Curiouser and curiouser - Why did super yacht Yogi sink?
by Lee Mylchreest on 25 Feb 2012
Bye bye Yogi - Greek Coast Guard photo SW
Eight days after the mystery sinking of the superacht Yogi off Skyros, Greece, the Turkish Shipyard that built the yacht admits they are no nearer knowing why it sank as they and their lawyers have been unable to interview the Captain and crew or even obtain written statements. This is in spite of an earlier statement that they were scheduled to talk to the Captain and crew two days after the incident.
Proteksan Turquoise, the largest superyacht-building shipyard in Turkey that constructed the 60 metre yacht, says that the only contact that had been made was when the Captain made a phone call to the shipyard after he had been rescued and was safely ashore on Skyros.
They said it was further expected that it would be another ten days before they will be able to meet with them, and they they feel that it is important to have all the facts relating to the incident before commenting further.
They say that the yacht had left the shipyard in Turkey, where it had been undergoing some guarantee re-paint work, on February 15th and was on her way to the Mediterranean when it was hit by gale force weather conditions off Skyros. (See http://www.sail-world.com/CruisingAus/Most-Innovative-yacht-in-mystery-sinking/94002!Sail-World_story)
All eight crew members were rescued by a Puma helicopter from the Hellenic Coast Guard and taken to Skyros, where they stayed before being transferred to Athens.
They also stated that MY Yogi was built to Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) rules and also to French Registry safety standards and the construction was under American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) surveillance and classification. It had also just won an award as the Most Innovative Yacht at the Monaco Yacht Show.
At the time Proteksan Turquoise also expressed its thanks to everyone who had assisted in the rescue of the crew members, especially the Hellenic Coast Guard for the utmost skill and bravery they showed during the unfortunate incident.
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