One Dead Five Injured as Boat Explodes in South Florida Marina

One man was killed and five were injured after a ten meter sport cruiser exploded and then went ablaze in Lauderdale Marina, Fort Lauderdale, South Florida just before 18:00 of Monday 23rd December.  Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded to the fire after a call on 911, and when they arrived they found that the fire had spread to a smaller pontoon boat.  Video footage will later show the pontoon boat lying behind the sport cruiser which caught fire after exploding.  The five people were transported to nearby hospitals, and three of them suffered traumatic injuries, with the dead person found life less in the sea by Broward Sherriff Office after he was reported lost.  The dead person was a 41 year old male man from Quebec.  Mention also goes to the 51 meter super yacht Amanti which was moored behind the fire area, who also assisted in extinguishing the flames of the two boats.  The cause of the fire is not reported, though the video clip shows the boat exploding after it refuels and then going ablaze.

The sport cruiser in this fire is a Rinker 342 Fiesta Vee as produced from 2002 to 2006.  The Rinker 342 Fiesta Vee was a soft evolution of the previous 340 Fiesta Vee and was replaced by the 360 Express Cruiser.

Amanti the super yacht which helped in the fire extinguishing operation is the Feadship 51.75m hull number 788.  Launched in 2003 as m/y Dream, Feadship's hull 788 was designed by Studio de Voogt for exterior, with interior by Donald Starkey.

New Model: Mimi Libeccio 9.5 Cabin

During the 2024 Genoa boat show Mimi presented the new second generation Libeccio 9.5 Cabin.  A traditional Gozzo cruiser the second generation Libeccio 9.5 Cabin is designed by Valerio Rivellini who for this new version also added the model with a hard-top which protects the cockpit and fully covering the helm station.  Valerio Rivellini in the second generation 9.5 Cabin also added spaces to the fore-deck, which features the classic foredeck sunbathing area, and at the stern, where there is a dinette with opposing settees which transforms to a second sun-pad.  Below deck, a cabin features a king-size double bed and a sofa bed. The bathroom is large and includes a shower. The cooking facilities are located outside, beneath the helm seat, and include two fridges, a sink, and a stove.  The Mimi Libeccio 9.5 Cabin is standard powered by a single  230hp and optional engine choice for twin 195-horsepower engines for a maximum speed of 32 knots. Alternatively, it is possible to install a hybrid engine that allows for a range of between two and five hours at a speed of seven knots.

Technical Data:

LOA - 9.5 m (31.2ft)

Hull Length - 8.3 m

Beam - 3 m

Draft - 1 m

Displacement - 5000 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 400 l

Water Capacity - 200 l

Max Persons - ten

Accommodation - four berths

Engines - 1 x Yanmar 250hp, 320hp, 2 x Yanmar 95hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - 30 knots, 25 cruise with twin 195hp or single 320hp

Project - Valerio Rivellini

Certification - CE B

www.gozzimimi.it

Six Injured as Yacht Loon's Chase Boat Crashes in Rocks at Saint Barths

Six persons were injured as a fifteen meter chase yacht titled m/y Reel Wild ended on the rocks at Anse des Cayes, Saint-Barthélemy, in the Caribbean on the night of Saturday 21 December.  Five of the eleven crew onboard the chase yacht were taken to the Bruyn Hospital for treatment to the light injuries, while a female had to be flown in Miami as she is reported to have suffered more grievous injuries after she flew off the boat on collision impact.  Service Territorial d’Incendie et de Secours firefighters responded to the accident in addition to three STIS ambulances. The Gendarmerie also arrived as back-up, followed by the mobile emergency and resuscitation service for a situation which was difficult to coordinate as the yacht ended in area hard to reach by sea cause of the reefs, and 250 meters from the nearest road.  The causes of the accident are not advised with the chase yacht reported to be returning to its mother super yacht after the crew Christmas party.  The fifteen meter chase boat had visible damage on both sides of its hull with impact delaminated areas and also to its quadruple outboard engine set up.

M/y Reel Wild is a 2024 Hydrasports Custom Boat 53ft Suenos RXV, a fifteen meter center console powered by a quadruple or quintuple outboard set up.  The HCB 53ft Suenos RXV debuted in 2015 as the 5300 Suenos, and at launch she was the largest outboard centre console ever build.

Reel Wild is the North American chase boat for the YouTube popular super yacht Loon, a 2010 68 meter Icon Yachts designed by Redman Whiteley Dixon. Launched as m/y Icon, she was actually the first Icon new build yacht which also debuted the 62 semi-custom series launched in two other units, with Loon extended by five meters in length by it's builder in 2014.  After delivering four yachts Icon has since 2014 specialized in ship to yacht conversions rather then new builds.

Project: Tankoa T520 Fenice

After presenting the T680 Fenice project, Tankoa Yachts is presenting a second sixteen meter smaller T520 Fenice project. The smaller Fenice captures the same grace, space, charm and ingenuity of her larger sibling in a 52-metre platform. Like the T680, the T520 Fenice exemplifies elegance, with the main theme of her timeless lines drawn from contemporary classic yacht design with elements of automotive and aeronautical styling as designed by Enrico Gobbi of Team for Design.  The genius lies not only in the blending of these facets but also in the harmony of proportion, where inside and outside exist as a holistic design and where intriguing spaces, such as the innovative guest area aft emerge seamlessly from her lithe and seductive profile. Among many features of the T520 Fenice, the stern area stands out with its diverse interconnected spaces, intentionally arranged on different levels to reflect their distinct functions. A panoramic cockpit overlooks an infinity pool, flanked by two large sun-pads at the aft. A watercourse flows through the pool, linking it to the beach club below, accessible via optional transverse stairs between the cockpit and the pool. This design creates a striking three-dimensional effect, connecting the cockpit, beach club, swim platform, and even the lower-deck gym. The gym itself, offering views of the water feature, is a versatile space for relaxation, enhanced by an interior lounge and a digital sculpture inspired by water’s flow. The rest of the layout is no less inviting, from the generous sundeck, with semi-enclosed glass saloon under the mast for dining and bar, and flexibility for a forward spa pool or observation cockpit and aft seating and sun-pads, to the huge foredeck lounge with a pool, or the upper deck’s alfresco dining for twelve and laze-inducing lounge area. The upper saloon is complemented by a fifth VIP guest suite behind the bridge, with the captain’s cabin also located on this deck to ensure the highest standards of seamanship. One deck down, the aft saloon and formal dining area leads forward past the guest lobby to a spacious full-beam owner’s stateroom complete with study area, large main cabin with private terrace to starboard, and a forward full-beam en-suite that can be configured in multiple ways, which Tankoa's boutique custom approach to builds. The lower deck offers four luxurious guest double suites amidships, all en-suite, with the forward part of the hull housing the crew area. The forward garage under the foredeck houses a 6.5-metre guest tender as well as crew tender and water toys, while the aft beach club and gym with sauna features two opening hull side hatches to enhance the view and bring the outside in. Selecting the transverse stair option from the aft deck delivers an additional, delightful sunken cockpit lounge at the entrance to the beach club. The interiors next to the exterior areas create visual and functional continuity through large glass windows that, when opened, seamlessly unite the inside and outside. Materials like teak, used both indoors and outdoors, further enhance this harmonious integration. Uninterrupted decks, continuous ceilings, and meticulously crafted architectural lines shape expansive spaces that flow effortlessly into one another. 

www.tankoa.it

Sportfish Yacht Sinks in Long Island Sound Marina

A not attended sportfish yacht of sixteen meters in length partly sank at Safe Harbor Yacht Haven in Stamford, Long Island Sound on a story which was reported by Facebook user Ed Kramer and shared on the Boaters of Long Island Sound Group on 22:26 of nineteen December.  The sportfish yacht rolled and sank to its port side, sitting half submerged by its slip of which she is moored to its starboard.  Following the sinking the sportfish yacht was later surrounded by an oil and pollution protecting boon by the marina staff.  The cause of the sinking is not reported, though unconfirmed news say the yacht has not moved from its spot for about two years and looked in an abandoned state in recent months.

The sportfish yacht in this sinking is an Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport as produced from 1981 to 1990 in 170 units.  When released in 1981 the 55 Super Yacht was Ocean Yachts new flagship, and was also the top selling sportfish of its size in the eighties.  The Ocean Yachts 55 Super Sport was replaced by the 58 Super Sport.

New Model: Sanlorenzo SP92

Sanlorenzo presents its new SP92, its second act for the smart performance line up which debuted in 2022 with the SP110.  This smaller SP92 is similar to the five meters larger sister in many regards from its exterior family design looks by Zuccon to its interior layout, with everything being that bit smaller.  Interestingly the vertical layout is of a different feature here, with an entry welcoming saloon taking you four steps up to the living area or down below to the guest cabins.  It is still a very open area but different to the split twin level of the larger SP110, although you still get two lounging up and down transverse areas.  Down below the Sanlorenzo SP92 offers an owners stateroom forward, and two identical sized guest VIP suites.  Further aft the guest cabin deck is a fourth room which in hull one was fitted as a private lower lounge with its own head, which can also be specified as a fourth cabin.  Two crew cabins for four crew with two private bathrooms are located forward, along with the galley and a crew mess area.  The Sanlorenzo SP92 is powered by twin Man 2000hp with MJP waterjets for top speed up to forty knots and a cruise of 35. 

Technical Data:

LOA - 27.95 m (91.9ft)

Beam - 7.10 m

Draft - 1.20 m loaded

Displacement - 72 t medium load, 78 t loaded

Fuel Capacity - 8500 l

Water Capacity - 1000 l

Accommodation - six/eight guests in 3 cabins, or eight guests in four cabins, 4 crew in 2 cabins

Engines - 2 x Man V12 2000hp

Propulsion - MJP Csu 55035 jet drives

Speed - forty knots max, 35 cruise

Project - Zuccon exterior

www.sanlorenzoyacht.com

Project: Viking 74 Enclosed Bridge

Viking Yachts follow the just launched 74 Convertible with the project for the 74 Enclosed Bridge variant.  The 74 Enclosed Bridge is the more yacht comfortable version, offering an extra third covered up top area with a saloon and all time weather protected helm station.  The enclosed bridge is reached from an internal stair case to port side, and features an L-shaped saloon with a central helm station forward, with port and starboard companionway seats.  To aft in the exterior balcony looking aft is also a small mezzanine settee to starboard and a third docking station to port side.  For the remaining the Viking 74 Enclosed Bridge keeps the features of the Convertible version, like the two available layout for the main deck, and three or four guest cabins layout for the lower deck.  The Viking 74 Enclosed Bridge is powered by twin engines from Man 1550hp up to MTU 2635hp and five other options in between.  

www.vikingyachts.com

New Model: Cranchi Sessantadue 62

Cranchi continue to make roads in the larger yacht segment as in the Cannes Boating Festival of 2024 it launched its new Sessantadue 62.  The Sessantadue is the third Cranchi flybridge motor yacht with design styling duties trusted to Christian Grande, and is the smallest and third model for a style which started with the 78 flagship in 2020.  For the Sessantadue 62 Cranchi and Grande present a modern look, distinctive from its larger sisters by the vertical bow, but similar in style to the 68 and 78 sisters in the upper structure and flybridge hard-top.  The Cranchi Sessantadue 62 offers a three double cabins all with private heads interior, with a master stateroom at midships.  A single berth crew cabin is located to aft port side.  The Cranchi Sessantadue 62 will also offer a tender garage, which is something hard to find in a flybridge motor yacht of this size.  Powered by Volvo 1000hp with IPS pod drives the Cranchi Sessantadue 62 has a 28 knots top speed and a cruise of 23.

Technical Data:

LOA - 20.23 m (66.4ft)

Hull Length - 17.7 m

Waterline Length - 16.7

Beam - 5.16 m

Draft - 

Displacement - 38,000 kg unloaded

Fuel Capacity - 3300 l

Water Capacity - 700 l

Max Persons - sixteen

Accommodation - six berths in three cabins. one crew cabin berth

Engines - 2 x Volvo D13 1000hp

Propulsion - Volvo forward looking dual propeller IPS pod drives

Speed - 28 knots max, 23 cruise, 18 knots economic long range

Range - 230 nautical miles at 23 knots cruise

Project - Christian Grange styling, Aldo Cranchi hull, Centro Studi Ricerchi Cranchi

Certification - CE B

www.cranchi.com

Bayliner Destroyed by Fire at Oak Harbor Washington State

An unattended ten meter Bayliner flybridge cruiser went ablaze as it was moored at Coronet Bay Marina, near Deception Pass in Oak Harbor, Washington for a fire which was reported on 08:47 of the morning of Tuesday seventeen December.  North Whidbey Fire and Rescue responded to the blaze, as the situation got a bit more complicated as the boat broke its mooring lines and drifted its way through the marina canals.  In this instance the Bayliner hit and fire damaged another boat, until she was towed and sank outside of the marina.  Mount Erie Fire Department, NAS Whidbey Island Fire Station 71 and boats from the Swinomish Fish and Wildlife Service, the Skagit County Sheriff and the Everett Fire Department also assisted in the fire.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.

The Bayliner boat in this fire is a 3288 Motor Yacht as produced from 1985 up to 1995.  The Bayliner 3288 Motor Yacht was a soft evolution of the 3270 Explorer, same boat but with integrated radar arch, and other small changes, with the model replaced by the 3587 Motor Yacht.  The 3270 and 3288 is the best selling Bayliner model of all time, with three thousand units sold in a fourteen years production run.

Sanlorenzo Super Yacht Fire in Puerto Sotogrande Dry Dock

The 31 meter Sanlorenzo m/y Elysium went ablaze as it was drydocked in Puerto Sotogrande marina yacht yard, in the province of Cadiz, to the South of Spain, with the fire starting at 18:30 of Monday sixteen December.  The Guardia Civil and San Roque local police intervened for the fire, as they evacuated the yacht yard and closed street access in the area, as restaurants nearby to the yacht yard and marina and the Hotel Puerto Sotogrande also did not open for the evening as the smell from the flames surrounded the area.  The fire on the yacht was difficult to control also for strong winds of the night, with this fully extinguished at 05:00 morning time of the following Tuesday seventeen December.  The extent of the damage is not reported though the super structure of Elysium is shown fully destroyed on photos online.  Elysium has been reported dry docked in Sotogrande under going maintenance work since September 2024.

Motor yacht Elysium is actually the first Sanlorenzo SL104 build in 2010 to a design of Francesco Paszkowski and interiors by Rodolfo Dordoni.  The SL104 was produced from 2010 to 2014 in fifteen units, as replacement to the SL100, with the model evolving into the SL106 in 2015.