The German luxury yacht Acoa, a near-30-metre vessel, has been stranded off the coast of Son Servera since mid-January, after running aground on Sa Marjal beach during severe weather brought by Storm Harry.
The incident occurred in the early hours of January 19th. The yacht’s skipper, Klaus Fietzeck, 68, attempted to keep the vessel under control amid strong winds and heavy seas. According to his account, the yacht lost an anchor and he was subsequently thrown overboard by the force of the waves. He managed to reach shore suffering from hypothermia and injuries, while the yacht was left adrift before finally ending up beached on the sand.
Since then, the grounded yacht has become an unusual and striking presence along a stretch of coastline normally frequented by swimmers and local residents. Beyond its visual impact, however, concern is mounting over the potential environmental risks, as the vessel is still believed to contain thousands of litres of fuel and oil.
Ownership of Acoa is shared among several German partners, although responsibility for the recovery and associated costs remains unresolved. One co-owner, Franz Osthoff, described his involvement in vague terms, saying: “Co-owner? Maybe. Partner, yes. In some way.” Fietzeck, meanwhile, has voiced his frustration, telling our sister publication Mallorca Magazin: “I don’t want to keep this and I’m selling my share for one euro.” The remark underlines his intention to distance himself from any future financial liability.
Talks between the parties are ongoing, as environmental authorities in Mallorca emphasise the urgency of securing a solution to prevent further ecological damage to the coastline. The idea of launching a crowdfunding campaign via GoFundMe has also been raised, although it remains unclear who would organise or oversee such an effort.