PARI Aground in France

Now you see them - Now you Don't - Now you see them...

Probably just my browser; technology can be challenging - I apologize for my apprehension .

Terrible night

The area is called Beaulieu sur Mer. I was there that night anchored a few cables off M.Y. Pari. We got the May Day just after 0400 and launched one of our tenders and evacuated the boss and his wife in the height of the storm.

Its all good and well for people to write about what they would have done in that situation from the comfort of their laptop but I can assure that the night in question was a nightmare.

The Wx forecast was for 15kts-20kts and it was quite as a mouse up until 03:00 then all hell broke loose. Gusts of 40-50kts funnelled down the mountain and the swell kicked up in a matter of minutes. Every boat in the anchorage dragged ourselves included.

We picked up our hook and went hove to a mile or so out. Myself and two other crew went to M.Y. Pari assistance in our tender. We managed to disembark the boss and his wife and stood by until the French navy arrived and then we left them to it. Dropped off the shaken boss at the marina.

I think to criticize the crew of M.Y. Pari is unfair. They did the best they could and this type of incident could happen to any of us (like it or not). In an ideal world everything would always run smoothly but the sea is a very unforgiving master.

Of course it was an onshore wind. How else would M.Y. Pari have ended up on the rocks? The wind did not come down the mountain from behind Beaulieu sur mer if came along the coast from the East. If you are familiar with the area you will know that the coast from Beaulieu to Monaco is quite steep and the wind gets funnelled down the coast with the fetch culminating in the baie de Beaulieu.

Just curious, was anyone on watch, were two anchors deployed??.

Thanks

"comfort of a laptop"

I think many of the regulars here are posting from onboard some vessel...

"I think to criticize the crew of M.Y. Pari is unfair."

true if they suffered some kind of mechanical failure like being unable to start their engines. If the boat ended up on the rocks because nobody was on watch, it's a little harder to excuse. Other boats, yours included, did not end up on the rocks, there is a reason for that. Some crews were ready, others were not.

Thank you Pascal. no intent to criticize anyone just a simple question looking for an answer if anyone knows for certain.

Cheers

No, I don't know if they had anybody on watch or if they suffered any mechanical failures. That is the point; I feel it is unfair to make assumptions on their level of professionalism without knowing the full facts.

Anyway, I have no wish to argue with anybody on this site. I was just giving some input from someone who was on scene.

Ironically, we have just dropped our hook in the same spot to-night..... Fingers crossed!!!

The problem is that a boat must not be anchored so close to the seaside whatever the weather forecasts or crew skills are. Local people don't stop asserting that this kind of accident had to occur one day or another one "again". Just trust them !
I remind that roughly one year earlier, a small sail-boat ended up on the rocks too, near Paloma Beach (St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat) half mile away from PARI wreckage place.

PS: if you wanna spend the night near the beach, just buy a camping-car.

Have we heard anything about the Pari, Refit/Repair/Ect ?

Let us never forget that the only time that matters is this time.

M/y pari

What ever happened to M/Y Pari after her tragic grounding?

Was she saved or lost?

Refloated, temp repairs made, sent to Genoa for repairs, and then ?

The Internet is not saying much.

Insurance company version of incident:

Motoryacht Pari heading to Genoa

Superyacht PARI Heading to Genoa – Superyachts News, Luxury Yachts, Charter & Yachts for Sale.

I can put my chart plotter picture on my TV, it is very cool.

That way when the alarm goes off, or when i wake up for whatever reason, I can just go to ch3 to see where the GPS is reporting my positoin.

I also take a handheld GPS in my cabin at night when on the hook.

But, when on the hook, I am constantly up checking positon up on deck as well as relying on the 2 GPSs.

It is unfortunate that a 39m yacht did not have a proper watch and was unable to avoid this grounding.

It is more unfortunate that another hook was not dropped.

If the Captain had been "familiar with that location then the old adage applies " one of the most dangerous things about navigation is local knowledge"