How a Small Open Porthole Sank a $1M Catamaran -

Bahar O.

A luxury sailing catamaran capsized in the Saronic Gulf off Greece in mid-August after taking on water through an open porthole, an investigation found. All ten people aboard, including Turkish businesswoman, Izmir Chamber of Commerce President Işınsu Kestelli, were rescued unharmed.

The Bali 5.8, a 17.65-meter, French-built catamaran, ran into flooding while heading back from Poros Island during stormy weather. Crew issued a mayday call and anchored the drifting vessel before a passing megayacht and the Greek Coast Guard evacuated everyone safely. The boat flipped over hours later while still at anchor.

Investigators from manufacturer Bali Catamarans concluded that waves breaking over the bow forced water through an open porthole in the crew cabin, and that speeding up to reach shore made the flooding worse rather than better. With one hull partially submerged and the anchor set on the flooded side, the boat eventually rolled over.

Incident Timeline

Departure (Poros Island)

August 14 – 06:00

Departed from the east of Poros Island, Greece, into the Saronic Gulf with 6 passengers and 2 crew members. Although gale-force winds (8+ Beaufort) affected the Aegean region in general, winds of 25–26 knots and head waves of 1.5–2 m were recorded in the gulf. The vessel maintained a speed of 5.5–6 knots.

Water Ingress and Initial Response

August 14 – ~09:00

Three hours into the voyage, floorboards were lifted following a distinct odor originating from the cabin, revealing water in the bilges. The engine compartment was observed to be dry. The genoa was furled, and engine speed was increased to 8 knots to reach land.

Mayday and Evacuation

August 14 – Morning

A Mayday call was issued as the vessel listed to port. To prevent drifting, 150 meters of chain were dropped at a depth of 80–90 meters. Passengers and the deckhand boarded the dinghy, after which the captain jumped into the sea and climbed aboard the tender. Evacuation was completed via a RIB launched from a nearby megayacht ( Cayman Islands-flagged yacht Opera)

Coast Guard Intervention

August 14 – Daytime

The Coast Guard prohibited the captain from returning to the vessel and brought everyone ashore. Approximately 5.5 to 6 hours after the incident, the vessel was reported to have capsized while at anchor.

Salvage Operation

August 14 – August 17

Tugboats took the vessel in tow. During uprighting operations using a floating crane, the mast broke, and the hardtop alongside the upper superstructure sustained damage. The vessel was loaded onto a floating recovery barge and held pending insurance formalities.

Haul-Out and Hull Inspection

Tuesday, August 18

Hauled out at a shipyard near Athens. The port-side hull portlight in the crew cabin was found to be open. Hull structural integrity was confirmed intact with no signs of leakage.