by Staff Reporter
A 30-metre luxury yacht valued at more than 120'000 euros ran aground on the rocks at Portals Nous yesterday because of the storm.
The alarm was raised shortly after midnight, when a Portals resident informed the Local Police in Calvia that a large yacht had run aground on the rocks in the heavy seas.
Several patrol cars rushed to the small beach at Portals Nous and found the yacht, the German registered Stefan, on the rocks.
There was no sign of anyone on board or in the water.
The Stefan had been moored near Marineland for several weeks, although her owners, a German couple, were in Germany.
It is reported that they used the yacht during the summer months and then left her anchored near the coast but not in a yacht club.
It is believed that she broke free from her moorings during the storms which have lashed the island over the past few days and drifted until the waves drove her on to the rocks.
The yacht suffered extensive material damage and yesterday salvage operations were being planned.
They will be paid for by the insurance.
The police and Guardia Civil have contacted the owners of the yacht.