Classic Yacht Saved from Sinking in Camerota

A 24 meter classic Cantieri di Pisa super yacht titled m/y Dea Tuda with ten persons onboard nearly sank near Marina di Camerota, to the South of Salerno at around 12:30 hours of fourteen August.  The classic yacht was cruising about one nautical mile away from the coast, near Marina di Camerota when a hull breach materialized, and the yacht started to be flooded with its engine room semi-flooding in some minutes.  Immediate the response of the Italian Guardia Costiera which assisted the guests and crew, taking them to safety, and then with the help of the harbour assistants of Marina di Camerota towed the yacht to the marina jetty, and with water pumps saved it from sinking.  

Motor yacht Dea Tuda is a Cantieri di Pisa Pegasus 24. Released in 1974 to a design of Pier Luigi Spadolini, the Pegasus 24 has an interior with four double cabins, and a crew cabin forward for three persons and is powered by twin MTU 900hp as standard, or optional 1350hp, reaching speeds up to 32 knots with the large engines.  When released the Pegasus 24 was Cantieri di Pisa flagship for three years replacing the Pegasus 23 as the yard largest offer, replaced by the modern looking Akhir 26 in 1984.

Aicon Yacht Ends Aground in Greek Ithaki Island

A nineteen meter Aicon motor yacht with seven persons onboard ended aground in Agios Nikoloas, in the North East of Ithaki Island at about 12:00 hours of eleven August.  It is not reported if the yacht was cruising in the Marmagas sea, or ended aground while at anchor in near Agios Nikoloas.  A patrol boat was immediately dispatched in the area, first taking the seven passenger aboard the flybridge yacht to safety, and subsequently organizing motor vessel Dimitra for the towing of the yacht to the harbour of Lefkada, for inspection and repairs.  No pollution was reported from the grounding.

The yacht in this grounding is an Aicon 64 Fly designed by Marco Mannino with naval architecture by Sergio Cutolo, it offered an interior of three or four cabins plus a crew cabin, and was powered by twin Man 1360hp engines for top speeds up to 34 knots.  Third model of the short and fast Aicon life which lasted about twelve years, the 64 Fly was produced from 2004 to 2012 selling in over thirty units.  Reopening in 2019 Aicon actually started by evolving the 64 in the new Sergio Cutolo designed 66 Vivere presented in 2022.

Sport Yacht Aground Near Porto Rotondo in Sardinia

A seventeen meter Alfamarine sport yacht ended aground in Cala Sabina to the South of Porto Rotondo on the late morning of eleven August.  The Alfamarine yacht departed Porto Rotondo and hit the reef to port side during its entry to Cala Sabina.  The sport yacht was later assisted by a private yacht yard, and towed for repairs. The damage to the yacht was not reported extensive, with water intrusion coming from a slipped damaged shaft entry.

The Alfamarine in this grounding is the 55, released in 1990 to a design of Franco Harrauer, offering a three cabins plus crew cabin layout and line shafts or forty knots surface drive propulsion.  Stopped in production in 1994 only five Alfamarine 55 were made, with the model evolving into the 58 with a redesigned stern and radar arch in 2002 and still offered as build to order today.  The hull of the 55 was also used for the tri-engines record breaking fast 65, and the still produced 60 introduced in 1998.

Maiora Yacht Ends Aground in Saint-Florent

A twenty meter Maiora motor yacht ended aground in Saint-Florent, to the North of Corsica on the morning of tenth August.  The causes of the accident are not reported but some reports are saying the yacht ending on the reef at about ten knots.  The yacht was later in the day protected with an oil boon for pollution control as it tipped more to its starboard side, and then taken to a nearby yard for repairs.  

The yacht in this grounding is the popular Maiora 20 produced from 1992 till about 2012, to a design of Roberto del Re.  The 20 was Maiora's best success for the Viareggio based builder founded in 1971.  A custom made to order flybridge motor yacht the Maiora 20 dominated the twenty meter size for its modern yet clean looks, selling over eighty units in two decades of production, and including the 20S longer stern version released in 2000.

Sad News Cujo Sinks Near Beaulieu-sur-Mer

Motor yacht Cujo, a one off very special Baglietto 20M with seven persons onboard sank just about seventeen nautical miles from Beaulieu-sur-Mer on the early afternoon of Saturday 29 July.  As reported by the Gendermerie des Alpes-Maritimes, Cujo called a May-Day on 12:30 hours of 29 July reporting that the yacht is taking water fast and in danger of sinking, with French coast guard arriving on the scene and the crew assisted by a sailboat which was nearby in the area.  The seven guests and crew onboard Cujo were safe, unharmed with no injuries, and in good health and where later transported to Bealieu-sur-Mer.  Cujo sank in a depth of over seven hundred meters with French Gendermerie reporting no pollution, although they are monitoring the situation as the yacht was reported carrying around seven thousand litres of diesel fuel.

Cujo was a special one-off Baglietto 20M ordered by California Porsche dealer Johnny Von Neumann a repeat client of the Varazze shipyard who wanted something fast and unique.  For this Baglietto build this one off 20M with a unique super structure and twin 1350hp CRM engines reaching speeds over forty knots in 1972.  After Neumann, Cujo was sold to Adnan Khashoggi who then passed the yacht to nephew Dodi Al-Fayed who refitted her at CARM Shipyard in Lavagna.  It is in this ownership that Cujo becomes famous, thanks to it being paparazzied with Dodi and Diana in Summer 1997 in the Italian and French Riviera's.  Following Dodi and Diana deaths Cujo will be decommissioned in 1999, until Al-Fayed cousin Moody rediscovers it in 2015 and spends over a million in a refit including upgrading the CRMs to 1650hp.  After this the boat is sold in a bid to Simon Kidston in 2020, with him selling in auction less to a year to an Italian noble family.

This is a sad day for motorboat enthusiasts as Cujo was one of the most special yachts around, a jewel made by Baglietto on the successful 20M platform which warps time like a black hole.  Rest in Peace Cujo, until memory serves me you will not be forgotten!

Palmer Johnson Super Yacht Scuttled as Artificial Reef

The 38.5 meter super yacht titled m/y Time has been scuttled in fifty meters of deep sea as an artificial reef near Hutchinson Island, at Fort Pierce Sportfishing club reef, about fifteen nautical miles South East to Fort Pierce inlet off the Florida coast on the morning of Saturday fifteen July.  Time was abandoned and unused at Marlin County, American Custom Yacht yard for seventeen years.  Marine Cleanup Initiative and St.Lucie County artificial reef programme with Mc.Mulley Marine services took care of the scuttling.  The super yacht was donated by Martin County Anglers Club in August 2022.

Designed by Tom Fexas with interior by Diane Atwood and Juan-Carlos Espinosa m/y Time is a Palmer Johnson 126 Atwood launched in 1987.  When launched Time was the largest aluminium yacht build and powered by twin 4800hp GM engines reached a top speed up to 31 knots.  Time was refitted in 1992 before sitting abandoned since 2005.

Azimut Yacht Saved from Sinking Near Livorno

In the early afternoon of Thursday thirteen July a sixteen meter Azimut motor yacht called a may-day for assistance as it was taking water in its engine room and in risk of sinking.  The Azimut motor yacht left Livorno harbour going direction Cecina, with two persons onboard, when the helmsman noticed that the Azimut yacht slowed down and started to ride bow high.  The Azimut yacht was assisted by two Guardia Costiera vessels, the CP 867 which came from Livorno and the GC B60 fast rib from Cecina, who after calming down the two crew, assisted the yacht to Cecina where a travel lift was ready to take the Azimut up for inspection and eventual repairs.

The Azimut in this near sinking is a 50 Fly model which was presented in the Summer of 2014, and as today is still in production. Coming from a Stefano Righini design the 50 Fly has a three double cabin layout, with an owners stateroom at midships and powered by twin 650hp Cat engines reaches speeds up to 31 knots.  Nine years in production the Azimut 50 Fly has received one modification over the years, with a galley up option available since 2017.

Vitech Super Yacht Sinks off Hastings

A 27 meter Vitech super yacht titled m/y Astor with two persons and a dog on board sank while cruising off Hastings, on the East Sussex coast on Thursday April six at about 1700 hours.  A coast guard helicopter rescued the crew while the dog was later saved by a life boat.  M/y Astor was reported sold in end January, after the yacht has sat untouched in Brighton marina for many years.   

M/y Astor is a 1993 Vitech 90 designed by Bill Dixon and build in Taiwan.  The Vitech 90 features an accommodation for eight guests in four cabins and is powered by twin Man 1100hp engines with a top speed up to 23 knots.  Astor was the first and one of two 90 models build with the second launching in 2006.

Sportfish Runs Aground in Stuart Florida

A fifteen meter sportfish cruiser ran aground in Stuart Florida on the morning of 28 February. The sportfish cruiser finished on top of a sand bar damaging the propeller, rudder and shaft and causing a breach in the hull, with the sportfish yacht taking in water.  Quick assistance came from TowBoat U.S. who covered the hull breach with a temporary fix, and then towed the sportfish cruiser to a yard for lift up and repair.

The sportfish yacht in this grounding is a Lydia 48 Sportfish Convertible from 1988.  Lydia is a custom sportfish and commercial boat builder from Oakland, Florida founded in 1968 and continued operating till 2002.  An unknown name today Lydia was famous in the nineties for building some of the largest super sportfish custom yachts in the cold moulding method including of which are the 92 and 95 feet builds.

Sunseeker Aground in Honolua Bay Hawaii

A 28 meter Sunseeker super yacht titled m/y Nakoa ended aground in Honolua Bay, on the island of Maui, Hawaii at 06:45 hours of Monday 20 February morning.  The yacht reportedly broke its mooring lines as it was preparing to leave the bay.  Nakoa was also reported pumping out some fuel discharge in the protected area, a day later, also because the bilge pumps where left on.  Since then the bilge pumps has been turned off by the crew.  The company which owns Nakoa, Noelani Yacht Charters who also operates another smaller 23 meter Sunseeker said the accident was not due to negligence but unfortunate circumstances.  

After a couple of salvage operation attempts, Nakoa was removed from the area on Sunday March fifth, only for the operation to be a bad success with the yacht sinking during towing in a depth of 300 meters a couple nautical miles away from where it grounded. 

Nakoa is a 2004 Sunseeker 94 Yacht, a model produced from 2002 to 2006 to a Don Shead design.  The Sunseeker 94 Yacht offers a four double cabins lower deck with two crew cabins, and was powered by Cat of MTU 1800hp engines.  Sunseeker build thirteen 94 Yacht with the model replaced by the 90 Yacht in 2006.

Sunseeker Saved from Sinking in Haulover

A sixteen meter Sunseeker flybridge yacht with twelve passengers aboard was saved from sinking in the famous Haulover inlet Miami Dade, Florida at 1420 hours of twelve December.  The event was fully filmed by YouTube channel Wavyboats.  The immediate positive reaction of the crew was to transfer the woman and children from the yacht to a safe location with the yachts tender.  The yacht was first assisted by TowBoatUS and later ITowBoats, with Miami Police and Miami Dade Fire Rescue coming to the scene.  ITowBoatUS in the end assisted the yacht and followed it back to a safe marina.  According to reports the Sunseeker yacht had a broken hose pipe in the engine room.

The Sunseeker yacht in this accident is a Manhattan 52 second series model.  Debuting in the fall of 2016  and replacing the 55, the second generation Manhattan 52 was a huge sales success thanks to its full beam midships staterooms.  Sunseeker sold 131 Manhattan 52 in a four year production run, and evolved the model with minor design tweaks into the 55 in the fall of 2020.

Classic Hatteras Yachts Hits Reef in Alcatraz

A classic sixteen meters Hatteras yacht hit the reef off Alcatraz island in San Francisco bay on the morning of Saturday 26 November at about 0955 hours.  The Hatteras had two people and three dogs onboard who where assisted and rescued by the the San Francisco Fire Department and US Coast Guard.  The impact left the yacht hard on the reefs with the owner working with the coast guard for recovery.  No one was injured in the accident. Once the most famous federal prison in the World, today Alcatraz island is a tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service.  

The Hatteras yacht in this accident is a 53 Yacht Fisherman series I produced from 1977 to 1981.  Based on the 53 Motor Yacht released in 1969, the Hatteras 53 Yacht Fisherman series I designed by Jack Hargrave offered an interior with two cabins, and or optional three double cabins, with an aft master cabin. The Hatteras 53 Yacht Fisherman series I was powered by twin Detroit's 450hp as standard with a top speed of about twenty knots. Due to demand Hatteras re-released a near identical 53 Yacht Fisherman series II in 1987 produced till 1990. 

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.

Super Yacht Beaches in Doha Qatar

A 33 meter super yacht, titled m/y Lusail Queen ran aground on a sandy reef in Doha Qatar on the afternoon of Friday November eighteen.  The causes of the incident are not reported, but the yacht does look to have its anchor down, so it might be the yacht drifted while anchored.  Videos on social media show several persons onboard Lusail Queen working to mitigate the damage and organize a safe removal from the sandbar. 

M/y Lusail Queen previously named Rayyan 1 is a Gulf Craft Majesty 105 from 2013, powered by twin Cats 1924hp engines and offering guest accommodation for ten in five cabins.  Designed inhouse the Gulf Craft Majesty 105 was launched in 2012 and produced till 2017 with nine units delivered.  Lusail Queen was last sold this 2022 year.  The Majesty 105 was replaced by the 100 model in 2018.

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.

Super Yacht Capsizes and Sinks in Kythnos

M/y 007 a 49 meter super yacht went aground and later capsized and partly sank in Kolones Bay, Kythnos island, part of the Cyclades archipelago of islands in South East Greece on the night of second September.  The super yacht reportedly ran aground breaching the hull in the process and causing a high influx of water and tilting to port side, with the yacht later capsizing about fifteen meters away from the beach.  It is said but not confirmed that the captain was trying to beach m/y 007 before it capsized.  The super yacht had five passengers at the time of the accident, which are all reported safe.  No pollution is reported.

M/y 007 is a 2006 Aegean Yachts build in Turkey to a design of Yavuz Mete.  Launched as Amazon A in 2006 as a 32 meter, she was first extended to 42 meters, and then again to its current 49 meters size.  Build of steel she is powered by twin Cats 650hp engines which give her a top speed up to twelve knots.  Refitted in 2012 and 2018, m/y 007 was last reported sold in 2012 and was not currently listed for sale.

Super Yacht My Saga Sinks in Gulf of Squillace

M/y My Saga a 39 meter super yacht with nine Italian crew onboard sank in the Gulf of Squillace, eight nautical miles from Catanzaro Marina on 1300 hours of Saturday 20 August.  The crew reported a water intrusion in the early morning of Saturday, after evacuation a team of four remained whilst a tug boat from Crotone came to tow the yacht to safety, which ultimately did not succeed. Before sinking the yacht tilted heavily to starboard while under towing. The crew and yacht where assisted first by a Romanian patrol boat on behalf of Frontex, and a Guardia Costiera boat CP321 from Crotone second.  The yacht was traveling from Gallipoli on the Adriatic sea to Milazzo in Sicily, after arriving from Turkey.  The Italian Coast Guard released a statement that rough sea conditions did not help in saving and towing the yacht to Crotone with My Saga sinking at 1300 hours.

M/y My Saga previously named Yuko was build by defunct commercial ship builder founded in 1999 Cantieri San Marco from La Spezia, to an exterior design by Tim Heywood and naval architecture by Alberto Acenzi.  Monaco Yacht and Technologies inherited the project of the 39.4 meter yacht and with an interior design by Jean-Marc Achy sold it in 2007.  Twin Cats 503hp engines powered My Saga to a fourteen knots speed and a cruise of eleven will give a range up to 4000 nautical miles. This 39.4 meter is the only super yacht build by San Marco, known for building Tug boats with some commercial ships in between, though when Monaco Yacht and Technologies took over the yard they had two yachts, a 72 and 74 meter of about 1500GT of volume inbuild.  My Saga is owned by Russian coal magnate Gennady Ayvazyan who is reported as owning at least another super yacht.

Storm Hits Eolian Islands, Yacht Ends Beached in Aque Calde

A storm hit the Eolian island and Southern part of the Tyrrhenian sea on the early morning of Friday twelfth August at about 0500 hours.  Result of this a dozen of cruisers and yachts ended up beached in Vulcano, with the worst hit being m/y Mambu a nineteen meter motor yacht beached in Aque Calde (Hot Waters) located on the North East part of the island.  Carrying twelve passengers at the time of the accident including two kids and a pregnant woman, the motor yacht made rescue operations rather difficult with the area where it beached being shallow and rocky.  Rescue operations where being handled by two Coast Guard boats the CP 2203 and CP 271, and a plane from the Catania Guardia Costiera operations unit. Some minor injuries to persons where reported in this storm with the worst being a helmsman of a sailing yacht which felt sick.  Salvage operation for the nineteen meter motor yacht has been difficult due to its location.

M/Y Mambu is a Cantieri Navali Liguri Ghibli 19 produced from the end eighties till about the mid nineties to order. Built in mahogany planking exterior and lamellar marine ply interior shell the Ghibli 19 offered accommodation for six in three double cabins and a two persons crew cabin forward.  The Ghibli 19 is normally powered by twin MTU 1000hp engines which give her a top speed up to thirty knots.

An Arturo Stabile Stama 28 also ended up beached in the Spiagia delle Sabbie Nere on the North West part of the island but reportedly sustained minor damage.

Classic Baglietto Sinks Near Unije Island Croatia

A twenty meter classic Baglietto motor yacht named m/y Cleo with four persons onboard sank while cruising near the island of Unije in Croatia, on Wednesday ten August at 1542 hours. The investigation on how the classic yacht started sinking is still ongoing, though the owner reported on social media that he hit a large submersed object, which opened two holes of about ten centimeters at the underwater part of the bow.  The passengers jumped on the ship tender to safety. Later in the day the traditional yacht was completely sank with only its bow tip showing, and later was protected by floating dams as it was reported filled with about four thousand liters of fuel.  The Croatian port authority of Rijeka and Mali Losinj gave order to the owners to retrieve the yacht on the evening of the sinking.

Motor Yacht Cleo is a Baglietto 20 M designed by Alberto Pinto and build from 1969 to 1977, in a total of 73 units including the military and coast guard versions some of which are still in use.  The 20 M was the most successful of Baglietto semi-production mahogany planked build M line which debuted in 1964 and featured a total of seven models from fourteen to 26 meters.  The 20 M offered a three or four double guest cabins interior with a midships owner stateroom, and a two berth crew cabin forward. The Baglietto 20 M was powered by twin GM 655hp as standard giving 24 knots top speed and a cruise of 20, with more powerful optional CRM or MTU being available.

Super Yacht Saved from Sinking in Mykonos

A Cantieri di Pisa super yacht of 33 meters hit a reef and was saved from sinking in the gulf of Ornos, to the South of the island of Mykonos on the afternoon of Tuesday 26 July.  The super yacht had water intrusion after it hit low bottom and damaged part of its bow area, allowing for water intrusion. With quick intervention by the Greek coast guard and fire fighting squad the super yacht was saved from taking more and eventual sinking, and on 2030 hours of Wednesday was reported safely moored in a berth.

The super yacht in this accident is m/y Ion Fedra previously named Ion, and launched as Astir in 1999.  A Cantieri di Pisa Akhir 110 build of fiberglass and project of Pierluigi Spadolini, Ion Fedra has an interior accommodation for ten guests in five cabins, with crew space for five in three cabins.  Ion Fedra is powered by the large engine option of twin MTU 2775hp reaching speeds up to 29 knots and a cruise of 26.  Ion Feddra was last sold in 2012 and is reported owned by Greek ship magnate G. Kampanis.  Seven Cantieri di Pisa Akhir 110 are reported to have been made with it also available in a wood build.  The Akhir 110 was replaced by the Christian Gatto designed 108 in 2008.