Acoa - Storm Harry drove the Acoa ashore at Son Servera — her skipper went overboard and lived
Alone aboard a 28-metre yacht when hurricane-force winds dragged her anchor, the skipper was thrown into the sea and reached the beach with hypothermia; the yacht was left wrecked in the surf.
What happened.
During the hurricane-force storm 'Harry' on the night of 19 January 2026, the 28-metre aluminium sailing yacht Acoa dragged her anchor and grounded on the beach at Son Servera, on Mallorca's east coast. Her skipper, alone aboard, was thrown overboard but reached shore, suffering hypothermia and injuries. The yacht was left stranded in the surf, and an early attempt to refloat her failed.
On the night of 19 January 2026, the hurricane-force storm 'Harry' struck Mallorca's east coast. The Acoa, an aluminium sailing yacht of about 28 metres worth over a million euros, was lying at anchor off Costa de los Pinos, near Son Servera, with a single person aboard. As the winds and seas built, the yacht dragged and then lost her anchor and was driven onto the beach at Playa de Sa Marjal. Her 68-year-old skipper, Klaus Fietzeck, was thrown overboard during the ordeal; he managed to reach the shore and was treated for hypothermia and injuries, but survived. The grounded yacht was left pounding in the surf. A first attempt to refloat her on 22 January failed, and she remained stranded for weeks while questions over ownership, insurance and a salvage bill estimated at more than 300,000 euros went unresolved. No one else was aboard and there were no other casualties.
What it teaches.
- 1Anchoring through a forecast storm is a watch, not a set-and-forget. The Acoa dragged and lost her anchor in hurricane-force winds and was on the beach soon after. In real weather, keep an anchor watch, set a drag alarm, and be ready to get underway before the holding fails — not after.
- 2A dragging anchor on a lee shore gives almost no time. Once the Acoa started moving, the beach was downwind and close. If you must anchor near a lee shore in heavy weather, plan an escape under engine or sail in advance, and leave early rather than fight to re-set as you drag.
- 3Alone on deck in a storm, going overboard is the fatal failure. The skipper was thrown into the sea and only just reached shore. Single-handed in heavy weather, clip on with a tether and jacklines every time you leave the cockpit; no boat-handling task is worth being in the water unattached.
- 4When the boat is lost, getting ashore alive is the win. The Acoa was wrecked and abandoned in the surf, but her skipper survived hypothermia and injury. A grounded hull on a beach is replaceable; do not risk your life trying to save it once you are the one in danger.
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