Maritime Monster All Jobs Moored Here
The skipper and organizers of a thrilling odyssey to circumvent the planet could be slapped with hefty fines after one of the luxurious yachts in the flotilla grounded in an environmentally sensitive area in Australian waters.
The 82.5-foot (25-meter) Viva La Vida yacht (Oyster model 825), which is part of a 23-yacht flotilla participating in the 2026-27 edition of the Oyster World Rally, sank in the Whitsunday Islands, which form part of the Great Barrier Reef, a sensitive coral habitat ecosystem.
The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority said that the yacht was sailing at high speed when she hit a rocky reef off Long Island, causing damage to the lower part of her keel. Following hitting the rock in the Whitsunday Islands, which are notoriously difficult to navigate, the vessel quickly capsized and was adrift.
According to Reef Authority, salvors have managed to stabilize the 56-tonne wreck on the surface with lift bags and intend to remove the mast and rigging and tow the vessel to Mackay in the coming week, depending on weather conditions.
FULL ARTICLE AVAILABLE HERE: maritime-executive.com
