Advertisement

Porsche family loses yachts in fire

Author thumbnail
Porsche family loses yachts in fire
Photo: DPA

A fire at an exclusive Austrian marina on the Wörthersee destroyed 14 yachts Friday night, including two belonging to members of the family that controls the Porsche auto company, Bild am Sonntag reported.

Advertisement

One of the yachts, the Sia, was built in 1947 and had belonged to Ferdinand Porsche, who created the Volkswagen Beetle. He had personally designed and built the yacht, according to Porsche’s grandson, Hans-Peter Porsche,who had had the boat fully restored in 2006.

“The family is inconsolable,” Porsche told Bild, “Many personal memories were aboard that sailboat.”

Over 160 firefighters battled the flames, which began late Friday evening. A preliminary investigation suggests the fire began with a defective electrical cable or outlet. There is no sign of foul play.

A 14-meter yacht belonging to Hans-Peter Porsche’s cousin, Ferdinand Piëch, who is chairman of the Volkswagen board of directors, was also destroyed in the blaze. Hours earlier, Piëch had celebrated his 72nd birthday aboard the boat.

Marina owner Wolfgang Schmalz said he had spoken to Porsche about the fire.

“I had to tell him that unfortunately, the boat is totally destroyed and can’t be salvaged at all,” Schmalz said in an interview with Bild. “Unfortunately, there are no more blueprints for the Sia, so it’s lost forever.”

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

See Also