A 41-metre luxury yacht, the Maltese-flagged Sea Lady II, caught fire on Thursday evening in the old port of Saint-Tropez, according to local fire and police officials. The vessel, built in 1986 and refitted in 2024, is typically offered for charter at about €80,000 a week during the high season. The blaze erupted shortly after 20:15 local time and sent thick black smoke over the Côte d’Azur resort. Roughly 30 to 40 firefighters, supported by four engines, gendarmerie units and sea-rescue crews, struggled to board the yacht and were forced to fight the flames from the quay. Anti-pollution booms were laid amid concerns the burning vessel could sink, and nearby boats were moved to prevent the fire from spreading. By the early hours of Friday the flames had been contained, but the yacht sustained heavy damage. Two men, aged 24 and 30, were treated for smoke inhalation. Investigators say the fire appears to have been accidental and was probably triggered by an electrical fault; a formal inquiry is under way.