In the early hours of July 15, 2022, the 24-meter yacht Pegasus, which was originally built in 2012 by Fairline Yachts, became engulfed in flames while moored at the Peninsula Yacht Basin in Gig Harbor, Washington. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) made an official report about the accident. The fire, which burned for approximately one hour, resulted in the complete destruction of the vessel. Fortunately, no individuals were on board at the time of the incident.
Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the aft section of the yacht fully consumed by the blaze. Despite their efforts, the flames proved difficult to extinguish, leading to the eventual sinking of the vessel at its berth. The estimated loss of the Pegasus is valued at $1.5 million, while a neighboring docked vessel suffered minor damage.
Moored at the outer berth of the Peninsula Yacht Basin pier, the Pegasus was partially obscured from shore view by other moored vessels. Security cameras at the marina captured the initial signs of smoke and flames emanating from the yacht's aft section at 2:04 AM. The fire continued to intensify and spread forward over the next 45 minutes.
At 3:02 AM, a bystander alerted emergency services, prompting the arrival of Gig Harbor Police officers and firefighting units. However, due to the fire's advanced stage, containing and extinguishing the flames became an arduous task. Firefighters deployed hoses from the floating docks and a firefighting boat, engaging in a relentless battle against the blaze. At 4:14 AM, the stern of the Pegasus sank, with the bow gradually descending as the vessel took on water. The fire was finally brought under control at 4:31 AM when seawater inundated the main deck cabin.
The investigation into the cause of the fire revealed that the Pegasus owner suspected fireworks as a potential trigger. However, security camera footage from the marina did not show any activity around the yacht before the fire's ignition. The owner and his employee disclosed that they had recently applied a name-brand teak oil finish to the vessel's wood surfaces. Rags soaked in the oil were improperly stored under a table on the aft deck, raising concerns of spontaneous combustion.
Gig Harbor, Washington
The Pierce County Fire Prevention Bureau's fire marshal determined that the fire originated on the aft deck, where the oil-soaked rags had been stored. The heat generated from the rags' self-heating properties likely led to the fire's ignition. This incident highlights the fire hazard associated with improperly discarded oil-soaked rags and serves as a reminder to follow manufacturers' instructions for cleanup and disposal of such materials.
The narrowness of the docks and the distance between the fireplug ashore and the Pegasus's berth hindered firefighting efforts. Nevertheless, given the significant growth and spread of the fire before it was reported, it is unlikely that the yacht could have been salvaged.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has determined that the probable cause of the fire was spontaneous combustion due to the improper disposal of oil-soaked rags on the aft deck of the Pegasus. The NTSB emphasizes the importance of proper storage and disposal procedures to prevent similar incidents.
Credits: Gig Harbor Police Department; Wikimedia.org
The newly delivered Benetti Oasis 34 motor yacht Y has entered the brokerage market with Mark Seaton of Yacht. The 34.4-meter vessel was delivered in May 2025 and remains under full shipyard warranty. Currently berthed at Benetti’s shipyard in Viareggio, Italy, the yacht is available for immediate delivery.Designed by RWD, the Oasis 34M series features a distinctive Oasis Deck with fold-down bulwarks, a glass-sided infinity pool, and a spacious beach club area. The yacht’s streamlined profile, extended overhangs, and open-plan layout reflect Benetti’s approach to indoor-outdoor living.The interior design, created by Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture of New York, combines warm greys and natural tones with contemporary elements. The accommodation includes five staterooms for up to 10 guests, with a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck and four guest cabins below. The crew quarters can accommodate seven staff members.The 269 GT yacht is powered by twin 1,380hp MTU diesel engines, providing a top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 14.5 knots. The vessel sails under the Marshall Islands flag. The asking price for the yacht is €17,500,000, excluding VAT. It represents the only Benetti Oasis 34M from 2025 currently available on the market worldwide. The vessel was built under the supervision of experienced owners and a leading maritime consultancy, ensuring high-quality construction and finishing.Credits: Yacht Harbour Archive
June 20, 2025
Athens-based design studio IPYD has revealed Aether, an 80-meter superyacht concept developed for Oceanco's Simply Custom platform. The design features triangular geometric motifs throughout its exterior, referencing concepts of balance and harmony from ancient Greek philosophy.Presented at the 2023 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, Aether joins Oceanco's portfolio of semi-custom concepts built on a standardized technical platform by Lateral Naval Architects. Initial renderings show a continuous exterior profile with an open-plan beach club featuring spa facilities and lounge areas.The Simply Custom range offers owners design flexibility while utilizing pre-engineered naval architecture. Aether follows previous concepts including Ani by Vallicelli Design and Dunes by the Touch Studio. Oceanco has not disclosed construction timelines or technical specifications for the Aetherconcept.Oceanco was founded in 1987. Right now it is a world-class builder of custom superyachts up to the 140 meters range. Oceanco works with world-known designers such as Terence Disdale, Nuvolari-Lenard, Espen Oeino, Sam Sorgiovanni, Igor Lobanov, Tim Heywood and Andrew Winch to create some of the timeless and award-winning yachts afloat today.Credits: IPYD
June 20, 2025
The Pershing GTX80 has docked at Manhattan's North Cove Marina, marking the start of its East Coast tour celebrating Pershing's 40th anniversary. The 24-meter Sport Utility Yacht will visit Montauk (July 1) and Newport (July 12) before concluding in the Hamptons.The tour showcases Pershing's performance-oriented design combining speed and onboard comfort. The GTX80 series features an open layout with 370 square meters of living space across three decks, powered by twin 1,550hp MAN V12 engines reaching 35 knots.Allied Marine is coordinating the tour, with updates available through Pershing's social media channels. The itinerary highlights the yacht's coastal cruising capabilities along the Atlantic seaboard.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
June 20, 2025
Hargrave Superyachts has launched its new 38-meter tri-deck motor yacht, the Hargrave 125, from its Antalya, Turkey facility. The vessel, designated Project 125, will debut at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival.With a 7.92-meter beam and 1.95-meter draft, the Bahamas-compliant design features a displacement hull optimized for long-range cruising. Stabilization systems operate both at anchor and underway. The 330GT interior maintains 2.2-meter ceiling heights throughout its 10-guest, 7-crew configuration.Power comes from twin Caterpillar C32 main engines with matching 75kW generators, delivering a 17-knot cruising speed. An ASEA power converter ensures global shore power compatibility. The yacht carries a 10-year structural warranty and equivalent coverage for main mechanical components.Hargrave includes a six-month management package with each sale. The vessel remains available for inspection ahead of its Cannes showing.Credits: Hargrave Custom Yachts
June 20, 2025
The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda is hosting the 2025 Swan One Design Worlds from June 17-21, featuring 35 teams from 30 nations competing across four one-design classes. The event marks the competitive debut of the ClubSwan 28 class alongside established ClubSwan 36, 42 and 50 fleets."The Swan One Design Worlds highlight the energy and camaraderie of the ClubSwan family," said Luisa Bambozzi, Managing Director of ClubSwan Racing. "Porto Cervo provides the ideal setting to combine world-class racing with vibrant shoreside activities."The regatta features defending champions in multiple classes, including Mamao (ClubSwan 36) and Nadir (ClubSwan 42). Notable entries include Leonardo Ferragamo's Cuordileone and Marcus Brennecke's Hatari in the ClubSwan 50 division. The newly introduced ClubSwan 28 class will compete for its first Gold Cup, with seven teams including youth entry NOX OCEANI featuring 13-year-old helmsman Giorgio Nocella.Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Swan, emphasized the event's community aspect: "This regatta represents the unity and international spirit that defines the ClubSwan family." The competition schedule allows for eight races per class (ten for ClubSwan 28), with Mistral winds expected for the final racing days.Social events include class dinners and an owners' reception at YCCS, culminating in Saturday's prize ceremony. The ClubSwan Academy continues its youth development program, providing young sailors access to competitive racing platforms.Nautor Swan was founded in 1966 in Pietarsaari, Finland. The builder entered the superyacht market in 1999. Since then, the yard has continued building high-performance sailing yachts in three different lines; ClubSwan, Swan Yachts and Maxi Swan Yachts. Credits: Nautor Swan
June 19, 2025