A luxury yacht stranded in the shallow waters off Drepano in Greece’s Argolic Gulf has become an unexpected attraction for tourists and locals.
The vessel ran aground near the beach on Sunday, Aug. 16, and had still not been freed by late Monday afternoon despite efforts by a tugboat that reached the scene.
Northeasterly winds of around 4 on the Beaufort scale were blowing when the incident occurred, while the yacht remained stuck on the shallow seabed.
According to Pelop.gr, the yacht is approximately 20 meters long, sails under the U.S. flag and had five people on board. Its value is estimated at several hundred thousand euros and could reach as much as $1 million, depending on its model, equipment and year of construction.
The yacht is now sitting on a shoal at one of the most recognizable parts of Drepano beach. Its position just a few meters from the shoreline has attracted the attention of swimmers and others in the area.
Swimmers said the next few hours could prove crucial for the salvage operation. A possible shift in wind direction toward the west could make it even more difficult to free the vessel.
“If the winds turn west, it will be even harder to free the yacht,” they said, warning that the vessel could be pushed further into the shallow waters.
