News Articles
The world of luxury yachting was shaken when news broke out that the prestigious 26.9-meter Leopard motor yacht, Principessa Matera, has been destroyed by an indefatigable blaze off the coast of Capo Noli in Italy. Alarms were raised promptly at 2.00 pm on the 6th of November, with authorities intervening and successfully evacuating the three souls on board – a heartening tale in a saga of loss.
Photos released by Italy’s fire and rescue service, the Vigili del Fuoco team, reveal the heart-wrenching extent of the damage. Principessa Matera, once a shining symbol of aquatic luxury, was burnt down to the waterline. Thick plumes of dark smoke bellowed into the air, casting a shadowy veil visible for miles.
Unpredictable weather caused a dramatic upheaval at the Transat Café L’OR as three Ocean Fifty trimarans met an untimely fate, capsizing in tempestuous seas. The notable vessels included the ‘Lazare X Hellio’, ‘Ocean Fifty Koesio’, and ‘Ocean Fifty Inter Invest’. Despite this misfortune, every sailor on board these vessels found safety.
The ‘Lazare X Hellio’, with skippers Erwan Le Draoulec and Tanguy Le Turquais, was the first craft to capsize off La Hague, situated north of Cotentin. The pair were quickly airlifted to safety, leaving the technical team and race organizers to contend with the subverted yacht in 22 to 25-knot winds and three-meter waves.