Eight People Saved from Sinking Motor Yacht Near Bridgehaven

Eight people where saved after a twenty meters motor yacht titled Silver Lining started sinking near Hood Canal, Bridgehaven, Squarnish Harbor area at about 15:30 hours of Tuesday 23 July 2019.  The motor yacht is reported to have hit a submerged object, with the crew and guests making a Coast Guard distress call and then getting off the yacht with its tender.  The yacht which remained partially sank had about one thousand liters of diesel fuel and forty liters of oil, reported a small oil spill.  TowboatUS and Global Diving and Salvage were hired to salvage the yacht, with an operation of towing to shallow water starting first at 19:30 hours of the same evening, with a refloating planned for the following day.

Silver Lining is a 1997 Pacific Mariner 65 Motor Yacht, the first hull and model of the Washington state yacht builder which was produced up to 2008 in 62 units.  Pacific Mariner will subsequently release it's second 85 model in 2004 produced till 2014 in 25 units.  Pacific Mariner was founded in 1996 by Jack Edson and John Seabeck selling it in 1999 to Westport, with the super yacht builder moving production to its own facilities in 2009, and stopping the brand in 2014.

Maritimo Yacht Sinks in Baja Mexico

 

A sixteen meter Maritimo yacht titled m/y Sea Horse ended aground and partially sank in Baja, Mexico on the tenth April.  The video of the yacht aground and partly sank was shown on the YouTube channel Cruising Mexico with Jimni, the day after the accident was reported on happening, who showed both outside and inside of Sea Horse.  The yacht had its stern fully destroyed with the collision to the rocks, and was stripped of anything of value.  A hundred meters away to the yacht grounded on a beach was also the yacht's tender, which was also stripped of everything of value.  The causes of the sinking of this Maritimo yacht are not reported.

The Maritimo in this grounding is a M54 Flybridge Motor Yacht model, which debuted in 2016 and was produced till 21.  Featuring a signature down under enclosed bridge design the Maritimo M54 offers a three double cabins, and is powered by twin Volvo 725hp up to 900hp engines with line shaft propulsion.  The M54 was introduced as a replacement to the M53 and was replaced by the M55 which launched in 2021.

Classic Motor Yacht Sinks in Ostia Italy

A twenty meter motor yacht with one person onboard sank just about one nautical mile in front of the Plinius Beach Club on the Duillio water front, in Ostia the beach city of Rome Italy, on the morning of seventh March.  The motor yacht with its 65 year old captain had just left the Tiber river direction fifty nautical miles South to San Felice Circeo, when just at the start of its trip it started to take in water from a hull breach, reportedly into its engine room.  The captain called for help and was assisted, saved and taken to shore by CP381 of the Guardia Costiera of Rome, with the yacht later sinking in nine meters of water.  No pollution occurred from the sinking, with a salvage of the yacht being organized.

The motor yacht in this sinking is a Sanlorenzo 20 as produced from 1984 to 87.  Wooden build and designed by Della Rolle the Sanlorenzo 20 came out as a replacement to the 19 model and was replaced with the fiberglass build 70 in 1989.

Sunseeker Yacht Partly Sinks in Haulover

A 22 meter Sunseeker motor yacht partly sank while berthed in a Marina at Haulover, Miami on the late morning of 24th January.  According to reports on social media, the Sunseeker yacht had a sea-cock failure in the forward part of the hull, leading to it partly sinking, with a short video snap showing as rescue operations are underway by Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage on the Instagram channel Oldhatfishing.  A day later to the accident, on the 25th January the Sunseeker yacht is filmed again, this time by Wavy Boats YouTube channel as its being towed out of Haulover Inlet and into the Atlantic Channel again by Fast Reponse, probably taking her to a yacht yard for repair.

The Sunseeker yacht in this sinking is a 74 Manhattan, as produced from 1999 up to 2001.  Designed by Don Shead the 74 Manhattan, was a new entry into Sunseeker's line up as a filler between the 84 and upcoming 64 Manhattan.  In 2002 Sunseeker updated the 74 Manhattan with the Mk.2 version, additional side profile window, and three vertical hull side windows added to serve the midships master stateroom, with the model replaced by the first generation 75 Yacht in the fall of 2003.

Benetti Super Yacht Partly Sinks in Fort Royal Isle Fort Lauderdale

A 35 meter Benetti super yacht titled m/y Pour Another partly sank near Fort Royal Isle and 34th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale at about 04:00 hours on the morning of tenth January.  The partly sank Benetti was assisted by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue in the morning who responded with a dozen first responders and also surrounded the yacht with a pollution protection boon, with SeaTow coming later on the scene to re-float the yacht.  SeaTow reported no pollution happened from the partly sank yacht, with a small fuel spill occurring inside the bilges.  After the floating the Benetti yacht was planned to be taken about five nautical miles South at a yacht yard in New River for repairs.  The Benetti yacht was reported as doing maintenance works in its bilges on the evening before, with the crew noticing it going down in the early hours of the morning.  Pour Another is currently listed for sale at 5.2 million US$.

M/y Pour Another is a 2003 Benetti Classic 115 model.  Designed by Stefano Righini the Classic 115 was Benetti's first entry for a semi-production fiberglass series, with the result being a huge success of 27 units sold in an eight year production run 1998 to 2006. The Classic 115 evolved into the Classic 120 in 2007, and then again into the Classic 121 in 2011.

Bertram Yacht Sinks in San Pedro California

A twenty meter Bertram yachts sank at the dock in San Pedro, California on fifth January.  The Bertram yacht was unattended during the sinking, and fuel loaded of eight thousand litres of diesel in its tanks plus extra tanks onboard, as it was reported to be planning a two thousand nautical miles plus of crossing to Hawaii next week.  Following the sinking the Bertram was protected by a pollution protecting boon.  Unconfirmed social media news said the yacht was taking on water for a day or two before it eventually sank.

The Bertram in this sinking is the 58 Motor Yacht, custom extended with an extra ten foot of hull and cockpit added aft.  Designed by Dave Napier the Bertram 58 Motor Yacht launched in 1976 and was produced for ten years till 86.  Bertram Motor Yacht range featured three models over the years debuting in 1971 with the 46, added with the 42 in 1973, and then the 58 in 76.  The Bertram Motor Yacht series was produced till 1987.

South West Florida Hit by Strong Low Pressure

A strong low pressure hit the South West Florida on Sunday seventeen December, with various streets being flooded in the area, a storm surge of one meter, over five centimetres of rain water, and winds up to Force seven Beaufort of intensity.  Punta Gorda which has still not recovered from Hurricane Ian from September 2022, was one of the most hit areas, along with Forty Myers, and Palm Beach.  

Many weather forecast models are saying this and previous recent storms, along with a particularly unusually strong Pacific Hurricane Season are the affect of El Nino which finally has arrived.  The 2024 El Nino is forecasted to be a strong one, because of record heat in recent Summers, and also because it delayed by a year. 

A classic Hatteras 53 Motor Yacht suffered the affect of the storm surge, with crew trying to resolve this.

This is a Chaparral 28/29 Signature which ended beached after breaking free from its mooring.  

A first version Ocean Yachts 38 Super Sport also suffered the affect of the storm, and partly sank.

Classic Benetti Super Yacht Saved from Sinking in Spain

A classic 45 meter Benetti super yacht titled Tumberry C under Spanish flag was ran aground in Carabuxeira Beach, Sanxenxo, Pontevedra, to the North West and Atlantic sea side of Spain on the morning of Saturday sixteen December.  The yacht is reported to having had a leak water intrusion in the engine room while moored in her berth, which prompted the Nauta Sanxenxo, Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo, Salvamento Marítimo Emergencies, and the Civil Guard towing the yacht and running her aground in order to prevent her from sinking.  In this spot the team of four yacht saviour teams patched and plugged the leak and then towed the super yacht to Juan Carlos I dock were now she is awaiting a full repair.

M/y Tumberry C is a Benetti 45M launched in 1988 and designed by Stefano Natucci for exteriors, with interiors by Terrence  Disdale.  Tumberry C was previously owned by x-Real Madrid vice President Fernando Fernández Tapias, and has guested among many personalities also King Juan Carlos of Spain. She is now reportedly owned by a Chinese businessman.  Benetti build four of the Stefano Natucci 45M semi-customs in between 1987-94, with the last two featuring a totally renewed exterior design but sharing the same hull.

Floating Yacht Dock Sinks in Kocaeli Turkey

A 145 meter floating dock owned by Yachtley Shipyard and with 24 persons onboard, sank while in the Kocaeli free zone area, Basiskele district, Turkey, on the morning of Wednesday thirteen December.  The Yachtley floating dock was reported in doing yacht retrieval preparation operation before it started to sink down.  All the 24 persons onboard where saved, with two being hospitalized but are reported to be in stable condition.  The 145 meters 4500 tons capacity floating dock had the tall crane booms still visible after the sinking.  The Kocaeli Port Authority reported no pollution from the sinking.

Turkish Yachtley shipyard was founded in 2005, in Kocaeli, and is owned by Saudi Arabian Fal Group.  Since its founding Yachtley has gained a name for refits, although it did deliver two super yachts; 65 meters Nourah of Riyad designed by Donald Starkley in 2008, and the 80 meter Elements in 2019 to a design of Alpha Marine and interiors by Christian Gatto.

Ferretti Yacht Sinks in Baker Beach San Francisco

A fifteen meter Ferretti flybridge yacht with two persons onboard sank two hundred meters away from the shore of Bakers beach, to the North of San Francisco at around 12:00 hours of Thursday thirtieth November.  San Francisco fire department said they received the call of the yacht sinking just before noon, with the two boaters jumping in the water and then rescued by three rescue swimmers from Bakers beach who took them to a nearby San Francisco Police Department boat.  The two boaters where then taken to San Francisco Marina Yacht Harbor for a health evaluation.  The Ferretti Yacht cause of sinking was not reported, with the yacht sitting in about four meters of water and its flybridge still visible. 

The Ferretti Yacht in this sinking is a 510 model, designed by Zuccon and introduced in the fall of 2007.  Mimicking the features of the two years before presented 630 bigger sister in a smaller size, the 510 was a yacht ahead of its time for its full beam owners midships cabin, and astern galley layout.  The 510 came out as a replacement to the 500 and 530 models, and was renamed as 530 in 2010 and produced till 2014, then replaced by the Ferretti 550 model.

Viking 92 Beaches in Delray Beach Following Black-Out

A 28 meter Viking super sportfish yacht titled m/y Pastime under US flag with three crew onboard ended beached in the East area of Delray Beach, Florida on about 15:00 hours of Friday third November.  The 28 meter sportfish yacht lost total electric and mechanical power while underway from Palm Beach to Fort Lauderdale, with the engines stopping to run and all electrical systems going in black out South of Boynton inlet, becoming an incapicated vessel, in three meter wave seas, and thirty knots Easterly winds.  As it stopped without power and already beached TowBoatU.S arrived on the scene trying to tow the yacht, with no success as Pastime snapped multiple lines in all the towing attempts, with over tens of tries in pulling the ninety tons behemoth failing both on Friday and Saturday.  Success for the towing arrived on Sunday fifth November, at about 15:15 as finally with a higher tide, and removal of fuel and liquids, Pastime was removed from Delray beach and towed for a three hour trip by TowBoatU.S to the Viking Yacht Service Center in Riviera Beach, Florida.  TowBoatU.S used twenty persons and five vessels to clear the Viking sportfish, in what was a delicate, difficult, and unusual operation.  No one was injured in the beaching and operation of towing, with Pastime reported to lose power because of a malfunction to the fire suppression system which switches all electrical and mechanical systems off.  According to photos from the Viking Service Center, Pastime had both rudders bent, minimum prop damage, and a scratch to its Vee bottom.  On ten November Viking Yachts released a press statement about this beaching incident, which to be fair has little to do about them also because this a seven year old yacht. 

Pastime is a Viking 92 Convertible from the fall of 2016, hull ten and the first to launch with the open bridge layout.  The 92 Convertible offers accommodation for five double cabins sleeping ten, with two crew cabins, and is powered by twin MTU 2600hp for speeds up to 36 knots.  Launched as the Enclosed Bridge in 2014, the 92 was Viking's flagship at launch, expanding its size by ten foot from the 2009 launched 82.  21 units of the 92 have been made till 2022, with the model replaced by the Viking 90 at the start of 2023.

Previously named m/y Sweet Tuna, this Viking 92 Convertible was sold in 2022 for under nine million US$, and renamed to Pastime and according to some reports was displayed just one week ago at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale boat show as a brokerage.

Viking Sportfish Ends Aground in Long Island, Bahamas

A fifteen meter Viking sportfish yacht titled Oh Reely under Montenego Bay, Jamaica flag ended aground on Long Island, Bahamas reportedly on the morning of Friday 27 October.  According to reports the Oh Reely was navigating from Jamaica on the way to Florida, where it developed a technical mechanical problem which unfortunately ended the sportfish aground and on the rocks.  Unfortunately for Oh Reely things got even worse as with the tide going up and waves rolling, the sportfish became a total wreck splitting in the aft cockpit side, with the starboard hull side completely opening up with the wave-rock crushing.

Oh Reely is a second generation Viking 50 Convertible produced from the fall of 2008 up to 2013.  The 50 Convertible offers a three double cabins layout with a midships starboard side owners stateroom, and is powered by twin Man 1100 or 1360hp engines, with top speeds up to forty knots from the large engine option.  The 50 Convertible came as a replacement to the Viking 48 Convertible and was replaced by the 52 Convertible in 2014.

Hurricane Otis Goes Apocalyptic in Acapulco

Hurricane Otis made an apocalyptic arrival in Acapulco on Wednesday 25 October, devastating the waterfront of the Acapulco Yacht Club in the North-West of the bay.  Otis was a compact and so far the most powerful Tropical storm category five hurricane of the 2023 Pacific Season reaching speeds up to 143 knots on the morning of October 25. Forming on the 22nd November, and reaching its peak on the 04:00 hours of October 25, Otis hit and made landfall in Isla de la Roqueta, to the South of Acapulco, killing 49 people, with 57 still missing, and is estimated to have made seventeen billion US dollars in damages.     

Scene from the North part of the of Acapulco Yacht Club, you can see an Azimut 54, and a Sunseeker Predator 63 Open to the left corner, along with a few Sea Rays.

Here is the South side is a Ferretti 800, followed by a Sunseeker Predator 57, a mid nineties Horizon Elegance 82, and an Azimut 100 Jumbo.

A before and after Hurricane Otis view of Acapulco Bay.  Possibly one of the biggest single areas destructions, and devastations ever seen.

Hurricane Norma 2023

Norma is the ninth hurricane of the Pacific 2023 season.  Forming from a low pressure appearing on the fifteen October to the Southern Coast of Mexico, which on the seventeen became a Tropical storm, and becoming a Hurricane the morning after of the eighteen. For the next 24 hours Norma will increase speeds from sixty to 112 knots becoming a category four Hurricane and causing chaos in the Southern Western Coast of Mexico.  Norma started to weaken on October 20, but made a second round of seventy knots winds on the 21st doing damage to the West-North-West of Cabo San Lucas, with a third round on the 23rd at Sinaloa near El Dorado.  After this Norma became a remnant low pressure.  

Hurricane Norma has caused major damage to La Paz and Marina Cortez to the East of Baja California Sur, with about fifty boats reported lost or damaged.  Above is a photo screen from a one of the videos circulating on social media showing the damage to La Paz marina.  This video showed a few catamarans and sail yachts sank, with the above motor yacht looking like a Hampton 490 Pilothouse semi-sank, and other motor yachts showing damage to the bathing platforms and hull sides.  

A video on YouTube by Your Saltwater Guide also showed a Cantieri di Pisa Akhir 30 S which was taken aground by the storms surge power.

While Alan Flores Ramos on Twitter showed the 2021 Ferretti Custom Line Navetta 33, hull #16 m/y Ricacha mostly sank vertically with its port side anchor out.  It is reported on some sources that Ricacha sought refuge in La Paz only for it to sustain damage in a collision and then sink.  The crew were rescued, with an operation to salvage Ricacha being underway.

Sunseeker Sport Yacht Runs Aground in Pijavica, Croatia

A 28 meter Sunseeker sport yacht titled Code, with a captain and two crew ran aground in the islet of Pijavica, near Trogir Bay in Croatia at 06:35 hours of Monday 23rd October.  No one was injured in the grounding with Telegram news reporting that the captain of Code deliberately ran the yacht aground in order to save her from sinking. During the preliminary inspection by Split harbour master, Code is reported to have its hull fully resting on the island cliff, and carrying just over 3,000 liters fuel, and as precaution was surrounded with floating dams by the Voluntary Fire Company of Kastela.   

M/y Code is a Sunseeker Predator 92 Sport from 2009 powered by twin MTU 2434hp engines for top speeds up to 38 knots.  Designed by Don Shead the Sunseeker Predator 92 offers an eight double cabins, plus two crew layout.  The Sunseeker Predator 92 was produced from 2008 till 2010 in ten units, with the same hull evolving into the slightly shorter Predator 84 in 2009.

Classic Motor Yacht Sinks in Terracina

An unattended twenty meter classic Cantieri di Pisa motor yacht partly sank at the exit of the Portatore river, outside of the Badino yacht harbour, in Terracina, Latina, Italy on the morning of Saturday 21 October.  The classic yacht was found partly sank with its stern resting on the river bed, and the bow and part of its super structure still floating. The Gaeta Guardia di Finanza along with the Maritime Office of Terracina where quickly on the case, contacting the ownership, so it removes the yacht and put it to safety, in order to avoid any damage to the environment and the river.  According to reports on the LatinaOggi news the ownership of the yacht accepted this call, and even with the bad weather of the day started the organization to remove the yacht and put it to safety.  An investigation is ongoing for why did the yacht sink.

This classic motor yacht is a Cantieri di Pisa Akhir 20 a design of Pierluigi Spadolini produced from 1979 till 1984.  Build in wood planking the Pisa Akhir 20 offered an interior of three double guest cabins plus a crew cabin for two, and is powered by twin 750hp GM for top speeds up to 27 knots.  A replacement to the 19, the Akhir 20 was replaced by more modern and bigger 22 in 1985.

Hatteras Sportfish Ends Aground Then Sinks

A sixteen meter Hatteras sportfish yacht titled Rae Mar ended aground and then sank near Boston, in Massachusetts, on the morning of Saturday 23 September.  The cause of the collision and grounding are not reported, with the situation getting worse as the sportfish later sank, probably due to high tide coming in.  Some unconfirmed reports are saying the sportfish yacht was on a sea trial at the time of the accident.  It is a strange turn of events to what looks a visible islet.  This Hatteras sportfish yacht was advertised for sale at the time of the collision.

Rae Mar is a 1989 Hatteras 52 Convertible powered by twin 735hp Detroit engines.  As all Hatteras up till the nineties the 52 Convertible is a design of Jack Hargrave, who presented a two or three cabin layout choice, and a modified Vee hull closing rather flat to aft.  Launching in 1982 the Hatteras 52 Convertible received a look upgrade in side windows and flybridge in 1986.  Produced till 1990 the 52 Convertible was a replacement to the 53 Convertible and was replaced by the 54 Convertible series I.

Motor Yacht Sinking in Belleair

A 23 meter motor yacht titled Christmas Spirit, partly sank near Belleair boat ramp, in Tampa on the afternoon of third September.  United States Coast Guard and Police Community Support Officer went to the scene to assist the boater and evaluate the scene.  The boater sustained no injuries and during inspection it was seen that the yacht was leaking fuel in the sea, and was later surrounded and protected with a hard boon and absorbent pads.  The motor yacht had to be left boomed till Tuesday fifth September when a cleaning up process had to be made.  

M/y Christmas Spirit is a 1992 Lazzara 76.  Produced from 1992 to 2002, Lazzara build 48 units of the 76, which offered a five stateroom layout and two important options; wide-body deck house and enclosed skylounge flybridge.  Lazzara made thirty in each of these versions.  The Lazzara 76 was powered by twin MTU 1150hp for speeds in the mid twenties. The Lazzara 76 was replaced by the 80 in 2003. 

Unfortunately the last twelve months have been tough on m/y Christmas Spirit, which was sold as salvage from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian from end September 2022, the worst hurricane to hit Florida since the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

Classic Yacht Sinks Then Recovered Near Caprera Island

A classic seventeen meter motor yacht titled m/y Vintage was recovered in Maddalena Island, near Caprera to the East of Sardinia on the morning of Saturday second September.  According to news Vintage had a structural plank collapse in rough seas, opening a hull breach at about 06:50 hours of Monday 21 August and then sinking in about forty meters of deep sea.  On the morning of second September a detailed operation in recovering the classic yacht, with a team by Marina di Porto Massimo, and Costruzioni Marittime e Edile from Olbia and assistance and monitoring by the Guardia Costiera and Harbour Masters of Olbia was organized.  This was a difficult job, with two tug boats and three water craft, towing the yacht to a boat yard in Palau in Sardinia some five nautical miles from the point of sinking.

M/y Vintage is a Cantiere Navale di Chiavari Paraggina 1000 build in 1968 and delivered in 1970.  17.20 meters in length and built in triple planking the Paraggina 1000 was designed by Gino Solari, with an aft cabin layout of two double guest suites, and a two berth crew cabin forward.  The Paraggina 1000 was powered by twin GM 480hp for top speeds up to 22 knots.  Gino Solari will evolve the Paragina 1000 looks into the larger Portofino twenty meter.  Cantieri Navale di Chiavari was founded in the eighteen century, building about seventeen boats a year in the sixties Italian pleasure boating renaissance and closing its doors in 1975. 

According to reports m/y Vintage is the last Cantieri Navali di Chiavari Paraggina 1000, receiving an important refit in 2023.  For details of this refit I am leaving a link in the comments section.

Hurricane Idalia

Hurricane Idalia started to form on the 26th August from a low pressure in Central America and the Eastern Pacific Ocean.  Idalia touched briefly category four on thirtieth August, when it reached the Big Bend region of Florida, and later become a category three as it crossed to South East Georgia.  Hurricane Idalia later pushed into the Carolinas as it became a Tropical Storm.  Idalia reached 110 knots of wind speed as it made landfall in Florida although it biggest damage came from the storm surge, with water level rising by over two meters.  Since August 31 Idalia has dissipated in the Atlantic, near the Bermuda's.   Idalia was the third hurricane, second major one, and the tenth storm of 2023.

Idalia caused damage to tens of boats and yachts mostly from the storm surge.  Videos on social media showed drifting boats in the Florida canals, while some home owners ended with boats in the court yard in the aftermath of Idalia's storm surge.