CHAMPAGNE HIPPY

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Yard apologizes for laminate error which caused keel loss

The Oyster Yachts yard had completed the investigation into the sinking of the "Polina Star III". It was found out that a laminate-error was the cause. The shipyard apologized. On the way to Alicante the yacht lost its keel five miles off the coast and capsized in just over six minutes. The skipper and four crew members reached the liferaft and were rescued. First, the skipper was suspended on suspicion of grounding, but he defended himself with an exact description of the incident. A full statement of Oyster has just been released. The investigations of the Oyster 825 yard numbers 01-03 revealed small cracks in the keel area at the outer ends of the reinforcing grid structure, which led to the conjecture that the second lamination layer of these compounds was unsound. Material samples from this area confirmed suspicions that vast sections at the T-connections of the two halves were poorly laminated. The matrix at the investigated yachts has been completely removed and replaced with a carbon structure, bonded with epoxy resin. In future, the 825 will be constructed like all other more than 800 Oyster hulls built up to now. German report with photos: http://segelreporter.com/panorama/oyster-untergang-die-werft-erklaert-wie-der-kiel-abfallen-konnte-und-entschuldigt-sich/

Wreck investigation underway

The Oyster 825 "Polinar Star III" which sank off Spain in the summer has been raised, and investigations were being underway. The "Polina Star III» with Russian owner who wrecked on July 3 in the Mediterranean Sea, ca. 30 miles from Alicante. All five on board were saved. Norwegian report with photo: https://www.seilas.no/innhold/navigasjon-og-sjomannskap/?article_id=37055

Yacht to be raised

The "Polina Star III" sank off the coast of Spain on July 4, 2015. She may have foundered following a hull failure. Her five crew, two Italians and three Russians, were rescued from a liferaft and taken aboard the Spanish fishing vessel "Isabel y Andrés". The crew were safely taken to the port of San Pedro del Pinat in Murcia. It was not yet clear if the yacht hit something in the water before sinking, but the loss was described as the result of an incident that compromised the integrity of the moulded hull on July 3, before the yacht sank the following day. Oyster Marine was treating the sinking with the utmost seriousness and has commenced an investigation to establish the cause. Diving inspections of the hull on the seabed have been undertaken and through this the possibility of impact with an underwater object propagating structural failure has not been ruled out. Recovery of the vessel will facilitate further detailed investigation. Spanish authorities have asked for the wreck to be removed and the insurers are said to be planning to refloat and salvage the yacht.