Turkish yacht designer and founder of Mazu Yachts, Halit Yukay, has been reported missing following the discovery of his wrecked yacht, Graywolf, in the Sea of Marmara. Yukay departed from Yalova, Turkey, on Monday, 4 August, en route to the island of Bozcaada in the Aegean Sea.
According to local authorities, Yukay left Yalova Setur Marina at approximately 15:10 on his privately-owned, Turkish-flagged yacht Graywolf. By 23:40, with no sign of his arrival and no communication received, the Bursa 112 Emergency Call Center was alerted.
On Tuesday 5 August, at around 14:30, a commercial ship passing near Turanköy, Kapıdağ Peninsula reported debris from a partially submerged vessel floating at sea. The Turkish Coast Guard dispatched helicopters, divers, and floating units to investigate. The wreck was later confirmed to be the 12.2-metre Mazu 42 model, Graywolf — registered to Halit Yukay.
Search and Investigation Ongoing
A diving team explored the sunken vessel, but no sign of Yukay has yet been found. It remains unclear whether he was traveling alone, as no official statement has confirmed the presence of any crew or passengers.
The Marmara Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched a judicial investigation into the incident, and search efforts are continuing under the direction of the Turkish Coast Guard Command.
A Pioneering Name in Turkish Yacht Design
Halit Yukay founded Mazu Yachts in 2011, leveraging his background in marine engineering and boatbuilding. The yard quickly gained a reputation for its sleek, carbon-composite dayboats and weekenders, with models ranging up to 35 metres in length. Yukay was known for being hands-on — frequently taking on both naval architecture and styling roles in the shipyard’s custom projects.
His influence extended beyond the yacht design community, with Yukay maintaining close relationships with Turkish public figures such as actors Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ and Çağatay Ulusoy.
About the Yacht: Mazu 42 Graywolf
The Graywolf was a Mazu 42, measuring 12.2 metres in length with a 3.6-metre beam and 0.9-metre draft. Built with a sandwich epoxy composite hull and carbon reinforcement, the yacht was equipped with twin Volvo Penta IPS 500 engines, capable of a top speed of 34 knots and cruising comfortably at 28 knots.
At the time of publication, Mazu Yachts has not issued an official statement.
