The yacht Alex Thomson lost in a harrowing accident found 10 years later, the nine-time rescued yacht captain set to throw in the towel and Microsoft's co-founder repairs a coral reef damaged by his 300ft superyacht ... Read this week's news in YBW's handy bite-sized format.

The week’s news on YBW, all in one place:

26 February 2016

Alex Thomson’s abandoned Hugo Boss yacht found after 10 years

alex-thomson-2006-hugo-boss-yacht

The yacht that skipper Alex Thomson abandoned in the Southern Ocean in the 2006-2007 Velux 5 Oceans Race has been discovered on a remote South American beach. Learn more about the harrowing rescue.

 

Microsoft’s Paul Allen to restore coral reef damaged by his yacht

Paul Allen's yacht's MV Tatoosh

The Microsoft co-founder and environmentalist landed in hot water when his yacht, MV Tatoosh, accidentally damaged 14,000 square feet of coral reef in the Cayman Islands. Read the full story here.

 

Nine-time rescuee yachter on the verge of giving up

Nora boat fire Cornwall

Steve Shapiro, dubbed a Captain Calamity by the press, is ready to throw in the towel after being rescued nine times, most recently when his boat tipped over and caught fire due to a candle not having been blown out properly. Read about the (mis)adventures here.

 

Owner fined thousands for rescue of ‘dangerously unsafe’ vessel

wadestone-formerly-humber-star

The owner of a previously sunken harbour tanker has been fined and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to operating a dangerously unsafe vessel. Read the full story.

 

Powerboat crash in Southampton Water – report findings

Vector Martini Rosso

A Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report into a high-speed powerboat crash which seriously injured a teenager has been published. Read the report’s findings.

 

 

19 February 2016

Coast Guard boat crew trains in heavy surf

coast-guard-video-boat-heavy-surf

Dramatic video posted by the US Coast Guard shows their 42ft boat being pummelled by waves during a training exercise. Watch the video.

 

Historic RNLI lifeboat up for rent on AirBnB in Scottish Hebrides

lifeboat-alexandra

A former RNLI lifeboat has found a new home onshore as a rental property in the Scottish Highlands. See the photos.

 

Driverless water taxi design set to begin testing in Paris

sea-bubble-boat

A new electric water taxi is set to be tested on stretches of the Seine River in Paris this summer and its designer wants to use driverless technology. Read the story.

 

Pictures: Flying pyramid superyacht a step closer to reality

flying-pyramid-superyacht-1

Jonathan Schwinge has signed up a key partner for his ambitious flying pyramid superyacht project. See the pictures.

 

Homeless woman who stopped robbery hopes to buy boat

homeless-woman-oxford-robbery

A homeless woman who staff say thwarted a robbery attempt at a beauty store in Oxford has become the focus of a fundraising effort and hopes to buy a boat. Read the full story here.

 

12 February 2016

RNLI save diabetic sailor stranded in ‘life-threatening’ condition

View from Safety Boat Dependable

The RNLI came to the aid of a diabetic man suffering from severe seasickness on Saturday after his yacht lost power. Read the full story here.

 

Sunseeker signs on to sponsor Poole Harbour Boat Show

Poole-Harbour-Boat-Show-2015

Sunseeker International has thrown its support behind Poole Harbour’s fledgling boat show as the show’s primary sponsor. Read the story here.

 

Pictures: new ‘ocean advocacy’ yacht company company to launch at Miami Boat Show

WOW Yachts

An entrepreneur and a yacht captain have teamed up to create an idealistic new yacht company that will make its debut at the Miami Boat Show 2016. See the renderings.

 

Princess yachts commemorates 50 years with bespoke yacht toys

princess yachts seabob

Princess Yachts has contracted a German yacht toy manufacturer to create two bespoke water toys to celebrate 50 years of building luxury motor yachts. See the toys here.

 

Video: British rowing team attempts to set record Atlantic crossing

team-essence-rowing-facebook

Five friends — four of whom are former British military — have set off from mainland Europe for South America in a bid to set a record for the fastest transatlantic crossing. See the video.

 

5 February 2016

Ferretti Security and Defence boat to launch this summer
Ferretti Security and Defence 115

A new division of the Italian yard, Ferretti Security and Defence, will launch its debut model this summer, called the FSD195. See the concept renderings.

 

Video: Kayak fisherman thrown into water by shark
Screen Shot 2016-02-03 at 15.14.26

A fisherman had a close encounter with a shark when his kayak was overturned by the mighty fish in South Africa. Watch the video here.

 

Pictures: Kestrel 106 superyacht for sale
Kestrel 106 starboard view

The Ron Holland-designed Kestrel 106 sailing yacht, conceived by Kestrel Superyachts and built by the Aganlar Boatyard in Bodrum, Turkey, is up for sale. Go on. Treat yourself.

 

First round Denmark solo yacht race opens to entrants
Silverrudder challenge

Two Danish sailors have conceived and organised a solo race around Denmark scheduled to take place in 2016. Are you brave enough to enter?

 

Missing dog rescued a mile out to sea by RNLI
RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew members with rescued dog 'Storm'

A missing dog named Storm was rescued by RNLI volunteers after he chased seagulls into the sea and swam a mile off shore from Hastings in East Sussex. Read the dramatic (and adorable) rescue story.

 

 

news-of-week-26-feb

Weekly round-up: YBW news digest

Alex Thomson's lost yacht found 10 years later, nine-time rescued yacht captain may give up and Microsoft's co-founder repairs a…