Read the Latest on Page Six

latest in US News

How Andrew Breitbart and "Weinergate" changed American media

How Andrew Breitbart and "Weinergate" changed American media

Druggies take over NJ park after costly renovations — but one homeless man is fighting back

Druggies take over NJ park after costly renovations — but one...

What happens in Disney stays in Disney: NYC educrats took own kids to Magic Kingdom on trips meant for homeless students

NYC educrats took own kids to Disney World on trips meant for...

NC Waffle House employee shot dead by hangry customer: police

Waffle House employee shot dead by hangry customer: police

10 LA schools could stop standardized tests after board president calls testing industry 'repugnant’

School district could stop standardized tests after board...

Mass. State Police recruit who suffered medical emergency during training exercise weeks before graduation sworn in as trooper on deathbed

Police recruit who suffered medical emergency during training...

Bill Gates forecasts another global pandemic 'likely' within next 25 years in ominous health warning

Bill Gates forecasts another global pandemic 'likely' within next...

Iowa residents plagued by nasty pink tap water: 'Like you are drinking straight pennies'

Residents plagued by nasty pink tap water: 'Like you are drinking...

Dramatic video captures the moment superyacht sinks off italian coast.

Dramatic footage has emerged of the moment a 130-foot superyacht capsized off the Italian coast over the weekend, sinking stern-first into the water.

The video, released by the coast guard, showed the yacht named My Saga struggling against the waves before sinking near the Catanzaro Marina on Saturday.

Video shows the boat listing to one side before sinking.

Officials confirmed that nine people were rescued from the sinking vessel.

The cause of the incident is under investigation.

Designed by naval architect Tim Heywood , My Saga was built in Italy in 2007. At the time of the incident, the boat was en route from Gallipoli to Milazzo under a Cayman Islands flag.

yacht saga sinking

Advertisement

UK Edition Change

  • UK Politics
  • News Videos
  • Paris 2024 Olympics
  • Rugby Union
  • Sport Videos
  • John Rentoul
  • Mary Dejevsky
  • Andrew Grice
  • Sean O’Grady
  • Photography
  • Theatre & Dance
  • Culture Videos
  • Fitness & Wellbeing
  • Food & Drink
  • Health & Families
  • Royal Family
  • Electric Vehicles
  • Car Insurance Deals
  • Lifestyle Videos
  • Hotel Reviews
  • News & Advice
  • Simon Calder
  • Australia & New Zealand
  • South America
  • C. America & Caribbean
  • Middle East
  • Politics Explained
  • News Analysis
  • Today’s Edition
  • Home & Garden
  • Broadband deals
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Travel & Outdoors
  • Sports & Fitness
  • Climate 100
  • Sustainable Living
  • Climate Videos
  • Solar Panels
  • Behind The Headlines
  • On The Ground
  • Decomplicated
  • You Ask The Questions
  • Binge Watch
  • Travel Smart
  • Watch on your TV
  • Crosswords & Puzzles
  • Most Commented
  • Newsletters
  • Ask Me Anything
  • Virtual Events
  • Wine Offers
  • Betting Sites

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Dramatic video shows 130ft superyacht sinking off Italy coast after being battered in storm

Nine people rescued before boat went under, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Breaking News

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails

Sign up to our free breaking news emails, thanks for signing up to the breaking news email.

Dramatic footage has captured the moment a 40-metre superyacht sank into the Mediterranean sea after being battered in a storm.

The 40-metre-long luxury vessel was sailing from Gallipoli to Milazzo overnight on Saturday when it got into trouble around 15km from Italy’s Catanzaro Marina.

Footage shows the yacht, named My Saga, rapidly disappearing beneath waves, as lifeboats appear to float beside it.

The captain sent out a distress call to the Port Authority of Crotone, with officials told the yacht was taking on a significant amount of water from the stern.

The Italian coastguard dispatched two patrol vessels and rescued all four passengers and five crew members on board.

A tugboat sent out at dawn was unable to save the superyacht from sinking because of worsening weather conditions, the Super Yacht Times reports. The Saga finally sank at around 1pm on Sunday.

The outlet reports the yacht, which was built in Monaco back in 2007, was flying under the Cayman Islands flag with an all-Italian crew when it sunk.

An investigation has been launched into the cause.

The yacht named My Saga sank on Saturday

It comes after a £6 million superyacht sunk after it went up in flames in the UK on the Torquay harbourside.

The 85ft vessel was consumed by fire , with thick black smoking billowing into the sky.

Seized Russian superyacht to be sold at first auction of Ukraine war

The yacht reportedly drifted out into the harbour after the fire burnt through ropes securing it to the pier, but the vessel was later secured by the fire service.

A fire service statement revealed that the vessel contained approximately 8000 litres of diesel fuel.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

  • My Independent Premium
  • Account details
  • Help centre
  • Search Please fill out this field.
  • Manage Your Subscription
  • Give a Gift Subscription
  • Newsletters
  • Sweepstakes

yacht saga sinking

WATCH: Superyacht Capsizes and Sinks Off the Coast of Southern Italy in Shocking Video

It is unknown what caused the 40-meter-long vessel called "My Saga" to go under

Natalia Senanayake is an Editorial Assistant, Lifestyle at PEOPLE. She covers all things travel and home, from celebrities' luxury mansions to breaking travel news.

yacht saga sinking

A 40-meter-long (131-foot) superyacht capsized nine miles off the coast of Catanzaro, Italy on Saturday.

Shocking footage released by the Italian coast guard shows the vessel, named My Saga, sinking stern-first near the Catanzaro Marina.

According to the BBC , "the Italian coast guard rescued all nine people on board – four passengers and five crew. The outlet reported the ship was heading from Gallipoli to Milazzo.

An investigation of the incident is ongoing and it is still unclear what caused the yacht to sink.

In the video tweeted by the Italian coast guard, the yacht is seen floating on its side amid rough waters before its rear starts dipping into the Ionian Sea.

The footage cuts to the vessel then halfway submerged in the water before it quickly vanishes beneath the surface.

Along with the video, the coast guard wrote a caption. Translated from Italian it reads, "In recent days, the #GuardiaCostiera of #Crotone coordinated rescue operations for passengers and crew of a 40m yacht, which sank 9 miles off the coast of #CatanzaroMarina. Administrative investigation was launched to identify the causes."

My Saga was designed by Tim Heywood and Jean-Marc Achy. It was equipped "with a teak deck, a steel hull, and aluminum superstructure," according to the London-based luxury lifestyle publisher, BOAT International .

The superyacht boasted six cabins that could accommodate up to 12 guests and eight crew members.

Related Articles

Boat logo

The global authority in superyachting

  • NEWSLETTERS
  • Yachts Home
  • The Superyacht Directory
  • Yacht Reports
  • Brokerage News
  • The largest yachts in the world
  • The Register
  • Yacht Advice
  • Yacht Design
  • 12m to 24m yachts
  • Monaco Yacht Show
  • Builder Directory
  • Designer Directory
  • Interior Design Directory
  • Naval Architect Directory
  • Yachts for sale home
  • Motor yachts
  • Sailing yachts
  • Explorer yachts
  • Classic yachts
  • Sale Broker Directory
  • Charter Home
  • Yachts for Charter
  • Charter Destinations
  • Charter Broker Directory
  • Destinations Home
  • Mediterranean
  • South Pacific
  • Rest of the World
  • Boat Life Home
  • Owners' Experiences
  • Conservation and Philanthropy
  • Interiors Suppliers
  • Owners' Club
  • Captains' Club
  • BOAT Showcase
  • Boat Presents
  • Events Home
  • World Superyacht Awards
  • Superyacht Design Festival
  • Design and Innovation Awards
  • Young Designer of the Year Award
  • Artistry and Craft Awards
  • Explorer Yachts Summit
  • Ocean Talks
  • The Ocean Awards
  • BOAT Connect
  • Between the bays
  • Golf Invitational
  • BOATPro Home
  • Superyacht Insight
  • Global Order Book
  • Premium Content
  • Product Features
  • Testimonials
  • Pricing Plan
  • Tenders & Equipment

my saga sinking

Watch: 39m superyacht My Saga sinks in Italy

The 39.4 metre yacht My Saga has sunk in southern Italy, around eight nautical miles from Catanzaro Marina in the Gulf of Squillace.

The sinking comes after the crew reported taking on water via the stern in the early hours of August 20. The crew was evacuated and a tug was in the process of towing My Saga to shore when she sunk at around 1pm local time.

All crew members were rescued from the vessel with no injuries reported.

A statement issued by the Italian Coast Guard noted that worsening weather conditions made it challenging for the tug boat to bring her to port.

Video footage circulating on social media indicates a heavy starboard list before the yacht finally foundered stern-first.

Water depth in the area is around 200 metres.

It is understood the yacht was attempting to travel between Gallipoli in western Turkey to Milazzo on the northern coast of Sicily when the incident took place.

A Romanian patrol boat intervened on behalf of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency and a second patrol boat from the nearby Italian city of Crotone both stepped in to rescue the crew and attempt the tow the yacht to safety.

Built by commercial shipyard Cantieri San Marco, My Saga was delivered as Yuko in 2007. The La Spezia-based yard no longer exists, and several hulls were inherited by Monaco Yachting and Technologies. The yacht was designed by renowned designer Tim Heywood . 

An investigation is pending.

Sign up to BOAT Briefing email

Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday

By signing up for BOAT newsletters, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy .

More about this yacht

More stories, most popular, from our partners, sponsored listings.

  • Updated Terms of Use
  • New Privacy Policy
  • Your Privacy Choices
  • Closed Caption Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2024 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Market data provided by Factset . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions . Legal Statement . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper .

Superyacht sinking off Italian coast caught on video

Italian coast guard rescued 4 passengers and 5 crew members from my saga superyacht.

Superyacht sinking off Italian coast caught on video

The Italian Coast Guard captured the moment a 130-foot superyacht sank into the Mediterranean Sea

Footage captured the moment disaster struck off the Italian coast.

The Italian Coast Guard released videos of 130-foot superyacht My Saga sinking into the Mediterranean Sea.

The yacht was cruising from Gallipoli to Milazzo when it began taking on water at the stern Saturday evening.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO TRAVELED ON GAS-GUZZLING PRIVATE JETS, YACHTS WHILE FUNDING CLIMATE NUISANCE LAWSUITS

superyacht sinks off italian coast

The yacht is shown listing heavily to starboard. (Italian Coast Guard)

After receiving a distress call, the Coast Guard dispatched two patrol vessels to rescue the nine people on board, and a tugboat to tow the vessel back to port in Crotone.

BREACHING WHALE JUMPS OUT OF OCEAN AND LANDS ON TOP OF A MASSACHUSETTS FISHING BOAT

During the rescue operation, the vessel was partly submerged and listed to starboard — nine miles off the coast of Catanzaro Marina. 

Footage captured what happened next as the vessel’s bow went up into the air. Rescuers forfeited the operation and the steel-hulled yacht rapidly disappeared beneath the waves stern-first.

My Saga superyacht sinks off italian coast

The yacht lists heavily to starboard before submerging underwater. (Italian Coast Guard)

The Italian Coast Guard reported that harsh weather and sea conditions, in addition to the increasing incline of the vessel on its starboard, made retrieving My Saga "impractical."

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

superyacht sinks off italian coast

The yacht rapidly sank underwater stern-first. (Italian Coast Guard)

My Saga was the first yacht of its caliber that Monaco Yachting and Technologies had built by 2007. The yacht was purchased by an undisclosed owner in 2022, according to SuperYacht Times.

The Italian Coast Guard has launched an "administrative investigation" to identify the cause of the incident, according to a translation of the Coast Guard’s Facebook post.

Rachel Paik is a Fox News Digital Production Assistant.

Antisemitism Exposed

Antisemitism Exposed

Fox News' Antisemitism Exposed" newsletter brings you stories on the rising anti-Jewish prejudice across the U.S. and the world."

By entering your email and clicking the Subscribe button, you agree to the Fox News Privacy Policy and Terms of Use , and agree to receive content and promotional communications from Fox News. You understand that you can opt-out at any time.

You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter!

clock This article was published more than  2 years ago

Video captures 130-foot superyacht sinking off southern coast of Italy

A superyacht sank off the southern coast of Italy over the weekend of Aug. 20 in a spectacular capsizing captured on video and shared on Twitter by the Italian coast guard.

The video compilation shows the My Saga , a roughly 130-foot boat, struggling against the waves before slowly sinking into the water.

The yacht was sailing from the town of Gallipoli to Milazzo, Sicily, on Aug. 20, local news outlets reported, when it began to take on water and eventually sank some hours later about nine nautical miles off the port of Catanzaro.

All crew members and passengers were rescued and uninjured, the coast guard said on Twitter. It said it launched an investigation to determine what happened.

Nei giorni scorsi, la #GuardiaCostiera di #Crotone ha coordinato operazioni di salvataggio di passeggeri ed equipaggio di uno yacht di 40m, affondato a 9 miglia al largo di #CatanzaroMarina . Avviata inchiesta amministrativa per individuarne le cause. #SAR #AlServizioDegliAltri pic.twitter.com/kezuiivqsM — Guardia Costiera (@guardiacostiera) August 22, 2022

The My Saga first reported a problem on Aug. 20 after setting sail from Gallipoli , on Italy’s southeastern peninsula, according to the country’s National Associated Press Agency (ANSA). Patrol boats from the Italian coast guard in Crotone and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) were dispatched to the scene.

They found the ship taking on water from its stern. Five people — four passengers and a member of the crew — were initially rescued on a Romanian patrol boat acting on behalf of Frontex. They were then transferred to the coast guard boat and taken to Catanzaro.

According to an Italian official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss details of an ongoing investigation, the My Saga flew a Cayman Islands flag and was owned by a Danish company. The group on board when the boat took on water included six Italian nationals, two Danish citizens and a South African national, the person said.

The owner contracted a towing company to attempt to rescue the ship, according to the official. A tugboat, the Alessandro Second, arrived and took the four remaining crew members — including the captain — onboard before beginning to tow the ship toward Crotone. But bad weather made the process difficult, as did the position of the yacht, which was tilted into the water.

Eventually, the tugboat abandoned the yacht, and it sank into the Gulf of Squillace. The coast guard took the remaining crew members to Catanzaro.

It’s not the first time a sinking yacht has captured attention on the internet. In May, rapper Cardi B posted footage on social media of a yacht sinking near her hotel while she was on vacation in an unknown location. The artist could be heard screaming as she asked whether there wasn’t a “big boat that could save it.” Eventually, she said “bye-bye” as it disappeared into the water. She later clarified that no one was onboard .

I can’t believe I’m actually watching a yacht sink pic.twitter.com/dLL3ZJJv9R — Cardi B (@iamcardib) May 28, 2022

The same month, passersby watched as another multimillion-dollar yacht, the Rendezvous, sank in Torquay Harbor, a marina in southwestern England, after a fire broke out onboard. Authorities warned of potential air and water pollution because the yacht carried about nine metric tons of diesel.

And earlier this month, the 145-foot Aria SF caught fire off the Balearic island of Formentera in Spain in an incident that was also captured on camera and shared widely on social media. Those onboard were evacuated, and no one was hurt, the Guardian reported . The roughly $23 million yacht had reportedly just been delivered to its owner.

Chico Harlan contributed to this report.

yacht saga sinking

News | World

Dramatic video shows superyacht sinking off Italian coast

Dramatic footage shows the moment a superyacht sank 17km off the coast of Italy - sparking the rescue of passengers and crew.

The luxury craft - belived to be Italian-built yacht My Saga - can be seen disappearing into the sea off Cantanzaro, the capital of the Calabria region, in the incident on Saturday.

Footage shows it quickly vanishing beneath the waves, leaving behind what appear to be lifeboats floating on the surface.

Four passengers and five crew were rescued, The National reports.

Local media reported they had been sailing from Gallipoli to Milazzo when the yacht sank nine nautical miles - about 17km - offshore.

Italian coastguard the Guardia Costiera wrote on Twitter on Monday [in Italian, translated to English]: “In recent days, the Guardia Costiera of Crotone coordinated the rescue operations of passengers and crew of a 40m yacht, which sank 9 miles offshore of Catanzaro Marina. Administrative investigation launched to identify the causes.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in

SuperyachtNews

By SuperyachtNews 22 Aug 2022

39m superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy

All crew members have been rescued without serious injury…….

Image for article 39m superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy

Image credit: @SteveNorrisTV/ Twitter

The 39m motor yacht My Saga has sunk off the coast of Italy after it began taking on water at the stern. The local press reported that the yacht officially sunk at 13.00 on the 20th of August in The Gulf of Squillace, roughly nine nautical miles off the coast of Catanzaro.

Reports have suggested that the vessel was cruising from Gallipoli to Milazzo with an all-Italian crew. The Port Authority of Crotone received a message from the yacht the night before which revealed they were taking on water at the stern. 

Two patrol boats were subsequently sent out and the full crew were rescued without any injuries.

A tugboat attempted to bring the vessel back to shore, but unfortunately, weather conditions worsened throughout the day and the vessel ended up taking on too much water.

Join the discussion

To post comments please Sign in or Register

When commenting please follow our house rules

User photo

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here .

Related news

Image for New 44m superyacht catches fire in Formentera

New 44m superyacht catches fire in Formentera

The new ISA superyacht Aria SF, which was delivered just last month, was expected to make its debut at Cannes Yacht Show

Image for Another week, another fire

Another week, another fire

Instead of searching for specific factors to blame, the time is right to reflect on safety across the industry

Image for Ferretti Group publishes H1 2022 financial report

Ferretti Group publishes H1 2022 financial report

Double-digit revenue growth and €1.2 billion order book backlog reported

Image for Fire causes 33m superyacht to sink in Ibiza

Fire causes 33m superyacht to sink in Ibiza

It has been reported that the fire began in the engine room, fortunately, no injuries have been reported

Image for Azimut launches Grande 36M

Azimut launches Grande 36M

Azimut introduces a new layout with a semi-walkaround upper deck that runs from stern to bow

2 years ago

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

Receive unrivalled market intelligence, weekly headlines and the most relevant and insightful journalism directly to your inbox.

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

The superyachtnews app.

yacht saga sinking

Follow us on

Media Pack Request

Please select exactly what you would like to receive from us by ticking the boxes below:

SuperyachtNews.com

yacht saga sinking

Register to comment

MORE SECTIONS

  • Dear Deidre

MORE FROM THE SUN

  • Newsletters
  • Deliver my newspaper
  • Sun Vouchers
  • The Sun Digital Newspaper
  • Racing Members Enclosure
  • Fabulous Clothing

yacht saga sinking

Watch moment 140ft superyacht My Saga sinks off coast of Italy as nine people rescued from vessel battered by storm

  • Aliki Kraterou
  • Published : 8:49, 23 Aug 2022
  • Updated : 7:37, 24 Aug 2022
  • Published : Invalid Date,

THIS is the dramatic moment the 140ft superyacht My Saga sinks off the coast of Italy after it was battered by a storm.

Nine people were rescued from the submerging vessel on Saturday as it sunk in the Gulf of Squillace, off the coast of Catanzaro.

The superyacht fully sank after it was battered by a storm

Dramatic footage shows the superyacht on the water for a few moments before it completely sinks stern-first.

An investigation to determine what caused the vessel to sink has been launched.

According to the Super Yacht Times , My Saga was travelling from Gallipoli, Turkey to Milazzo in Italy under a Cayman Islands flag.

Four passengers and five crew were all rescued before it sunk.

READ MORE ON WORLD NEWS

yacht saga sinking

At least 15 dead including child as truck topples off 650ft CLIFF in Peru

yacht saga sinking

Finnish ‘party’ PM reveals drugs test result after viral twerking & grinding vids

The outlet reports that on Saturday the Port Authority of Crotone received a message from the yacht saying they were taking on water at the stern.

Two patrol vessels rushed to the location and rescued five people while the captain and the rest of the crew remained onboard.

Even though a tugboat arrived at the scene to help and rescue the remaining staff, the worsening weather conditions made it impossible to lead the vessel to safety.

The luxury superyacht was built in Italy in 2007 under the name Yuko.

Most read in The Sun

There’s no fool like an old fool and this describes Eamonn Holmes perfectly

There’s no fool like an old fool and this describes Eamonn Holmes perfectly

Labour are out of minds if they think they can grow economy without Mullins

Labour are out of minds if they think they can grow economy without Mullins

Girl caught up in Trippier's marriage riddle revealed as call centre worker

Girl caught up in Trippier's marriage riddle revealed as call centre worker

Major update in Eamonn & Ruth split as she hires fierce divorce lawyer

Major update in Eamonn & Ruth split as she hires fierce divorce lawyer

The vessel, which could reach speeds of 12.5 knots, could accommodate up to 12 guests in six staterooms and eight crew members.

The ship was designed by Tim Heywood while the interior was designed by Jean-Marc Achy.

Back in June, a £6million luxury yacht sank after it was rammed by a runaway tugboat in a Spanish harbour.

Read More on The Sun

yacht saga sinking

I moved into a van because rent was expensive… people are shocked by the inside

yacht saga sinking

I'm a savings queen - easy trick I use to budget and how you can too

The huge supply vessel was filmed crashing into a replica 1910 schooner, which was docked in the Marina Port Tarraco of Tarragona.

And a 85ft boat was seen sinking in Torquay Harbour after it was engulfed in flames.

My Saga was travelling from Gallipoli, Turkey to Milazzo in Italy under a Cayman Islands flag

Dramatic video captures the moment a massive 40-meter superyacht sank off the coast of Italy

  • A superyacht sunk off the coast of Southern Italy over the weekend.
  • Video of the boat's demise showed the ship sinking stern-first with its bow straight in the air.
  • The Italian Coast Guard rescued nine people from the ship before it submerged.

Insider Today

A superyacht measuring nearly 130 feet sunk off the coast of southern Italy on Saturday, after members of the Italian Coast Guard rescued nine people from the submerging ship.

This weekend, the Italian press reported that the 39.4-meter motor yacht named "My Saga" sunk off the coast of Catanzaro Marina.

Video from the scene shows the massive boat teetering into the water before fully sinking stern-first.

—Sky News (@SkyNews) August 22, 2022

Sky News reported that worsening weather conditions rendered it impossible for a rescue tugboat to bring the yacht to safety.

An investigation into what caused the ship to sink is underway, the outlet reported. 

The yacht was built in Italy in 2007, according to Super Yacht Times, and was traveling from Gallipoli to Milazzo under a Cayman Islands flag with a full Italian crew when it sunk. 

yacht saga sinking

  • Main content

Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat manufacturing firm says

Bayesian superyacht which sank off Italy is an "unsinkable" vessel, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, said.

By Ashna Hurynag, news correspondent and Eleonora Chiarella, producer

Sunday 25 August 2024 08:48, UK

Pic:Danny Wheelz

Vessels like Mike Lynch's stricken superyacht are "unsinkable", according to the chief executive of the firm which makes and sells them.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, told Sky News there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian superyacht which capsized in a storm off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Monday.

Five bodies were found by divers on Wednesday - taking the number of confirmed dead to six.

The Italian Sea Group also owns the firm that built British tech tycoon Mr Lynch's Bayesian, and Mr Costantino said the vessels "are the safest in the most absolute sense".

News of the sinking left CEO of The Italian Sea Group Giovanni Costantino in ‘sadness on the one hand and disbelief on the other’.

"Being the manufacturer of Perini [boats], I know very well how the boats have always been designed and built," he said.

"And as Perini is a sailing ship... sailing ships are renowned to be the safest ever."

He said their structure and keel made them "unsinkable bodies".

Read more on this story: Why search of superyacht wreck has been so difficult Hero mum 'slept with baby on deck when storm sank yacht'

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

yacht saga sinking

Mr Costantino said news of the sinking "put me in a state of sadness on one side and of disbelief on the other".

"This incident sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact," he said.

It is understood Italian prosecutors investigating the incident are continuing to hold interviews with the survivors.

Pic:Perini Navi/The Italian Sea Group

On Tuesday they questioned the captain for more than two hours to help reconstruct what happened and provide useful technical details.

Four British inspectors are also in Porticello and have begun a preliminary assessment of events.

It is understood they will look at all relevant aspects of the incident, including the design, stability, and operation of the vessel. They will also examine the effects of the weather conditions experienced.

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel, 15 of whom were rescued - including Briton Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter Sofia.

Divers will resume efforts on Thursday morning to bring ashore a body they found earlier. One more person remains missing.

Related Topics

  • Superyacht sinking
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Slovenščina
  • Science & Tech
  • Russian Kitchen

I visited Astrakhan, the Russian MELTING POT of religions and ETHNICITIES (PHOTOS)

yacht saga sinking

When we entered the ATR-72 twin engine turboprop aircraft for our evening flight from Sochi to Astrakhan, my friend Olga and I were a bit surprised to see the ethnic mix of passengers on board. Nordic, Southern European, Caucasian, Central Asian, West Asian and “typical Russian” features were all visible on the two-hour flight to the city by the Volga. As we were to find out over the next three days, Astrakhan, which has a population of 526,000, is home to members of 104 of Russia’s 120 ethnicities. 

Ajay and his friend Olga on a cold morning

Ajay and his friend Olga on a cold morning

The small airport is just a 15-minute drive away from the city center and we were lucky to find an apartment in a well maintained Stalin-era building literally across the street from the Astrakhan kremlin.  

Walk around the city at night  

Our first task was to try out the much-hyped Caspian cuisine of the city.  Although it was only 9:30 pm on a Friday, the beautifully landscaped area that is near Lenin Square and borders the Kremlin was almost empty. Tastefully lit, the area had a distinct Mediterranean feel. With a bearable cold breeze and crystal clear air, I found the surroundings to be romantic, but my travel partner said she had an eerie feeling, since we hadn’t seen any others in the street. 

As we walked towards the riverside, we found our first Caspian-themed restaurant. Olga managed to calm down over a bottle of white wine and some local delicacies, such as sturgeon from the Volga Delta and ukha , which many restaurants label as the Tsar’s fish soup in their English menus.  

Astrakhan at night

Astrakhan at night

The main activity at night in Astrakhan revolves around the streets leading to the Volga riverfront. This is where the youth of the city go clubbing or bar hopping. There were signs of nightlife in this stretch of the city, but we had seen far bigger crowds in much smaller Russian cities. Locals later told us that they took the pandemic more seriously than their counterparts in other parts of the country and, hence, there were so few people on the streets. 

Feel the diversity on display at the Kremlin 

On my first morning in the city, I set off on an exploratory run and was absolutely impressed with the city center. The square that was empty the previous night was a hub of exercise and sporting activity. Under clear blue skies and warm sun, I saw well-looked after flower beds and trees that had leaves of every fall color. The season of colors had come and gone from the northern parts of Russia in a hurry in 2021, but Astrakhan was still in mid-fall mode in November.  

Church in the Astrakhan kremlin

Church in the Astrakhan kremlin

Later that morning, we decided to explore the impressive white Kremlin that towers over the city center. Standing on the Zayachy Hill, this massive fortress was originally built in the late 16th century and has been modified a few times since. Entry to the Kremlin, which opens at 7 am, is free and there are stalls where you can buy local handicrafts. I couldn’t resist buying a handcrafted wooden fridge magnet with an engraved image of this ancient fortress.  

The Kremlin is a great place to just roam around or sit on a bench and enjoy the great historical ambience, like many locals do, but we wanted to know more about this fascinating and well-preserved monument. So, we took a guided tour of the complex - in a golf cart! The modern-day Astrakhan Region was contested between various groups and empires until the middle of the 16th century, when it became a part of the southward-expanding Russian Empire. A knowledgeable guide shared many historical facts about the Kremlin and the city with us. 

After our tour, we were in for an unexpected audio visual treat. As the sun fought the grey fall clouds and warmed up the temperature to 18°C and the bells tolled from the Assumption Cathedral, a group of teenagers in various ethnic costumes came to the area near the church. Over the next 20 minutes, the colorful group performed a series of dances that reflected the cultures of various ethnic groups who call Astrakhan home.  

Astrakhan's Assumption Cathedral

Astrakhan's Assumption Cathedral

We first saw a Russian folk dance, followed by a Tatar dance and then a performance of the indigenous peoples who inhabit Astrakhan Region. We were lucky to be in the Kremlin on the day the city was marking Russian National Unity Day . 

This ethnic diversity can be seen everywhere in Astrakhan, but nowhere it is more visible than in restaurants and bars, where you see groups of people from different backgrounds socialising and making merry.  

Ajay at the Astrakhan kremlin

Ajay at the Astrakhan kremlin

Astrakhan is also known for its religious diversity. We went to two recently-renovated mosques that are just outside the historic city center. Non-Muslims are allowed to visit at non-prayer times. There seemed to be a strong Persian influence in the interior of these mosques, which is not surprising, given the fact that Iran is just across the Caspian Sea. The city also has an Iranian consulate and a Russian-Iranian banking joint venture. Some of the stores in the city sell imported Iranian candy. 

During our three-day stay in the city, we had a chance to get acquainted with people from Dagestan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. For those from other Caspian states, Astrakhan is seen as a logical entry point to Russia. In fact, several students from former Soviet countries study in the city.  

Enjoy the unique architecture  

The most interesting feature of Astrakhan is that no two streets in the historic center seem to resemble each other. A street full of early 1900s brownish-red brick structures is cut in half by a thoroughfare that has buildings that are a mix of Art Nouveau, Renaissance and Classicist architecture! Similarly, a walk by the outer walls of the 16th century Kremlin offers views of 19th century buildings that seem to have been transplanted from St. Petersburg.  

Tastefully restored building in Astrakhan

Tastefully restored building in Astrakhan

Long-term residents say many of the heritage structures in the city were in a state of disrepair, until a decade ago, when Russian President Vladimir Putin took a personal interest in reviving the city, given its strategic location close to the Caspian Sea.  

The victory of the Soviet Union in the Battle of Stalingrad and the resulting halt of German troops advances into southern Russia helped save the older buildings of Astrakhan during World War II. The radius around the Kremlin and riverfront are European in character, but once you cross the canal, a totally different side of the city opens up. These areas have ethnic Persian and Tatar localities, locally known as ‘sloboda’. One gets a feeling of crossing over into an altogether different century when strolling past these areas with their wooden cottages and cosy courtyards.  

While there is a strong sense of community here, the area is lower middle class and, unfortunately, did not seem to have any ethnic Tatar or Persian-style cafes. We were told that the best place to sample this kind of food was the Tatar Bazar, which we could not visit. Locals in these ethnic enclaves apparently preferred to either cook at home or eat at food courts in shopping malls.  

A wooden house outside the center (L); One of Astrakhan's older churches

A wooden house outside the center (L); One of Astrakhan's older churches

The classical Russian neighbourhoods in Astrakhan have a wide array of dining options, including an elegant restaurant named ‘Onegin’ (named after Alexander Pushkin’s famous novel in verse ‘Eugene Onegin’), which has 19th century style interiors, chandeliers, paintings of the greats of Russian literature and plays the music of Russian composers Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky. Plenty of other restaurants are themed around the Caspian Sea.  

Spend an evening by the Volga 

It goes without saying that the best place to spend an evening in the city is the riverside promenade. Runners, bicyclists, families, university students and pensioners all converge on this stretch in the early evening, as another day heads off into the night.  

The small islands that are visible from the promenade are home to a variety of birds that rush to find shelter in the trees before nightfall. As the river runs south towards the Caspian, nature is absolutely breathtaking. Visitors to Astrakhan in the warmer months often head to the Volga Delta, which is a biodiversity hotspot and home to various species of flora and fauna.   

We made it a point to catch the sunset by the Volga twice during our brief visit. Few experiences in Russia compare with seeing the red sun set behind the country’s most iconic river. The ensuing twilight paints the skies of Astrakhan with a unique shade of crimson.  

Astrakhan with Olga

Astrakhan with Olga

Standing by the riverfront on my last evening in the city, my gaze went to the left, where some 100 kilometers south the great Volga empties into the Caspian Sea. This area has always been a major transit point connecting north and south, east and west. For several hundred years, it was the intersection of the east-west trade route north of the Caspian Sea and the north-south trade route down the Volga to Persia. I couldn’t help but think how the city had the potential to become a major business, logistics and tourism hub, if Russia, India, Iran and the Caspian littoral countries put a fresh impetus on developing the International North-South Corridor.   

Astrakhan, as it is, is still a special place where several cultures meet and blend. As a melting pot of religions and ethnicities, no city in Russia (outside of Moscow) represents the sheer diversity of this colossally large country as well as Astrakhan. The city’s communal harmony and amity set an example for many other parts of the world that are struggling to deal with the close interaction of various ethnic groups. 

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

  • A one-day trip to Kashin, the town of ANCIENT churches and unexpected SPIRITS (PHOTOS)
  • I spent a week in Sochi, the BEST place to go in Russia in the off-season (PHOTOS)
  • What I did in the mountains of Krasnaya Polyana in the off-season

yacht saga sinking

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

IMAGES

  1. VIDEO: 39.4-metre superyacht Saga sinks off the coast of Italy

    yacht saga sinking

  2. VIDEO: Motor yacht sinks in Italy, crew safe

    yacht saga sinking

  3. Viral footage shows yacht sinking off the coast of Italy

    yacht saga sinking

  4. Viral footage shows yacht sinking off the coast of Italy

    yacht saga sinking

  5. WATCH: Superyacht Capsizes and Sinks Off the Coast of Southern Italy in Shocking Video

    yacht saga sinking

  6. Dramatic video captures the moment superyacht sinks off Italian coast

    yacht saga sinking

VIDEO

  1. Saga 27 Outside

  2. Saga 27 Inside

  3. Dehler 38

  4. Lord of the Glens Meets Saga

  5. Negotiating a Boat for a Rolex Watch Part 2

  6. #cruiseship #superyacht #yacht #cruise #scout #luxury #towerbridge #london #england #uk

COMMENTS

  1. Video captures the moment superyacht sinks off Italian coast

    The video, released by the coast guard, showed the yacht named My Saga struggling against the waves before sinking near the Catanzaro Marina on Saturday.

  2. Dramatic video shows 130ft superyacht sinking off Italy coast after

    A tugboat sent out at dawn was unable to save the superyacht from sinking because of worsening weather conditions, the Super Yacht Times reports. The Saga finally sank at around 1pm on Sunday.

  3. Superyacht Named 'My Saga' Capsizes off the Coast of Southern Italy in

    WATCH: Superyacht Capsizes and Sinks Off the Coast of Southern Italy in Shocking Video It is unknown what caused the 40-meter-long vessel called "My Saga" to go under

  4. Watch: 39m superyacht My Saga sinks in Italy

    Watch: 39m superyacht My Saga sinks in Italy. 22 August 2022. The 39.4 metre yacht My Saga has sunk in southern Italy, around eight nautical miles from Catanzaro Marina in the Gulf of Squillace. The sinking comes after the crew reported taking on water via the stern in the early hours of August 20. The crew was evacuated and a tug was in the ...

  5. Motoryacht My Saga Sinks Off Italian Coast

    The 129-foot (39-meter) motoryacht My Saga sank nine nautical miles off Calabria, Italy on August 20, several hours after the crew made a distress call and attempts to tow the yacht to shore were unsuccessful. According to the Italian Coast Guard, it received a call from the megayacht's crew the evening of August 20.

  6. Superyacht sinking off Italian coast caught on video

    The Italian Coast Guard captured the moment a 130-foot superyacht sank into the Mediterranean Sea stern-first, after My Saga's captain issued a distress call.

  7. Watch Superyacht Sinking off Italian Coast After Crew ...

    The footage, taken by rescuers on a boat operated by the Italian Coast Guard, captured the shocking moment the superyacht sank. The yacht, My Saga, was about 9 miles offshore from Catanzaro Marina ...

  8. Video captures superyacht sinking off the coast of Italy

    The dramatic footage shared by the Italian coast guard shows the superyacht My Saga keeling over on its side and slowly sinking into the waters off Catanzaro.

  9. Video: 129-foot superyacht My Saga worth millions sinks off the Italian

    The $11 million vessel was motoring through the Gulf of Squillace when the coast guard responded to a call that the boat's stern was filling up with water.

  10. The moment a superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy, 9 rescued

    My Saga was sailing from Gallipoli to Millzzo when its stern started taking in water. The captain and some of the crew tried to steer the vessel and keep it from sinking.

  11. Dramatic video shows superyacht sinking off Italian coast

    The luxury craft - belived to be Italian-built yacht My Saga - can be seen disappearing into the sea off Cantanzaro, the capital of the Calabria region, in the incident on Saturday.

  12. Super yacht My Saga sinks off Italian coast

    The Italian Coast Guard shared a video of the 15-year old luxury yacht's final moments before it pitched forward and sank into the sea. Authorities are investigating the cause.

  13. 39m superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy

    The 39m motor yacht My Saga has sunk off the coast of Italy after it began taking on water at the stern. The local press reported that the yacht officially sunk at 13.00 on the 20th of August in The Gulf of Squillace, roughly nine nautical miles off the coast of Catanzaro. Yacht affonda nel golfo di Squillace, intervento della Guardia costiera ...

  14. Watch moment 140ft superyacht My Saga sinks off coast of Italy as nine

    THIS is the dramatic moment the 140ft superyacht My Saga sinks off the coast of Italy after it was battered by a storm. Nine people were rescued from the submerging vessel on Saturday as it sunk in…

  15. 39m My Saga yacht sinks off the coast in Italy

    The 39.4m My Saga yacht sinks off the coast of Italy.

  16. Video Shows a 40-Meter Superyacht Sinking Off the Coast of Italy

    A superyacht sunk off the coast of Southern Italy over the weekend. Video of the boat's demise showed the ship sinking stern-first with its bow straight in the air. The Italian Coast Guard rescued ...

  17. 140ft superyacht sinks off coast of Italy in violent storm as nine

    THIS is the dramatic moment the 140ft superyacht My Saga can be seen sinking off the coast of Italy after it was battered by a storm.Nine people were rescued...

  18. 39m My Saga Super Yacht Sinks on the Coast of Italy After Rescue

    When sailing through the waters of Italy, My Saga super yacht gets breached by water and sinks, fortunately there were no injuries or fatalities

  19. Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat

    Sailing yachts like Mike Lynch's are 'unsinkable bodies', CEO of boat manufacturing firm says ... Mr Costantino said news of the sinking "put me in a state of sadness on one side and of disbelief ...

  20. Don't Gloat Over the Sinking of the Superyacht My Saga

    That yacht, My Saga (previously YuKo, but also known simply as Saga), is a complete loss, superyacht vlogger eSysman says (see the video at the bottom of the page).

  21. HPE Defends $4B Civil Suit Against Mike Lynch's Estate ...

    The plot thickens…..UK tech entrepreneur OBE Mike Lynch is still missing in Sicily yacht sinking after a mini tornado (that only managed to sink one yacht) has an interesting background. The Entrepreneur who sold his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard was cleared in June 2024… — The Yorkshire Lass (@real_shirelass) August 19, 2024

  22. Astrakhan Oblast

    Astrakhan Oblast (Russian: Астраха́нская о́бласть, romanized: Astrakhanskaya oblastʹ; Kazakh: Астрахан облысы, romanized: Astrahan oblysy) is a federal subject of Russia (an oblast) located in southern Russia. Its administrative center is the city of Astrakhan. As of the 2010 Census, its population was ...

  23. Astrakhan

    Astrakhan (Russian: Астрахань, IPA: [ˈastrəxənʲ] ⓘ) is the largest city and administrative centre of Astrakhan Oblast in southern Russia. The city lies on two banks of the Volga, in the upper part of the Volga Delta, on eleven islands of the Caspian Depression, 60 miles (100 km) from the Caspian Sea, with a population of 475,629 ...

  24. Administrative divisions of Astrakhan Oblast

    Administrative divisions of Astrakhan Oblast. with 12 selsovets under the district's jurisdiction. with 10 selsovets under the district's jurisdiction. with 15 selsovets under the district's jurisdiction. with 16 selsovets under the district's jurisdiction.

  25. I visited Astrakhan, the Russian MELTING POT of ...

    In our latest installment on pandemic travel in Russia, our contributor is enthralled by the diversity and hidden gems he found in the southern Russian city by the Volga River.