The 120-year-old-classic sailing yacht, Owl, which is beached in Palmanova, is facing a rather uncertain future and there are fears that it might be destroyed by the local authorities. For almost three months it had been beached in Palmanova after slipping its anochor during a freak storm in January.
Work to refloat the vessel has been hampered by the bad weather. "We had nice weather on Sunday and we made a lot of progress moving sand and I was setting myself up with three pumps today but the waves won't allow us now so we have to wait," a spokesperson for the boat told Bulletin Online.
Time is running out and what is needed is a strong tow boat and bouyancy balloons, There is a fear that the council will soon take care of the situation and this classic British yacht would be be destroyed.
"I have been looking for a company over the last week in order to get help. Could not get any availability from any of the companies I called," he said.
Numerous boats have been swept ashore this winter as a result of the unfavourable weather conditions. The Owl is one of the biggest and if she was destroyed it would be a major blow for Britain's nautical heritage.