Please select your home edition
Edition
Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Leaderboard

Mystery Ghost Ship Bel Amica Found Floating

by Nick Pisa/Sail-World Cruising on 10 Sep 2006
Bel Amica SW
A half eaten meal, charts of the Mediterranean and piles of clothes were found on board an empty US$600,000 twin masted sailing vessel discovered floating off the Italian coast. Police are investigating the mystery, which was discovered by coastguards on a routine patrol

The 66-foot vessel had no name and no other identification markings and a punctured tender boat was still on board

The schooner - which was described by coastguards as of a 'classic' design - was found drifting off the coast of Punta Volpe on the island of Sardinia, known as a millionaire's playground.

Strong currents were pushing it towards rocks and coastguards boarded the vessel just in time and managed to attach a line and tow it to the port of Olbia where it was being examined.

A coastguard spokesman said that they and police were trying to establish whether the yacht had been intentionally abandoned and what had happened to the crew.

Officials had discovered a plaque with the name 'Bel Amica' but said that initial checks with shipping registers had found no yacht with that name.

No vessels have been reported missing or stolen, which has added to the mystery.

Yesterday, a spokesman at the harbour-master's office in Olbia said: 'At the moment the discovery is a complete mystery and we are investigating with police.

'There was no name and no registration markings or documents were found, but a proper search is now being carried out with the yacht in harbour.

'She is in perfect condition and is a very valuable classic twin-masted schooner.

'It gave the impression of being abandoned very quickly, but for what reason we just don't know.

'At this stage we cannot rule anything out - it could be piracy, it could be the crew had a problem and abandoned the yacht, we just don't know.

'It's certainly the sort of yacht you would get round here in the summer as the owner must be very wealthy and we get a lot of wealthy visitors in the summer.'

The Mediterranean island is a popular destination for VIPs. Visitors this summer have included Prince Andrew - who spent an evening at an exclusive nightclub.

Russian Oligarch and millionaire Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has also been seen there this summer on board his yacht Pelarus.
Rooster 2025Excess CatamaransNorth Sails Loft 57 Podcast

Related Articles

56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 day 3
Advantage to the Southerners On this second leg of La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025, between the Bay of Morlaix and Vigo in Spain, two options have taken shape over the past hours.
Posted on 17 Sep
Entry criteria announced for Sardinia Cup 2026
Iconic Yacht Club Costa Smeralda regatta to mirror Admiral's Cup rating bands The Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) is pleased to announce that the next edition of the Sardinia Cup, taking place from 31 May to 7 June 2026, will adopt the IRC Rating Bands applied by the Royal Ocean Racing Club for the Admiral's Cup.
Posted on 17 Sep
2026 Fireball Worlds Torquay - website now online
Continuing the momentum after the superb event at Lake Garda this year The taste of the last limoncellos may still be lingering on the taste buds following the recent 135 boat Worlds on Lake Garda, but the Fireball Class is already turning its attention to next year's Worlds being hosted by Royal Torbay Yacht Club in the UK.
Posted on 17 Sep
52 Super Series Porto Cervo preview
Spectacular Sardina will see teams looking to finish 2025 on a high note Teams on the 52 SUPER SERIES head to the renowned YC Costa Smeralda in Porto Cervo for the final event of the season, 52 SUPER SERIES - Porto Cervo - Range Rover regatta, all sharing the same, universal ambition, to finish on an absolute high note.
Posted on 17 Sep
2025 Tornado Open, Mixed & Youth Europeans Opens
A warm and festive welcome for the 29 participating teams on Lake Attersee The European Championship on Lake Attersee began with a warm and festive welcome for the 29 participating teams coming from 9 different countries
Posted on 17 Sep
Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ on the Sunshine Coast
Competition on the sheltered waters of Lake Cootharaba The Ronstan Junior Foiling Cup™ recently made its return to Australia, this time held on Queensland's glorious Sunshine Coast on September 6-7th.
Posted on 17 Sep
Chicago welcomes Women's Match Racing Worlds
Four days of world-class competition on the waters of Lake Michigan The Windy City is set to welcome twelve elite women match racing teams this week as the 2025 World Sailing Women's Match Racing Worlds comes to Chicago, 17-20 September, promising four days of world-class competition on the waters of Lake Michigan.
Posted on 17 Sep
OK Dinghy Worlds at Lake Garda Day 2
Nick Craig holds narrowest of leads Britain's Nick Craig holds the narrowest of leads after the second day of racing at 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship on Lake Garda, hosted by Circolo Vela Arco. Both Craig and Andrew Mills added another race win each and are even on three points.
Posted on 17 Sep
Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge concludes
Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won for the second time For a second occasion, Jean-Pierre Barjon's Spirit of Lorina has won the IMA Mediterranean Maxi Offshore Challenge (MMOC). Having first claimed this title for the 2021-22 season, the French-flagged silver Botin 65 has again won it for 2024-25.
Posted on 16 Sep
Youth stepping up in Manly 16ft Skiff Club fleets
Joel Beashel hopes his nomination in the NSW youth sailor-of-the-year awards acts as a spur Joel Beashel hopes his nomination in the NSW youth sailor-of-the-year awards acts as a spur for the rest of the young guns pushing through the various Manly 16ft Skiff Club fleets.
Posted on 16 Sep