Third crew member requests to join lawsuit against former Loon yacht captain

26 June 2025 • Written by Dea Jusufi

Key things to know about the Loon tender crash

Credit: Le Journal de Saint-Barth

On 24 December (2024), a chase boat belonging to the 67.5-metre Icon superyacht Loon crashed onto the rocks of Anse des Cayes Bay in St Barths. Six people were injured out of the 11 American nationals on board, including stewardess Natalia Niznik, who was "ejected" from the boat on impact, landing on the rocks and sustaining injuries to her face, leg and jaw.

A negligence complaint filed by Niznik and her co-worker, Klara Holubova, has cited Loon's former captain, Paul Clarke, as the operator of the vessel. The case is ongoing, with a formal hearing scheduled for 10 July.

The chase boat is named Reel Time and belongs to HCB Yachts' 53' Sueños RXV series. She measures 16.2 metres and comes equipped with quad engines, a fully functional fishing platform and galley kitchen.

Third crew member requests to join lawsuit against former Loon captain

A third crew member has requested to join the negligence complaint filed against the former captain of Loon following an disastrous tender crash in St Barths (24 December). According to the new filing, Austin Scaccianoce – Loon's videographer and co-worker of original Plaintiffs Natalia Niznik and Klara Holubova – was on board and "similarly injured" at the time of the crash.

Court documents obtained by BOAT International describe how the force of the collision resulted in Scaccianoce sustaining injuries to his hips, with further injuries to his legs and feet – including a fracture – caused by "rescu[ing]" Niznik, who had been thrown overboard.

The latest filing emphasised the importance of intervention – as, if the trial were to proceed without him, Scaccianoce would "lose his opportunity of recovery for his injuries". He entreated the Court to "allow him to intervene in this action", while also requesting any further relief it deemed "just and proper".

Court date set for former Loon superyacht captain and crew

A court date has been set for Loon's former captain and crew, who are embroiled in a legal dispute following an injurious tender crash in St Barths. Earlier this month, Captain Paul Clarke filed to dismiss the negligence complaint raised against him by his two former crew members, who claimed that he had "abandoned the helm" of the superyacht's tender following a celebratory Christmas lunch at Gypsea Beach Club, causing injury to six of the 11 American nationals on board.

The hearing is officially scheduled for 10 July in Broward County, Florida.

Former Loon captain files to dismiss $100k complaint following St Barths tender crash

The former captain of the 67.5-metre Icon superyacht Loon, Paul Clarke, has filed to dismiss the negligence complaint raised against him by two former crew members. The motion to dismiss argued that the basis of the complaint, which alleges that he "owned, used or possessed property [and] was domiciled" in Broward County, is "demonstrably untrue".

"The Defendant is a United Kingdom citizen residing in Australia [...] and has only visited the State of Florida for personal reasons or to receive the mandatory educational training for his job," the filing read, adding that the "burden" of defending litigation in Florida would be too high on Clarke.

As such, Clarke has "respectfully request[ed]" that the Court dismiss the complaint.

New captain announced for Loon

Brokerage firm IYC has selected Captain Michael James as the new rotational captain for Loon as she continues her charter programme across Croatia. The announcement comes shortly after two former crew members (Natalia Niznik and Klara Holubova) filed a negligence complaint against Loon's former captain, Paul Clarke.

James has previous experience on board the 63.5-metre Benetti superyacht Moca, Feadship's 57.5-metre Halo and the 51.8-metre Oceanco yacht Joy.

Crew members file claim against Captain Paul Clarke

Two former crew members of the 67.5-metre superyacht Loon have filed a negligence complaint against Captain Paul Clarke following an injurious tender crash in St Barths.

Court documents obtained by BOAT International describe how Clarke – cited as the "operator" of the tender Reel Time – "abandoned the helm" during their return from a celebratory Christmas lunch at Gypsea Beach Club, leaving the vessel "to continue forward in total darkness" at a cruising speed of between 48 and 51 miles per hour. The tender then collided with a peninsula of rocks, injuring six of the 11 American nationals on board.

The force of the collision caused one of the plaintiffs – Natalia Niznik – to be ejected from the vessel, landing on the rocks and sustaining injuries to her face, leg and jaw. The other plaintiff, Klara Holubova, remained on the tender but still sustained injuries to her knee, leg and ear.

As a result, the pair are pursuing damages in excess of $100,000, citing expense of hospitalisation, medical expenses, nursing care and treatment, loss of earnings, impairment of earning capacity and working ability, as well as "mental and psychological trauma".

Crashed tender confirmed to belong to Loon

The tender that crashed in St Barths has been confirmed to belong to the 67.5-metre Icon superyacht, Loon.

She is one of the most recognisable superyachts on the social media scene, though all her accounts – including Instagram and YouTube – have become private since the incident occurred.

Unidentified tender crashes in St Barths, injuring six American nationals

A chase boat reportedly owned by a superyacht anchored in the Port of Gustavia has crashed onto the rocks of Anse des Cayes Bay in St Barths. Six people have been injured out of the 11 American nationals on board, including one woman who was reportedly "ejected" from the boat on impact.

The chase boat belongs to HCB Yachts' 53' Sueños RXV series, measuring 16.2 metres and equipped with quad engines, a fully functional fishing platform and galley kitchen. The driver is yet to be identified.