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.

Yacht Aground in Ses Illetas, Formentera

A 22 meter Astondoa motor yacht finished beached on the morning of eighteen August, in Ses Illetas, Formertera.  The cause of the beaching are unknown but a storm hit the island between the night of seventeen and eighteen August morning, and with this the anchor being down I suspect the yacht dragged.  Located on the North of the Formentera, Ses Illetas is rather unique open beach with sand and view uninterrupted to East and West.  

The yacht in this accident is an Astondoa 72 GLX designed by Nuvolari Lenard and produced from 1998 to 2007.  Astondoa sold over forty first generation 72 GLX before the model was replaced by the 76 in 2008.  This is the third Astondoa 72 GLX reported in an accident this Summer, with a sister-ship burning down in Costa Rica in early July, and another having control troubles in Girona and hitting boats and the jetty earlier in August. 

New Model: Fjord 53 XL

Fjord has just launched its new 53 XL flagship model, currently undergoing final testing in Port Adriano in Mallorca.  The Fjord 53 XL is a development of the 52 Open launched in 2019 which is also a further evolution of the 48 Open presented in 2015.  The Fjord 53 XL is recognizable from the 52 Open by the larger hull glazing, but is also longer with some layout changes both outside and inside.  A walk around sport yacht full of day boat attributes from fore to aft, the 53 XL offers nonetheless a spacious cabin lower deck accommodation layout with two cabins and single en-suite head, with the optional choice for a second head and for a crew cabin replacing a void storage room to port side.  Choices are also available for the exterior with the option to change the bench style dinette, with a C-shaped layout version.  The Fjord 53 XL is standard powered by twin Volvo 550hp, and or optional 600hp with IPS pod drives.     

Technical Data:

LOA - 16.70 m (54.9ft)

Hull Length - 14.5 m

Beam - 4.79 m

Draft - 1.37 m

Displacement - 17.8 t

Fuel Capacity - 2150 l

Water Capacity - 390 l

Max Persons - eighteen

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, optional one berth crew cabin

Engines - 2 x Volvo D8 550hp, D8 600hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking IPS700 or IPS800 pod drives

Speed - 34 knots max with Volvo 600hp, 32 knots with 550hp 

Construction - vacuum infused Vinylester resin with Isophthalic gelcoat skin

Certification - CE B 

www.fjordboats.com

Project: Sirena 78

Sirena is thrilled to announce the 78 project designed by Cor. D Rover and set to debut at the 2022 Cannes boat show in September. The Sirena 78 will offer distinctive features that set her apart from the competition, designed to be a do-it-all explorer yacht that excels as an entertainment platform as she does on longer-range voyages. The yacht will also be noteworthy for her unique interior and exterior layout options and in particular, the option to offer a second saloon with the enclosed bridge option. The Sirena 78 has myriad points of attraction from a design standpoint that should attract a wider range of buyers. Her flying bridge is available in three options; open, semi-enclosed or fully enclosed formats. Each of the Enclosed iterations benefits from super-sized windows that let in natural light and also allow for excellent views. Sirena decided to offer these options as today the Turkish builder is a World brand offering its yachts in a variety of locales with differing climates. For both the Enclosed bridge versions the 78 will be absent of a main-deck helm station, which opens up space in that area for entertaining, this adding space and room to relax and socialize on the main deck. The centerpiece on the main-deck’s interior will be a massive galley that proves the model as an entertainment ace. There, an enormous island provides loads of counter space that makes entertaining easy and also makes food prep a cinch. A deep sink, extra stowage, and full-size appliances round out the galley. Sirena’s new 78 will also have a revolutionary loose-furniture concept.  Pieces of furniture such as settees will be able to be arranged nearly anywhere, in this way, the layout of the Sirena 78 is ever-changing and customizable, looking different within the space or the use of the moment. Down below accommodation offers four cabins plus the choice of two or one crew cabin. A full-beam, amidships master cabin with a private bath and dressing area is dedicated to the owner, while to fore is the VIP suite. Lastly, the 78 will have a unique foredeck area featuring a massive sun-pad flanked by tables to port and starboard accompanied by L-shaped settees. The Sirena 78 is the current second largest Sirena following the 88 launched in 2018, and is in a sweet spot for maximum size owner-operators. The Sirena 78 is to be powered by standard twin Man 1400hp good for 23 knots max, with larger optional choices of 1550hp or 1800hp available. With the large engines choice top speed goes up to two knots, while optimum fast cruise is at sixteen knots, a a nine knots long range with all engines.

www.sirenayachts.com

Yacht Goes on Fire in Fort Lauderdale Yacht Club

An eighteen meter motor yacht titled Blaze went on fire at about 16:00 hours of Tuesday sixteen August at Lauderdale Yacht Club.  Crew from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue where immediately on the spot to control and fight the fire from both land and water.  The fire fighting was a success as the yacht sustained minimum damage.  The fire reportedly started to starboard of the main deck behind the helm station.  No one was injured in the fire.  

M/y Blaze is a Hampton 600 Motor Yacht as produced from 2005 up to 2017. The Hampton 600 shared hull with the 660 Cockpit Motor Yacht, and was replaced by the 650 in 2018.

Explorer Yacht Ends Beached in Cannigione

A sixteen meter explorer yacht ended up beached while at anchor in Cannigione beach in the Arzachena gulf in North Sardinia on the night of fifteen August at around 2200 hours.  The yacht was unattended at the time of the accident when a strong North East wind entered the bay and dragged it to the soft rock area of the Cannigione beach.  The yacht was saved later in the night and morning of sixteen August and taken to a marina for inspection of damage.  It was reported that some smaller boats where also damaged near Porto Cervo in the Eastern part of Sardinia.

The explorer yacht in this accident is an Estensi Maine 530 as designed by Zuccheri and produced from 2006 till 2015 in 35 units.  The Estensi Maine 530 was evolved and replaced by the 535 with new hull windows in 2016.

New Model: Solaris Power 40 Open

Solaris Power has seen an interesting evolution, starting up with the traditional yacht down-east inspired 55/57 Lobster in 2019, the 48 Open presented a year later was the model which changed the trend, and after that the Italian company has been pushing on its traditional inspired center console sport cruisers and yachts.  After the 48 Open in early 2020, came the 44 in 2021, and now in 2022 we have the new entry level 40 Open model. Like the 44 and 48 before her, the 40 Open is primary about exterior spaces, usable thanks to the safe and deep walkaround from fore to aft.  It is an interesting machine where the entertainment spaces outside seem never ending in a size of just over eleven meters.  But the Solaris 40 Open does not stop here, and below also offer a sleeping accommodation for two thanks to a nice island berth, with a spacious shower head to starboard.  At midships in standard format is an utility room, which can be ordered as a cabin with two twin berths.  The Solaris Power is stern drive powered from twin petrol gas 280hp up to diesels of 440hp.

Technical Data:

LOA - 11.97 m (39.2ft)

Waterline Length - 10.6 m

Beam - 3.85 m

Draft - 0.73 m

Displacement - 9040 kg dry, 10130 kg loaded with diesel engines

Fuel Capacity - 1000 l

Water Capacity - 250 l

Max Persons - twelve

Accommodation - two berths in one cabin, or four berths in two cabins

Engines - 2 x Volvo Ds 280hp petrol gas, D4 300hp, D6 380hp, D6 440hp

Propulsion - Volvo DPI dual propeller stern drives

Speed - 30 knots max 20 knots cruise with 300hp, 41 knots 27 knots cruise with 440hp

Project - Brunello Acampora Victory design, Solaris Power design team

Certification - CE B

www.solarispower.com

Flybridge Cruiser Beached After Hitting Fish Rock Creek

An eleven meter Riviera Sportfish cruiser hit Fish Rock creek and was beached to avoid sinking on the morning of fifteen August.  The Riviera cruiser was on a delivery trip by a professional skipper departing from Port Macquarie to the Gold Coast on the West side of Australia, where from there the new owners had to helm her to North Queensland. Unfortunately that was not the case. Salvaging operations where ongoing the day after on the sixteen August.

The Riviera in this accident is a 36 Single Cabin model produced from 1998 up to 2004, selling in 108 units.  Called that way for its single cabin layout, the 36 SC was based on the 34 Open Flybridge platform released a year earlier.

Project: Astondoa 677 Coupe

Astondoa present the project for the 677 Coupe, an evolution of the 655 Coupe, which launched in 2018 also marked the first century of the family run Spanish boat builder from Alicante.  The 677 Coupe will keep the hull lines of the previous model but the super structure is changed now to feature a fore deck with a dinette and coming with a cleaner look to the hard-top, which is now more streamlined and sporty.  Also in the 677 Coupe Astondoa has decided to remove the solarium on top of the hard-top structure and with it the stylish but may be a bit too busy side steps which lead to this area on the 655.  The Astondoa 677 is available in two layouts; galley up with four double guest cabins below, or three cabins with lower deck galley and a main deck saloon all dedicated to entertainment.  The Astondoa 677 Coupe is standard powered with Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod propulsion which will give a top speed up to 34 knots, with Man 1400hp on traditional line shafts available as option.

www.astondoa.com

Unconscious Man Saved from Florida Boat Fire

An unconscious man was saved by two police officers in Manatee Pocket waterway near Pirates Cove in Stuart, Florida when his sportfish boat went ablaze and later exploded on the afternoon on Sunday fourteen August.  The boat allegedly caught fire and while the two officers where trying to take a man out exploded.  The police officers escaped injury while the man onboard was taken to hospital for observation. The officers Rib also had some damage in this operation with some of it melting with the heat caused by the Sportfish cruiser on fire.

The sportfish cruiser in this fire is a Wellcraft 3200 Coastal as produced from 1984 to 1986.  The Wellcraft 3200 Coastal was also available in a flybridge enclosed main deck version called the Sport Bridge.