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Experienced Turkish sailors Ozkan and Ozlem Sahin fulfilled a dream by sailing across the Mediterranean and Atlantic to the Caribbean aboard their catamaran Ozi. But their journey ended in disaster off the coast of Puerto Velero, Colombia, when their vessel suddenly sank—an incident they now blame on a serious manufacturing flaw.
According to Patronlar Dunyasi from Türkiye, the couple, rescued dramatically, initially shared a video reassuring followers of their safety. Months later, they have gone public with what they claim caused the catastrophic sinking: a defective emergency window installation.
In a detailed video, Ozkan Sahin explained the terrifying chain of events that led to Ozi going under in just minutes.
"Dear friends, I'm finally explaining why our catamaran sank. The emergency escape window on the port side fell off, letting in a torrent of water. Within three to four minutes, the boat was gone," he said.
The couple claims the vessel had no external damage and that the incident was purely due to poor manufacturing. They emphasized that they have concrete evidence supporting their allegations.
The Sahins are now warning other owners of similar catamarans to immediately inspect their emergency windows.
"This is a matter of life and death," Ozkan said. "If manufacturers and service providers haven't taken action, owners could be in grave danger. Please don’t assume it can’t happen—check your escape windows now."
Although the couple have not named the catamaran’s manufacturer publicly, they have filed a lawsuit against the internationally renowned company, claiming gross negligence.
According to sources close to the legal dispute, the catamaran manufacturer has rejected all claims of faulty design or installation. The case is expected to attract global attention in sailing communities as it unfolds.
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