sailing yacht crashes

Sailboat sinks in waters off the South Shore. What led up to the sinking

Two boats collided near Grape Island in Hingham Bay on Friday, fire department officials said.

The U.S. Coast Guard said it responded to a collision between a 21-foot sailboat and a 38-foot power boat along with the Quincy and Weymouth harbormasters. The sailboat sank.

The incident happened near Grape Island, which is about 1 mile north of Hingham Harbor in Weymouth.

A female suffered injuries which were described by officials as serious. She was taken to a Boston-area hospital while a male was taken to a hospital in Weymouth.

The investigation into the collision continues as authorities work to determine if someone is at fault.

Hannah Morse covers growth and development for The Patriot Ledger. Contact her at  [email protected] .

Tech magnate missing after luxury superyacht sinks off Sicily in 'violent storm'

A British tech magnate and several other people are missing after a luxury superyacht sank near Sicily’s main city, Palermo, during a violent storm, Italian officials and sources familiar with the matter told CNBC . At least one person was killed.

Mike Lynch, who was regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was not among those rescued, said the sources, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the situation. They added that Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife, had been plucked from the waters off the Italian island.

Lynch was among six people who were unaccounted for, The Associated Press quoted Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency as saying. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said. Cocina also confirmed that Bacares had survived.

Italy's coast guard said in a statement that the 184-foot sailboat, named the Bayesian, sank “due to a violent storm” off Palermo at around 5 a.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) with 22 people on board. Fifteen people were rescued, and six passengers were missing, it said.

American, British and Canadian citizens were among the missing, the statement said. The coast guard said in later statement that the ship’s cook had died. It did not give the cook's nationality.  

Karsten Borner, the captain of a ship that rescued the survivors, told reporters that there was a “strong hurricane gust, and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position,” according to Reuters.

He added that they had “watched the ship behind us not to touch them and we managed to keep the ship in position.” After the storm was over, he said, “we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”

“Fifteen people inside. Four people were injured, three heavily injured, and we brought them to our ship, he said. “Then we communicated with the coast guard, and after some time, the coast guard came and later picked up injured people.”

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35, told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled to safety.

“I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves. I held her tight, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she said. “Many were screaming. Luckily, the lifeboat inflated, and 11 of us managed to get on it.”

The City Council of Bagheria said in a statement that a child of that age was being treated at a children’s hospital. It said that seven adults were taken to the emergency room but that “it seems that none are in serious conditions.” 

Lynch, 59, the missing tech entrepreneur, founded the enterprise software firm Autonomy and became the target of a protracted legal battle with Hewlett-Packard after the U.S. tech giant accused him of inflating the company’s value in an $11 billion sale. Extradited from Britain to the U.S. last year to stand trial, he was acquitted of fraud after a three-month trial.

Italy’s national fire department said in a statement that “divers, a motorboat and a helicopter” had been deployed to help with the search. The wreck was at a depth of around 165 feet, the statement said.  

Divers from the Sicilian city of Sassri and Naples, a city on the Italian mainland , were “arriving on site to search inside the sunken vessel,” it said. 

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian has an aluminum hull and can carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Online sites list the luxury vessel for charter for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week, the AP reported.

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on Wednesday and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of “at anchor,” according to the vessel tracking app Vesselfinder.

Fabio La Bianca, 40, took a picture of the boat at around 10 p.m. local time Sunday shortly after he closed his bar in nearby Santa Flavia. “Absurd tragedy tonight. I am lost for words,” he said Monday on Facebook.

Matteo Moschella is a London-based reporter for NBC News' Social Newsgathering team.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

One dead, six missing after luxury superyacht capsizes off Sicily coast

The boat, that was carrying tourists including British tech giant Mike Lynch, sank due to rough weather conditions.

One person has died and six remain missing after a luxury superyacht with 22 people on board sank off the Sicilian coast, according to Italian authorities.

The missing included British tech giant Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, his lawyer and others, Italy’s civil protection and authorities said on Monday. Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares and 14 other people survived.

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Italy’s coastguard and firefighters brought 15 people to safety on Monday after the 50-metre (164-foot) sailboat capsized at about 5am (03:00 GMT) due to rough winds and choppy waters caused by a waterspout, Italian media reported.

One body was located in the wreck at a depth of about 50 metres, a coastguard spokesman told the AFP news agency. The victim is understood to be a man and was the yacht’s onboard chef, according to Italian media.

The boat was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew members. The missing people were of British, American and Canadian nationality, the coastguard said.

A one-year-old girl was among those rescued, along with her mother.

A survivor identified as Charlotte Golunski said she had momentarily lost hold of her one-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported, quoting the mother.

“It was terrible. The boat was hit by really strong wind and shortly after it went down,” she added.

Eight people out of 15 rescued have been hospitalised, and all 15 are in stable condition, according to Italian news agency Adnkronos.

Watersprout

The chartered sailboat sank off Porticello, when a waterspout struck the area overnight, said Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency.

According to National Geographic, a waterspout roughly resembles a mini-tornado over a body of water. It likely occurred as storms and heavy rainfall have hit Italy in recent days – with floods and landslides causing damage in the north – after weeks of scorching heat.

“I was at home when the tornado struck,” fisherman Pietro Asciutto told ANSA. “I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it just had one mast, it was really big. I saw it suddenly sink.”

Another witness quoted by the agency said: “The boat was all lit up. Around 4:30 am, it was no longer there. A beautiful boat where there was a party. A normal joyous vacation day at sea turned into tragedy.”

Storms and heavy rainfall have swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, which had lifted the temperature of the Mediterranean sea to record levels, raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts said.

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms,” said meteorologist Luca Mercalli.

“We can’t say that this is all due to global warming but we can say that it has an amplifying effect,” he told Reuters.

Italian prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation to look into what had gone wrong.

Meanwhile, fire department divers are scouring areas around the boat, which was flying a British flag. Helicopters are also aiding rescue efforts, authorities said.

Camper & Nicholsons, the managers of the yacht, said in a statement that they were “assisting with the ongoing search” for the missing people.

A UK foreign ministry spokesperson said British officials were in contact with local authorities and are willing to provide consular support to its citizens who were affected.

ANSA said the boat, named “Bajesian”, had been moored in the port at Porticello and had set sail on Sunday evening.

The vessel was built by Italian shipbuilding firm Perini Navi in 2008.

Superyacht sinks latest: Another two bodies found in superyacht search - five now confirmed dead

The bodies of four of the six people missing after a yacht sank off the Sicily coast have been found, taking the number of dead to five. Search efforts are in their third day, after the captain was reportedly questioned by Italian prosecutors over the sinking.

Wednesday 21 August 2024 17:47, UK

• Superyacht sinking

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• Four bodies found in search for survivors, taking number of confirmed deaths in superyacht tragedy to five - with two people still missing
• Divers bring recovered body to shore
• Advanced underwater drone deployed
• Yacht's captain questioned for more than two hours - report
• Watch: CCTV captures yacht seconds before it sinks
• Explained: Inside the superyacht
• Live reporting by Mark Wyatt

The former commander of the UK's amphibious taskforce has disagreed with the view of some experts that the superyacht was the victim of a "black swan event".

The term is used to refer to a high-impact, rare incident that is difficult to predict, but is often seen in retrospect as having been inevitable.

It's thought the Bayesian sunk after it was struck by a tornado over the water - known as a waterspout - which caused it to capsize.

"I think it's quite interesting that a lot of people are saying this is a black swan event," Rear Admiral Chris Parry told Sky News.

"It isn't really. You get about 500 of these sorts of events in the Mediterranean every year," he added, referring to the waterspouts.

"I've been studying the Mediterranean for the best part of 50 years, and they're quite commonplace, and they're associated with certain, atmospheric, conditions."

Rear Adm Parry added: "They normally happen in around September and October in increasing in numbers, but because of warming sea levels, they're happening more and more in August now. 

"Although this is a very unlucky event, in fact, they are predictable at certain times of the year."

Emergency service staff and others involved in search and rescue operations have formed a "guard of honour" as bodies are brought ashore, says our correspondent Ashna Hurynag .

Four bodies, which have not yet been identified, were found in the wreck of the Bayesian this afternoon.

It's unclear how many have been recovered, but those that have been brought to shore have been loaded onto an ambulance and driven away from the port.

"As each body has been brought ashore - two that we have seen so far with our own eyes -  we are seeing almost a guard of honour forming," says Hurynag.

"Those emergency services and personnel are lining the port where they have been conducting their thorough work and bringing the body that's being recovered, loading that body onto a local ambulance, and we're seeing the ambulances being taken in convoy away from the scene."

Images have emerged of another body bag being brought to shore at the port in Porticello, Sicily.

Four bodies, which have not yet been identified, were found in the wreck of the yacht this afternoon. It's unclear how many have been recovered so far.

It means there are still two people unaccounted for from the 22 that were onboard at the time the ship sank.

The UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has confirmed it is investigating the sinking of the superyacht.

The organisation will look to determine the causes and circumstances of the incident.

A team of four MAIB inspectors have been in Porticello today to carry out a "preliminary assessment", according to PA.

"The MAIB is investigating the foundering of the UK registered large yacht Bayesian off the northern coast of Sicily on 19 August 2024," a statement read.

"It would not be appropriate for the MAIB to comment further while the investigation is ongoing. "

The MAIB is looking into the incident because the Bayesian was flying a British flag - but the Italian Coastguard said the MAIB was not involved in the search and rescue operation and that it did not request assistance.

An investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian might result in changes to how masts are constructed, according to a professor of transport law.

Much has been made of the size of Bayesian's 75m (246ft) aluminium mast, which according to Italian shipbuilder Perini makes it the tallest of its kind in the world.

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht anchored nearby at the time of the storm, said he saw the mast "bend and then snap", according to Italy's Corriere della Sera daily newspaper.

But search and rescue divers have since noted the ship is tilted on its side and seems to be intact, suggesting the mast might not have broken.

Either way, Nicola Romana, a professor of transport and tourism law at the University of Palermo, says investigations into how the ship sunk could force a change to ship building.

He told la Repubblica: "In the case of Bayesian, a safety investigation, I imagine, could concern the height of the mast, whether it could have caused an imbalance with the hull, thus leading in the future to not building such tall masts or to using other types of alloys, different from aluminium."

However, retired Royal Navy commander Tom Sharpe told Sky News today he thought discussions about the involvement of the mast in the Bayesian's sinking were "a distraction".

He said the vessel's draught (the depth of the ship below the waterline) was "specifically designed to withstand those sorts of stresses".

"The mast is designed to have a massive sail hanging off it with the wind trying to blow the boat over," he said. 

"So I think that's a distraction unless there was a condition with the keel - if they had a retractable keel and that made the boat less stable that way."

Two more bodies have been found by rescue divers in the search for survivors of the sunken Bayesian yacht.

It brings the total number of victims found today to four, after two other bodies were found earlier this afternoon (see 14.36 post). 

Five people have now been confirmed dead after the yacht sunk in the early hours of Monday morning off Palermo following a violent storm. The body of chef Recaldo Thomas was recovered on Monday.

The identities of those discovered today are unknown at this stage.

An ambulance thought to contain one of the bodies found in the search for those missing has driven away from the harbour, says our correspondent Ashna Hurynag . 

She describes the "distinct quietness" as the body was loaded into the vehicle earlier. 

"One thing that's really striking about being here on the ground is it's incredibly silent," she says despite around  50 or 60 people being present. 

But she says the quietness was punctured by blue lights and sirens as the ambulance drove away in convoy with two navy vehicles. 

A friend of Recaldo Thomas, the on-board chef whose body was recovered on Monday, has described him as a "special human being".

The body of Mr Thomas was the first to be discovered following the sinking of the Bayesian, with two more victims of the shipwreck found this afternoon (see 2.36pm post).

A friend of Mr Thomas said of the chef:

"He was one of a kind, a special human being. Incredibly talented, with a contagious smile and laugh. He had an incredible voice and a love of the ocean and the moon, and crystals. We are broken." 

The search for those still missing now looks like a recovery operation, an expert has said, after two bodies were found.

Dr Jamie Pringle, a reader in forensic geoscience at Keele University tells Sky News there have been cases where people have survived for about 60 hours in similar depths of water.

But he says they are "very rare" and the longer time goes on, the less likely it is they will be found alive.

Simon Boxall, a senior lecturer in oceanography at the University of Southampton, tells us it is "fairly certain" they are still onboard. 

But he says it's also possible they were thrown from boat and into the sea, so a search of the surrounding waters will continue until they're found.

Tidal flows in the region are generally very weak and the visibility isn't bad outside of the boat, he adds.

Mr Boxall also says warmer waters are fuelling big storms and this is "one of the first super tornadoes" in the western Mediterranean. 

He says waterspouts aren't as uncommon as people think, although about 90% are completely harmless.

"Tornadic waterspouts," on the other hand, cause damage to vessels as winds of more than 150 miles an hour with lots of water hit the boat.

"I think it took the vessel by surprise, and it would have come on within literally a few minutes," he says. 

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2 seriously hurt in boat crash in Hingham Bay

Aerial photos showed a submerged boat in the hingham bay, by michael rosenfield , thea digiammerino and anika hope • published august 16, 2024 • updated on august 17, 2024 at 12:01 am.

Two people were taken to the hospital Friday after a boat crash off the coast of Grape Island in Weymouth, Massachusetts, officials said.

The crash happened on Hingham Bay. Fire officials said one person was rushed to a hospital in Boston and another was taken to a hospital on the South Shore, both suffering serious injuries.

Both of those people were on a sailboat that was involved in a collision with a motorboat.

"Motorboating is extremely dangerous in general," said Scott Barber, who sails in the area routinely. "When you're under sail power, you usually don't have the ability to navigate as well as a motorboat, so I just hope both parties involved were paying attention best they could."

A witness who saw the two victims brought back to shore in Weymouth tells NBC10 Boston it appeared a woman was unconscious and a man had a serious gash to his leg.

"It's probably not paying attention," said a boater in Weymouth who did not want to be identified. "There's probably no other way it could happen, it shouldn't happen."

Infant dead after being found in motel bathtub in Milford, Conn.

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Authorities say the sailboat sank. It will have to be salvaged, because if it remains in the water, it will be a hazard to navigation.

Boaters say it was calm out on the water Friday, visibility was good, and they're trying to figure out how this accident could happen.

"By Grape Island, it can certainly be very narrow," said Barber. "And if you're not paying attention, you can get into a situation you can't get out of."

Investigators haven't said exactly how the crash unfolded and if anyone will face any charges.

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Mike Lynch yacht latest: Divers finally enter master cabin on boat as family and friends hope for ‘miracle’

Missing six could be alive if they are trapped with an air pocket, claims engineer, article bookmarked.

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Divers searching the sunken Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily have managed to access the master cabin and the hull, as they continue to search for six people.

The boat sank in a severe storm in the early hours of Monday , with those missing including British billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer ; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Fire crews described the operation as “complex”, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts, with debris hampering efforts to access the cabins.

The brother of Mr Bloomer has shared his hopes that air pockets might be keeping them alive.

Jeremy Bloomer said: “It’s a slow process and it will take time. So there might be air pockets, but we don’t know. It’s still wait and see, so fingers crossed.”

Divers from the Sicilian fire services were able to reach the common areas of the vessel, Giornale Di Sicilia reported yesterday – but they are yet to make it to the cabins.

One man has so far been confirmed dead, Recaldo Thomas, while a further 15 people survived the incident.

Have you been affected by this story? Email [email protected]

CCTV footage shows the moment missing tycoon Mike Lynch’s Bayesian yacht is engulfed by storm

CCTV footage has shown the moment a storm off the coast of Sicily engulfed the Bayesian luxury yacht carrying 22 people.

The superyacht was moored around half-a-mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank at around 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm.

The tall mast of the craft can be seen in the black-and-white footage, as rain appears to be lashing down in the foreground.

Read the full article here:

CCTV footage shows the moment Bayesian yacht is engulfed by storm

Italian officials have said British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and five others may be trapped in a pocket of air inside the boat

Who was on board the Bayesian yacht and who is still missing?

Italian authorities fear British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five others he was holidaying with are trapped inside his yacht which sank in a tornado .

As the desperate search for the missing continues in Sicily for a second day, Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coastguard said the working theory of officials is that they were inside. He said search and rescue efforts are yet to deliver any results.

The British-flagged vessel named Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 members of crew when it sank at around 5am local time on Monday as the area was hit by a storm.

Who was on board the Bayesian yacht and who is still missing

As the desperate search for the missing continues for a second day, here is what we know about those involved

Helicopter drafted in to help with search

A helicopter had been drafted in to help the search effort, as divers from the local fire service were seen entering the water with torches attached to their headgear.

A police boat and divers were also seen entering the water on Wednesday afternoon.

Fire crews from the Vigili del Fuoco said they have been accessing the vessel through natural entrances, without making openings.

Industry experts ‘at a loss’ to explain sudden sinking

Experts have been at a loss to explain how a large luxury vessel, presumed to have top-class fittings and safety features, could have sunk within minutes, as recounted by witnesses. Another yacht anchored next to it was unharmed by the tempest.

The Bayesian, which was owned by Lynch’s wife, was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 and last refitted in 2020. It had the world’s tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72 metres, according to its makers.

Its captain James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander who survived the shipwreck, was a “very good sailor” and “very well respected” in the Mediterranean, his brother Mark told The New Zealand Herald.

Efforts to enter yacht have been hampered by ‘very confined’ spaces

Efforts to locate the missing people have been hampered by “very confined” spaces inside the wreck, fire department spokesman Luca Cari has said.

The Italian coast guard said it was using a remotely operated vehicle to inspect the seabed and take underwater pictures.

An upgraded underwater drone has also been deployed at the site of the wreckage.

Floorplan of sunken yacht shows guest cabins

A floorplan of the sunken Bayesian yacht shows that a number of guest cabins were situated in the middle of the boar, between the technical area and crew area.

Specialist divers are now trying to access the area, to explore whether the six missing tourists became trapped inside.

How sailors can use air pockets to survive in capsized boats for days

The amazing rescue of Tony Bullimore inspired the country

Firefighters release footage of search

Italy’s fire and rescue service has released footage of its late night search.

Vigili del Fuoco wrote that Italian divers “concluded late yesterday evening and at the first light of day the operations at sea resumed.”

They added: “The search for the six missing people continues.”

In pictures: Rescue teams continue search for third day

Italian Coastguard says six missing tourists are feared dead

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the six missing tourists are feared dead.

Asked about the likelihood of them being alive, he said: “Never say never, but reasonably the answer should be not.”

He said: “We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea.

“Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly.

“We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat.”

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Shocking video of The Ocean Race crash

Published on June 15th, 2023 by Editor -->

In a shocking incident during the start of Leg 7 of The Ocean Race , a major collision between 11th Hour Racing Team and GUYOT environnement – Team Europe saw both boats return to the dock with serious damage.

Race details – Route – Tracker – Scoreboard – Content from the boats – YouTube

IMOCA Overall Leaderboard (after 6 of 7 legs) 1. 11th Hour Racing Team — 33 points 2. Team Holcim-PRB — 31 points 3. Team Malizia — 27 points 4. Biotherm — 19 points 5. GUYOT environnement – Team Europe — 2 points

VO65 Overall Leaderboard (after 2 of 3 legs): 1. WindWhisper Racing Team — 12 points 2. Team JAJO — 9 points 3. Austrian Ocean Racing powered by Team Genova — 7 points 4. Mirpuri/Trifork Racing Team — 5 points 5. Viva México — 4 points 6. Ambersail 2 — 3 points

IMOCA: Name, Design, Skipper, Launch date • Guyot Environnement – Team Europe (VPLP Verdier); Benjamin Dutreux (FRA)/Robert Stanjek (GER); September 1, 2015 • 11th Hour Racing Team (Guillaume Verdier); Charlie Enright (USA); August 24, 2021 • Holcim-PRB (Guillaume Verdier); Kevin Escoffier (FRA); May 8, 2022 • Team Malizia (VPLP); Boris Herrmann (GER); July 19, 2022 • Biotherm (Guillaume Verdier); Paul Meilhat (FRA); August 31 2022

The Ocean Race 2022-23 Race Schedule: Alicante, Spain – Leg 1 (1900 nm) start: January 15, 2023 Cabo Verde – ETA: January 22; Leg 2 (4600 nm) start: January 25 Cape Town, South Africa – ETA: February 9; Leg 3 (12750 nm) start: February 26 Itajaí, Brazil – ETA: April 1; Leg 4 (5500 nm) start: April 23 Newport, RI, USA – ETA: May 10; Leg 5 (3500 nm) start: May 21 Aarhus, Denmark – ETA: May 30; Leg 6 (800 nm) start: June 8 Kiel, Germany (Fly-By) – June 9 The Hague, The Netherlands – ETA: June 11; Leg 7 (2200 nm) start: June 15 Genova, Italy – The Grand Finale – ETA: June 25, 2023; Final In-Port Race: July 1, 2023

The Ocean Race (formerly Volvo Ocean Race and Whitbread Round the World Race) was initially to be raced in two classes of boats: the high-performance, foiling, IMOCA 60 class and the one-design VO65 class which has been used for the last two editions of the race.

However, only the IMOCAs will be racing round the world while the VO65s will race in The Ocean Race VO65 Sprint which competes in Legs 1, 6, and 7 of The Ocean Race course.

Additionally, The Ocean Race also features the In-Port Series with races at seven of the course’s stopover cities around the world which allow local fans to get up close and personal to the teams as they battle it out around a short inshore course.

Although in-port races do not count towards a team’s overall points score, they do play an important part in the overall rankings as the In-Port Race Series standings are used to break any points ties that occur during the race around the world.

Held every three or four years since 1973, the 14th edition of The Ocean Race was originally planned for 2021-22 but was postponed one year due to the pandemic, with the first leg starting on January 15, 2023.

Tags: 11th Hour Racing Team , The Ocean Race , TOR23-Leg 7

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Steps toward The Ocean Race 2027-28 →

Jack Bouttell: Repairing a boat mid-ocean →

Pirates in the Indian Ocean →

The Ocean Race Europe begins in Kiel →

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Two people hurt, sailboat sunk after Hingham boat crash

H INGHAM - Two people were seriously hurt and rushed to hospitals, after a dramatic boat crash in Hingham Bay, Hingham, first responders said.

Sailboat sunk in crash  

A sailboat sank into the water after, investigators said, a speedboat crashed into it, leaving two people hurt.

The crash rocked lifelong boaters like Bill Norton, who could see the mast of the sailboat ominously sticking up from his house across the bay.

"I was hoping nobody got hurt. You can replace a boat, but the people getting hurt - that's a different story," said Norton. "Sailboat has the right of way over a powerboat, every time."

'Not a common occurrence'

Water Taxi Captain Ray Suarez saw the aftermath as he went back and forth shuttling passengers all day. He's been on the water most of his life and said  the site was unusual.

"We saw the mast just sticking out of the water. There was a lot of state police and salvage boats trying to figure out what to do with it," said Captain Suarez. "Sailboats generally go very slow, and powerboats generally go very fast. So, somebody obviously wasn't paying attention because they hit the boat so hard that they sank it, and that's not a common occurrence."

Hingham and Weymouth first responders, and Massachusetts Environmental Police rushed to the rescue after the boat crash. First responders say a towboat will work to recover the submerged sailboat because it's a danger to other boats navigating the bay.

"Make sure you have life preservers for everyone on board, you go at a safe pace, so you stay safe and you keep the people around you safe as well," said Captain Suarez.

The Massachusetts Environmental Police are investigating the incident.

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Inside Below Deck Sailing Yacht ’s Crash, and the Dramatic Aftermath

Below Deck viewers have survived kitchen fires, nightmare charter guests , dramatic dismissals, drug scandals , and soured romantic relationships. But Monday’s episode of Below Deck Sailing Yacht, “Total Ship Show,” is unprecedented in franchise history, in terms of its sheer disaster quotient. Within the first five minutes of the episode, the Parsifal yacht crashes into a stone dock in high winds, destroying the end of the vessel and totaling Captain Glenn Shephard ’s already-dented ego. (Last week, Parsifal suffered a less serious collision. We hope the sailing yacht is not cursed.) The rest of the episode unravels like a high-paced thriller set aboard an out-of-control luxury yacht.

The villains: the shrill, gluten-free charter guests, who are too self-involved to notice the Parsifal ’s jacked transom door. The dramatic B-plot: the chef screwing up a five-course meal by serving steak after dessert. As if this were not enough action for a single episode, there is also an STD scare that forces an otherwise respectable woman to reckon with an indiscretion.

“It was almost like an embarrassment of riches,” said Below Deck executive producer Courtland Cox, of the chart-topping chaos in Croatia. “It’s amazing that this was all happening, but it’s also difficult to tell all of these stories in an interesting way within a limited amount of time per episode.” Some viewers complained that the season was starting off too smoothly, but Cox trusted the process and knew that such interesting cast members would yield climactic story lines. “With any great narrative structure, you want to have peaks and valleys that eventually crescendo into something interesting…. The yacht crashing, guests being crazy, and Jean-Luc [Cerza Lanaux] being worried about getting an STD, all that stuff is the seasoning.”

Ahead, Cox and Parsifal chief stew Daisy Kelliher take us behind the scenes of Monday’s bombshell episode to answer all of our burning questions—about everything from the crash to the onboard romances, including Dani’s pregnancy announcement.

Executive producer Cox was tucked away in a tiny control room on the Parsifal during both accidents, where he was able to watch what was happening from three different camera vantage points, and hear what was happening from the walkie-talkie dialogue on deck. Cox said that he knew that the Parsifal was going to hit the dock about five seconds before it happened—when first mate Gary King began calling out the shrinking measurements between the yacht and the dock, but the boat, because of the intense wind and swell, kept hurtling toward the dock at full speed. Because of a mechanical error that short-circuited the thrusters, Captain Glenn was not able to propel the vessel in the reverse direction.

As the ship sped toward the dock, the Below Deck producer juggled a contradictory range of concerns: the fear of a captive passenger aboard an out-of-control vessel; worry for his fellow shipmates; heartbreak for Captain Glenn, who was about to bite it in front of multiple cameras; and, conversely, the shark-like instincts of a reality-TV producer keen to capture the chaotic melee in all of its gruesome glory.

“The human part of me, my heart aches for Glenn,” Cox told Vanity Fair. Still, he continued, “My job is to capture what’s actually happening—so we told our camera operators, ‘Stay on Glenn.’ We don’t push right up in his face or get in his way, but the story in the moment was that Glenn hit the dock. How was he going to rectify the situation?”

In addition to seeing the crash, viewers also witness Captain Glenn’s spirit breaking close up—as the sweet Parsifal pilot realizes, in devastatingly real time, that he has not only incurred thousands of dollars in yacht damages, but has done so with a camera trained on him.

“I probably watched this episode 15 times in various incarnations, and every time I see Glenn’s face in the immediate aftermath of hitting that dock, I still get very emotional,” said Cox. “It’s a catastrophic moment for any yacht captain when you do damage to a boat. It’s the worst possible thing. And I also know that that’s compounded by a factor of a million because there are TV cameras on you.”

Cox has produced 16 seasons’ worth of Below Deck, and called the crash “the second-most intense moment ever on the series.” (The first-most intense was a near-death accident in 2018 during which deckhand Ashton Pienaar was pulled overboard after his ankle was caught in ropes.) “As a producer, it’s amazingly compelling. But as a person onboard, it’s terrifying…. But Glenn is a consummate professional. He didn’t try to deflect or make excuses or try to tap dance his way out of it. He went quickly into crisis mode, damage mode.”

Parsifal chief stew Daisy Kelliher said that watching the crash in the episode was worse than living it, “because I was downstairs when it happened. I have never seen a boat that crashed the dock or been in a boat that crashed the dock.”

Speaking about Glenn, Kelliher said, “He was pretty upset at the time, but you quickly calm down. It was an accident, and the main thing is nobody got hurt. It’s like banging your car. You get the insurance sorted. You learn from it. And you move on.”

How quickly did the episode’s events happen in real life?

The unfolded over the course of about 72 hours, according to Cox. “The boat hits the dock, it looks terrible, and Glenn’s like, ‘Well, the guests are getting here in four hours.’… The crew did a great job at kind of compartmentalizing, and putting the dock behind us as these charter guests come on. And the story becomes about J.L.’ s anxiety about the STD, and [chef] Natasha’s anxiety about these guests having crazy demands that are emotionally taxing on the heels of a traumatic event…. It’s exhausting for them.”

What did producers make of another unprecedented plot twist: J.L.’s on-camera concerns about a potential sexually transmitted disease?

This twist surprised even Cox. “I’m a fossil who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s,” said Cox. “What was going through my head was, ‘There’s a very easy way he could have prevented this—by using some kind of protection. If you roll the dice, you kinda gotta accept what happens to you. I’m not a heartless monster TV producer. I don’t want anyone to ever suffer or go through something they have an existential crisis over. In that moment, you’re hoping that it’s at least one of the lesser STDs that is easily treated.”

When did producers discover that Dani was pregnant? (The cast member revealed her pregnancy on Instagram last month.)

“Dani brought it to our attention when we were pretty far into the postproduction process,” said Cox. “Even once Dani found out, I think she kind of wanted to sit with [the news] herself. Then she let us know and said, ‘Hey, just so you know, I’m pregnant.’ We said, ‘Okay, great.’ I left that up to her and how much information she wanted to give us. My first reaction was, ‘That’s fantastic. Congratulations.’ Because she made it clear throughout the season that she wanted a family. The rest of that is for Dani to figure out.”

“I really don’t ask Dani much about it,” added Kelliher in a separate phone call. “I’m very aware that that she probably feels like she’s explaining herself to a lot of people. So I try and respect her privacy. We’ve spoken a little about it, but I figure the less I know the better.”

Do Daisy and Natasha eventually get to a place of mutual understanding and respect?

“I didn’t mind her,” said Kelliher. “On the show it looks like we hated each other. We were very civil with each other, and would laugh and sit with each other. It wasn’t constant arguing—that only came when it was time to serve meals…. At that stage, I had kind of given up, because I had tried everything. She didn’t want my help. She didn’t want to communicate with me…. I’m asking you if you’re serving five courses, you’re telling me no. I could stand here and keep arguing, but I wasn’t going to win in this.… We have a good relationship now. I have respect for her. But that [tension] never changes.”

What is Daisy’s read on the love triangle tensions between Gary, Sydney, and Alli?

“I wish I had been there for some of the conversations [between the three of them], because I don’t think they would have escalated as much,” said Kelliher. “I do think Sydney was pretty intense. I knew she was upset and understood why she was upset. If you’re a girl, it’s embarrassing if somebody chooses someone over you…. But some of the things she said were quite mean to Ali, and I didn’t really like that. If I had been there, that wouldn’t have happened because I wouldn’t have allowed it.”

“I’ve definitely seen love triangles. I’ve been involved in love triangles. This was intense because it escalated so quickly. I didn’t really get it. I guess maybe we’re all intense people—maybe that’s why you do a TV show about yachting. But I did find the whole thing a bit weird from all sides. I was like, ‘We’ve known each other [for] like three weeks…and don’t even know each others’ last names.’ Settle down.”

Below Deck Sailing Yacht airs on Bravo at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

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Captain Glenn on What Caused Below Deck Sailing Yacht's Boat Crash: "That's Never Happened Before"

The  Below Deck Sailing Yacht  crew and producers open up about the chaos on deck and in the interior.

It was one of the most chaotic days in Below Deck history.

How to Watch

Watch Below Deck Sailing Yacht on Peacock and the Bravo app . 

During an incredibly windy day in Croatia, the  Parsifal III drifted toward the dock in the May 10 episode of Below Deck Sailing Yacht . With the bow rubbing up against the dock, the deck crew sprung into action.  Captain Glenn Shephard ultimately resolved that they needed to leave immediately. 

But after unplugging the shore power, the yacht's generators didn't start up automatically, leaving the ship with no power at all. And all of this was happening when chief engineer Colin MacRae was off the boat.  

Luckily, first mate Gary King was able to start up the generator again. And the deck team successfully pulled up the anchors that had been dragging so the Parsifal III could smoothly get moving.

When Captain Glenn assessed the damage to the bow, he was actually relieved. "It's a lot better than I was imagining," he told Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux on deck. "It ain't pretty, but it could have been way worse, man."

Unfortunately, things did get worse for the Parsifal III crew in the May 17 episode . Later while coming into port, the yacht kept moving back toward the dock as Captain Glenn tried to propel it forward. With something apparently wrong with the engine, the Parsifal III ended up crashing into the dock.

During an exclusive interview with Bravo Insider before this season of Below Deck Sailing Yacht premiered, Captain Glenn said that "a combination of things" caused the accident. "The boat didn’t react in the way it normally reacts. I was using a different maneuver mode. And there’s a computer in between the throttles and the propeller that adjusts the load on the engine," he explained. "Maybe my inputs were too much for the computer and it kind of, I don’t know, froze or didn’t react in the right way. I’m not really 100 percent sure. But I was pushing ahead and it was still moving backwards, which is not normal."

He also emphasized the complexity and rarity of the situation. "It’s complicated. But we have a kind of a malfunction. I’m responsible for whatever happens, and I ended up in a situation where I kind of lost control of the boat a little bit because it wasn’t responding in the way it normally responds," Captain Glenn said. "I’ve parked the boat, I don’t know how many times, probably over 100 times, and in more challenging situations. On this one, a couple things just went wrong. That’s never happened before."

Captain Glenn described this moment as "kind of a low point in my career." "It was caught on film. And so now everyone’s gonna see it, all my buddies are gonna see it," he said. "But yeah, those things do happen. You get maybe one or two of those in a career. And then if you keep doing that, you’re not gonna be driving boats."

Captain Glenn and the deck crew weren't the only ones feeling the intensity during the crash. "It was very, very scary," second stew Dani Soares recalled during a separate interview with Bravo Insider. "The whole boat felt it. And we were just really, really worried. We were worried about the deck crew, because they were out there trying to, you know, deal with lines and stuff like that. We were worried about Glenn, 'cause obviously he got so upset about it. And we were worried that maybe if that door didn't open, the back door of the boat after the crash, we probably wouldn't be able to continue with the season either. So [we were] worried about everything."

As Dani noted, after the crash, there was great concern that the platform door wouldn't open due to all of the damage to the transom. "It's where all the toys are. It's how the people get on and off the boat when they're swimming," Colin explained during the episode. "If we can't get this door to open, our charter season's over. Everyone can go home. We're just done."

The platform door still operated normally thanks to sheer luck, according to Captain Glenn. "The point of the transom is the perfect height to hit some big blocks of concrete and slice underneath them and just lift them up," he said during the episode. "We got a lucky break."

Waiting to find out the fate of the boat — and, in turn, the charter season — was not only nerve-racking for the crew but also for those behind the scenes, as executive producer Jill Goslicky explained to Bravo Insider. "It’s one of the most gut-wrenching things I’ve seen on the show. Every time I watch the footage, it actually makes me have a physical reaction to it that’s nauseating. It’s hard to watch," she said of the dock crash. "The first thing, A, is everyone OK? Everyone’s OK. OK, B, does the boat still operate? And for about two hours, we weren’t sure. I’m not kidding, it’s a miracle season. The winds blew in the right direction just when we needed them to, and I can’t believe we’re here posting it."

What was also surprising for production was to see the usually calm, cool, and collected Captain Glenn shouting expletives after the yacht hit the dock. That was "so telling," according to Matt Reichman, Vice President of Current Production at Bravo, who described Captain Glenn as "one of the most zen-like authority figures" in all of  Below Deck . "He’s not the parent that yells and gets mad; he’s the one that gets disappointed. And it sort of like cuts to your soul if you disappoint Glenn," he told Bravo Insider. "And you don’t see him get upset often. And you’re gonna see it this season. It resonates."

Goslicky added that Captain Glenn's reaction exemplifies how he approaches problems on board. "It’s like, this is what he cares about," Goslicky said. "This is why he doesn’t sweat the small stuff; he’s saving it for the big stuff."

Captain Glenn told Bravo Insider that he felt like the severity of the situation warranted that kind of reaction. "Hitting the dock like that can end the season. People can get injured. It’s big ramifications. It was something that was completely unexpected. And yeah, of course it’s really bad. And at the moment that I’m reacting I don’t know how bad it is because I’m at least 30 meters, like 100 feet, away from that transom, and I can’t see it. You know, I’m relying on people telling me distances and stuff. So when we hit, I feel it, but I don’t know how bad it is," he said. "So I’m reacting, and yeah, I’m quite upset. I’m a sailor, and I swear sometimes. I lose my composure if something really serious happens. And that was pretty serious."

Anybody in his shoes probably would have responded the same way, according to Captain Glenn. "I mean, if you smashed your car against a wall and did serious damage to your car, you’d probably be quite upset, too," he said. "People, I think, will be able to relate to it. I try not to get like that, but occasionally things get the better of me."

Captain Glenn said that he is just glad that they were able to continue on with the charter season with relatively little damage. "Look, it could have been a lot worse than it was," he shared. "Could easily have been a lot worse than it was."

Want more Below Deck Sailing Yacht ? New episodes air every Monday at 9/8c or catch up on the Bravo app .

• Colin MacRae
• Dani Soares
• Glenn Shephard
• Jean-Luc Cerza-Lanaux

Below Deck Sailing Yacht

• Bravo Insider

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New video shows moment tour boats crashed near PortMiami, injuring 13 people

The video shows the boat moving through the water when a second boat comes from the side and crashes into it, by lorena inclán and nbc6 • published february 27, 2024 • updated on february 27, 2024 at 8:37 pm.

New video captured the moments two charter boats crashed near PortMiami earlier this month, in a collision that left 13 people injured.

The video was released late Monday by a personal injury law firm in Miami that told NBC6 they are planning a lawsuit against both companies involved.

📺 24/7 South Florida news stream: Watch NBC6 free wherever you are

The firm, Mausner Graham Injury Law , is representing several of the victims in the crash which sent at least two people to the hospital. Their goal is to receive compensation for some of the passengers involved.

A spokesperson for the firm also told NBC6 that the case highlights the need for wearing life jackets and using engine cut-off switches.

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The firm's clients were visiting Miami from New York when they decided to enjoy a day on the water so they hopped on a speedboat at Bayside.

The video is from a person who was on one of two tour boats on the water around Fisherman’s Channel back on February 11th.

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The video shows the boat moving through the water when a second boat comes from the side and crashes into it.

Officials with the U.S. Coast guard told NBC6 the collision involved the "Obelix” and the "Thriller,” which are both charter boats.

A USCG spokesperson said the “Obelix” was operating illegally.

The owner of that charter previously told NBC6 that no one on his boat was injured, but he didn’t want to comment further.

The person who took the video was on the "Thriller." The attorneys said their clients suffered fractured bones, one lost consciousness, and another suffered a traumatic brain injury.

"Both boats in this instance just were not safe, they failed to maintain a lookout, they failed to avoid a collision, they sped and you can see on this video that our client was lucky enough to take there was an extremely gruesome collision that had safety been followed it was utterly preventable," attorney Thomas Graham said.

The cause of the crash is still being investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This article tagged under:

• St. Petersburg

Parents of St. Petersburg boy killed in boat crash sue parents of teen driver

• Jack Prator Times staff

The family of a 15-year-old St. Petersburg boy killed in a boating crash earlier this year is suing the parents of the teen who was piloting the boat, claiming they let him drive unsupervised while he was drinking alcohol.

The suit also says the boat was moving near its maximum speed of about 43 mph. The teen driver told bystanders who helped him out of the water that he was looking at his phone at the time of the crash, trying to change the music playing over the boat’s speakers, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit stems from an incident that occurred on March 3, when first responders received a 911 call at 5:43 p.m. reporting that a boat had struck a dock near 4039 Bayshore Blvd. NE in Shore Acres and a passenger was missing in the water.

Christian Tharakan, then 15, was driving the boat when he crashed into a dock. The crash ejected him and a friend, Collin Moorefield, from the vessel, authorities said.

Tharakan was recovered from the water first. A neighbor who put on a pair of goggles and jumped in the water found Moorefield, also 15, at the water’s bottom near the end of a dock.

Moorefield was unresponsive and given life-saving measures before first responders took him to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced the next day that he had died in the hospital from his injuries.

Tharakan suffered a “long, but minor” cut across the right side of his torso, according to a report from the St. Petersburg Police Department.

When the boat struck the dock it was still under throttle, police said.

The 18-foot Key West, equipped with a 115-horsepower outboard engine, was skirting closely past dozens of docks protruding from the shore along Venetian Isles, the lawsuit alleges.

“Distracted and inhibited by alcohol, C.T. drove the Key West south, narrowly missing a dock before forcefully and violently striking the next dock,” the lawsuit states.

After it struck the dock, the boat came to a stop four houses down. Video surveillance showed the boat struck support posts for the dock and ricocheted off a homeowner’s boat that was hoisted on a lift, police said.

A bystander turned off the motor and tied up the boat, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue.

Moorefield’s mother, Breck Moorefield, filed the lawsuit Aug. 12, alleging that Tharakan’s parents bought the boat for their son so that he could take friends out on the water “alone, without adequate experience, adult supervision and/or a lookout.”

The lawsuit also said Tharakan’s parents were throwing a “family get-together” on the day of the crash. It states that the boys had access to alcohol and Tharakan’s parents didn’t make sure their son hadn’t taken alcohol with them on the boat.

The suit seeks more than $50,000 under the Florida Wrongful Death Act, which compensates survivors and victims’ families for the loss of companionship, mental pain and suffering and funeral expenses, according to state law.

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In response, Tharakan’s parents filed a complaint in federal court arguing they’re not liable for the crash. If they are found liable, the Tharakans have asked the judge to rule that damages be limited to the value of the boat: about $52,000, according to the complaint.

The Key West was “properly and efficiently manned” at the time of the crash, the federal complaint states.

Lawyers listed for Anjan and Katherine Tharakan did not respond to calls this week from a Tampa Bay Times reporter.

A spokesperson for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said the agency’s investigation of the crash is still active.

Moorefield was in 8th grade at The Canterbury School of Florida, which is working with his family to establish a memorial for him. Moorefield was a multi-sport athlete who also had a love of music, according to his obituary.

“When he wasn’t on the field, he was fishing with friends and loved preparing his catch with recipes inspired by his big brother and cousins from Atlanta,” the obituary reads.

Ian Leavengood, the Moorfield family’s lawyer, said his clients are still grieving.

“They’re dealing with a tragic loss, and I think some degree of accountability and something good to come from this tragedy are two important things in their hearts,” he said.

Times staffer Tony Marrero contributed to this report.

Jack Prator is a reporter covering breaking news and environment. Reach him at [email protected].

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Duck boat rescues baby boy who fell into Charles River, dad who jumped in after him

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A Boston Duck Tours boat rescued a baby boy who fell into the Charles River in Cambridge and his father who jumped into the water to save him on Monday morning, officials said.

Troopers responding to a report of a child under the age of 2 in the river near the rear of Royal Sonesta Hotel around 9:30 a.m. learned the boy had fallen into the water after squeezing through a railing, according to Massachusetts State Police.

The boy’s father subsequently jumped into the river and secured him. They were then taken aboard a passing Duck Boat in the area of 40 Land Boulevard and dropped off at a nearby dock.

Mike Rosario, one of two Duck Tour operators on the boat, is credited with rescuing the baby and his father. Rosario and Kevin O’Neill were on a training run when they spotted the two in the water.

“Like if a child decides to lean over and God forbid they fall in, we have to jump into action right away,” said Rosario, who is known to patrons as Big Mike. “So we train for this all the time.”

Because it was a training run, only the two were aboard the Olga Ironsides for the safety drill. And then, suddenly, it wasn’t a drill at all.

“I was doing my loop and when I turned back around Kevin noticed a group of people waving to us,” Rosario said. “And then he noticed a man in the water and that’s when we realized somebody fell in.”

Rosario said the Dad was clinging to both the retaining wall and the child.

“So there’s like little slots in the rocks,” said Rosario. “So Dad was holding on there while he was holding the child.”

Captain Big Mike Rosario (Captain Big Mike Rosario, Boston Duck Tours)

Duck boat rescue protocol actually calls for the vessel to initially move away from the person in the water, so as not to hurt them. Then a life-preserver ring is tossed over to help keep the person afloat. Finally, the duck boat is maneuvered into place to effect the rescue.

O’Neill manned the back of the duck boat, as Rosario gently backed it into a position a safe distance away from the Dad and son. Once in place, O’Neill lowered the ladder.

“And then I just walked down a few steps into the water,” he said -- close enough to take the baby from his Dad’s arm and bring him aboard.

“I was thinking, just hold on to this kid and totally concentrate on just getting him up on the duck boat safe,” O’Neill said. “And I was also saying, you’re okay, you’re okay. I don’t have any kids of my own and I’m not very good with babies, but because of the adrenaline I wasn’t thinking about any of that.”

The boy and his father were evaluated by EMS on shore after being pulled from the water. The boy was then taken to a local hospital as a precaution.

“He just said thank you, thank you so much,” O’Neill said. “And he was effusively thankful. We just said, of course. We’re so glad that you guys are okay.”

Video from the scene showed an Orange Duck Boat near a dock, as well as a state police cruiser and ambulances parked along the shore.

“So I looked over with my camera and I was able to zoom in and see there was actually a child in the water, a baby,” Demasi said. “And the father jumped in right afterwards.”

Photos shared with Boston 25 News showed first responders lowering a life preserver ring down to the father and his child.

NEW IMAGES: A man and baby were rescued from the Charles River this morning by first responders and a @BostonDuckTours boat. These pictures were captured by photographer Dominic Demasi who was across the river at the time. @boston25 pic.twitter.com/2qbvpJRuvZ — Ryan Breslin (@ryanjbreslin) August 19, 2024

A witness who didn’t want to appear on camera told Boston 25 News that the baby was likely between 11 and 15 months of age.

Local photographer Dominic Demasi said he heard screaming followed by people rushing over.

“Initially I thought it was a dog. I took my camera, I looked closer, and there happened to be a baby in the water, actually. The father jumped right in. He was swimming with the baby for five or 10 minutes. They then called a Duck Boat over,” Demasi recalled. “Everything happened so quickly. Everyone seemed to be safe, but it was scary.”

Charles River rescue (Dominic Demasi)

Demasi added that it was fortunate the water wasn’t cold when the baby plunged into the river.

“They come out of the Charles right here and they do their tours. So, they just happened to be in the area at the right time I guess. Right place, right time,” Demasi said. “It definitely scared me. I could hear them screaming...It’s good it wasn’t a long time. It wasn’t cold out.”

Both the child and father are okay, according to a Cambridge Fire Department spokesperson. Just a bit shaken up.

As for Rosario and O’Neill, by afternoon they were back aboard the Olga Ironsides, a full contingent of passengers in back after a day they won’t soon forget.

“Both are valued employees, even before this rescue,” said Cindy Brown, Boston Duck Tours CEO. “Mike and Kevin have been outstanding team members at Boston Duck Tours for many years. I’m thankful that the training they have received, along with very lucky timing, put them in a position to help save this father and child. I could not be prouder of their quick thinking and smart actions.”

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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The biggest superyacht disasters in 2022

Related articles, superyacht directory.

From devastating fires to shocking sinkings, BOAT rounds up the worst superyacht disasters from 2022...

49m superyacht 007 runs aground in Greece

In the early hours September 3, the 49 metre yacht 007 struck rocks in a small bay on the island of Kythnos, in the Cyclades island chain in Greece. She quickly began taking on water and listed steeply on her port side, jutting out above the waterline around 15 metres from the beach. Pollution prevention measures were put in place within 24 hours, but the yacht remains in the same position as of December 2022, prompting complaints from local residents.

39m superyacht My Saga sinks in Italy

One of the most dramatic yacht disasters of 2022 came when 39 metre My Saga sunk in the Ionian Sea off the coast of southern Italy. She was being towed when the incident took place, after sending out a distress signal in the early hours of the morning to report that she was taking on water. It’s still not clear how the incident occurred, but a representative from a local marina told BOAT International that the seafloor in this region is too deep for the yacht be salvageable. You can watch the moment My Saga sunk below.

59m yacht Idol collides with bridge in Italy

A less dramatic incident saw the 58.9 metre motor yacht Idol collide with a bridge in Pisa, Italy. The bridge typically has an elevation of 11.8 metres above sea level during low tide, but according to eyewitness reports, the yacht attempted to pass during high tide. Minimal damage was sustained.

49m Eleonora E sinks in Spain following collision

In June, the 49 metre Eleonora E sunk after being hit by an offshore supply vessel while she was stationary in the marina. Footage shows the offshore vessel hitting the yacht squarely on its starboard side, after apparently running into mechanical difficulties. Eleonora E remained in the port for several months, before a three-week salvage operation raised her from the seafloor and hauled her away for repairs.

45 metre motor yacht Domani flounders off Washington Coast

Around 45 miles from the coast of Washington, the 45 metre Benetti yacht Domani ran into difficulty. The US Coast Guard reported the yacht’s crew had been unable to close the transom door, resulting in flooding of the beach club that left her disabled and floundering. Emergency services were quick to respond, and the yacht was towed to nearby Port Angeles for repairs.

Brand new 45m superyacht Aria SF goes up in flames in Ibiza

Fresh from delivery from Italian yard ISA, the 45 metre Aria SF caught fire in a busy anchorage in Formentera, Ibiza. Eyewitness accounts reported smoke originating from the area around her main saloon, and within minutes the yacht’s superstructure was engulfed in flames. She was towed away from other yachts to prevent damage, and sunk close to Cap Martinet, in Ibiza. Local news have been reporting on the ongoing efforts to remove the yacht’s hull from its current resting place.

Yacht damaged by Coast Guard in alleged drug smuggling operation

In July, shocking images showed the result of a clash between a 27 metre superyacht named Belgor and a Coast Guard patrol vessel in Turkey. The incident is alleged to be part of a drug smuggling operation, with the Coast Guard attempting to investigate reports indicating the presence of drugs on board the yacht in Muğla, close to Bodrum. The yacht then attempted to leave the waters of Turkey and the Coast Guard pursued, before finally opening fire and ramming the yacht.

25m motor yacht sinks off Chub Cay in the Bahamas

A 25 metre motor yacht, believed to be a popular Ferretti Yachts 830 model, was spotted submerged off the coast of Chub Cay in the Bahamas. The yacht reportedly hit a shallow reef and sank quickly, in an incident that bore some similarities to the sinking of another 25 metre motor yacht in April 2021.

Fire destroys 27m Sanlorenzo superyacht in Valencia

In April, a fire destroyed a 27 metre Sanlorenzo SX88 model named Pesa in the Port de Valencia, on Spain’s eastern coast. Six separate fire crews were called to tackle the blaze and it was eventually distinguished — however it’s understood the yacht is a total loss. After 12 hours of burning, the yacht sunk in the port.

Yacht damaged in fire at the Ferretti shipyard in Cattolica

At the start of the year, a fire at one of Ferretti Group’s Cattolica shipyard caused significant damage to a motor yacht under construction. No-one was injured thanks to the “immediate implementation of safety procedures” and the cause of the fire is subject to an investigation.

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