farfalla yacht accident

Published on March 14th, 2022 | by Editor

Accident at Superyacht Challenge Antigua

Published on March 14th, 2022 by Editor -->

Sam Richmond

After being injured in training on March 8 before the 2022 Superyacht Challenge Antigua, Sam Richmond has passed away. Richmond was onboard the Farr-designed 102-foot Farfalla, built by Southern Wind and launched in 2014.

The British sailor took to the sport in an Optimist at the age 6 and continued on to sail 420s and 49ers. His transition from sailing as a hobby to working in the industry started as a sailing instructor in Spain, followed by coaching National Youth Squads.

In 2004, Sam started racing big boats on the Swan 48 Jacobite, which led to racing worldwide on many different racing boats from Etchells and Quarter Tonners to Superyachts. In 2011, Sam joined North Sails as a salesman dealing primarily with Solent-based racing boat projects. He recently became North Sails’ Head of Sales for Europe.

But when part of Farfalla runner system rigging failed, Sam incurred a head injury, He was taken to hospital before being medically evacuated to Florida where he died on March 10. Farfalla did not compete in the event on March 10-13 which was open to superyachts in excess of 30 metres.

“He was so well loved by me, his daughters Maisie and Martha, his family and the most amazing circle of friends anybody could aspire to have,” said his wife, Colette Richmond. “Wherever you are Sam I hope you are near the sea with a glass of rosé in your hand.”

At Sunset on March 11, the yachting community in Antigua sounded their horns as an act of remembrance to one of the loveliest guys in sailing. On March 13, a Remembrance Procession was observed by all competing yachts before the start of the final race of the regatta.

Colette asks for memories and photos to be sent to [email protected] .

To view onboard video taken the day before the accident, click here .

Tags: Eight Bells , Sam Richmond , Superyacht Challenge Antigua

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Man accused of driving boat that killed girl had 'no knowledge' of accident, lawyer says

A uthorities in South Florida have identified the person driving a boat in the hit-and-run death of 15-year-old girl over the weekend.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 78, of Coral Gables was piloting a 42-foot Boston Whaler in Key Biscayne when officials say his boat struck Ella Riley Adler , according to a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission incident report obtained by The Palm Beach Post , part of the USA TODAY NETWORK.

According to the report, the girl was wakeboarding and fell into the water before she was struck by Alonso's vessel.

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The man driving the boat left the scene without stopping, witnesses told the agency. Ella was retrieved by the other boat but died of her injuries, according to the report.

Here's what we know so far about the fatal hit-and-run boating incident:

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When was Ella Adler struck by a boat?

According to new information released in the report, Ella was struck wakeboarding in waters off Key Biscayne on Saturday afternoon.

Initial reports from the FWC indicated the girl had been waterskiing.

The agency reported Ella fell in the ocean  near Nixon Beach  while being towed about a mile from shore and was struck by another vessel at 4:30 p.m.

The beach is in Miami-Dade County about 7 miles south of downtown Miami.

Ella was wakeboarding behind a 42-foot 2017 Hanse Fjord yacht near a sandbar at the same time as another unidentified female on a wake surfboard rode, officers wrote in the report.

Ella and the other female being towed fell into the water at different times and locations.

While waiting to be recovered by her boat, another vessel struck her and fled the scene, officials said. A witness said the boat did not appear to swerve or slow down when it hit the girl.

Ella, who wore a life jacket, died from her injuries.

Who is Carlos Guillermo Alonso?

Alonso is 78 and lives in Coral Gables . The city is about 5 miles from downtown Miami. According to his attorney, Lauren Krasnoff, her client goes by the name Bill.

Investigators said it was unclear if Alonso knew Ella was hit or whether alcohol was a factor.

Krasnoff told USA TODAY on Friday Alonso does not drink and did not know he struck anyone on the water.

Here is a statement in full released to USA TODAY from his attorney:

"This is the worst possible tragedy and before saying anything else, we want to express our deepest sympathies to Ella Adler’s family and friends.

There have been numerous requests for Carlos Alonso, who goes by “Bill,” to make a statement. Because this is an ongoing investigation with which he is fully cooperating, he will not be making any statements to the media other than to say that he was beyond devastated to learn that he may have been involved in this awful tragedy.

I will tell you that Bill, who has been boating for 50 years and is a very experienced boater who knows these waters, was out boating by himself on Saturday. He has no knowledge whatsoever of having been involved in this accident. If he hit Ella that day, he certainly did not know it. Had Bill thought he hit anything, he absolutely would have stopped. But he did not at any point think that he had hit anything, let alone a person. He docked his boat in plain sight right behind his house. When Fish and Wildlife contacted Bill on Sunday, he did not know why they were reaching out to him. He did not even know there was an accident on the water the day before, but immediately met with law enforcement, spoke to them without a lawyer, and has been cooperating with law enforcement eversince.

Bill is 78 years old and came to the United States from Cuba in operation Peter Pan. He has never had any contact with the criminal justice system. He does not drink and was not drinking on Saturday, May 11, and he was driving his boat safely at a reasonable rate of speed.

Bill is a good man and he is absolutely devastated by the loss of this intelligent, accomplished and beautiful young woman. He has cooperated 100% with law enforcement and will continue to do so. As I said, this is an ongoing investigation. So we will have no further comment at this time."

The FWC reported Alonso's vessel was in custody on Tuesday and Alonso was cooperating with the investigation.

Has anyone been arrested in Ella Adler's death?

Officials did not say whether Alonso was facing charges in connection to the fatal hit-and-run.

They also did not say what day they located the suspect vessel.

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Who was Ella Adler?

Ella, a ballerina, lived in Miami Beach, officials said, and attended  Ransom Everglades High School  in Miami.

"She was a force of nature, and when she was near, everyone felt a gravitational pull toward her," her obituary reads. "She loved to dance, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family."

She is the granddaughter of Michael Adler, the current  U.S. Ambassador to Belgium , according to the  Miami Herald .

She is survived by her parents, Amanda and Matthew Adler, and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn, and many other relatives.

Reward being offered in Ella Adler's hit-and-run boating death

A $20,000 reward − $10,000 from Ella's family and a combined $10,000 from FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers − is being offered for information in the case.

Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact those agencies.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man accused of driving boat that killed girl had 'no knowledge' of accident, lawyer says

What We Know About Ella Adler As Boat Seized In Crash That Killed Florida Teen

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A boat has been seized in connection with a weekend hit-and-run accident that killed Ella Adler in Biscayne Bay, officials confirmed to Forbes on Tuesday, the latest in an ongoing investigation into the death of the Florida teenager who has been remembered as a " bright young soul ” after she died Saturday.

Boats ply the waters of Biscayne Bay with the Miami skyline see in the distance.

Adler, who was wearing a life jacket, was water skiing with friends when she fell into the water close to a sandbar near Nixon Beach, about 7 miles from downtown Miami, and was then hit by a boat that didn't stop.

Officials immediately asked the public for help in finding the boat and offered $20,000 for information leading to the arrest of the hit-and-run suspect, though it was unclear at the time whether the boater knew they had hit the teenager.

Witnesses described the boat to Florida Fish and Wildlife officials, who identified its owner and seized it Tuesday, the agency said in a statement—the owner is cooperating with authorities and no arrest has been made.

The investigation is ongoing and representatives with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are still asking witnesses or anyone with video footage of the incident to come forward.

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Crucial Quote

"The world lost a star this weekend,” the Adler family said in a statement through their attorney Tuesday. “Ella was beautiful and shined brightly. In her 15 years she gave us more light than we could have ever dreamed. While we cope with this unspeakable tragedy, we ask the public to give us our privacy as we mourn."

Key Background

Adler was a young ballerina with the Miami City Ballet, a student in the class of 2027 at the Ransom Everglades School in Miami and the granddaughter of the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Michael M. Adler. She appeared in more than 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet and her obituary remembered her as a performer who "belonged and thrived" on stage. The Miami City Ballet called Adler "a magnificent dancer" with "potential and promise whose kindness, warmth and infectious joy were known to all." She was a member of her school's dance team, performed in the school play and was "proud" to be a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association. Her obituary described her as a great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.

636. That's how many deaths were tied to recreational boating in 2022, according to the U.S. Coast Guard , representing a fatality rate of 5.4 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels.

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Here is what we know so far about the victims in the charter floatplane crash near Seattle

The Coast Guard on Tuesday released the names of the passengers and the pilot who are presumed dead after a charter floatplane crashed Sunday near Seattle .

Ten people were on board when the de Havilland DHC-3 Otter floatplane went down off Whidbey Island, about 40 miles north of Seattle, the Coast Guard said in a statement .

The agency called off the search for survivors Monday, saying in its statement Tuesday that it offers its "deepest sympathies to those who lost a loved one in this tragedy."

The Coast Guard identified the pilot as Jason Winters and the passengers as Patricia Hicks, Sandra Williams, Luke Ludwig, Rebecca Ludwig, Joanne Mera, Gabrielle Hanna, Lauren Hilty, Ross Mickel and Remy Mickel, who was nearly 2 years old.

Sandy Williams

Sandy Williams, 60, was vacationing in Washington's San Juan Islands, her brother Rick Williams, of Arroyo Grande, California, said Tuesday.

Williams founded a Black newspaper, The Black Lens, and a community hub, the Carl Maxey Center, both in Spokane, Washington, Rick Williams told NBC News.

“They used to call her the Black mayor of Spokane,” he said. “She was an advocate for those who didn’t have a voice. She was a staunch fighter for the Black community or for anyone who didn’t have the power to get their needs met. … That was her passion, and that’s what she devoted her life to.”

Williams said his family was in shock at the unexpected loss because Sandy was an “integral part of our family.”

The president of Gonzaga University in Spokane, Thayne M. McCulloh, said in a statement on Twitter that "our community has tragically lost a leader, teacher, activist & powerful voice."

"I am devastated to learn of Sandy Williams’ passing and we ... extend our condolences to her family, many friends and colleagues. Sandy: Rest In Peace,” McCulloh said.

Patricia Hicks

Patricia Hicks, of Spokane, was a retired teacher. She was vacationing with Sandy Williams in the San Juan Islands, Williams' brother said.

Joanne Mera

Joanne Mera, 60, of San Diego, was visiting family in Seattle, her niece Sami Sullivan told NBC affiliate KING of Seattle .

Mera was the CEO of an event management company she co-founded in California.

“Joanne Mera was someone everyone gravitated towards. She was the life of any party and the soul of our family,” Sullivan said. “She was the best mom, wife, sister and friend. Our hearts are shattered, not just for our family’s loss, but for the loss we know other families are feeling right now.” 

Mera is survived by her husband of more than 30 years, her three children, sisters, brother, nieces and nephews, Sullivan said.

Ross Andrew Mickel, Lauren Hilty and Remy Mickel

Ross Andrew Mickel, the founder of the Ross Andrew Winery , was on board with his pregnant wife, Lauren Hilty, and their nearly 2-year-old son, Remy, The Seattle Times reported.

The Mickel family said in a statement to KING that their "grief is unimaginable."

“We are deeply saddened and beyond devastated at the loss of our beloved Ross Mickel, Lauren Hilty, Remy and their unborn baby boy, Luca," the statement said. "Our collective grief is unimaginable. They were a bright and shining light in the lives of everyone who knew them. Although their time with us was too short, we will carry their legacy forward.”

The Washington State Wine Commission said in a statement that the wine community will miss Ross Mickel. “We are deeply saddened by the news about Ross Mickel and his family. Ross had an incredible impact on the Washington wine community and he will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones as they navigate this extraordinarily difficult time.” 

Gabrielle ‘Gabby’ Hanna

Seattle lawyer Gabby Hanna was returning from a friend’s wedding when the plane went down, The Seattle Times  reported .

“She was a fierce, fierce young woman, in the best of ways,” her father, Dave von Beck, told The Times on Tuesday. “There are no words to describe the pain. Her family loved her very much.”

Von Beck said in a statement to KING, “Our family and friends are just heartsick with grief at the loss of our beautiful Gabby, who at 29 should have had many decades of a wonderful life still to be lived.”

She attended Garfield High School in Seattle and Occidental College in Los Angeles, KING reported. She competed in swimming at Occidental and majored in philosophy, according to the college’s website.

Luke and Rebecca Ludwig

The Ludwigs were a couple from Minnesota.

“We have nothing to share at this time, other than we are coping with this tragedy with overwhelming support from family, friends, and a loving community," their family said in a statement to KING.

"We ask that the media respect our family’s privacy and allow us to deal with our losses without future media attention or prominence.”

Luke Ludwig was an engineering leader with Arizona-based HomeLight Home Loans.

“The entire HomeLight team extends our deepest sympathies to both Luke and Becca’s families, friends, and loved ones,” the company said in an email. “Luke was a deeply devoted father, husband, outdoorsman, and coach for his kids’ sports teams, known for his remarkable kindness and generous spirit.”

Charter company says it's ‘heartbroken’

Northwest Seaplanes owned the plane, The Seattle Times reported. No one with the company could be immediately reached for comment Tuesday.

In a statement on its website , the company said: “The team at Northwest Seaplanes is heartbroken, we don’t know any details yet regarding the cause of the accident. We are working with the FAA, NTSB and Coast Guard. We have been in communication with the families. We are praying for the families involved, including our pilot and his family.”

Cause of crash remains unknown

Officials got reports that “the aircraft dropped suddenly at a fair amount of speed and hit the water,” Scott Giard, the director of Coast Guard search and rescue for the Pacific Northwest, said at a news conference. “We don’t have any video or pictures of the incident as of this moment.”

There was no distress call or distress beacon, he said. The aircraft has an electronic locating transmitter, but there has been no transmission.

The Coast Guard found “minimal debris,” Giard said. By Monday afternoon, it had found only three to four long, narrow pieces of aluminum, very few personal items, a seat and some small pieces of foam.

Without a clear picture of the actual crash and not knowing whether it exploded on impact or immediately sank to the seafloor, it’s difficult to know what happened to the plane, he said.

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.

Antonio Planas is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital. 

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Sam Richmond passes away

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Accident at Superyacht Challenge Antigua

The British sailor took to the sport in an Optimist at the age 6 and continued on to sail 420s and 49ers. His transition from sailing as a hobby to working in the industry started as a sailing instructor in Spain, followed by coaching National Youth Squads.

In 2004, Sam started racing big boats on the Swan 48 Jacobite, which led to racing worldwide on many different racing boats from Etchells and Quarter Tonners to Superyachts. In 2011, Sam joined North Sails as a salesman dealing primarily with Solent-based racing boat projects. He recently became North Sails’ Head of Sales for Europe.

But when part of Farfalla runner system rigging failed, Sam incurred a head injury, He was taken to hospital before being medically evacuated to Florida where he died on March 10. Farfalla did not compete in the event on March 10-13 which was open to superyachts in excess of 30 metres.

“He was so well loved by me, his daughters Maisie and Martha, his family and the most amazing circle of friends anybody could aspire to have,” said his wife, Colette Richmond. “Wherever you are Sam I hope you are near the sea with a glass of rosé in your hand.”

At Sunset on March 11, the yachting community in Antigua sounded their horns as an act of remembrance to one of the loveliest guys in sailing. On March 13, a Remembrance Procession was observed by all competing yachts before the start of the final race of the regatta.

Colette asks for memories and photos to be sent to  [email protected] .

To view onboard video taken the day before the accident,  click here .

Published on  March 14th, 2022

SOURCE: https://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2022/03/14/accident-at-superyacht-challenge-antigua/

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Boater allegedly involved in teen's death had 'no knowledge' of accident: Lawyer

Ella Adler, 15, had fallen while wakeboarding when struck by a boat, FWC said.

The boater accused of fatally striking a Florida teenager has released surveillance footage that he said shows he was unaware his boat had collided with the teen, according to his attorney.

In the video, which was released by ABC affiliate WPLG, the boat operator appears to be calm after arriving back to the dock. The boat operator's attorney said this supports the claim that her client was unaware of the collision. Ella Adler, 15, was killed in the collision.

"This was an unthinkable tragedy and our hearts break for Ella and her family. We hope this video helps to shut down some of the awful and unfounded rumors going around about Bill, who is absolutely devastated," Lauren Krasnoff, the boater's attorney, said in a statement to WPLG.

"As the video shows, Bill was alone. He was not drinking. And he had no clue that he may have hit someone – he parked the boat at his home, he was calm, he didn’t clean the boat, and he did not try to hide anything. Bill will continue to cooperate with law enforcement in every possible way," Krasnoff said.

ABC has not independently obtained, confirmed or verified the video released by the attorney.

The boater previously said he had "no knowledge" of the accident and is "devastated" to learn he may have been involved, according to his attorney.

Adler had fallen while wakeboarding near Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne on Saturday and was waiting for her vessel when another boat struck her and didn't stop, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said.

FWC said it seized a boat believed to be connected to the hit-and-run and identified the vessel's owner and operator on Wednesday as a 78-year-old Coral Gables resident. He is cooperating with the investigation, the FWC said. No charges have been announced in the case.

MORE: Boat seized in connection with hit-and-run that killed Florida teen: Authorities

Krasnoff previously released a video statement on his behalf Thursday in response to "numerous" media inquiries.

"This is the worst possible tragedy and before saying anything else, we want to express our deepest sympathies to Ella Adler’s family and friends," Krasnoff said.

"Because this is an ongoing investigation with which he is fully cooperating, he will not be making any statements to the media other than to say that he was beyond devastated to learn that he may have been involved in this awful tragedy," she continued.

Krasnoff said that the man is a "very experienced boater" who is familiar with the bay. He was boating by himself on Saturday and "has no knowledge whatsoever of having been involved in this accident," she said.

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"If he hit Ella that day, he certainly did not know it," she said, adding that he "absolutely would have stopped" if he realized he had.

MORE: Boat sought in hit-and-run that killed teen wakeboarding in Miami area

"He docked his boat in plain sight right behind his house, and did not even know there was an accident on the water that day until officers showed up at his door," she said.

He is "absolutely devastated by the loss of this intelligent, accomplished and beautiful young woman," she said.

Krasnoff said the operator of the boat will continue to cooperate with law enforcement in the ongoing investigation.

The FWC announced Tuesday it had found a boat matching the description given by witnesses of the striking vessel. The 42-foot Boston Whaler has been transported to an FWC evidence compound, the agency said.

FWC officers have called for anyone with information or footage to contact them.

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FARFALLA is a 31.78 m Sail Yacht, built in South Africa by Southern Wind Shipyard and delivered in 2014. She is one of 3 SW 102 RS models.

Her top speed is 12.0 kn and her cruising speed is 9.0 kn and her power comes from a Cummins diesel engine. She can accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 5 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a gross tonnage of 99.0 GT and a 6.9 m beam.

She was designed by Nauta Design , who also designed the interior. Nauta Design has designed 48 yachts and designed the interior of 63 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Farr Yacht Design , who has architected 76 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Carbon Fibre and Epoxy deck, a Carbon Fibre and Epoxy hull, and Composite superstructure.

FARFALLA is one of 388 sailing yachts in the 30-35m size range, and, compared to similarly sized sailing yachts, her top speed is 0.29 kn above the average.

FARFALLA is currently sailing under the Malta flag, the 3rd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1078 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Spain. For more information regarding FARFALLA's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: FARFALLA
• Yacht Type: Sail Yacht
• Model: SW 102 RS
• Builder: Southern Wind Shipyard
• Naval Architect: Farr Yacht Design
• Exterior Designer: Nauta Design
• Interior Designer: Nauta Design
• Refits: 2019,2021,2021,2021,2021,2022,2022,2024

Available for charter

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Super Yacht Challenge – Sam Richmond passes away after injury in training

On Sunday 13 March, a Remembrance Procession was observed by all competing yachts at the Super yacht Challenge Antigua

After being injured in training on Tuesday 8 March before the Superyacht Challenge Antigua (SYCA). Sam Richmond has sadly passed away.

Everyone involved with the regatta joins the worldwide sailing community in paying respects to a much-loved and highly respected sailor. Our thoughts and prayers are with Sam’s family at a difficult time.

Captain of Farfalla Richard Chadburn spoke at the Remembrance Ceremony at the Admiral’s Inn where a Moment of Silence was observed for Sam Richmond before the SYCA Prize Giving.

About Sam Richmond

Sam started sailing in an Optimist at the age 6 and continued on to sail 420s and 49ers. His transition from sailing as a hobby to working in the industry started as a sailing instructor in Spain, followed by coaching National Youth Squads.

In 2004, Sam started racing big boats on the Swan 48 Jacobite, which led to racing worldwide on many different racing boats from Etchells and Quarter Tonners to Superyachts.

In 2011, Sam joined North Sails as a salesman dealing primarily with Solent-based racing boat projects. He recently became North Sails’ Head of Sales for Europe.

  At Sunset on Friday 11 March 2022, the yachting community in Antigua sounded their horns as an act of remembrance to one of the loveliest guys in sailing.

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Tragedy that left 5 dead or missing puts spotlight on safety in Alaska charter fishing industry

Boats jockey for position minutes before the opening of the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery on March 23, 2014, in Sitka, Alaska. Sitka is the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea in late May 2023. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska’s vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - This January 2019 photo shows Sitka Channel in Sitka, Alaska, the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea in late May 2023. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska’s vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP, File)

FILE - Homes in downtown overlook the harbor, in Sitka, Alaska, on March 26, 2008. Sitka is the home port for a charter fishing boat that sank in late May 2023 in nearby waters killing three and leaving two lost at sea. The tragedy has put a spotlight on the safety of southeast Alaska’s vibrant charter fishing industry and on the port town of Sitka, where charter operators charge thousands of dollars per person for guided fishing trips. (AP Photo/Chris Miller, File)

The cruise ship Quantum of the Seas passes through Sitka Sound, Thursday, June 1, 2023, as seen from near Low Island, the site of a fatal charter boat accident, Sunday, May 28. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)

A harbor seal pokes its head up near Low Island in Sitka Sound, Thursday, June 1, 2023. The area was the site of a fatal charter boat accident, Sunday, May 28. (James Poulson/The Daily Sitka Sentinel via AP)

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JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Morgan Robidou posed next to the bright aluminum hull of his prized new vessel, a 30-foot (9-meter) fishing boat that he could use to take friends, family or tourists out after salmon or halibut in the bountiful waters of southeast Alaska.

“Official boat owner,” he wrote when he posted the photo on social media last October, to congratulatory responses from friends.

Seven months later, the boat he named Awakin — “like a boat waking someone” — was found partially submerged off an island west of Sitka in a tragedy that left Robidou and four customers dead or lost at sea and put a spotlight on the safety of the region’s vibrant charter fishing industry.

“I can’t remember when we had any kind of fatality in our industry, so this is shocking for us,” said Richard Yamada, who sits on various industry boards, including the Alaska Charter Association and the Southeast Alaska Guides Organization. “We’re really curious to see what happened.”

Robidou, 32, was working with Kingfisher Charters, which operates a lodge in Sitka, a small port city on Baranof Island with a backdrop of a stunning volcanic mountain. The region is a legendary fishing destination, with myriad inlets, islands, bays and passages that can offer shelter from wind and waves when the open sea is too rough.

“Sitka is nestled right along the Alaska coast, with the ocean on one side, and the Inside Passage on the other,” Kingfisher says on its website. “On days where the weather cooperates we generally head offshore into the ocean, but on days where the winds and waves make the journey less desirable we go fishing in the protected bays and passageways of the inside waters.”

Over Memorial Day weekend, eight members of the Tyau family, from Los Angeles and Hawaii, traveled to Sitka for a three-day trip with Kingfisher, where rates typically run $3,295 per person, according to prices listed on the company’s website.

The Tyau clan chartered two boats — the Awakin, captained by Robidou, and another called the Pockets — and set out Friday amid rough conditions. Michael Tyau said his sisters and wife spent the day’s voyage seasick in the two boats’ cabins and skipped Saturday’s trip to recover on land.

When Sunday dawned, their last vacation day before Monday flights home, the women rejoined the boats, which headed to different fishing spots. Aboard the Awakin were Tyau’s sisters , Brandi Tyau, 56, and Danielle Agcaoili, 53, along with Brandi’s partner, Robert Solis, 61, and Danielle’s husband, Maury Agcaoili, 57.

Michael Tyau, who was aboard the Pockets, said the conditions where that boat fished that day did not concern him. He “in no way felt in jeopardy, like this wasn’t safe for us to fish in,” he said.

It’s unclear where the Awakin went or what might have happened to it, but it was last seen near Sitka on Sunday afternoon and was found partially submerged around 7 p.m. Sunday off Low Island, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) west of Sitka, the Coast Guard has said.

Efforts to recover the vessel have been hampered by strong winds and rough seas, including significant tidal currents that hindered the work of divers, but a salvage company was expected to try again Saturday, conditions permitting.

The sisters were found inside the cabin, and Maury Agcaoili’s body was discovered near the boat. Solis and Robidou have not been found, and the Coast Guard called off its search late Monday after covering 825 square miles (2,100 square kilometers) in more than 20 hours.

There was a small craft advisory in the area where the boat was found Sunday, warning mariners of roughly 17 mph (27 kph) winds and 10-foot (3-meter) seas with rain during the day and slightly stronger winds and similarly high seas later in the day, said Pete Boyd, a National Weather Service meteorologist.

In addition to potentially rough seas and high winds, the area features rocks that can seemingly rise even from deep water, posing hazards to boats.

Yamada speculated that Robidou apparently did not have time to make a mayday call, suggesting that a rogue wave could have suddenly flipped the boat.

Kingfisher owner Seth Bone has been in the business for at least 40 years and is well-known and reputable, Yamada said.

Kingfisher Charters has declined to respond to questions outside a statement released Wednesday saying the company is “devastated by the loss of the guests and captain of the Awakin” and is fully cooperating with an investigation it hopes “furnishes answers to the questions as to how it occurred.”

Yamada owns a lodge in Juneau, Alaska. Some businesses, like his, own all their fishing vessels, while others, like Kingfisher, contract with independent boat owners.

It takes serious effort to get a captain’s license, Yamada said, and the process involves an exam covering navigation and safety as well as 360 days of experience on the water. Because you can’t be on the water year-round in Alaska, it usually takes three summers, he said.

“It’s not as if you just come off the street and get a license,” Yamada said. “It takes some time.”

A license has to be renewed every five years.

Given the vast numbers of people who go out on charter boats in southeast Alaska every late spring to fall, the lack of prior accidents in the industry indicates it has a good safety record, said Michael Schneider, an Anchorage, Alaska, personal injury attorney who litigates fishing accidents.

That said, he added: “People need to know going in that it’s the real deal up here. The water is deep and cold and bad things can happen. And when they do, they typically happen very, very quickly.”

Robidou had been fishing for several years, according to posts and comments on his social media pages. One said he had previously captained a different boat for Kingfisher Charters. Robidou’s family did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Robidou was “the nicest, quietest, friendliest young fellow you’ve ever seen,” said Thad Poulson, editor of the Daily Sitka Sentinel newspaper, where Robidou once worked as a press operator.

Kelleher reported from Honolulu. Stefanie Dazio in Los Angeles contributed.

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SW102 Farfalla

Farfalla has proven her blue water design brief by completing a circumnavigation of the globe in comfort, safety and with plenty of exhilarating sailing. Her stellar crew is looking forward to sharing new and unforgettable itineraries with new and repeat guests. Farfalla is ideal for groups up to 8 guests looking for a unique charter experience.

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• Thanks to her Raised Saloon configuration, Farfalla balances Deck Saloon comfort and the appeal and smooth lines of a lower coachroof.
• The deck layout has been designed for easy sailing and comfort both for crew and guests: the guestcockpit and sunbathing area aft are united by a centerline corridor that has few gaps or differences in level and is safe to walk along under sail.
• A tender garage for a 4m dinghy, a mainsheet captive winch to allow easy movement from aft to guest cockpit, deck fridges in the coamings and an icebox in the coffee table, make Farfalla ideal for chartering.
• A dodger, bimini with removable side panels and a boom-extended awning allow maximum flexibility for protecting and shading the guest cockpit and the sunbathing area.
• The separate crew cockpit aft is an ideal maneuvering space with independent, direct access to crew quarters without passing through the guest areas.

INTERIOR STYLE AND DESIGN

• The interior style expresses the sporty character of this yacht: elegant upholstery in the Vilebrequin swimwear brand’s corporate color contrasts with high quality teak furniture to create a warm atmosphere onboard.
• A generously proportioned full beam saloon is the center of on board living: a large, open space where eight to ten people can relax and converse in comfort on couches and as many again can sit at the dining table.
• 270° coachroof windows and hull windows mean that guests can enjoy views from the saloon both when sitting and standing.
• The accommodation features the owner’s cabin forward layout. Located in the quietest area of the yacht for privacy and comfort, the cabin features a central king sized bed and a couch for two.
• A VIP cabin forward of the saloon features a queen-sized bed. Two more twin guest cabins are located aft of the saloon. All cabins are en suite.
• The crew area is aft and includes three cabins and a spacious galley. It has a dedicated companionway to the maneuvering cockpit to ensure the privacy of owners and their guests.

Specifications

Accommodation, tender & toys, areas of navigation.

“We love to play music and love it when our guests join in” Farfalla’s Captain , September 2016

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For more information about this yacht or other SWS yachts for charter, please fill out the form below.

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FARFALLA YACHT CHARTER

31.78m  /  104'3   southern wind   2014.

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Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• First Southern Wind 102' Available for Charter Worldwide
• Light, Elegant Interior
• Panoramic Windows allowing 270-degree Views
• Built with Larger Interior & Wider Deck Space than other Southern Wind Builds

A prime example of the excellence the South African yachting industry can achieve, FARFALLA excels in both comfort and performance.

The award winning 31.78m/104'3" sail yacht 'Farfalla' by shipyard Southern Wind offers flexible accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 cabins and features interior styling by American designer Nauta Yachts.

For serious sailors looking to add some luxury to their vacation, sailing yacht Farfalla has plenty of appeal. With luxurious living spaces, both inside and out, as well as the opportunity for some fabulous sailing whilst on charter, she's sure to please even the most discerning seafarer.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 2014, Farfalla offers guest accommodation for up to 8 guests in 4 suites comprising a master suite, one double cabin and two twin cabins. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Farfalla benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter, notably Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Farfalla is built with a composite hull and composite superstructure. Powered by 1 x Cummins engines, she comfortably cruises at 9 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 12 knots.

Set against the backdrop of your chosen cruising ground, you and your guests can enjoy fun on the water with the collection of water toys and accessories aboard Farfalla. Principle among these is a waterski that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. Extreme sports fans will appreciate the included Kite Surfers. In addition there is a wakeboard so guests can show off at speed. If that isn't enough Farfalla also features kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. Farfalla also sports a 4m/13'1" Williams Jet Tenders Widebody RIB to transport you with ease.

Book your next the Mediterranean luxury yacht charter aboard Farfalla this summer. She is already accepting bookings this winter for cruising in the South Pacific.

This luxury sail yacht for charter is in prime condition to host your next holiday of a lifetime.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Farfalla, please provide .

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Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Farfalla has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Farfalla is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 4m  /  13'1 Williams Jet Tenders 385 Widebody RIB

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Farfalla Awards & Nominations

• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2015 Exterior Design & Styling Award: Sailing Yachts Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2015 Interior Design Award: Sailing Yachts Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2015 Naval Architecture Award: Sailing Yachts Finalist
• The World Superyacht Awards 2015 Sailing Yacht of 30m to 44.99m Finalist
• The World Superyacht Awards 2015 Quality and Value Award Winner
• International Superyacht Society Awards 2015 Best Sail 24m - 40m Nomination
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For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Farfalla' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€70,000 p/week + expenses Approx $76,500

High Season

€77,000 p/week + expenses Approx $84,000

Cruising Regions

Mediterranean Croatia, France, Italy, Monaco, Montenegro

HOT SPOTS:   Amalfi Coast, Corsica, French Riviera, Sardinia

Winter Season

October - April

$70,000 p/week + expenses

$77,000 p/week + expenses

South Pacific New Zealand

Charter Farfalla

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

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Russian Disinformation Videos Smear Biden Ahead of U.S. Election

Many of the videos are trying to appeal to right-wing voters with fake messages about President Biden, experts say.

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By Julian E. Barnes and Steven Lee Myers

Julian Barnes, who covers U.S. intelligence agencies, and Steven Lee Myers, who covers misinformation, have been reporting on Russian efforts to influence the 2024 presidential election.

Last month, a video began circulating on social media purporting to tell the story of an internet troll farm in Kyiv targeting the American election.

Speaking in English with a Slavic accent, “Olesya” offers a first-person account of how she and her colleagues initially worked in support of President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. Then, she says, after a visit by mysterious Americans who were “probably C.I.A.,” the group began sending messages to American audiences in support of President Biden.

“We were told our new target was the United States of America, especially the upcoming elections,” the woman in the video says. “Long story short, we were asked to do everything to prevent Donald Trump from winning the elections.”

The video is fake, part of an effort to cloud the political debate ahead of the U.S. elections.

U.S. officials say the video is consistent with Russian disinformation operations as internet warriors aligned with Russia appear to be honing their strategy. Some of the old tactics of 2016 or 2020 could be used again, with new refinements.

An analysis of the video done by U.S. intelligence agencies found that the voice of “Olesya” was synthetically generated, an intelligence official said Thursday, a potential sign of how Russian operatives are blending new techniques with old tactics.

While there has been much hand-wringing over the role that artificial intelligence could play this year in fooling voters, current and former officials said that videos were one of the most immediate threats.

Microsoft said the video featuring “Olesya” probably came from a group it calls Storm-1516, a collection of disinformation experts who now focus on creating videos they hope might go viral in America.

The group most likely includes veterans of the Internet Research Agency, a Kremlin-aligned troll farm that sought to influence the 2016 election. The agency was run by Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner mercenary group who led a rebellion against the Kremlin and then was killed in a plane crash that American and allied officials believe was orchestrated by Russian intelligence agencies.

Microsoft said the group also included people associated with Valery Korovin, the figurehead of an obscure Moscow-based think tank called the Center for Geopolitical Expertise, a conservative organization affiliated with Aleksandr Dugin, an ultranationalist writer who faces U.S. sanctions for his role in recruiting fighters for the war.

Russian operatives are leaning into videos, many of them that falsely purport to be made by independent journalists or whistle-blowers. The videos, opposed to blog or social media posts, are more likely to spread beyond the conspiratorial fringes of America and become part of mainstream discourse.

On Wednesday afternoon, Avril D. Haines, the director of national intelligence, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia was the most active threat to the coming election. Russia, she said, tries to erode trust in democratic institutions, exacerbate social divisions and undermine support for Ukraine.

“Russia relies on a vast multimedia influence apparatus, which consists of its intelligence services, cyberactors, state media proxies and social media trolls,” she said. “Moscow most likely views such operations as a means to tear down the United States.”

China has a sophisticated influence operation and is increasingly confident in its ability to affect election results, Ms. Haines said. But she added that the intelligence community assessed that China did not try to influence the 2020 presidential election, and that so far there was no information that China would be more active in this year’s contests.

Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia and the chairman of the Intelligence Committee, said that adversaries had a greater incentive than ever to intervene in elections but that the public had too often treated such meddling “as trivial or quaint.”

Clint Watts, the general manager of Microsoft’s Threat Analysis Center, said pushing out written disinformation with bots was largely a waste of time — in 2024 it is disinformation video that has the best chance of spreading with American audiences.

The C.I.A. video, Mr. Watts said, was a classic Russian tactic: accuse your adversary of the very thing you are doing. “When they say there’s a troll farm operated by Zelensky in Ukraine going after the U.S. election, what they’re saying is this is what we’re doing,” Mr. Watts said.

Walter Trosin, a spokesman for the C.I.A., said the agency was not involved in the activities described in the video.

“This claim is patently false and precisely the type of disinformation that the intelligence community has long warned about,” Mr. Trosin said. “C.I.A. is a foreign-focused organization that takes our obligation to remain uninvolved in American politics and elections very seriously.”

At the Senate hearing, Ms. Haines praised the C.I.A. for calling out the video publicly, saying it was an example of how the government will identify disinformation by Russia or other countries during the current election.

Multiple groups in Russia push out disinformation aimed at America . In addition to the videos, researchers and government officials say, Russia has created a handful of fake American local news sites and is using them to push out Kremlin propaganda , interspersed with stories about crime, politics and culture.

Gen. Paul M. Nakasone, who retired from the Army this year and is the former director of the National Security Agency, said the best defense to Russian disinformation remained the same: identifying it and publicizing the propaganda push. The United States, he said, needs to expand its information sharing both domestically and around the world so people can identify, and discount, disinformation spread by Moscow.

“The great antidote to all of this is being able to shine a light on it,” said General Nakasone, who last week was named as the founding director of Vanderbilt University’s new Institute for National Defense and Global Security. “If they are trying to influence or interfere in our elections, we should make it as hard as possible for them.”

Some mainstream Republicans have already warned fellow lawmakers to be wary of repeating claims that originated in Russian disinformation or propaganda.

“We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” Representative Michael R. Turner, an Ohio Republican who is the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN’s “State of the Union” on April 7.

Russia’s information warriors have pushed fake videos to spread lies about Ukraine , aimed at undermining its credibility or painting it as corrupt. Republican politicians opposed to sending more aid to Ukraine have repeated baseless allegations that Mr. Zelensky has tried through associates to buy a yacht, disinformation that first appeared on a video posted to YouTube and other social media sites.

Most of the videos produced by Storm-1516 fail to get traction. Others come close. A video pushed out on a Russian Telegram channel purported to show Ukrainian soldiers burning an effigy of Mr. Trump, blaming him for delays in aid shipments.

The video was highlighted on Alex Jones’s right-wing conspiracy site, InfoWars, and other English-language outlets. But it was quickly discounted — the purportedly Ukrainian soldiers had Russian accents and were masked.

“This campaign has been working to advance some of Russia’s key objectives, particularly that of portraying Ukraine as a corrupt, rogue state that cannot be trusted with Western aid,” Mr. Watts said.

Since last August, Microsoft has identified at least 30 videos produced by Storm-1516. The first ones were aimed at Ukraine. But others are trying to influence American politics by appealing to right-wing audiences with messages that Mr. Biden is benefiting from Ukrainian assistance.

Intelligence officials, lawmakers and security firms have warned about the use of artificial intelligence by China, Russia and other nation states intent on spreading disinformation. But so far, Russian groups like Storm-1516 have mostly avoided using A.I. tools, according to security firms.

“Many of the A.I. campaigns are easy to detect or unwind,” said Brian Murphy, the general manager of national security at Logically, which tracks disinformation. “A.I. is getting better, but it is still not at the stage this year wherein it is going to be used at the scale and with the quality some predict. Maybe in a year or so.”

Both government officials and outside experts, however, have said that A.I.-altered audio had proved more effective than altered videos. At the hearing on Wednesday, Ms. Haines highlighted a fake audio recording released in Slovakia two days before its parliamentary election. While quickly identified as fake, news and government agencies struggled to disclose the manipulation and the target of the fake recording lost a close election.

Outside experts have said that artificial intelligence has been used in some Russian propaganda videos to obscure accents. It is not clear exactly why a synthetic voice would have been used in the fake video of the C.I.A. troll farm.

But on Wednesday, Ms. Haines said artificial intelligence and other innovations “have enabled foreign influence actors to produce seemingly authentic and tailored messaging more efficiently at greater scale and with content adapted for different languages and cultures.”

For now, though, basic videos like the C.I.A. troll farm or yacht video that purport to have authentic narrators with access to exquisite information are the most prevalent threat.

In 2016, Russian-controlled propagandists could push out fake news articles or social media posts and, in some cases, have an impact. But now, those old techniques do not work.

“No one will pay attention to that nowadays,” Mr. Watts said. “You have to have a video form to really grab an American audience today, which 10 years ago was just not even technically that possible.”

Julian E. Barnes covers the U.S. intelligence agencies and international security matters for The Times. He has written about security issues for more than two decades. More about Julian E. Barnes

Steven Lee Myers covers misinformation and disinformation from San Francisco. Since joining The Times in 1989, he has reported from around the world, including Moscow, Baghdad, Beijing and Seoul. More about Steven Lee Myers

Our Coverage of the 2024 Election

Presidential Race

President Biden has spent much of his time over the past week talking to Black voters, many of whom are now threatening to withhold their support. Read takeaways from recent events .

Biden and Donald Trump have agreed to two debates  on June 27 on CNN and Sept. 10 on ABC News, raising the likelihood of the earliest general-election debate  in modern history. Here’s how each of them might try to win the debates .

Trump’s search for a running mate is still in its early stages, but he is said to be leaning toward more experienced options  who can help the ticket without seizing his precious spotlight.

As Trump’s criminal trial winds down, a center-left group is trying to goad him into testifying through an ad . Trump instead is visiting Minnesota, where his campaign says it can broaden the electoral battlefield with a play for the state  that always disappoints Republicans.

A Remarkable Pivot:  Larry Hogan, the former two-term Republican governor of Maryland who won his party’s nomination for the state’s open Senate seat, said that he supports legislation to codify abortion rights  in federal law.

Gavin Newsom Accuses Trump:  The California governor, speaking at the Vatican, used sharp language to describe the former president’s  appeal to fossil fuel executives for campaign donations, calling it “open corruption.”

How Rich Candidates Burned Cash:  It is a time-honored tradition in U.S. politics: wealthy people burning through their fortunes  to ultimately lose an election.

Montana’s Senate Race:  Republicans are trying to paint Senator Jon Tester as a Washington sellout, while their own candidate, Tim Sheehy, faces scrutiny over his credibility and how he sustained a gunshot wound. It all comes down to the question of trust.