Full Breakdown
Angiola II Capsizes Off Sardinia Days After Delivery
8/14/2026, 9:07:06 AM
Core Event
A 98-foot luxury superyacht, the Angiola II, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea on a Tuesday evening near Porto Cervo, Sardinia. The vessel was on its side between the island known as L’Isola dei Cappuccini and the headland Capo Ferro. Fourteen people were aboard; all escaped without injury after nearby boats rescued twelve and a coast-guard patrol transferred the remaining two to the harbour of Poltu Quatu.
Background & Context
The Angiola II was delivered to an unnamed Italian businessman only four days earlier, following an extensive refurbishment. The yacht was originally built by the Italian shipyard Permare under its Amer Yachts brand and launched in July 2020 as the sixth hull of the Amer F100 series. The model provides accommodation for up to ten guests across five cabins and is equipped with four engines capable of 28 knots.
Technical Details and Reported Cause
Investigators observed that an engine malfunction triggered a fire in the vessel’s seals, allowing seawater to flood the hull and causing the yacht to lose buoyancy. The fire damaged the seals, and the resulting water ingress led the vessel to tip onto its side and sink. The wreck now rests on the seabed at a depth of roughly seven metres (about 23 feet). A pontoon weighing approximately 200 tonnes is slated for deployment to raise the wreck.
Official Statements & Responses
The La Maddalena Coast Guard spent close to three hours managing the incident before allowing the yacht to sink in a controlled manner. The La Maddalena Port Authority is implementing measures aimed at preventing ecological damage to the surrounding waters.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Value of the yacht: Italian media outlets have placed the vessel’s worth at more than €8 million, while other reports list it at £6.8 million, $9.1 million, or £3.8 million. No single source provides a definitive valuation.
- Cause confirmation: The fire-induced seal breach is the leading hypothesis, but the precise cause has not been officially confirmed. Some outlets attribute the incident to an engine failure, while others note that investigations are ongoing and the exact trigger remains unverified.
Environmental Precautions
The port authority’s preventive actions include monitoring the site for potential fuel leaks and deploying containment equipment to mitigate any spill. No immediate environmental impact has been reported, but authorities remain vigilant while the wreck remains submerged.
What’s Next
Salvage teams plan to recover the Angiola II using the 200-tonne pontoon. The operation will continue until the yacht is lifted from the seabed, after which a detailed technical inspection is expected to determine the definitive cause of the failure.
