the Greek island of Corfu, on the evening of thirteen July.  Fire fighters from both the pier and the sea tried to turn off and slow the fire, with moderate success.  The sixteen meter sport yacht eventually partially sank, and no injuries are reported from the fire since the boat is reported as unattended at the moment of the fire.  The sport yacht was later fully floated.

The sixteen meter sport yacht of the fire is a Prinz 54 Coupe, and is powered by twin Volvo 435hp with IPS pod drives. The Prinz 54 Coupe offers a three double cabins interior layout.  Prinz was a Belgium brand which was founded in 2001 and had good success with its 31 to 40 models in open and fly version in the first decade of the second millennium.  The 54 Coupe was the largest model ever made by Prinz, and sold rather well as it was one of the first IPS propelled boats above fifteen meters in size when it launched in 2006. 

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Update 27 July and thanks to reader Vedran, we can report that Prinz closed its doors in around 2008 and then a couple of years laters, one of the employees in its Croatian factory bought the molds and re-branded the company as Pearlsea Yachts.  So if anyone is interested in any of the Prinz designs you can find a link to the Pearlsea Yachts website in the comments below. 

Carver Yacht Sinks in Savannah

On Monday 25 May at around 23:00, the US Coast Guard of Charleston received a call to assist and rescue five persons from M/Y Nauty Thoughts, a 57 foot motor yacht which at time was located in Savannah.  The motor yacht hit a jetty and was asking assistance as it was taking on water and sinking.  The five persons onboard Nauty Thoughts where rescued from a thirteen meter response boat and helicopter assistance.  The seventeen meter motor yacht could not be salvaged by TowBoat Savannah as its lost stability and sank.   

M/Y Nauty Thoughts was a Carver 570 Voyager produced in the early 2000s and powered by twin diesel engines from 500 up to 700hp.  The Carver 570 Voyager offered a three double cabins lower deck layout with a main deck open saloon galley layout.