yachting news stories on Newser

Santa Claus Robs Rhode Island Yacht Club

Mon, 20 Dec 2010 09:39:05 CST

Call it a ho-ho-holdup: a man dressed as Santa Claus has robbed a Rhode Island yacht club. Authorities say a bartender was alone last night when a large man wearing a red suit, red hat, and white beard and carrying a sack walked into the bar and brandished a gun.

Whale Crashes Into Yacht, but All Ends Well

MountainSun1 — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 14:15:00 CDT

A couple from South Africa was out for a relaxing Sunday sail when they got much more than they bargained for—in the form of a 40-ton whale. They were admiring the whale flipping its tail around the boat when it briefly disappeared. The woman's boyfriend then told her to...

Sailors Say Iranian Lockup Wasn't So Bad

Kevin Spak — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:22:32 CST

The five British yachtsmen Iran captured en route to Dubai say they have no complaints about their treatment. The sailors described their ordeal at a news conference today, saying they were held in a “perfectly reasonable room,” where they played chess and darts and were exceedingly well nourished. “If anything,...

Iran Seizes 5 British Yacht Crew Members

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:12:56 CST

Iran is holding five British sailors after stopping their racing yacht in the Persian Gulf, the British government said today. The yacht, owned by Sail Bahrain, was stopped on its way from the tiny island country to Dubai on Wednesday when it "may have strayed inadvertently into Iranian waters," according...

Sailor's Widow Stunned She Survived Pirate Attack

Rob Quinn — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 06:17:49 CDT

A British grandmother was trussed "naked like a chicken" in her sailboat cabin while pirates beat her husband with hammers and slit his throat off the coast of Thailand, she told the Times of London. Three men "tied and gagged me, then went toward the forward cabin," she said. "I...

Pirates Kill Brit Yachtsman

Mary Papenfuss — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:48:06 CDT

A British yachtsman was killed off the coast of Thailand by three fisherman-pirates who locked his wife in the cabin, reports the Times of London. The body of the vacationing 64-year-old businessman was not found, but police believe he was thrown overboard after his throat was cut. His wife managed...

Photog Must Pay Damages for Diana Make-Out Shots

Mary Papenfuss — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 04:02:00 CDT

A British photographer has been ordered to pay damages for snapping shots of Princess Diana kissing boyfriend Dodi Fayed. A Paris court levied $6,000 in fines and $8,000 in damages to be paid to Dodi's dad, Mohamed Al Fayed, owner of the yacht where the the two were...

Saddam's Love Boat Sets Sale

Kevin Spak — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:37:14 CST

Saddam Hussein’s secret pleasure super-yacht can be yours—yes, yours!—for just $34 million. Moored off the French Riviera, away from the pesky bombers that destroyed the late dictator's other yacht, the Ocean Breeze was put up for sale last week by a British brokerage firm, the New York Post...

America's Cup Lacks Americans

Jesse Andrews — Mon, 21 May 2007 21:45:07 CDT

After a decisive 5-1 defeat by Italy's Luna Rossi, BMW Oracle Racing's leadership is in doubt; for the final race, owner Larry Ellison grounded skipper Chris Dickson, whose dictatorial style is said to have chafed the crew. Aided by the futuristic USA98, the underachieving Oracle team was predicted to challenge...