After a fatal accident off Cala Bona, in which a 20-year-old angler died at the end of August (23.8.) after a collision with a yacht almost 21 meters long and up to 37 knots (69 km/h) fast with a total of 3,100 hp engine power, a debate about safety at sea has picked up speed in Mallorca.
The motor yacht Riva 66′ Ribelle, built by the luxury shipyard Riva Yachts since 2018, is a fantastic boat. Lucky are those who can afford this multi-million euro, 20.67-metre sports boat with 3 guest cabins and a draught of 1.80 meters. The yacht is powered by two MAN V12 diesels, which together produce 3,100 hp and can accelerate the yacht up to 37 knots (69 km/h).
There is “nothing ordinary about this magnificent boat, which combines exclusive style with the pleasure and comfort of a range of sophisticated on-board features”, says the shipyard itself in praise of the boat, which has been in production since 2018; the high-tech sports flybridge 66′ Ribelle embodies the “spirit of Riva in its own inimitable style, with an exciting blend of technology and beauty”.
It was precisely this type of boat that was launched on August 23 off Cala Bona off the east coast of Mallorca, as the Mallorca newspaper reported in several articles. The fatal incident took place at around 9.45 pm “when 20-year-old Guillem C. was fishing for squid with his younger brother and his uncle”.
The yacht La Luna is said to have overlooked the small dinghy and simply sailed over it
The three were on the 3.50-metre-long fishing boat, which, according to initial findings, was sailing with lights. The yacht La Luna had apparently “overlooked” the small dinghy “and simply roared over it”, reports the MZ am 28.8.2024.
Cala Bona is located in the middle of the bay of Bahia de Artà and north of the village of Cala Millor. Unlike Cala Millor, where touristy concrete buildings dominate the scene, Cala Bona still has an old, almost antique-looking fishing port, from which 20-year-old Guillem C. set off with his younger brother and uncle on the evening of 23 August – with a fatal outcome for the young man.
This was not the only incident involving this luxury yacht, reports the MZ: “As witnesses told the Guardia Civil, the dark blue Riva 66 Ribelle had already caused trouble around Porto Cristo in the days before. It had been observed several times entering the town’s harbor at high speed or speeding out to sea from the harbor, endangering other boats”.
The accident has caused heated debate among boaters in Mallorca and sparked a debate about safety off the coast
This accident has sparked heated debate among boaters in Mallorca and a debate about safety off the coast. “On the sea, the law of the jungle applies”, was the headline in the MZ newspaper just one day later, asking: what about compliance with traffic regulations on the water? Quite a few people sailing off the coasts of Mallorca are now calling for the rules to be tightened up considerably – but above all for these rules to be monitored effectively.
The question is legitimate; for some time now, complaints from residents about reckless behavior on the water have been increasing, which fortunately has not yet led to serious accidents such as the one involving the 21-metre Riva yacht. “Not yet”, claim many, and: it is only a matter of time before more bad things happen on the water if nothing is done by the authorities.
Many professional boaters, fishermen and environmental protection organizations such as the Gob will no longer tolerate “business as usual”, summarizes the MZ; in the meantime, together with the marine protection association Mallorca Blue, a video was published shortly after the fatal accident of Guillem C., in which “numerous scenes from the coast off Mallorca are shown, in which boats, stand-up paddlers, canoeists, jet skis and swimmers sometimes come dangerously close to each other”.
In the video, the Gob calls for the speed limit at sea to be regulated more strictly. Currently, the limit of three knots only applies up to a distance of 200 meters from the coast.
Robert Perger, SeaHelp Manager Spain, qualifies the statements: in his view, there have not been any more accidents on the water around Mallorca this year than in previous years, even though he deeply regrets the tragic accident off Cala Bona. There was a similar case some time ago when divers had their limbs severed by a boat. Only prudent sailing behavior in accordance with the regulations and the proverbial good seamanship can help to prevent accidents at sea in general.
In his opinion, the 15 hp charter regulation, which is often blamed for accidents on the water in debates, has not led to an increased number of accidents around Mallorca, on the contrary: these 15 hp charter boats usually sail very slowly, sometimes even over-cautiously, the boat professional continued.
However, the situation is “quite different” with jet skis: “There are a lot more jet skis than there used to be here on Mallorca”, says Perger, adding that they “often drive at full speed in the coastal area”, especially in the rental and charter sector. Motorized traffic on the sea is not allowed to come closer than 200 meters to the beach and 50 meters to the coast, approaching the harbour should only be done very slowly, which of course also applies to jet skis.
However, many jet skiers do not adhere to these rules. Many complaints this summer are therefore directed against jet ski providers, writes the MZ. These heavily motorized single-seaters would make “life hell” for many residents of the coastal area simply because of their noise. Even ordinary jet skis can reach speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour; if the driver is not very familiar with the vehicle, things can “quickly become dangerous”.
Controls and strict sanctions can help against drink-driving
Keyword alcohol or drugs at the wheel: “Drinking and driving has always been a problem on the water around Mallorca“, comments SeaHelp Baleares manager Robert Perger on the current debates surrounding safety at sea around the Spanish islands; this has “certainly not diminished”.
Many accidents due to alcohol at the wheel of boats happen because Mallorca is a vacation island and charter boats in particular are often used for parties. “Only increased controls and strict sanctions can help here”.
Further information / contact: SeaHelp Service Baleares: Calle Ramon de Montcada 17, 07180 Santa Ponsa, Mallorca, Spain. Tel: +34 (0) 646086090, mallorca@sea-help.eu.
