The Australian 60ft Reichel Pugh designed racing yacht Loki, which lost its rudder while competing in the stormy Rolex Middle Sea Race, has foundered on the rocky coast of Golfo di Castallammare, Sicily.
Shortly before 1730 on Sunday evening the yacht, owned by Stephen Ainsworth, lost her rudder to the west of Palermo on the northern coast of Sicily. In extremely demanding conditions, the crew were rescued by helicopter, thanks to the skill of the Italian Coastguard Services.
First reports suggested the abandoned yacht was riding to her anchor and would be salvaged as soon as the weather moderated, but apparently the anchor failed as the stormy conditions continued, and now it is sadly all over for the highly competitive yacht which was launched in 2005.
