Utopia IV sinks... a fuel tanker???

Sadly, Not yet here.

I recently saw a posting that they are looking for a new captain...

I'm guessing on the yachts repair schedule.
I can see the need for a new captain, before return to service in the B islands.
So the yacht repairs are just finished?

Even before this accident, "Utopia's" of past and present had an abnormally high amount of crew turnover as its a tough outfit to work for with the Mrs. running the yacht show with an iron fist. Crew don't seem to last long there and the reasons are well known in the industry.

And then those things go together to create a cycle of chaos. Lousy work environment and bad reputation leads to only being able to hire subpar crew which leads to more problems and worse environment due to iron fist and unhappiness and leads to even less ability to hire and even worse crew and it all just continues downhill. No escape ever. Ultimately lousy employers and lousy employees are going to match up together.

While were waiting for any official report on the OP , Here is a report on a slightly similar brain fart event;
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/press-rel...lot-Led-to-Grounding-of-a-Fishing-Vessel.aspx

NTSB just released their report. All I can say, is "WOW". The yacht was operating with reduced radar and nav lights at night, with visibility reduced by spray over the bow. What a goatfu@k!! Here's the link
https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MIR2229.pdf

Wow, sad reading...

Seems NTSB was invited.
Thank you Seasmaster for your post


3. Conclusions

3.1 Probable Cause

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of the collision between the yacht Utopia IV and the tank vessel Tropic Breeze was the Utopia IV’s wheelhouse crew not maintaining a proper lookout and therefore not identifying the tank vessel they were overtaking. Contributing was the Tropic Breeze's bridge team also not maintaining a proper lookout.

3.2 Lessons Learned

Proper Lookout

A proper lookout by suitably trained crewmembers is required by the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 and is essential in determining the risk of collision. The effective use of all available resources by a bridge team, including visual scanning, radars, electronic charts, and an automatic identification system, increases collective situational awareness and contributes to a safe navigation watch. Operators and crews should ensure that vessel bridge teams are staffed with certificated/credentialed mariners who are familiar with all bridge navigation equipment and able to independently take immediate action.

I've been doing the same thing, one screen segment near, the other further out.

-Chris

Huh...each charter captain I've ever worked with was extremely cautious running at night. I know of some charters that just won't do it at all unless they must. I've had some close calls at night over the years just running 20 kts in a center console, and I was paying attention! Sounds like this owner is not one I'd like to charter from...

To help you feel better; new captain wanted and the boat is for sale.

I was interested to read in the accident report that the windshield of Utopia was covered with salt spray from the bow. Narrow plumb bows with little or no flare so popular today as on Utopia must throw up salt spray in any sort of seaway, and Utopia has a highly slanted windshield that looks ideal for collecting spray. A salt-covered windshield to keep view while traveling at 20 knots at night. Form over function.

F***ed-over function.
But it looks good sitting at the dock..