Four Italian sailors have lost their lives in a serious boat accident at the entrance to Rimini harbour. On Tuesday afternoon, the Bavaria 50 "Dipiu" was thrown onto the rocks as it approached the harbour of Rimini. Four crew members were washed off board and the yacht's keel, rudder and rigging also broke. This was reported by the Italian news agency Ansa and various Italian media.
The "Dipiu" was therefore on a transfer voyage from Ravenna on the Adriatic coast to Trapani in Sicily. There were six people on board from Verona. Five men and one woman - reportedly all experienced sailors. Apparently they were surprised by heavy weather, a north-easterly bora with wind speeds of over 40 knots. The crew then headed for the harbour of Rimini with radio support from ashore. However, the engine failed on the approach and the foresail apparently could not be unfurled. Unable to manoeuvre, the yacht was overturned by high swells and driven first against and finally onto the harbour pier.
Rescue workers initially found one person dead, three other crew members were missing. Their bodies were only found on Wednesday morning after a night-time search operation. Two had washed up on the pier and one had been swept away by the current. Among the dead are a 65-year-old sailor and his 38-year-old daughter. The surviving crew members, a 39-year-old man and a 69-year-old man, are in hospital for treatment.
