5 Persons Saved as Sportfish Goes Ablaze During Big Rock Tournament

Five persons were saved as a fourteen meter sportfish cruiser titled m/y Raptor went ablaze some fifty nautical miles off the coast of Morehead, North Carolina as it was competing in the 67th Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament on the morning of Friday thirteen June.  After seeing grey smoke coming out of the engine room, the five boaters called a May Day and then jumped off the boat, as the smoke became black and a fire.  They were collected by a boat named Cost Plus, a boat who was nearby and not competing in the tournament who saw the smoke from a distance, and rushed to the spot and saved the five boaters.  After this Cost Plus transported the boaters back to shore in Morehead.  The reason of the fire is not reported as the US Coast Guard and Marine Safety Detachment at Fort Macon have launched an investigation of the incident.

M/y Raptor the sportfish in this fire is a 1987 Buddy Davis 47 Convertible as designed by its builder and produced from 1986 till 1993 in 88 units.  The 47 Convertible was Buddy Davis first offer of a semi-production fiberglass build, and was replaced by the 52 Flybridge SF which was based on the same hull. 

Held in Morehead Carolina, the Big Rock is one of the largest and longest ongoing sportfishing tournaments, and in 2025 is in its 67th edition.  The 67th Big Rock started on Monday ninth June and concluded on the Saturday fourteen June, and had 269 competing boats and yachts.

Project: Cantieri di Pisa Custom 40

Cantieri di Pisa’s Custom Division celebrated the start of construction work on a 40-metre full custom yacht at its shipyard with the coin ceremony, a fascinating ritual with deep roots in maritime tradition. Called as the Cantieri di Pisa Custom 40, this made to order super yacht was sold by the shipyard a few months ago, extends across four decks and has a steel hull with an aluminium and composite superstructure. In an unusual feature for a 40-metre boat, this yacht has six cabins for guests and four for the crew on the Lower Deck, plus the captain’s cabin and the first officer’s quarters on the Bridge Deck. Antonio Luxardo’s design projects a highly original style that’s perfectly aligned with the brand identity and the owner’s wishes. This majestic yacht created by the Custom Division features sleek exterior lines that immediately bring to mind the classic style features of the shipyard’s most iconic models, such as the black and white air intake grilles, the black band running the length of the hull and the handrails transformed into design features. The custom yacht will have a gross tonnage under 500 GT and a length of 40 metres, providing the right space and comfort for a unique new layout on a boat this size, starting with the six cabins for guests; a refined owner’s stateroom with a private terrace forward on the Main Deck, plus four guest cabins and a VIP cabin on the Lower Deck. Then there are the six crew cabins, including the captain’s cabin next to the wheelhouse and the first officer’s quarters on the Bridge Deck. Two generous salons are located on the Main and Bridge Decks. The relaxation areas on all four decks are designed with loose furniture, sun loungers, sofas and sunbeds, while the aft cockpit is home to a large Jacuzzi. Also suitable for charter, the yacht is ideal for cruising anywhere in the world and features state-of-the-art entertainment systems. The Cantiere di Pisa Custom 40 engineering was developed by Studio Sa.Ma.Re Design by Francesco Samarelli with support from Antonio Luxardo, chief designer at Cantieri di Pisa, and Optima Design, the firm he founded in La Spezia. Built to Bureau Veritas class from steel and the superstructure from aluminium and advanced composite materials using vacuum technology, a distinguishing feature of Cantieri di Pisa’s product line that results in lighter weight and a lower centre of gravity, and therefore better propulsion efficiency and reduced fuel consumption. The large garage in the midship section of the yacht has a lateral launching system for a tender up to 6.6 metres in length, plus various water toys and a jet ski. There’s also a fully fitted galley, various pantries on all four decks, fridge and freezer areas and a high-capacity laundry, which taken together with the generous storage spaces on every deck, make this 40-metre yacht ideal for long stays on board in total comfort. The propulsion will be provided by two Man 1550hp engines, giving the Custom 40 an estimated top speed of fifteen knots and a range of 2,000 nautical miles at cruising speed.

www.cantieridipisa.com

Improve-it = Horizon PC60

During the 2025 Palm Beach boat show Horizon presented a PC60 with a Portuguese Deck configuration.  This new option for the PC60 was built for first-time Horizon owners seeking a power catamaran with bow seating. The popularity of the Portuguese Deck design aboard the Horizon PC68 inspired the layout of the redesigned PC60 and the new configuration was a hit. The innovative Portuguese Deck design extends the exterior space offered on the PC60’s topmost deck with a centreline passage that leads through a hydraulic door from the flybridge to the foredeck, which is configured with twin built-in settees and hi/lo tables for convertible dining and lounging. The flybridge itself features the helm, an L-shaped dinette, and a walk-behind bar with refrigeration. The deck areas aboard the PC60 are the most sought-after feature of this middle model in the PC Series range, which spans from the PC52 to the PC68. In addition to her spacious aft deck, this first of PC60 deck option features walk around side decks that lead to the foredeck and to steps leading up to the Portuguese Deck. Aft of the flybridge, the boat deck offers additional space for lounging and entertaining when the tender is deployed. The PC60 is a four-stateroom catamaran yacht and features the optional on-deck master stateroom configuration with three additional cabins in the hulls. The starboard hull houses an ensuite queen and twin cabin while the master ensuite with dual wash basins and a convertible twin ensuite cabin are positioned in the port hull. The interior showcases the variety of soft goods, wood, stonework, and finishes that owners can specify for their semi-custom power catamaran build, with the assistance of The Powercat Company’s own in-house design team. The inviting salon offers a large L-shaped sofa, spacious galley, and bar area, creating a perfect atmosphere for relaxation and entertainment that is further complemented by the yacht’s Silent Living package offering up to 20 hours of generator-free comfort.

www.horizonyacht.com

Project: Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider

Formula announces the 360 Crossover Bowrider, a model which replaces the long standing 350 Crossover Bowrider after twelve years in production.  The 360 Bowrider starts an exciting new generation of Formula dayboats, with new designer Michael Young taking over from his mentor and long standing head designer John Adams, who since 1971 has led the Decatur Indiana boat builder.  From the stepped Fas3Tech hull to the stylish hardtop with glass sunroof, the Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider presents itself as a refreshing, innovative choice for day-boaters.  Over ten meters in length with a generous beam, the 360 Crossover Bowrider heralds the arrival of a new generation of open-bow dayboats, a true blend of entertainment-ready comfort and the exhilarating agility that is rooted in Formular performance heritage. True to its Formula Crossover Bowrider lineage, the 360 boasts an open bow with a single-level, flush cockpit and an innovative stand-up lower deck cabin layout with overnight accommodation for two and a spacious shower head located forward. Introduced with twin sterndrive standard Mercruiser 380hp, or optional 430hp and Ilmor's 520hp.  The Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider is also to be available with with four choice outboard power, which start from triple Mercury 300hp up to 400hp and or twin 600hp.

www.formulaboats.com

New Model: Maritimo M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht

Maritimo, Australia’s world-class luxury motor yacht builder, expands its next-generation model line-up as it global launched the all-new M50 Flybridge Motor Yacht at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on May 2025. A brand defined by its relentless pursuit of perfection, Maritimo has further evolved its acclaimed M Series motor yachts, with extensive customer consultation fed directly into the Australian-based design team, resulting in a very distinguished fifteen meter motor that’s set to redefine its class. Thousands of design and engineering hours have shaped the M50 into a vessel of refined elegance and purposeful functionality, with balanced proportions from every angle. Each detail has been scrutinised and elevated. Stepping aboard, guests are greeted with an abundance of space and luxury. The innovative rear swim platform raises and folds to reduce the vessel’s length by 750mm when docked, and then when deployed, it transforms into a spacious entertainment area ideal for all water-based activities. Access to the lazarette is via a hatch in the rear of the large entertainment module, containing the built-in barbecue and refrigerator. Further access is also provided under the long seating unit that runs across the forward end of the entertainment module, avoiding the need for heavy actuators to lift the deck and console area. Maritimo’s signature safety is ever-present, with high sides protecting those that are required to move forward, for anchoring or access to the tender, if stowed at the front. The Maritimo engineered articulating swim platform adds further protection to the rear of the vessel, when raised during cruising. The cockpit area provides a fabulous alfresco dining experience and is an entertainer’s dream, flowing seamlessly into the galley and saloon, creating a cohesive, visually clean space. The galley is a ‘chef’s delight’ and features European appliances, impeccable finishes, and immense storage, servicing both the cockpit and saloon with ease. The galley also features plenty of bench space for preparation and service, with a central island bench within the ‘L’ shaped format, which sweeps around the right-hand side of the space. Adjacent, Maritimo’s hallmark internal rear facing staircase leads to the enclosed flybridge on the level above. Natural light fills every internal space. The panoramic saloon windows subtly lowered in the design give commanding views in luxurious comfort from the upper enclosed flybridge. Expansive glass provides 360-degree visibility in a fully protected, climate-controlled environment. Light and air is also brought into the luxurious space via the long strip skylight, with forward and rear opening hatches above in the bridge hardtop. Twin sculpted helm seats ensure comfort and support during long passages, delivering both confidence and enjoyment whilst at sea. The M50 boasts a large bridge that can accommodate two or three screens that visually float above the console, with all other electronics and equipment is thoughtfully placed and within touch. A large cruising lounge is positioned opposite the helm to ensure the journey is as enjoyable as the destination itself. Generous storage, refrigerator and pull-out convertible accommodation on the bridge level turns this space into a highly comfortable penthouse apartment for additional guests. This allows for up to eight guests to enjoy all the new M50 has to offer. The main saloon exudes plush elegance, inviting guests to linger. Moving forward, a naturally lit companionway leads to accommodation spaces that set the M50 apart. By opting for a two-cabin configuration, Maritimo avoided compromise. The symmetrical full-beam master stateroom is expansive and beautifully appointed, with a very generous ensuite, day lounge and hanger lockers at the forward end. The VIP stateroom offers flexible sleeping arrangements, with a bed that can split into singles and an enlarged second bathroom that also serves the other guests. With further accommodation provided by pull out beds in the saloon and above in the flybridge deck, the M50 offers great flexibility to cater for larger numbers of guests, when required. Natural light and ventilation feature prominently throughout: A central skylight and hatch in the VIP stateroom, Expansive side windows with opening portholes in the Master Stateroom, Skylights and hatches in both bathrooms. With a consistent minimum headroom of just under two meters, the M50 maintains a balanced, proportionally perfect silhouette, whilst optimising weight distribution and stability. Leveraging decades of offshore racing pedigree, Maritimo’s hull design delivers lift, stability, and comfort. A reverse chine runs nearly the length of the hull, while a carefully shaped keel ensures a soft re-entry in challenging seas. Powered by twin Volvo 800hp, the Maritimo M50 comfortably cruises at 24 knots, with a top speed of 30 knots, all supported by a 3700-litre fuel tank offering exceptional range and efficiency.

Technical Data:

LOA - 15.70 m (51.6ft)

Hull Length - 15.6 m

Beam - 5.22 m

Draft - 1.39 m

Displacement - 25,000 kg dry

Fuel Capacity - 3700 l

Water Capacity - 750 l

Accommodation - four berths in two cabins, plus four convertible berths

Engines - 2 x Volvo D13 800hp

Propulsion - line shaft

Speed - thirty knots max 24 cruise

www.maritimo.com.au

Projects: Viking 64 Sport Coupe, Viking 64 Sport Tower

Viking proudly introduces the 64 Sport Coupe a project that expands the versatile 64 series with modern design, advanced performance and industry-leading fishability. Build on the proven 64 Convertible hull, so far delivered in forty units, this exciting addition is also available with a Palm Beach Towers tuna tower, giving owners two distinct profiles on the same high-performance platform, this version as pictured below called the 64 Sport Tower.  In the Viking 64 Sport Coupe owners can choose between two interior layouts: galley-up with four staterooms, or galley-down with a spacious, salon-style command deck and three staterooms. Both are appointed with three heads, offering refined comfort, smart accommodations and the flexibility for serious cruising or fishing.

The 64 Sport Tower features the same design as the Sport Coupe with the addition of a custom PBT tower that enhances offshore utility, boosts fishability and gives the yacht a commanding profile. The Sport Coupe, with its sleek fiberglass deckhouse, leans into a sportier, more streamlined aesthetic. The first build, a 64 Sport Coupe for a long time Viking owner, is set to begin construction in September 2025, with delivery scheduled for June 2026. This 64 Sport Coupe will feature the galley-down layout with a crossover forward stateroom a configuration that maximizes space for entertaining and versatility. This new project is further testament to Viking evolution, as the 64 Sport Coupe and 64 Sport Tower is also to be the largest express sportfish to date build by New Jersey located largest convertible yachts builder, expanding the size by ten foot from the 54 Open or Sport Coupe models as introduced in 2021.

www.vikingyachts.com

22 Injured as Boat Goes Ablaze Near Long Island Sound, New York

 

22 persons were injured as a ten meter Carver cruiser went ablaze at Long Island Sound, near Hart Island, New York just after 20:00 of Saturday seventh June.  New York Police Department harbour and aviation units responded, as did the Fire Department New York to assist in the rescue of boaters and control the fire. Three people were pulled from the water by the Fire Department crews, and brought to a dock where Emergency Medical Service crews were waiting to begin Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.  The other nineteen boaters swam to nearby Hart Island and were rescued by Fire Department, Police Department, and Coast Guard boats.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but the 33 year old skipper of the boat has been charged with Driving While Intoxicated.  The Carver cruiser was ultimately wrecked by the fire fire.

The boat in this fire is a Carver 350 Mariner as produced from 1997 up to 2003.  The 350 Mariner came out as a replacement to the Carver 330 Mariner, with the model evolving into the 36 Mariner and produced for another eight years.

Tullio Abbate New Web Site

 

Tullio Abbate presents its new web site.  Tullio Abbate was started in 1969, a continuation of the Abbate boating name which was founded in 1873 by Giuseppe Abbate and followed by his son Guido in 1940.  Third generation Tullio Abbate, was the older of the three sons of Guido and enters boating in 1962, as he builds Il Cinque, a plywood built red coloured racing boat of five meters in length which will go on to win the Centomiglia race of that year.  A year later in 1963 Tullio will join father Guido in the Abbate family boating business, famous in that time for building classic fast runabouts in wood with sleek lines.  In 1965 while racing at the six hours Paris race, Tullio Abbate sees a reinforced plastic British build deep-Vee speed boat, and decides he wants to build a similar craft.  The decision to build boats in fiberglass will angry father Guido as he foregoes him out of the family business, with Tullio founding his own ship yard in 1969 and building the Sea Star, the first Tullio Abbate boat.  With the shipyard founded Tullio Abbate will keep on racing and setting records retiring in 2001.  In his career Tullio has won eleven Centomiglia races from 1962 up to 2001, becoming Offshore Class Two Champion in 1975, and set a record for a diesel engine powerboat in 1979 reaching 107 knots or two hundred kilometres per hour on 23 May of that year in Tremezzo.  Mostly known for fast powerboat cruisers up to about fifteen meters, Tullio did build a few large sport yachts over twenty meters, the fist being the Exception 70 in 1989, which is followed by the Exception 90 six years later what is still today the largest Tullio Abbate build to date.  The Exception 90 is an interesting super sport yacht, and is to date the largest yacht build near a lake, which powered by quadruple 1500hp engines with surface drives reaches a speed of fifty knots.  Tullio Abbate was also the boat builder of the personalities who apart customers also become friends; Alain Prost, Aryton Senna, Gilles Villeneuve, Bernie Ecclestone, Björn Borg, Diego Maradona, Didier Pironi, Giacomo Agostini, Gianni Versace, Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve, Jacky Ickx, Keke Rosberg, Nelson Piquet, Nico Rosberg, Niki Lauda, Matteo de Nora, Rene Arnoux, and Riccardo Patrese.  Aryton Senna also build a special dedicated special fast cruiser with Tullio Abbate, the Senna 42 Evolution launched in 1995 and produced till 2001. Unfortunately for Senna he will not get to see it following his dead on first May 1994 during the San Marino Grand Prix at the Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari in Imola.  Tullio Abbate Junior will join the father family business in 2002 following in the Senior's footstep of building boats and racing, and winning two world championships this far in his career, and takes over the family business in 2012.  Tullio Abbate Senior will die at age 75 at the San Raffaele Hospital in Milan on nine April 2020, after being infected by COVID-19 during the pandemic in Italy.  Currently Tullio Abbate builds twelve models divided into three line ups; Classic, Comfort, and Sport, with the offer starting from the seven meter Flash 755, and go up to the Superiority 52.  Tullio Abbate new web site takes you around with the following buttons; Home, Our History, Boats, Vintage, Special Projects, and Contact.  Tullio Abbate is also on social media with a right top button taking you to its Instagram page.

www.tullioabbateyachts.com

Production History;
Sea Star m 6.05 1970-

Sea Miracle 12,50 mt 1976-

Offshore Rapid 11,00 mt 1977-

Sea Cobb 8,56 mt 1979-

Sea Star Super m 7.00 1979-

Offshore 42 1979-80

Offshore 27 1980-

Offshore 42 S 1981-83

Elite 25 (i) 1982-86

42 Executive 1984-

Exception 45 1984-

Champion 41 1986-

Superiority 36 1987-

Elite 25 (ii) 1987-2010

Elite 32 1988-

Offshore 33 1988-91

Elite 41 1989-

Exception 70 1990 (1)

Exception 33 1991-

Superiority 60 1992-

Exception 90 1995 (1)

Senna 42 Evolution 1995-2001 (50+-)

Mito 52 1999-

Soleil 33 2003-08

Mito 40 2008-

Soleil 35 2009-17

Mito 42 2009-

Mito 45 2010-

Mito 23 2011-

Mito 33 2011-

Beat 42 2012-

Superiority 52 2014-

Elite 27 2016-

Sunshine 30 2018-

Armonia 28 2024-

The Sea Star 6 meter, Tullio Abbate first boat. 

New Model: Benetti B.Now 67M

Benetti is pleased to announce the delivery of the first B.Now 67M. Titled m/y Iryna, the first Benetti B.Now 67M shows how this semi-custom platform-based is in reality more a tailor-made superyacht design that leaves plenty of room for customisation. The exterior styling by Redman Whiteley Dixon and the interior design is by Benetti, who working in close contact with owner’s representative to create an ambitious project in a successful line. At the Benetti Shipyard in Livorno, the B.Now 67M was handed over to her owner, an established customer and admirer of the Shipyard, which completed the project in less than three years. The first unit in the B.Now 67M yacht of five sold, was ordered with the Oasis Deck, which again shows Benetti’s ability to deliver custom projects. The first Benetti B.Now 67M also received official recognition from Lloyd’s Register certifying the yacht as a point of excellence. This steel superyacht stands out for her multiple customisations, not least the colour of the hull and superstructure, personalised with three different greys created especially for this unit. The B.Now 67M also features extensive, mainly curved glazing that covers up to 70% of the overall vertical surface area and lets natural light flood into the indoor spaces, designed by Benetti’s Interior Design Department under the guidance of Benetti Style Manager Mariorosa Remedi. Some of the settings were designed entirely in-house by the Shipyard’s Style Department, such as the four guest cabins on the Lower Deck that showcase this first B.Now 67M unique character and detailing. Examples are the pleated leather produced exclusively for this super yacht and the colours chosen for the fabrics, inspired by the four seasons. The ceilings clad in a new generation leather, tanned using natural materials, and the marble-effect ceramic slabs reveal an environmentally conscious selection of materials. The choice of wood also involved careful consideration of environmental certifications issued by the most authoritative international bodies, including the FSC Forest Stewardship Council and the PEFC Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, ensuring responsibly managed forests with a focus on biodiversity and the wellbeing of local communities. This first Benetti B.Now 67M layout also differs from the original design, particularly in terms of the numerous wellness areas, including a sauna in the beach club and a gym on the main deck, as requested by the owner. The exterior styling by RWD, the UK firm with which Benetti has worked successfully on the entire B.Now line. The Benetti B.Now 67M has six decks, from the top Observation Deck down to the Under Lower Deck, this super yacht is extremely spacious both outdoors, with around 500 square metres of usable space, and indoors, with a 65-square-metre Main Salon and a full-beam owner’s suite on the Upper Deck, made possible by moving the wheelhouse and captain’s cabin up to the next deck. With two VIP cabins on the Main Deck and four cabins on the Lower Deck, it can accommodate up to 15 guests. The design accessories on board this first B.Now 67M are by Visionnaire, a brand favoured by the owner for its excellent craftsmanship and the quality of the materials, both perfectly in tune with Benetti’s mission to offer a unique aesthetic and sensory experience.

Technical Data:

LOA - 66.2 m (217.1ft)

Beam - 11.2 m

Draft - 3.1 m

Displacement - 1150 t, 1326 gt* volume

Fuel - 115,000 l

Water - 33,000 l

Accommodation - sixteen in seven cabins, 13 crew in nine cabins

Engines - 2 x Cats 3512E 2550hp

Propulsion - line shaft with ZF gearbox

Speed - sixteen knots max, twelve cruising

Range - 5000 nautical miles at twelve knots

Construction - steel hull aluminium super structure

Project - Redman Whiteley Dixon RWD exterior, interior Benetti Mariarosa Remedi

Certification - Lloyds 100A1 SSC G6 LMC UMS, FSC and PEFC for woods

www.benettiyachts.com

Three Yachts Destroyed 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 Falcon 86.  A Galeon 500 Fly with 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.