SW-INC-0135SeaWise Incidents

Preveza - A sailing yacht with 11 aboard grounded on rocks near Preveza; all were evacuated safely

A Greek-flagged yacht carrying ten Italian visitors and one Greek hit a rocky stretch of the Ionian coast in moderate winds; the coast guard and a diver took everyone off without injury.

verified · 1 sourceN
Vessel
PrevezaSailing yacht
When
2025Mediterranean
Crew
11 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Returned safely
Position
Near Kastrosykia (Kastritsa), Preveza, Ionian coast, Greece
Sea area
Preveza · Ionian
Coordinates
39.08°N, 20.65°EApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

On 10 August 2025, a Greek-flagged sailing yacht carrying 11 people — ten Italians and one Greek — ran aground on a rocky stretch of coast near Kastrosykia, at Preveza on Greece's Ionian coast, in winds of up to 5 Beaufort. The exact cause was unclear. A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel and a diver responded, and all 11 aboard were evacuated safely, with no injuries reported.

On 10 August 2025, a Greek-flagged sailing yacht ran aground on a rocky part of the Ionian coast near Kastrosykia, also reported as Kastritsa, close to Preveza in north-western Greece — a busy charter and cruising area. There were 11 people aboard, ten of them Italian visitors and one Greek, and the yacht struck the rocks under circumstances that were not made clear. Winds in the area were blowing up to 5 Beaufort, moderate enough that they did not significantly hamper the response. A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel and a diver went to the scene, and all 11 aboard were taken off the yacht safely. No injuries were reported. It was a grounding with a large group aboard that ended well, thanks to a prompt evacuation in manageable conditions.

Conditions10 August 2025, winds up to 5 Beaufort (not significantly hampering the response). A Greek-flagged sailing yacht with 11 aboard (ten Italians and one Greek) hit a rocky area near Kastrosykia/Kastritsa, Preveza, under unclear circumstances. A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel and a diver responded; all 11 were removed safely. No injuries reported.
SeaWise noteEleven people on one yacht is a lot of crew to account for when she hits the rocks, and most will be guests rather than sailors. This one ended without a scratch because the conditions were moderate and help was close. It is worth remembering when the boat is full: the bigger the group, the more deliberate your pilotage near the coast, and the clearer everyone needs to be on lifejackets and how to get ashore.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    A rocky coast bites hardest where the crew knows it least. This Greek-flagged yacht, carrying ten Italian visitors, grounded near Preveza. On chartered or unfamiliar waters, study the chart and the local hazards, keep well off rocky headlands, and post a lookout when you close the coast.
    running aground on watch
  • 2
    With a full crew aboard, plan how you would get everyone off. All 11 here were evacuated without injury. A boat carrying a large group needs lifejackets for all, a clear muster and evacuation plan, and a reliable way to call for help — so a grounding stays an inconvenience, not a casualty list.
    abandon ship prep to sail
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· EU/Med sailing newsΠροσάραξη ιστιοφόρου με 11 επιβαίνοντες στην Καστροσυκιά ΠρέβεζαςVisit ↗

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From SeaWise

Procedures involved.

ProcedurePrimary

Grounding

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Record IDSW-INC-0135
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidenceverified · 1 source
Record typeIncident

About SeaWise records: We catalogue sailing emergencies with structured metadata and link to primary sources rather than republishing them. Individual crew names are anonymised by default— sources we link to may name them publicly; SeaWise refers to roles ("the skipper", "the crew") on our pages. Submitter identities are always private.