There were moments of apprehension today in the waters off Punta Negra, in Alghero, where a cabin cruiser of approximately nine meters sank due to the stormy seas caused by the strong south-westerly wind.
The owner of the vessel, the sole occupant on board, was rescued by the Coast Guard. The alarm was raised at the operations room of the Porto Torres Port Authority, which immediately dispatched the Alghero Coast Guard patrol boat CP 871.
Despite rough seas and strong winds, the crew quickly reached the emergency site. When rescuers arrived, the hull was already taking on significant amounts of water and was sinking. The crew immediately secured the yachtsman and attempted to save the vessel, but were unsuccessful due to the serious leaks and the harsh sea conditions.
Once the rescue was completed, the Coast Guard checked that the body of water was free of oil spills or other pollutants.
Further technical inspections are planned for tomorrow to plan the wreck recovery operations. Meanwhile, Gianluca De Luca, commander of the Alghero Maritime District Office, urges all boaters to always check the weather forecast before going out to sea and to carefully inspect the vessel's condition and safety equipment.
