This month, the yachting industry and beyond were shocked by the catastrophic loss of life caused by the sinking of the 56-metre Bayesian. The tragedy punctuated a summer that had already been dominated by disasters, from a storm in Formentera, Spain that ran a dozen sailing yachts aground, to a blaze that destroyed the 47-metre Atina in Sardinia, Italy – which led BOAT International to investigate: are more yachts are sinking, colliding, or catching fire?
In happier news, the first images of Admiral's flagship yacht, known only as Platinum, were revealed, while the historic 135.9-metre Blohm & Voss superyacht Savarona was seen back on the water following a multi-year refit.
Here's everything you might have missed in August...
1. Seven dead in 56m superyacht Bayesian sinking tragedy
On 19 August, the 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian sank off the Italian island of Sicily. Seven people were later confirmed dead, including the six missing people who were inside the yacht when it sank. It is understood that Bayesian was being used to celebrate Lynch's recent victory in a 13-year £8 billion fraud acquittal. An investigation into the cause of the sinking is underway.
Read More/Live updates: Seven dead in 56m superyacht Bayesian sinking tragedy2. Steve Jobs' former yacht involved in collision with 105m Lady Moura
The 78.2-metre Feadship superyacht Venus collided with the 104.9-metre Lady Moura off the coast of Naples, Italy. Footage of the incident taken by Lady Moura's owner was released on 7 August, though the two yachts were in the same area on 22 July according to BOATPro. Representatives from both parties later came forward with statements.
Read More/Update: representative of 105m Lady Moura releases statement following collision with Steve Jobs' yacht3. 31m Wally sailing yacht washed ashore following storm in Formentera, Spain
The 30.5-metre Wally sailing yacht Wally Love ran aground following a storm on the Spanish island of Formentera. Footage taken by a bystander shows the yacht out of the water and listing on her starboard side close to shore. According to local reports, over a dozen sailing boats were damaged.
Read More/Watch: 31m Wally sailing yacht washed ashore following storm in Formentera, Spain4. 47m Heesen superyacht Atina sinks following devastating fire in Olbia, Italy
The 47-metre Heesen yacht Atina sank following a fire that broke out while the yacht was anchored in the Gulf of Olbia in Sardinia, Italy. Dramatic footage released by the Olbia Coast Guard shows the flames spread from the aft portion of the vessel until Atina is entirely engulfed.
Read More/Sunken 47m Heesen superyacht Atina to be recovered by the end of September5. 27m yacht Manta sinks in Corsica after striking a reef
The 26.2-metre Canados yacht Manta sunk off the coast of the French island of Corsica after striking a shallow reef and taking on water. A total of 11 people were rescued.
Read More/26m yacht Manta sinks in Corsica after striking a reef6. 32m Versilcraft motor yacht Illusions sinks in Isla Mujeres, Mexico
The 31.7-metre Versilcraft motor yacht Illusions partly sunk while moored by the former Romeo Packing plant, in Isla Mujeres, Mexico. Navy personnel from the Ninth Naval Region were the first on the scene according to local reports.
Read More/32m Versilcraft motor yacht Illusions sinks in Isla Mujeres, Mexico7. Fire tears through busy marina and destroys several yachts in Piraeus, Greece
A fire tore through Zea Marina in Athens, Greece and destroyed three yachts, including the 42.3-metre Libra Y. The classic motor yacht was delivered by Picchiotti in 1977 and designed by industry legends Don Shead and Jon Bannenberg.
Read More/Watch: fire tears through busy marina and destroys several yachts in Piraeus, Greece8. Secretive 78m Admiral flagship photographed for the first time
The first images of Admiral's flagship yacht, known only as Platinum, were revealed this month. Platinum is the largest superyacht to be launched by Admiral and has been kept firmly out of the spotlight since construction began in 2019.
Read More/Secretive 78m Admiral flagship photographed for the first time9. 136m superyacht owned by American heiress and Turkey's president back on the water
The 135.9-metre Blohm & Voss superyacht Savarona was seen back on the water following a multi-year refit and recommissioning project at Istanbul Shipyard Command. She was commissioned in 1931 by American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwalader – the granddaughter of the engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge – and acquired by the Turkish government in 1938 as a gift for its president, Kemal Atatürk.
Read More/Savarona: 136m superyacht owned by American heiress and Turkey's president back on the water10. 66m offshore vessel Project UFO no longer undergoing conversion at Lürssen
It was announced that the 66-metre offshore rescue vessel Project UFO, also known as Ocean Falcon, would no longer undergo a conversion at Lürssen. The vessel was set to receive a four-metre extension and be converted into an explorer yacht for charter. Lürssen cited "a number of challenges that [would] make it difficult to fully meet the expectations of all parties involved" as the reason for Project UFO's departure.
Read More/66m offshore vessel Project UFO no longer undergoing conversion at Lürssen