Strong winds in Palm Beach, Florida, caused a luxury megayacht to crash into the dock of a private ocean club. Video of the collision was captured by bystander Mackenzie Thompson and reposted on Facebook by sailing news outlet The Triton.
The incident, which occurred around 2 p.m. on January 26, caused approximately $500,000 in damage to the Palm Beach Sailfish Club on the north end of the island, the Palm Beach Daily News reported.
The $150 million megayacht Arrow was being towed by a tugboat across the northern end of the Lake Worth Lagoon when strong winds blew the luxury vessel into the Ocean Club docks.
Luxurylaunches reported that the yacht was “pushed across the waterfront like a limp matchstick” before it struck and ran aground on a sandbar at the marina.
The collision broke five wooden posts and affected two electrical bases, the Palm Beach Daily News reported. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
According to Luxurylaunches, it took tugboats more than 12 hours to finally free the trapped megayacht from a sandbar at the pier.
According to the Observer, winds that day reached 39 miles per hour, nearly four times the average winter wind speed in Palm Beach.
South Florida has been hit with historic cold weather, accompanied by high winds, triggering a catastrophic response for wildlife in the region.
Invasive green iguanas have fallen into a state of “torpor,” a state of reduced physiological activity caused by colder temperatures, causing them to freeze and fall from trees.
Florida’s larger ectothermic reptiles—such as alligators and crocodiles, which rely on external environmental heat sources to regulate their body temperature—sunbathe more frequently as temperatures get colder, appearing along Florida’s coastlines, where they may encounter humans.
While frigid temperatures and damaging wind activity are uncommon, this latest megayacht accident is a reminder of the power of nature.
Commenters on the Triton’s Facebook post wondered if there was another reason for the ship’s collision.
“Are there any mechanical issues as well?” one commenter asked.
Another user speculated: “Doesn’t look like a day to leave the docks… there must be a push to leave.”
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