The internet’s most famous superyacht, the $75 million Loon, may have vanished from the digital world, but not from the yachting world. Its presence resurfaced after two former crew members filed a negligence complaint against Captain Paul Clarke, following a disastrous tender crash in Saint Barthélemy in December 2024.
According to court documents obtained by Boat International, the skipper allegedly abandoned the helm during the group’s return from a celebratory Christmas lunch at Gypsea Beach Club. The tender, still moving in total darkness at a cruising speed of 48 to 51 miles per hour, barreled forward without direction, until it inevitably struck the rocks of Anse des Cayes Bay. The crash injured six of the eleven American nationals onboard.
The horrific incident saw Natalia Niznik flung from the tender like Spider-Man, landing on the rocks and sustaining injuries to her face, leg, and jaw. Plaintiff Klara Holubova, though not ejected, suffered injuries to her knee, leg, and ear. Having endured weeks of physical and emotional pain, the duo decided to take legal action against Clarke, seeking damages in excess of $100,000. Their complaint cites hospitalization costs, medical treatment, nursing care, loss of earnings, impaired working capacity, and psychological trauma.
The lawsuit was officially filed on March 19 with the Broward County Clerk of Courts in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Measuring 223 feet, Loon was once the crown jewel of yachting content online, boasting around 185,000 Instagram followers and 200,000 YouTube subscribers. From fuel top-ups to its enormous refrigerators and onboard adventures, Loon gave fans an irresistible peek into a life of maritime opulence. But then, one day, the yacht got lonely, and quietly vanished, its glittering digital footprint erased in the wake of the Saint Barth incident.
Gone are the days when you could dream of spending a summer dozing in one of Loon’s lavish seven cabins or chasing adrenaline rushes with its fleet of water toys and tenders. Those who drooled over glimpses of Michelin-level cuisine or raved about the crew’s legendary hospitality, complete with an onboard DJ, will now have to look elsewhere for the summer of their dreams.
Loon was always a class apart, and it’s still standing out, albeit for very different reasons. In an unusual move, the former crew members have chosen not to sue the superyacht or its management company (which is also run by Clarke), but have instead filed the lawsuit directly against the captain. While no official explanation has been provided for why the skipper abandoned the helm and steered the tender into disaster, more details may emerge as the case unfolds.
