The Astor, one of two Vitech 90s ever built, sank off the East Sussex coast of the UK recently, just a few months after it had been sold.
The yacht, described as the flagship of the Vitech fleet when it was launched in Taiwan in 1993, had spent the past decade at the Brighton Marina. It was sold in January, and the new owner reportedly was moving it earlier this month for refurbishing. The asking price had been the equivalent of about $186,000.
The British Coastguard rescued the crew of two people by helicopter when the Astor started to sink. It issued this statement: “HM Coastguard coordinated the rescue of two people and a dog from a sinking vessel off Hastings at approximately 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 6. Eastbourne and Hastings RNLI lifeboats, the search-and-rescue helicopter from Lydd, and Newhaven Coastguard Rescue Team were sent, alongside East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service and the South East Coast Ambulance Service.”
Powered by twin MANs, the Astor had a top speed of 23 knots when it was launched, and a range of 800 nm at a slower cruising speed. It could hold eight guests in three staterooms, plus a crew of four. It had a refit in 2001. It was reportedly the largest motor yacht in the Brighton Marina for many years. Read more:
https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/23471836.luxury-yacht-housed-brighton-marina-sinks-rye-rnli-rescue/
