June 25, 2025

Princess Yacht Ends Aground During Storm in Vaucluse, Australia

An eighteen meter Princess flybridge motor yacht ended aground and on the rocks in Vaucluse to the East of Sydney, Australia on the morning of Wednesday 25 June.  According to news outlet OnScene Bondi, who broke the news as reported by Daniel Sorauer, the yacht is reported to have broken its swing mooring in gale force winds of the early hours of the day.  No one was on board the yacht at the time of the grounding.  
The Princess in this grounding is a 60 Mark.II as designed by Bernard Olesinski and produced from 2011 to 2016.  The Princess 60 came out as a replacement to the second generation 58 and was replaced by the 62.

Project: Cayman 560 Sedan

Cayman Yachts presents the project for the 560 Sedan, as designed by Ferragni. The 560 Sedan represents the latest expression of versatility from Cayman and will be presented at the Genoa and Cannes boat shows this coming September. The renderings and technical drawings currently published show all the potential that the 560 Sedan represents, even though she is based on the 540 WA, which is an open sport yacht with T-Top, the new project shines with its special features from the closed Hard Top, the hydraulically opening roof, the pantograph doors on the sides of the double driving position to go directly outside onto the side-decks, the fixed or sliding and electrically opening side windows on the sides of the Hard Top, the possibility or otherwise of having retractable glass doors at the stern. All this shows the extreme flexibility of the Cayman 560 Sedan, which by opening all the glass surfaces, becomes an open sport yacht, but at the same time to be able to stay comfortably during the cruise inside the HT on the completely closed and protected deck. The environments and the organization of the spaces below deck are also flexible with possibility of two cabins layouts plus optional crew cabin or alternatively three cabins plus crew. Exteriors spaces are also larger with bow large sundeck having an adjacent chaise longue and a sofa with a foldaway table that creates an area of ​​relaxation and privacy. The cockpit and the stern are very welcoming, the foldable sides increasing the available surface area for a width just short of seven meters, and in the centre the comfortable raised sundeck which hides, in the inboard version, the tender and, in the outboard version, the engines. The keel, with the characteristic inverted bow and the water lines are those of the highly tested hull Cayman 540 WA, which lives in this new version, a new experience. The platform is equipped with an electro-hydraulic immersion movement which facilitates both the movement of the tender and the ascent from the water. Two types of standard engines are proposed, from twin Volvo 480hp up 725hp, and or triple Mercury 600hp outboards.

June 24, 2025

New Model: Schaefer 600

Founded in 1992 Schaefer is a yacht builder which has been on the upswing in recent years, with its product always reaching better design standards to compete with the known brands in the segment.  For 2025 Schaefer has just launched its new 600, a flybridge motor yacht as designed by Marcio Schaefer with sleek sporty lines and all the latest living improvement gadgets.  Drop down bulkheads which improve space in the aft cockpit, astern galley layout, a sleek not disturbing flybridge hard-top, and fore deck settee lounging area.  The Schaefer 600 offers a lower deck accommodation sleeping six, all with private haeds, and an owners stateroom at midships.  The Schaefer 600 is powered by twin Volvo 725hp with IPS pod drive propulsion for speed of 29 knots and a cruise of 24.  
Technical Data:
LOA - 18.08 m (59.3ft)
Beam - 4.96 m 
Draft - 1.45 m
Displacement - 25,270 kg
Fuel Capacity - 2100 l
Water Capacity - 540 l
Max Persons - eighteen
Accommodation - six berths in three cabins, two crew in one cabin
Engines - 2 x Volvo D11 725hp
Propulsion - Volvo IPS950 forward looking dual propeller pod drives
Speed - 29 knots max, 24 cruise
Range - 189 nautical miles
Hull Shape - modified Vee with 14.1 degrees deadrise aft
Project - Marcio Schaefer

June 23, 2025

One Injured in Boat Hunt Rage at Discovery Bay, California

A jet ski rider was lightly injured as a wake board boat collided into him, and after this smashed into some moored boats and piers at Discovery Bay, Conta Costa County County, at about 20:50 of Sunday 22 June.  Residents filmed all the scene from the initial phase as the dark coloured wake board boat is seen hunting down the jet ski on the outside of the marina at speed.  After this the jet ski and the wake board boat are seen entering into the marina slowly, only for things to turn out of control as the the dark boat spots the jet ski and opens its throttles into it, colliding and running over it, and injuring the jet ski driver.  Following this the dark coloured wake boat is seen colliding into the marina piers and other boats, including of which is a nine meter Bayliner flybridge boat, and then again into other boats on the other side of the marina.  Conta Costa Fire Department took the jet skier to the hospital, reported to have suffered only mild injuries, as the Contra Costa Sheriff opened an investigation into the case, but is reported to have arrested no one.
One of the boats collided into in this rage madness, is a Bayliner 2958 Command Bridge as produced from 1988 to 1990.  The 2958 Command Bridge was a replacement to the 2858 Ciera Command Bridge, and was replaced by the 3258 Command Bridge.

Project: Beneteau Gran Turismo 40

Beneteau has announced an overhaul of their Gran Turismo range, which currently features five models from 32 to 45, and are to be replaced by three models from ten to fifteen meters. These new models will see Beneteau compete in the European sport cruiser walk around market, with all the latest features from drop down bulk heads which expand cockpit space, to reverse style bow. The Beneteau revamp will take place in just six months, with the first Gran Turismo 35 and Gran Turismo 40 to debut at the Cannes boat show coming September, and the Gran Turismo 50 to be presented in Dusseldorf 2026. The Gran Turismo has always been a modern styled cruiser, and these new three models follow the latest trends which in the last five to ten years have seen an expansive shift of design. Built to be a modern entertainment platform with dynamic looks, the new Gran Turismo models blend performance and stylish comfort with high-end materials, connectivity and the option for personalized touches and finishes. The long term partnership between Beneteau and Alpine, the high-end sport speciality brand, will also see limited-edition collaborations released across the upcoming Gran Turismo range in the coming months, further elevating the flair and excellence of this new product line. The Beneteau Gran Turismo 40 is to be second in the range and is to be available with inboard stern drives and or twin outboards. Thanks to its exterior re-design the Gran Turismo 40 will offer thirty more space in the cockpit, with this also featuring full contact to the water thanks to its drop down bulk heads, although cabin space is a bit less to that of the outgoing 41.

June 22, 2025

Two Saved as Sport Cruiser is Wrecked by Fire in Marsala, Sicily

A twelve meter sport cruiser titled m/y Bibiblu with two persons onboard was wrecked by fire, for a blaze which started as it was outside the Marsala harbour, to the West of Sicily on the late afternoon of Sunday 22 July. The two persons onboard, a man and a woman were saved by nearby boaters, as the Guardia Costiera first and Vigili dell Fuoco coming later, fought the fire. Ultimately the boat was wrecked by the fire and sank in fifteen meters of depth at around 20:15.  The two boaters reported that the sport cruiser had a short circuit before eventually going ablaze.  A notification to recover the wreck has been sent to the ownership by the Italian Guardia Costiera Coast Guard.
The sport cruiser in this fire is a Bruno Abbate Primatist 42 as produced from 1986 to 1992.  The Primatist 42 was replaced by the more modern looking Primatist G43.

Eight Dead in Sudden Storm on Lake Tahoe California

Eight people were killed on Lake Tahoe, California, for a sudden strong storm which started around 15:00 of Saturday 21 June.  The storm caused caos to dozen of boaters in the second greatest USA lake, as eight people also lost their life as an eight meter Chris Craft boat with ten people onboard capsized during the strong squall.  Two people from the capsized boat were rescued immediately and taken to a hospital in a not reported condition.  Six lifeless bodies were recovered on Saturday evening, with a body recovered on Sunday evening, and the last body on Monday afternoon.  The sudden storm even surprised meteorologists, who forecasted some rain and nothing more, with this coming to be Force Seven Gale winds, and waves up to three meters in height, and a sudden reduction in temperature.  El Dorado County Sheriff and US Coast Guard assisted the various boaters in the storm, as this cleared after two hours of mayhem. 
A popular Summer destination Lake Tahoe straddles both the states of California and Nevada, and is the second deepest lake in the USA, with a maximum depth of 501 meters, and a mean depth of 300 meters.  Lake Tahoe has a 144 squared miles area, which makes it also the second largest lake in the USA.

Marlow New Web Site

Marlow yachts presents its new web site.  Marlow is a US company with building operations in China, founded in 2000 by David Marlow.  Marlow start's to take shape in David's head in 1995, as he designs and outlines the first models, who are completed with the help of at the time debuting naval architect Doug Zurn.  Marlow yachts are build in Xiamen China, at the Norsemen Shipbuilding facility which was also the first Yacht Yard to receive an Environmental Consciousness Award in 2007. The first Marlow was the Explorer 65 which debuted at the 2001 Miami boat show.  Currently Marlow builds fourteen models which start with the Gypsy tender, and goes up to the Voyager 100 flagship.  Marlow latest model is the Avalon 65 which debuted at the 2025 Palm Beach boat show.  Marlow's new website takes you around with the following buttons; Home, Yachts, Prowler 375, Technical Info, News and Dealers, and Yacht Virtual Tours.  Marlow website also features links to its Facebook, Twitter, and Linkedin social media pages with button links located at the right top of the page.     
Production History;
Explorer 65 2001-12
72 Explorer Skylounge 2003-09 
Explorer 70 2003-12
Explorer 78 2004-11 (15)
Explorer 61 2004-12
Prowler 375 2006-
Voyager 76 2010-
Explorer 97 2011-14 (5)
Explorer 62 2013- *Explorer 61 Mk.II project
Explorer 66 2013-
Explorer 80 2014- (6
Explorer 88 2015- (8
Explorer 53 2016- *Explorer 49 project
Explorer 70 Mk.II 2018-
Voyager 100 2019- (2
Avalon 65 2025-
Marlow debut model the Explorer 65

June 21, 2025

Illegal Charter Yacht Ends Aground in New River, Fort Lauderdale

A seventeen meter Sea Ray titled m/y Rogue One with fourteen persons onboard ended aground in New River, Fort Lauderdale, Florida on the evening of Friday twenty June.  When the US Coast Guard came to assist the yacht, they found that this was an illegal charter operation.  Following this the yacht's was cited for seven violations; failure to have a valid Certificate of Inspection, failure to have a drug and alcohol program, failure to hire an appropriately credentialed mariner, failure to have the appropriate credentials while operating as a small passenger vessel, failure to have Type I PFDs while operating as a small passenger vessel, negligent operations, failure to have a valid Certificate of Documentation endorsed for Coastwise trade.  The yacht crew and guests were rescued by a nearby boater, with none of them being injured.   The yacht's damage beyond the grounding is not reported.
The yacht in this grounding is a Sea Ray 560 Sedan Bridge as produced from 1998 to 2004.  The 560 Sedan Bridge came out as a replacement to the 550 Sedan Bridge, and was replaced by the Sea Ray 580 Sedan Bridge.

Improve-it = Princess S80

Princess are proud to announce a world first, as they commission the very first MAN V12X 2200hp engines, installed on board a new Princess S80.  This milestone marks a bold new chapter in performance and innovation for both MAN engines and Princess. Producing an incredible 2,200 horsepower per engine, the V12X powered the S80 to over 35 knots during recent sea trials. Now offered as an exciting new option, the Man 2200hp redefines the new Princess S80 with two more knots of top speed to that of the Man 2000hp standard power.  This first Man 2200hp powered Princess S80 also featured the sport bridge T-Top option.  The Princess S80 debuted in Summer of last year, with the super sport yacht making its World debut during the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival in September.  The Princess S80 which shares hull with the X80 and Y80 has so far sold in ten units.