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.

Flybridge Yacht Wrecked by Fire in Club Arenal Mallorca

A not attended 23 meter flybridge yacht went ablaze in Club Nautico del Arenal in Llucmajor, Mallorca with the fire reported just before 02:00 early morning hours of Thursday 22 January.  Guardia Civil and multiple fire crews from Bombers de Mallorca tended to the fire taking three hours to control, with big efforts going and succeeding to keeping the fire to this one yacht.  Ultimately the yacht was wrecked by the blaze, with an investigation on the cause of the fire being opened.

The yacht in this fire is an Antago 76 as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 1999 to the early noughties.  Antago from Viareggio, Italy was founded in 1991 by Sebastian Gravagno and will close its doors in 2006, with the company returning in 2025 as a US holding.

Three Yachts Wrecked by Fire at Spit Bridge Marina, Sydney

Three yachts from twenty to 28 meters in length were wrecked by fire, with a fourth yacht also sustaining important damage at Spit Bridge Marina, Mosman, a suburb located to the North of Sydney with the blaze starting on the first yacht before 03:30 morning time of Friday ninth January.   Fire and Rescue NSW responded to the blaze with forty fire fighters, fighting the fire from both land and sea including the fire fighting vessel Girawaa, and taking near three hours to control, and were followed by NSW Police and NW Ambulance.  Four people escaped the fire unharmed, while a woman was treated for smoke inhalation and is under observation.  By the videos running online the fire started in a smaller yacht about twenty meters in length, which then jumped to two Sunseeker yachts located to its port and starboard sides.  All the three yachts ended sunk and wrecked, with the fire also damaging a Princess yacht to its port side, this berthed one boat away and to starboard from the starting fire yacht.  The cause of the fire is not reported, with an investigation being opened to determine the cause.  Pollution from the fire is reported controlled and to a minimum, with salvage efforts taken over by the marina operator.  

The yachts wrecked by this fire are a Sunseeker 80 Yacht, and a Sunseeker 94 Yacht.  The yacht which sustained damage to its port side is a Princess 85 MY.  The smaller yacht which started the fire is not identified, if some one has information leave a comment or send a message.

Fire at Greek Zea Marina Wrecks Three Yachts

A fire at Zea Marina in Piraeus, to the South West of Athens which originated from the tourist sailing gullet Mirasol has wrecked three yachts from 23 to 43 meters, including of which is the Mangusta super yacht Sanctuary.  The blaze started just after 03:00 early morning time of Thursday thirteen November.  Hellenic Fire Service tended to the blaze with twenty fire fighters from both land water and were assisted by watercraft from the Coast Guard, fighting the fire for more than five hours, to no success as all three yachts ended wrecked.  Strong winds pushing the fire from the starboard to port side of the gullet did not help the situation, as these jumped first on the 23 meter Azimut sport yacht Alkyone, then on a 26 meters Azimut flybridge yacht, and then on the 43 meter Sanctuary.  No injuries were reported as the coast guard cordoned the area, and then surrounded the wrecks with a pollution protection mesh. 

The three yachts in this fire are m/y Alkyone a 2017 Azimut 77S designed by Stefano Righini, and produced from 2014 to 2020 in seventeen units.  The second yacht involved was an Azimut 85 as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 2005 to 2009 in nineteen units.  Last yacht wrecked and the largest of the blaze was m/y Sanctuary a 2019 Overmarine Mangusta Oceano 43, designed by Alberto Mancini and produced from 2019 to 2021 in four units. 

This is the second fire at the same marina in just over a year, with that blaze coming on the night of first August 2024.  That past fire had a similar script as a tourist vessel also started the blaze which then burned the custom Picchiotti 42 meter m/y Libra, and the Cantieri di Pisa built Golden Yachts completed 32 meter O'rianna.  A link to the post of that accident is in the comments below.

Super Sport Yacht Fire Destroyed Offshore to Savona, Italy

Three men were saved as the 26 meter super sport yacht Principessa Matera had an onboard fire as it was cruising about five nautical miles offshore between Bergeggi and Capo Noli, Savona in Western Liguria Italy at around 14:15 of Thursday six November.  Two Vigili del Fuoco fire fighting boats departing from Savona and Genova and a Drago 162 Helicopter went out to fight the blaze, as the yacht crew saved itself with the yacht's tender.  The fire was controlled and stopped, although the yacht was wrecked and nearly fully burned but was saved from sinking and spreading pollution from its fuel tanks and engine oil.  

The yacht wreck was ultimately towed at 00:40 to the Port of Vado by a Transmare tug boat, with an anti-pollution Transmare vessel and two Port Captaincy boats following the operation.  The cause of the fire is now under investigation, as the yacht wreck was seized by the Savona public attorney.

M/y Principessa Matera is an Arno Leopard 27 Open as designed by Paolo Caliari and produced from 1994 to 2011 in 48 units.  Founded in 1935 by Raffaello, Alessandro, Lorenzo and Nello Picchiotti, they enter yacht production outside the Picchiotti family name with the Arno Leopard 15mt as designed by Paolo Caliari in 1973.  Arno Leopard operated till 2013, building yachts up to 46 meters in length.

Pershing Yacht Goes Ablaze in Marina Ibiza

A not attended fifteen meter Pershing sport yacht titled Bad Girl went ablaze in Marina Ibiza, before 09:00 of the early morning of Sunday fifth October.  According to reports the yacht had a first fire, which the fire fighters thought to have controlled, only for the fire to come again and wreck the yacht.  No injuries were reported, as the yacht was not attended during the blaze.  An investigation on the cause of the fire is being made, as the wreck of the yacht was taken to the nearby Nautica Varadero yacht yard for inspection.  

The Pershing sport yacht in this fire a 5X model as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced since 2016.  The 5X was a replacement to the Pershing 50.1, and has been since that time the entry level model of the Italian sport yacht specialist. 

Fairline Yacht Goes Ablaze in Perth, Australia

A not attended twenty meter Fairline sport yacht went ablaze as it was berthed at Hillary's Boat Harbour, on Perth's North coast, Australia on the morning of Saturday 27 September. Department of Fire and Emergency Services tended to the fire with thirty fire fighters and after one hour controlled the blaze, managing to stop it from jumping to other nearby vessels.  Following the fire extinguishing the Department issued a warning to boaters in the marina and nearby residents, over the black smoke that continued to billow from the boat and was causing air-pollution.  The yacht was totalled from the blaze, with the cause of the fire not reported and currently under investigation.

The yacht in this fire is a Fairline 65 Phantom as produced since 2022.  The Phantom 65 was based on the Alberto Mancini designed Targa 65 GTO platform, with the addition of a sport bridge up top.

Two Yachts Ablaze at Marina Del Cavallino, Venice

Two yachts of eighteen and thirteen meters in length respectively went ablaze at Marina del Cavallino, Venice, Italy at 17:30 of Wednesday tenth September.  The fire is reported to have started on the large classic Riva yacht, as some works were being carried out in the forward cabin, with this then jumping to the smaller flybridge cruiser with the wind.  Fire fighters from the Vigili del Fuoco of Jesolo with a second squad from San Dona di Piave coming later, fought the blaze.  Ultimately the fire was controlled with no injuries, with both boats ending wrecked.  Both yachts were reported to have been dry docked in recent days for some maintenance works.

The classic Riva yacht in this fire is a Corsaro 60 as designed by Giorgio Barilani and produced from 1982 to 1989 in 43 units.  The Corsaro 60 was evolved and replaced by the Corsaro 20.  The other boat is a Marchi 44 as designed by Yankee Delta of Massimo Gregori and produced in the nineties. The 44 was a replacement to the Marchi 45 and then evolved into the 46.

Pershing Yacht Destroyed by Fire in Sapri, Italy

A 24 meter Pershing super sport yacht went ablaze as it was moored in Sapri, in the Province of Salerno, to the South of Italy at 20:30 of Sunday seventeen August.  The Vigili dell Fuoco Fire Fighters of Policastro Bussentino and the Port Captaincy of Sapri, Carabinieri, and Local Police tended to the fire, as they towed the yacht outside of the marina in order to avoid further damage to marina property and nearby yachts.  The yacht was ultimately wrecked by the blaze and sunk in a depth of about sixty meters.  No one was injured as the owner along with his son, and a crew were reported to be dining in a restaurant near the marina.  The cause of the fire is reported to have been generated from a short circuit.

The Pershing in this fire is an 80 model as designed by Fulvio de Simoni, and produced from 2008 to 2012 in ten units.  The 80 was a replacement to the Pershing 76, and was replaced by the 82.

Ferretti Yacht Goes Ablaze in Budva, Montenegro

A 24 meter Ferretti yacht with its owner aboard went ablaze as it was moored at Port of Budva, Montenegro, at around 20:15 of Sunday seventeen August.  Port of Vudva crew tended to the fire as they towed the yacht outside the marina, to avoid damage to nearby yachts.  At some point the fire seemed to be controlled and stopped, but this re-ignited as the yacht was being towed outside the marina.  The yacht was ultimately wrecked by the fire, with no injuries being reported.  The yacht is reported owned by Montenegro businessman Aleksandar Brak Miranović, who was suspected for kidnapping back in 2018.

The yacht in this fire is a 1997 Ferretti 80 as designed by Zuccon and produced from 1997 to 2001 in 45 units.  The 80 was Ferretti flagship in 1997, replacing and extending in length the previous 225 Fly, with the model evolving into the 810.

6 Persons Saved as Yacht is Fire Destroyed on Volga River, Russia

Six persons were saved as a 31 meter super yacht titled m/y Mechta went ablaze at Khvalynsky District, Saratov Region, on Russia’s Volga River, on the morning of Saturday sixteen August.  All six boaters, which included the owner and captain were saved, as the yacht was ultimately fire wrecked and destroyed as the above picture shows.  According to initial reports the yacht went ablaze from a short circuit.  Russian Authorities have launched a preliminary investigation under Part 1 of Article 263 of the Russian Criminal Code, which deals with violations of water transport safety rules resulting in major damage.

M/y Mechta is a 1998 Turkish build SES Yachts 31 meter constructed in wood to a design of Sefer Yildiriim, the owner and founder of SES which he created in 1970.  Entering the yacht market in 1997 with a 31 meter, SES Yachts has since then delivered fourteen custom motor super yachts and two sailing yachts from 25 to 42 meters.

Astondoa Super Yacht Destroyed by Fire in Ibiza

A 28 meter Astondoa super yacht titled Da Vinci with seven persons onboard including guests and crew, had an onboard fire first and then was wrecked by a blaze as it was cruising near Es Vedra to the South West of Ibiza on 11:20 of Monday eleventh August.  The yacht was assisted by the two government boats; Concepción Arenal from Maritime Rescue and the Ibanat natural park patrol boat.  The Maritime Rescue ship rescued the four guests, two crew and the captain and controlled the fire, or so they thought as after some minutes the blaze re-ignited in the yacht as it was under tow, with this suffering the fate of being wrecked.  The cause of the fire is not reported, though it was advised as starting from the engine room.

M/y Da Vinci is a 2002 Astondoa 95 GLX as designed by Nuvolari and produced from 1997 to 2004 in ten units.  The 95 GLX was a replacement to the Astondoa 90 GLX and was replaced by the 102 GLX. 

4 Saved as Pershing Yacht Goes Ablaze in Erdek, Turkey

Four boaters were saved as a sixteen meter Pershing yacht titled Illusion went ablaze in Erdek, Balikesir, to the South of the Marmara sea, Turkey at 17:30 of Saturday 26 July.  The sport yacht was reported to be returning to the harbour when for an unknown reason it went ablaze.  A ro-ro vessel first intervened for the blaze, as the four boaters jumped into the water and were collected and rescued by the Turkish Coast Guard.  The yacht was considered a total loss from the fire, although it was saved from sinking.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The sport yacht in this fire is a Pershing 52 as designed by Fulvio de Simoni and produced from 2000 to 2004 in about thirty units.  The 52 was a a replacement to the Pershing 54, and was replaced by the Pershing 50.

Azimut Yacht Wrecked by Fire in Bodrum, Mugla, Turkey

An eighteen meter Azimut flybridge yacht titled m/y Melinay with four persons onboard went ablaze in Turkbuku Bay in Bodrum, province of Mugla, Turkey at 16:30 of Sunday thirteen July.  Turkish Coast Guard and fire fighters tended to the blaze, while the four boaters were assisted by nearby boaters.  With the yacht ablaze the coast guard towed the yacht away from the bay, and after three hours of fighting managed to extinguish the blaze, with the yacht being wrecked and sunk at this point.  None of the four boaters had injuries, with the cause of the fire being under investigation, but reported to have started from the engine room.

The Azimut in this fire is a 62 Evolution as designed by Stefano Righini and produced from 2007 to 2009.  The 62 Evolution was a replacement and soft improved 62, with both models selling about three hundred units in a seven year production run. The 62 Evolution was replaced by the Azimut 64 Flybridge.

Sealine Yacht Destroyed by Fire at Dalyan Marina, Turkey

A fifteen meter Sealine flybridge yacht titled m/y Seanymph went ablaze as it was berthed at Dalyan Marina, at Cesme, in the province of Izmir, Turkey at 10:30 of Sunday thirteen July.  A crew onboard the yacht notified the marina as he saw smoke coming from inside the vessel, with the marina staff and other boaters cutting the mooring lines and towing the yacht outside the marina to avoid damage to other nearby yachts.  Following this the Marine Fire Brigade tended to the blaze which was extinguished outside of the marina, as the Sealine yacht was wrecked by the blaze, and sunk.  The cause of the yacht fire is under investigation.

The flybridge yacht in this fire is a Sealine T52 as designed by Roger Tucker for exterior with John Bennett responsible for naval architecture, and produced from 2005 to 2007.  The T52 was a soft evolution and replacement of the Sealine T51, and was replaced by the T50.

Three Yachts Destroyed two boats damaged by Fire in Sunny Isles, Florida

A fourteen meter flybridge cruiser and two yachts of 21 and 26 meters in size were fire wreck, with two other boats of fifteen and eleven meters also sustaining damage at Sunny Isles Beach Marina, Florida, for a blaze which started just after 05:00 morning time of Friday sixth June.  The fire reportedly started on the fourteen meter flybridge cruiser, and then jumped to a seventy foot Azimut, and another yacht of 26 meters in size.  Miami Dade Fire Rescue and US Coast Guard responded to the fire from both land and water, as they also towed one of the yachts away, the first which seems to went ablaze and broke its mooring, this was made in order to reduce damage to nearby boats and property as this boat was drifting ablaze near the marina.  Fast Response Marine Towing and Salvage also helped in the operation, as he towed away and saved an eleven meter Beneteau sport cruiser which was next in the fire line and the wind going right to left in the picture.  No injuries are reported from the fire, with boats and yachts being unattended, as the cause of the blaze is being investigated, with the flybridge cruiser and the two yachts becoming a total wreck, and a flybridge yacht of fifteen meters and a sport cruiser of eleven meter also sustaining damages.  A couple of jet-skis and a rib also burned in the fire.

The boat which seems to have started this fire is a Sessa F48, this then jumped right to left in the picture above to an Azimut 70, and then to a 2003 Falcon 86 titled m/y U.A.I.  A Galeon 500 Fly which was to port side of the Sessa also sustained damage, while the Fast Response saved sport cruiser which also had smoke damage on its stern is a Beneteau Gran Turismo 40.

Five Persons Saved as Sport Yacht Goes Ablaze in Fajardo

A 23 meter sport yacht titled m/y Emilia with five persons onboard went ablaze at Puerto del Rey Marina, Fajardo at 17:54 of Wednesday four June.  Emilia was reported to have just fuelled up 2200 litres of fuel and was heading to Porto Chico marina, when the fire alarm started to ring and smoke showed up from the engine room.  Seeing this the captain called for assistance anchored the sport yacht outside the harbour, and instructed the five boaters to go fore-ship, who then jumped in the water and were recovered by a nearby boat.   Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action responded to the fire, and were followed by US Coast Guard sector San Juan with yacht Emilia ultimately ending wrecked.  The cause of the fire is not understood as the US Coast Guard is investigating the fire.

M/y Emilia is a Cantieri dell Arno Leopard 23 Hard Top as designed by Poalo Caliari and produced from 1997 to 2006 and sold in about ten units.  The 23 Hard Top was the hard-top version of the Leopard Sport 23 which arrived two years before and was a replacement to the Leopard Sport 21.50, and was then replaced by the Leopard Sport 24.

One Woman Dead in Yacht Fire on Stella River Udine Italy

One German woman was killed, and a man was grievously injured as a yacht of seventeen meters in length went ablaze at Marina Stella, in Palazzolo della Stella, on the Stella River, province of Udine, to the North East of Italy on 03:00 early hours of Wednesday 23 April.  The fire was reported first by onlookers who launched the alarm, with the Vigili del Fuoco of Latisana and Lignano Sabiadoro taking the call.  The couple, the man explained in the late morning, were surprised in their sleep, after hearing some suspicious noises and had gotten up to check.  Then, however, he was no longer able to return below deck to help his wife, and in an attempt to reach her was seriously burned and inhaled smoke.  When the flames reached him, he jumped into the water.  The man was urgently transferred by helicopter to an emergency room at the Santa Maria della Misericordia hospital in Udine for treatment.  The search for the body of the dead woman is still ongoing, as the Carabinieri of Latisana are investigating the fire.

The yacht in this fire is a Horizon Elegance 57 as produced from the late nineties till 2004. The Elegance 57 was replaced by the Horizon Elegance 54.  Elegance was a brand created by German Yacht brokerage firm Drettmann bringing the design input and Horizon in Taiwan building the yachts, with this collaboration lasting from 1993 till 2010.

40 Boats and Yachts Destroyed by Fire in Nautica Aqua Olbia Sardinia

Forty boats and yachts from ten to thirty meters in length were destroyed in a super fire at Nautica Aqua yacht yard shed in via Madagascar, Cala Saccaia, Cipnes industrial area, Olbia for a blaze which started just after 15:30 of Tuesday 22 April.  The Olbia, Arzachena and Tempio Vigili dell Fuoco, plus the specialized units of Costa Smeralda airport, coordinated by the Sassari fire station responded to this complicated extinguishing operation, which with a shed full of boats and yachts, made it become an oven fuelled by glass fibre and the fuel inside the vessels.  The fire fighting operation lasted till the following morning, and seventeen hours to turn off and extinguish.  In a miracle no one was injured in this fire with the exception of one yard worker which suffered little smoke inhalation and was treated on the spot.  The 118 Emergency helicopter was also involved, along with the local police and Carabinieri.  It is not confirmed how the fire started, if from a boat or yacht, or an electrical failure in the shed, with an investigation being opened to find out on what really happened.

Nautica Aqua was founded in 2012 by Raffaele Virdis a previous service manager with Ferretti Group, and Gruppo Gaias a property developer from the area.  With this synergy Nautica Aqua grew fast, operating two big sheds; Aqua and Aquarius adjacent to each other in Madagascar street.

It will be impossible to note all the boats and yachts in this fire, but information has come that a Cerri 86 Flying Sport, Itama 50, Magnum 53 Maltese, and an Otam 65 have been lost.  We will update this list if more information will come along.

Princess Yacht Wrecked by Fire in Stromstad, Sweden

A seventeen meter Princess flybridge yacht was wrecked by fire as it was moored in Stormstrad, Sweden at 09:12 morning time of Friday eleven April.  Sjoraddnings Sallskapet assisted the burning yacht with the Rescue Länsförsäkringar Gothenburg and Bohuslän boat, saving the boaters first and then fighting the fire.  The accident was described lucky as a bit of time before the fire, the yacht was reported to have three other boats moored next to it.  No one was injured in the fire, with this reported but not confirmed to have ignited by a short circuit from a refrigerator onboard the yacht.

The Princess in this fire is a 56 Mk.II as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 2012 up to 2017.  The 56 Mk.II was a replacement to the Princess 54, and was replaced by the F55.