A motor yacht, believed to be Cantieri Navali Rizzardi's 26-metre Hemdemim, has sunk off the coast of Bodrum, Turkey.
According to reports from Turkish outlet Haberler, the yacht experienced an engine failure yesterday (3 November) at around 1.30pm (TRT) during anchoring manoeuvres near Bodrum Castle. Unable to anchor, strong winds caused the yacht to drift and collide with the nearby breakwater, before hitting the rocks and suffering damage to the portside of her hull.
Local weather reports from the area reveal conditions were unfavourable, with gusts of 19mph and thunderstorm warnings.
During an operation to tow the vessel into open water, the yacht reportedly began rapidly taking on water, causing her to sink. The local Coast Guard safely evacuated the two crew members on board at the time, with no other injuries reported.
Images shared online reveal that the yacht is almost completely submerged under water, with only her upper deck now visible. A salvage operation has been launched.
While details remain minimal, the yacht is believed to be constructed by Italian shipyard Cantieri Navali Rizzardi as one unit from its Posillipo series, built and delivered in the 2000s.
BOAT International will update the story as it develops.