SW-INC-0470SeaWise Incidents

Odisea - The sailboat Odisea strikes rocks and starts flooding near Riachuelo, Uruguay; both crew rescued

Sailing from Olivos, Argentina, toward the Uruguayan town of Riachuelo on the Río de la Plata, the Odisea struck rocks near the mouth of the Arroyo Riachuelo. The impact opened a serious leak that compromised the hull within minutes. Uruguay's Prefectura Naval rescued both crew by boat; the sailboat itself was left grounded on the beach.

verified · 1 sourceN
Vessel
OdiseaSailboat
When
2025Río de la Plata
Crew
2 aboardAll survived
Outcome
Abandoned
Position
Near the mouth of the Arroyo Riachuelo, Colonia Department, Uruguay
Sea area
Río de la Plata, off Colonia
Coordinates
-34.45°S, -57.73°WApproximate position
Summary

What happened.

On 26 December 2025, the sailboat Odisea struck rocks near the mouth of the Arroyo Riachuelo, Uruguay, opening a leak that compromised the hull within minutes. Uruguay's Prefectura Naval rescued both crew by boat, and the boat itself was left grounded on the beach.

On Friday 26 December 2025, the Argentine-flagged sailboat Odisea was sailing from Olivos, Buenos Aires, toward the small Uruguayan town of Riachuelo when it struck rocks near the mouth of the Arroyo Riachuelo, on the Río de la Plata. A Navy spokesman described a ‘vía de agua importante’ — a serious leak — that compromised the boat's flotation within minutes of the impact, and the sailboat ran aground on the coast. Uruguay's Prefectura Naval sent a boat to the scene and brought both crew members ashore; they were reported in good health and did not need hospital treatment. In the days that followed, local reporting noted the Odisea was still resting on the Riachuelo beach, its recovery apparently unresolved. A clean rescue of the people, but one more case of a coastal passage ending on the rocks the moment a hull is holed close to shore.

ConditionsOn Friday 26 December 2025, the Argentine-flagged sailboat Odisea, sailing from Olivos toward Riachuelo, Uruguay, struck rocks near the mouth of the Arroyo Riachuelo. The impact opened a serious leak (‘vía de agua importante’) that compromised the boat's flotation within minutes, and it ran aground on the coast. Uruguay's Prefectura Naval (Armada Nacional) sent a boat and brought both crew ashore; they were reported in good health and did not need hospital care. In the days after, local reporting noted the Odisea remained stuck on the Riachuelo beach. Facts from Montevideo Portal and Prefectura de Colonia statements (26-27 Dec 2025).
SeaWise noteThis crew struck rocks close inshore and had only minutes before the leak took the boat down — not because the water was deep, but because they were close enough to hit bottom at all. Know your draft against the chart, and keep a soft-wood plug kit within reach of every through-hull before you need it.
Lessons learned

What it teaches.

  • 1
    They struck rocks close to shore, and the leak took the boat down within minutes. Treat any impact near rocks as a possible hull breach, not just a soft grounding — check below immediately.
    running aground flooding
  • 2
    Know your draft and the chart's rocks and shoals before closing an unfamiliar coast, especially near a river mouth where currents can push you off your intended track.
    running aground
  • 3
    A soft-wood plug kit and a working manual bilge pump, both within reach, are what buy you the minutes between a holed hull and a total loss.
    flooding
Sources

Where this comes from.

News· South America sailing newsUn velero argentino fue rescatado en Colonia luego de quedar varado en el río por un desperfectoVisit ↗

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Procedures involved.

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GroundingFloodingRío de la Plata
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2025Colonia · Río de la PlataGrounding & flooding

Odisea

In late December 2025, the Argentine sailing yacht Odisea, crossing the River Plate from Buenos Aires toward Riachuelo on the Uruguayan side, was left stranded and taking on water near the river mouth in the Colonia department. The Uruguayan Prefectura took the two crew off by launch, both in good condition, and the holed yacht was left beached. Reports differ on whether a malfunction or striking rocks caused it.

2 crewAbandoned
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Record IDSW-INC-0470
Curated bySeaWise editorial
Confidenceverified · 1 source
Record typeIncident

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