viko 24 yacht

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Viko S35 review: the best cruiser on a budget?

• David Harding
• December 1, 2022

Designed in Italy and built in Poland, the Viko S35 looks to offer style and space together with remarkable value for money. David Harding sees if the reality matches the promise

Product Overview

• Inexpensive for her size
• Deep sheltered cockpit
• Performance potential
• Basic hardware
• Needs refining below decks
• Limited non-slip on deck

Price as reviewed:

First seeing the Viko S35 at the Düsseldorf boat show in 2019, not long after her launch, she struck me as a boat worth watching. She looked as though she might sail quite nicely and also had a price tag (just €60,000 plus VAT) that would have looked more at home on a 32-footer.

Only a few years earlier I had tested the Viko 21 and I’d come away with mixed feelings, so I was interested to see the new arrival. She too was designed in Italy by Sergio Lupoli, whose racing yachts and performance cruisers (including the Comet range) go back to IOR designs from the late 1970s.

I sailed his Comet 33 in 2007, rather liked it and was disappointed that the Comets never gained a foothold in the UK, though Viko subsequently used the hull of the Comet 31 to produce the Viko 30. This move by Viko – taking on an existing design to build under their own name – reflected a broader push by Polish builders to sell boats themselves rather than just act as contractors for yards in western Europe.

Many well-known builders have had their boats produced (or at least moulded) in Poland for decades. Some I only learned about by chance when, poking around in the back of laminating shops in the middle of nowhere in the depths of Polish winter – as you do – I found the names of some highly reputable boats attached to various moulds.

The new-generation ‘own-brand’ Polish boats have typically been very inexpensive for their size. I have, however, often found shortcomings in the equipment and fit-out. Designs that have been fundamentally sound and seemingly well built have been let down by lack of detailed thought, as though the designer has done the basics and then handed the project over to a yard run by people with limited experience of how a boat works.

For this reason, among many others, I was interested to see how the Viko had turned out when, nearly three years after meeting her in Düsseldorf, I went to sail the first boat to arrive in the UK.

The cockpit is deep and a sensible width, allowing the side decks to run all the way to the stern. Photo: David Harding

What struck me immediately was the height of the topsides. She’s quite sharp-lined, but I hadn’t remembered quite how far the gunwales were above the waterline. Otherwise there’s little out of the ordinary in the context of a modern cruiser with some sporty pretensions: a double-spreader, high-fractional rig (our test boat’s was 1.5m/5ft taller than the standard), pronounced chines running most of the length of the hull, a vertical stem, an optional hinge-down bathing platform, rectangular ports in the topsides and an L-bulb fin keel giving a draught of 1.95m (6ft 4in).

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The stern is fashionably wide, allowing plenty of space for twin wheels, and another option is a moulded bowsprit to keep the anchor away from the stem and project the tack of an asymmetric spinnaker. It’s all pretty standard in many ways, though even this taller rig didn’t look particularly tall. It made me wonder about the amount of weight in the keel, a modest rig often indicating a relatively high centre of gravity because of shallow draft and/or a low ballast ratio.

In this case, around 33% of the boat’s weight is in the keel and the draught is enough to place it reasonably low, so sail-carrying power shouldn’t be an issue.

A comfortable helming position from the coamings. If you want to sit inboard, you even have a backrest. Photo: David Harding

Onboard the Viko S35

Hopping aboard the Viko S35, you find two elements worthy of note straight away. One is the deep cockpit with high coamings, which make it feel much less exposed than on many modern cruisers, with their wide, shallow, dance-floor cockpits. For a boat sold as a family cruiser, that’s a good start.

Moulded bulwarks running the length of the boat lend security outboard. These bulwarks seem to be making a comeback and are now widely seen in place of the once-almost-ubiquitous aluminium toerail bolted through the hull-to-deck joint.

Less convincing to me was the coverage of the non-slip finish on the coachroof. Sizeable areas were left smooth. At this stage I normally like to go sailing to see how a boat behaves. If she sails and handles nicely, it’s worth looking at everything else in more detail. Otherwise you have a non-starter and nothing else matters quite so much.

We motored out into Southampton Water, pushed along by the 30hp Yanmar – an upgrade from the standard 15hp. Getting the mainsail up proved to be our first challenge because of a mast gate that wouldn’t stay in place. The gate should be easy to improve, and would need to be improved because the only way to get the reefing cringles on to the tack horns would be to remove some slides from the mast as you lower the halyard.

I would suggest that reef spectacles would be a worthwhile addition. Alternatively fit reefing pennants, invest in some extra hardware and lead them aft.

The sails on our test Viko S35 were the ‘high performance’ versions (still in Dacron), supplied as part of an optional package with the taller rig for a very reasonable £1,750.

Once under sail, we slipped along nicely enough in about eight knots of breeze and flat water, typically making just over four knots on the wind and tacking through 80-85°.

Our speed would undoubtedly have been greater had we not been dragging some weed around with us. A quick scrub from the pontoon before we set off had failed to remove much of what we could see at the bow, and we don’t know how much more was lurking out of sight. A folding prop would make a difference too.

On a cruising boat it’s interesting to see a full-width mainsheet traveller, set into the cockpit sole immediately forward of the wheel pedestals. It’s a feature of which I very much approve, unexpected though it was given that most of the hardware and systems are pretty basic. I also liked the simplicity and directness of the mainsheet purchase directly from traveller to boom.

High topsides are made higher by the generous moulded bulwarks on which the stanchions are mounted. Photo: David Harding

The problem is that it’s just 4:1 which, predictably, made it impossible to apply anywhere near enough tension when the breeze kicked in.

Our test boat had non-standard grab handles and pods for nav instruments on the helm pedestals. They would be at risk of being snagged by the mainsheet during manoeuvres, so owners might prefer to mount their instruments elsewhere.

At the helms of the Viko S35 you have a comfortable perch on the coamings, as you do further forward in the cockpit. They’re nicely angled and you can lean back against the guardwires.

The stanchions slot into broad bases, which spread the load nicely and should make stanchion replacement relatively straightforward. My only concern was that a fair bit of rust had formed already.

A full-width mainsheet traveller is set into the cockpit sole. It’s a good arrangement but both the traveller and the sheet need more purchase. Photo: David Harding

Staying on track

Slack in the steering cables between the wheels didn’t enhance the helming experience to start with. Thankfully it was a simple job to tension the bottlescrew in the linkage, reached via a hatch in the cockpit sole.

The rudder bearings were stiff, however, making it hard to feel the increase in weather helm when the wind eventually picked up to around 14 knots. And although our test boat had the bigger rig, I was surprised by how quickly we needed to start de-powering the Viko S35 to keep her on track: she would round up even at a modest angle of heel.

If you can feel the rudder through the helm, it’s much easier to know when you’re pushing the limits. If that feel is disguised by stiff bearings – and perhaps reduced further by a lightly balanced rudder blade, as I suspect might have been the case here – you’re more likely to find that you have applied more lock than you realised.  Then the rudder stalls and the boat rounds up.

As a matter of course you don’t want to sail with more than a few degrees of rudder angle. Any more means something is amiss. Easing the traveller was a quick fix. I would have liked to be able to de-power by other means first, such as removing some of the excessive forestay sag. That wasn’t possible because the rigging was under-tensioned and the leeward D1 (lower shroud) was waving around in the breeze.

Combined with the (optional) 4:1 purchase on the backstay, it meant that tensioning the forestay wasn’t an option.

Of course on a racing boat you expect to change gear all the time with variations in wind speed. On a cruiser, both the need and the crew’s interest or inclination are generally less.

I would like to sail a Viko 35 with a clean bottom, a folding prop and tensioned rigging for starters, not to mention easier rudder bearings and some upgrades to the hardware and sail-control systems.

Lupoli seems to be a designer who gets his sums right, so I suspect the boat would feel and behave in a very different manner with a little tweaking, even if the standard rudder doesn’t look particularly big. You would undoubtedly have to start de-powering earlier still if you had the 1.6m/5ft 3in shallow fin and the shallower rudder that goes with it.

The stanchion bases are mounted atop the high bulwarks. Some were showing early signs of rusting. Photo: David Harding

Viko S35 on deck

Moving to the other end of the boat, we find an anchor well in the bow. If you have the optional bowsprit, the anchor is likely to live on its projected roller and, with the windlass (included in the dealer’s UK Cruiser Pack) feeding the rode straight down through the deck, the locker itself is likely to be used principally for warps and fenders.

Moving aft again is easy given the width of the decks and the outboard rigging. The headsail tracks, mounted just outboard of the coachroof, give a reasonably narrow sheeting angle. I would want to try reefing the headsail in a good breeze to make sure that the tracks extend sufficiently far forward to maintain leech tension: with a low-clewed sail like this, the position of the cars is more critical than it is with a higher clew.

The drop-leaf table is simple but provides useful handholds and a bracing point. Photo: David Harding

I would also want to ensure that extra deck hardware could be fitted for handling reefing pennants, spinnaker gear, the kicking strap (another 4:1 purchase) and anything else one might want led aft.

Clutches are mounted on raised plinths forward of the winches, but the solid moulded headlining throughout (with just one removable panel around the compression post) provides no access to the deckhead.

Back in the cockpit of the Viko S35, stowage is limited if you have the twin double aft cabins as on our test boat. You have a deep locker each side under the helm seats and a shallower bin just forward of the transom that could be used for liferaft stowage. As on most boats these days, there’s no readily-accessible stowage for small items.

The interior is simple and mostly neatly finished in light oak, with no mouldings except the heads and the rather shiny headliner. Photo: David Harding

Below decks

Internally the Viko is simply finished in European light oak. The saloon feels nicely woody from the gunwales down. Overhead, the shiny moulded headlining inevitably looks rather plasticky.

Despite the high-volume hull, this is not an enormous boat down below by modern standards. That’s partly because the rudder is mounted well forward and the space abaft the helm pedestals is occupied by the steering linkage, so the aft cabins don’t extend as far aft as is often the case. Even though their berths are only 6ft 1in(1.85m) long, this inevitably pushes the whole layout forward.

The boat has a fairly basic forecabin, with the berth set noticeably low down in the hull. Photo: David Harding

If you have twin double aft cabins, the heads is opposite the galley, leading to a less open feel down below.

The extra cabin is a lot to fit into a boat of this size. If you have just the one double cabin in the stern, to port, it’s a good deal larger, extending across the centreline, and you can sleep athwartships. Then you have a cockpit locker to starboard and the heads moves aft, creating space for a small chart table.

Whichever Viko S35 layout you choose, the saloon berths are straight, parallel and 1.88m (6ft 2in) long.

Apart from the headlining and in the heads, Viko have used no interior mouldings, maximising stowage space and allowing access to the outer hull. Reassuringly, bulkheads appear to be bonded directly to the hull and deck.

The aft cabins are fairly compact if you have two of them; more spacious if there’s just the one. Photo: David Harding

Because the saloon is well forward, the forecabin isn’t vast. Here you will find a low V-berth and some locker space for storage. Features that might bug me include the absence of catches to hold doors open (or even positive closure for the double doors to the forecabin), the smooth, flat companionway steps (potentially tricky when wet), nothing to hold the steps up when you need to get at the engine, lack of a crash bar in the galley and a total absence of engine insulation.

It made me wonder about fire-proofing although, strangely enough, noise levels throughout the vessel didn’t seem excessive.

The Viko is an interesting mix of the basic cruisey and the slightly sporty. She has the appearance of a modern performance cruiser, statistics that tell you she should be a reasonably quick boat, and some features in keeping with this, such as the full-width traveller. On the other hand, most of the sail-control systems are pretty basic and, in some cases, barely adequate even for cruising purposes. She also seemed to prefer lighter conditions, and was less sure how to behave when the wind picked up. A performance boat needs to be tuned and equipped like a performance boat in order to handle like one. Otherwise you’re trying to drive a sports car on four get-you-home spare wheels. I believe the Viko 35 has potential. She just needs the opportunity to show what she can do.

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Search for a Viko Yachts on TheYachtMarket today. We have Viko Yachts brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

History of Viko Yachts

Established in the scenic city of Poznań in Poland, Viko Yachts has positioned itself as one the pioneering boat manufacturers globally. The company was founded in the year 1986 by an enthusiastic sailor and engineer with a vision to craft unrivalled pleasure boats that blend unique design, fine craftsmanship, and technological excellence. Over the years, the company has grown exponentially, constantly pushing the boundaries in boat development and production. Today, Viko Yachts is reputed for its wide array of sailing yachts, distinguished for their sturdy construction, generous interior volume, and superior sailing performance.

At the heart of Viko Yachts is an innovative spirit and an unwavering commitment to quality. It employs modern building techniques, utilising high-quality materials to ensure resilience, optimum weight, and uncompromised stability. The company's unique combination of hand-laid solid laminate and sandwich constructed hulls and decks, with durable and lightweight furniture elements, has garnered wide acclaim in the industry.

Remaining true to its origins, Viko Yachts' headquarters and production facilities are still based in Poznań, Poland. It is from this hub that all manufacturing process, including prototyping, moulding, assembly and finishing, take place. The company continues to chart new territories, displaying an incredible resolve to elevate the standards of yacht building. Whether it's a day cruiser or a high-performance sailing yacht, Viko Yachts is synonymous with memorable sailing experiences.

Which models do Viko Yachts produce?

Viko Yachts produce a range of boats including the Viko Yachts S30 , Viko Yachts 30 , Viko Yachts S21 and Viko Yachts S26 . For the full list of Viko Yachts models currently listed on TheYachtMarket.com, see the model list in the search options on this page.

What types of boats do Viko Yachts build?

Viko Yachts manufactures a range of different types of boats. The ones listed on TheYachtMarket include Cruiser , Sloop , Racing boat , Cruiser/racer and Coastal cruiser .

How much does a boat from Viko Yachts cost?

Used boats from Viko Yachts on TheYachtMarket.com range in price from £19,800 GBP to £116,000 GBP with an average price of £45,800 GBP . A wide range of factors can affect the price of used boats from Viko Yachts, for example the model, age and condition.

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The Stampfli 24 Express - the world's longest rowing boat - will take part in the Paris 2024 torch relay on Sunday.

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Boat test: Viko S35

The viko s35 is the cheapest 35-footer on the market by a country mile. sailing today with yachts & yachting editor  sam jefferson finds out how it is on the water..

Writing about new yachts can be a funny game. I often catch myself writing that a boat a little short of £1m represents ‘very good value’.

Given my own boat cost £5k this doesn’t seem to stack up. Yet it is, of course, often true.

There aren’t that many boatbuilders out there that are absolutely stinking rich after all.

I don’t see Elon Musk quaking in his boots over the launch of the latest range of Bavaria Yachts.

Now, it’s hard not to be cynical when confronted with a price tag of this nature. I even heard someone mutter ‘what’s the catch’.

Yet I had reason not to be cynical – largely because a few years back I tested the similarly keenly prices Viko S30 and was pleasantly surprised to find that it was a polished performer – yes, a little plasticky down below, but the most important thing was that it sailed really rather well in what were, from memory, rather wild conditions.

I therefore eyed the new S35 without prejudice and looked forward to test sailing the boat.

For a boat with such a low price tag, first impressions are important and the S35 certainly gives a decent account of itself; dramatic and thoroughly contemporary lines give a first impression of both speed, style and, yes, a touch of class.

There’s a reason for this, as the S35 was designed by Sergio Lupoli who is best known for his work with Italian boatbuilder Comar, whose Comet range of cruiser/racers are proven performers.

In fact, the Viko 30 shares the same lines as the Comet 30, although this experiment has not been repeated with the S35.

Anyway, Lupoli knows how to turn out a good looking yacht and the S35 features decent freeboard and a heavily rockered profile, a deep (1.95m) bulbed keel with the option of a shallower (1.6m) keel, single rudder with relatively low aspect ratio, modest beam carried well aft, a dreadnought bow with fixed sprit and a towering sail plan – with the option of a significantly smaller one for less speed obsessed cruisers.

All in all, the first impression is good as you approach the boat – it does not look particularly bargain bin, it must be said.

What must also be said is that Viko managed to get to a very keen price by making a lot of kit non-standard. This is certainly not a rarity at all but it is rather taken to the extreme here.

For example, the standard engine spec for the S35 is a 15hp diesel with the option of 20hp or 30hp upgrades.

I think it’s fair to say most boats of this size have a 30hp as standard. Nevertheless, Viko’s UK broker estimated that a decent amount of add ons still brought the price to around £100k, which remains lower than a similarly specced 35 footer from, say, Beneteau. Needless to say that the test boat was fitted with almost every option going.

Step aboard and the boat still feels pretty good. There are twin helms but these are an option – although a standard single wheel is hardly a disaster on a boat of this size.

It does however, open up the roomy cockpit which is very deep, giving a good sense of security. The boat has a decent amount of storage in a pair of   lockers under the helmsman’s seats.

It should be noted that the test boat was the three cabin version, which actually removed a chunk of that accommodation, as on the two cabin version the starboard side aft cabin is replaced with a large storage space although this is accessible only from below decks.

The sporty feel of the yacht is upheld, as the boat features a traveller situated in front of the helm, with the mainsheet on a cam cleat. There are two winches on the coamings for the headsails and a further pair on the coachroof for the running rigging.

The helm feels reasonably enclosed by the bathing platform and there is a sensibly dimensioned cockpit table to round things off.

Out on the side decks there is a good feeling of space and the boat features an unusually large raised toerail which gives an added feeling of enclosure but also seems to somewhat needlessly add to the freeboard, which seems a bit peculiar to me.

I seemed to recall that the Viko S30 was a bit plastic fantastic down below but this wasn’t really the impression I got from the S35. Judicious use of light oak made for a very pleasant vibe and the overall feel was one of light and space.

It’s only when you look a little closer that you note that the door handles look a bit, well, undersized and the sink cover is a tad flimsy. Yet the feel was good and the basic joinery was well done too.

The layout can’t be wildly radical in a 35 footer so on the Viko there is a standard L-Shaped galley to port, heads to starboard, and saloon area up forward.

There are double doors opening into the forecabin, which adds to the feeling of light and space, and the fore cabin is a decent size. As mentioned, the test boat was the three cabin version and this was a shame as the two cabin option seems more sensible to me.

In addition to more storage, you get a larger aft cabin and heads/shower compartment plus the option of a chart table. By contrast, the three cabin version offers a lot of accommodation but the aft cabins are pretty cramped and low plus the heads/ shower is a bit on the small side.

It sounds like I’m being harsh and, in fairness, I am. This is, after all, a 35 footer built to a very competitive price and the overall impression down below is very good. It’s an eminently liveable space that actually feels a bit classy.

There are some small details that betray the fact the boat is built to a strict budget but overall, the feel is good.

While the overall feel of the new Viko S35 is good, how does she perform under sail? We had a good day for a test, with conditions starting out fairly fluky and then building as we headed out of Southampton Water into the Solent, peaking at 20kts or so.

We put up a full main, rolled out the headsail and were immediately on the move at a sprightly pace. We headed out the River Hamble in company with a big Hallberg Rassy 46 of the old school and it was instructive that we promptly took large chunks out of this boat in the modest conditions.

As mentioned, this boat had the sportier rig, which is a full 3m taller than the standard so, as you would expect, the boat was quick off the mark. The helm felt reasonable but the feel was stymied somewhat by one of those old school autopilots that is built into the wheel and which you engage manually.

This seemed to add some friction to things and detracted from the feel to some extent. As the wind picked up we really started trucking along but it was at this point that the boat demonstrated that a combination of the big sport rig and the shallower 1.6m keel and smaller rudder was not an ideal mix, with the boat spinning out a couple of times.

The Hallberg-Rassy forged on stolidly and left us in its wake until we put in a reef and rolled away a bit of headsail. At which point the boat found its feet nicely and got into a good groove, hitting 7kts and behaving very well.

I would say that considering the boat started corkscrewing up into the wind fairly early, you should not bother with the bigger rig at all if you go for the 1.6m keel version. By the time we reefed down, we had the equivalent sail area as the smaller rig version anyway. On the other hand, I’d be interested to see how the deeper draft boat sails in boisterous conditions with the bigger rig.

Easing off the wind, the boat completely regained her composure and it was tempting to shake out the reef. We were now making a solid 7kts plus and the boat felt good. The mainsheet was extremely well placed from the helm and the helm position was exceptionally comfortable whether you were sitting out on the rail or reclining against the padded backrest.

This article first appeared in the November 2022 issue of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting. Try a single issue here .

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Boat capsizes on Lake Michigan, killing two and leaving one survivor

Notifications to the families of the deceased victims are still pending..

OZAUKEE COUNTY – Two people died and one survived after a boat capsized in Lake Michigan near Port Washington during the evening July 15.  

After receiving a mayday call of a sinking vessel, the U.S. Coast Guard launched a 45-foot response boat from Station Milwaukee. A Station Sheboygan crew also responded.  

A good Samaritan arrived at the scene to help after hearing a distress call over the radio. They heard a person yelling for help in the water.   

A 50-year-old man and a 51-year-old man from Illinois were found unresponsive when other emergency personnel, including Ozaukee County Emergency Management rescue boat and Port Washington Fire Department fire boat, responded.

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A 26-year-old man from Beloit was found conscious, who confirmed the distress call and that there were three people on the boat. 

All three individuals were transported to the Aurora Medical Center in Grafton.  

“This all-hands effort highlights the partnership we have with our local partners, with their help we were able to find all three people from the vessel that sank tonight,” Petty Officer 2nd Class Kimberly Miller, Station Milwaukee Coxswain, said in a news release. “The one responsive person we rescued was also wearing a life jacket, which was critical in buying us time to find them and pull them out.” 

Although rescue personnel performed lifesaving efforts, the two unconscious victims did not survive. Their families haven’t been notified yet.  

The 26-year-old man rescued is in stable condition, according to the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office.

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The water was about 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and waves reached 2-4 feet high. The boat, a 177 model and 17-foot 2008 Triton fishing boat, was overturned when a wave struck its side, completely submerging it. The boat hasn’t been found.

The Port Washington Police Department and Grafton and Saukville fire departments assisted in this incident as well.  

Have a story tip? Contact Alex Garner at 224-374-2332 or [email protected] . Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @alexx_garner .

One man dead, one rescued after boat capsizes in rough seas at Tweed River near Queensland-NSW border

A man has died and another man has been hospitalised after the pair were rescued from a stricken boat at the Tweed River mouth on Saturday morning.

A major rescue operation was launched after the men were seen clinging to the upturned hull of a 6-metre runabout in rough conditions. 

What's next?

Investigators say initial enquiries indicate neither man was wearing a life jacket. 

A man has died and his companion has been rushed to hospital after their boat capsized in rough seas while trying to cross the Tweed River bar in far northern NSW.

Police say the men were spotted clinging to the upturned hull of a 6-metre half-cabin runabout just before sunrise this morning.

A major rescue operation was launched involving water police, volunteer marine rescue, surf lifesavers and a rescue helicopter.

Rescue crews were able to bring one man to shore.

The other man was winched out by helicopter but was unable to be revived.

The boat washed up on Duranbah Beach, a popular surf break on the Queensland border.

It is believed the men had launched the boat from the Kennedy Drive Boat Ramp in Tweed Heads.

The Tweed River bar is a notoriously treacherous crossing – a powerful 2.5-metre swell at the bottom of an outgoing tide made conditions particularly dangerous.

'Very, very rough' surf

A spokesperson for the rescue helicopter said one man was found unresponsive near the northern breakwall, while the other man was retrieved from the water by members of the public on a jetski before emergency services arrived.

Dale Hack, who witnessed the incident from the beach, said the surf was extremely rough.

"From about 12pm yesterday the swell rose and [the bar] was very, very rough," Mr Hack said.

"No one was surfing — it was just a wash."

Investigators say initial enquiries indicate neither man was wearing a life jacket.

Swimmer rescued

In a separate incident, a 47-year-old man had to be winched to safety by the rescue helicopter from the ocean at Broken Head.

Rescue crews say he was pulled out to sea and called triple-0 from his smart watch, staying on the phone to emergency services while he waited for help.

He was found more than 1 kilometre offshore near Suffolk Park and dropped back to the beach, where he was able to walk to a waiting ambulance.

He was taken to hospital for assessment but has since been released.

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Smoke billows from fire on Ross Island

• Updated: Jul. 21, 2024, 5:07 p.m.
• | Published: Jul. 20, 2024, 5:41 p.m.

• Maxine Bernstein | The Oregonian/OregonLive

Dark smoke billowed over parts of Portland Saturday afternoon as firefighters worked to attack a fire on Ross Island.

The fire was reported at 4:43 p.m.

Portland firefighters were about to call a second-alarm about 5:30 p.m., as crews sprayed water from fire boats and called in additional crews. By 8:10 p.m., the fire bureau called for a third alarm.

Portland fire shuttled firefighters by fire boat to the island to help knock down the blaze.

Crews on the island found abandoned equipment from Ross Island Sand & Gravel and tractor tires on fire but no structures involved, according to the Portland Fire & Rescue Bureau.

“The heavy black smoke was not because it’s a lot of fire but because of the rubber,” said Katia Minor, a firefighter and bureau spokesperson. “The tires kept reigniting.”

Access to the island was challenging for firefighters. The bureau’s Station 21 fire boat, typically docked near the east end of the Hawthorne Bridge, was by the St. Johns Bridge at the time the fire was reported and not as close, leading to a somewhat delayed response, Minor said.

Battalion Chief Jason Kelly spotted the fire from the Ross Island bridge and served as incident commander, according to Minor.

Firefighters sprayed water on the blaze from turrets on two boats and stretched hard lines from the boat pumps to battle the flames, she said.

The bureau switched out crews as the afternoon wore on, with about 40 firefighters involved.

Crews brought flashlights and food to support the firefighters as they got word the fire was spreading to the west side of the island about 7:30 p.m., according to the bureau. The fire also spread to tree branches and cottonwood on the island, raising some concern about firefighters’ safety, Minor said.

Some videos of crews being shuttled to the island by our marine vessels along with crews working. This Marine Based Land Fire on Ross Island took creative efforts by all crews involved. pic.twitter.com/ulWkbua6fi — Portland Fire & Rescue (@PDXFire) July 21, 2024

A man who lives on a boat on the east side of the island and only gave his name as Bird said the smoke was “so black it blocked the sun out.” He said there are no trespass signs all around the island.

Portland General Electric cut electrical power to the island as firefighters worked to contain the blaze.

As firefighters worked on Ross Island, other city firefighters assisted other agencies working to put out a wild fire on Sauvie Island, according to Minor.

-- Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212, [email protected] , follow her on X @maxoregonian , or on LinkedIn .

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Ukraine-Russia war latest: Russian fighter jets 'intercept US bombers'; Putin's forces launch 'double tap' attack

Russian state media is reporting the country's fighter jets have stopped two US strategic bombers from violating Russia's airspace. Meanwhile, Moscow has launched its fifth drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks.

Sunday 21 July 2024 16:02, UK

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• Russian fighter jets 'intercept two US strategic bombers'
• Moscow launches 'double tap' attack on rescue workers
• Two villages in Ukraine 'captured by Russia'
• Moscow 'tests new tactics' to target Kyiv, says Ukraine
• Your questions answered: Could internal dissent lead to Putin's removal from power? | Has the West been honest about Ukraine's failures?

That's all for our live updates on the war in Ukraine for today. 

We'll be back tomorrow with all the latest. 

In the meantime, here's a reminder of today's key events: 

• Ukraine said Russia was "testing new tactics" after it launched its fifth drone attack on Kyiv in two weeks;
• Russian fighter jets stopped two US strategic bombers from violating the country's airspace, Moscow's defence ministry said;
• Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated calls for countries to provide Ukraine with long-range weapons after Russia's overnight drone and missile attack;
• Russian state media reported Moscow's troops had captured two settlements in Ukraine - Rozivka, in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, and Pishchane Nizhne in the northeastern Kharkiv region;
• Russian forces launched a "double tap" attack on first responders in Sumy, the Ukrainian state emergency service said;
• Mayor of Kyiv Vitaliy Klitschko warned the Ukrainian president faces "a very difficult" time in the coming months. 

Ukraine is developing AI systems to help fly a vast fleet of drones. 

A number of startups in the country are working to roll out AI-enabled drones across the front line in the hope of overcoming Russia's unmanned aerial vehicle power. 

Swarmer is developing software that links drones in a network, allowing decisions to be implemented instantly across the group. 

"For a swarm of 10 or 20 drones or robots, it's virtually impossible for humans to manage them," Swarmer chief executive Serhiy Kupriienko told Reuters. 

The company is one of more than 200 tech firms that have sprung up since the war started. 

Mr Kupriienko said that while human pilots struggle to run operations involving more than five drones, AI will be able to process hundreds.

The system, called Styx, directs a web of reconnaissance and strike drones, both large and small, in the air and on the ground. 

Every drone would be able to plan its own moves and predict the behaviour of the others in the swarm, he explained. 

Swarmer's technology is still under development and has only been trialled on the battlefield experimentally, he added. 

Two Ukrainian photojournalists have been injured after coming under Russian fire. 

Olga Kovalyova and Vladyslav Krasnoshchok had been documenting the situation in Donetsk from a trench near the front line when they came under attack. 

Ms Kovalyova, who works for the Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers (UAPP), was evacuated and hospitalised after being hit by shrapnel, the organisation said. 

"I was saved by a bulletproof vest and a helmet. The shrapnel got to a place where there was no protection," Ms Kovalyova said, according to UAPP's statement. 

"It's a pity that it happened on the first day of the business trip."

Mr Krasnoshchok suffered a concussion but did not require hospital treatment, it added. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy will face a "very difficult" time over the coming months, the mayor of Kyiv has warned. 

Speaking to Italian news outlet Corriere della Sera, Vitaliy Klitschko said the Ukrainian president will have to make hard decisions that could lead to "political suicide". 

He warned that Mr Zelenskyy may have to launch a referendum in Ukraine if a territorial compromise with Russia is put on the table. 

"The coming months will be very difficult for Volodymyr Zelenskyy," he said. 

"Will he have to continue the war with new deaths and destruction, or consider the possibility of a territorial compromise with Putin?" 

"Whatever move he makes, our president risks political suicide. Let's be honest, we have to win the war, but the situation is getting more and more difficult. It depends on the help that comes from the allies. It would be a nightmare if we had to fight for two more years." 

More than 270 Ukrainian Telegram channels have been hacked today, news outlets in the country have reported. 

Hackers sent a message to Ukrainians telling them to "lay down their arms", according to Suspilne. 

Messages also appeared accusing Volodymyr Zelenskyy of starting the war, it said. 

In a Facebook post, Ukraine's state security service said the cyberattack was carried out by the Russian FleepBot service. 

"On July 21, mass publication of messages of a provocative nature was recorded in a number of well-known Ukrainian Telegram channels that used the FleepBot software to post news," it wrote. 

"We would like to once again emphasize the danger of using any software of the aggressor country."

FleepBot is a Telegram tool that allows users to schedule posts to go out automatically. 

Russian forces have launched a "double tap" attack on first responders in Sumy, the Ukrainian state emergency service has said.

Emergency workers had been dealing with the aftermath of an overnight missile attack on the northeastern city when they came under fire. 

They were extinguishing one of five fires at a residential building at the time, the service said. 

No casualties have been reported. 

The "double tap" tactic, which has been used by Russia throughout the war, sees an area come under a second attack shortly after an initial strike. 

In several cases, the second attack has come while rescuers are trying to help those who have been injured. 

In March, more than 20 people were killed in the southern city of Odesa in a "double tap" attack. 

At the time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as a "despicable act of cowardice". 

By Lara Keay , news reporter

The establishment of the "axis powers" in the 1930s paved the way for the Second World War.

Agreements signed between Germany, Italy, and Japan in 1936 united them in their expansionist interests and hatred of Western allies.

Amid Russia's war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict, and China's repeated threats of invading Taiwan, some security and military analysts say we are on a similar path again and that Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea are the "new axis powers".

The last time a similar term was used was in 2002 by former US President George W Bush, describing Iran, Iraq, and North Korea, as an "axis of evil" in the wake of 9/11.

Ahead of a new UK defence review, former defence secretary and NATO leader Lord Robertson described Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as a "deadly quartet".

There have also been warnings more than one of them risks triggering a third world war within the next five years.

Here Sky News looks at the risk they pose and how it could affect life in the UK...

People living in the Russian-occupied Donetsk region have been left without water, a Ukrainian organisation has said. 

The region was illegally annexed by Russia in 2022, but is not fully controlled by Moscow. 

When Russian troops occupied the area, they attempted to build a pipeline to pump water from the River Don to the region. 

But the Ukrainian Centre of National Resistance has said the pipeline has stopped working due to a power outage. 

It claimed there had been ongoing issues with the system due to fighting in the region, but repairs have taken months and the situation has "worsened". 

"Due to the power outage in Russia, the pumping stations of the newly built canal have failed, and the water supply has stopped completely," it said. 

Russian troops have captured two settlements in Ukraine, state media has reported. 

The village of Rozivka, in Ukraine's eastern Luhansk region, and Pishchane Nizhne in the northeastern Kharkiv region have both been taken, according to the reports. 

TASS news agency said both villages were captured in one day. 

It quoted the Russian defence ministry as saying: "As a result of successful actions, units of the West group of troops liberated the settlements of Rozivka in the Luhansk People's Republic and Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkiv region, and also occupied more advantageous lines and positions." 

Russia illegally annexed Luhansk and three other regions (Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia) in 2022. 

The international community still recognises the areas as part of Ukraine. 

Kharkiv has been one of Russia's targets since the early days of the war, but the region became more of a focal point in May when Moscow's forces launched a cross-border incursion. 

Ukrainian officials have previously said the incursion had been contained, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy saying the Kharkiv advance had been "halted" in an address to world leaders earlier this week. 

Yesterday, former Ukrainian legislator Iryna Farion died after being shot in the street by an unknown assailant. 

The 60-year-old initially survived the assault in the western city of Lviv on Friday, but later died in hospital. 

A manhunt has been under way for her attacker, who fled from the scene.

Ukrainian officials said the attack was being treated as an assassination.

So who was Iryna Farion? 

Ms Farion was a member of the Ukrainian parliament between 2012 and 2014.

She was best known for her campaigns to promote the use of the Ukrainian language by Ukrainian officials who spoke Russian.

While many praised her efforts as attempts to sever ties with Russia, others viewed her methods as dividing the Ukrainian people. 

Late last year, she caused uproar by saying Russian-speaking Ukrainian soldiers were not "real Ukrainians". 

She also controversially criticised Russian-speaking members of Ukraine's Azov regiment, who defended the port city of Mariupol in the first days of the full-scale invasion.

Police have been considering "personal animosity" toward the former MP due to her social and political activities as a likely motive behind the attack. 

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Live updates, european nations resurrect, expand compulsory military service in face of russian threat.

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Some European countries have resurrected or expanded their compulsory military service after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine — a once-unthinkable policy shift fueled by the notion that they’d have to respond quickly if the Russian bear trudges across their borders.

Many nations ended their drafts after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. But as the risk of a widening war rises, alarm bells have sounded in countries near the Russian border, including the smaller Scandinavian and Baltic states most likely to be threatened.

“We are coming to the realization that we may have to adjust the way we mobilize for war and adjust the way we produce military equipment and we recruit and train personnel,” said Robert Hamilton, head of Eurasia research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and a former US Army officer, to CNN on Sunday.

“It is tragically true that here we are in 2024 and we are grappling with the questions of how to mobilize millions of people to be thrown into a meatgrinder of a war potentially,” Hamilton said.

“But this is where Russia has put us.”  

The tiny nation of Latvia — with its just under 2 million people wedged between Russia and the Baltic Sea — is the latest to reintroduce conscription, which it abolished in 2006.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, men must register for the draft as soon as they turn 18.

The country’s citizens pushed back at first, according to Arturs Pīlācis, a 20-year-old student. But that faded as the need to defend their homeland became clear, CNN said.

“There wasn’t really an option where we can stand by and think things will go on as they were before because of the unprovoked aggression in Ukraine,” he told the network.

In Norway — which already has mandatory conscription — elected officials presented in April a long-term plan to double the defense budget and draft 20,000 soldiers, employees and reservists to serve in the armed forces.

“We need a defense that is fit for purpose in the emerging security environment,” Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said.

Some of the conscripted seem to agree.

“I am willing to fight for my country if need be because I believe in the values that the Norwegian society is built on, and I believe those values of inclusion and equality and democracy are worth fighting for,” said student Jens Bartnes, a 26-year-old who finished his military training about seven years ago.

Lithuania, another Baltic state with a long-simmering fear of Russian invasion, has seen similar changes since it reintroduced conscription in 2015, CNN said.

Not everyone there is fond of the draft, according to Paulius Vaitiekus, president of Lithuania’s National Students’ Union.

But there has been “a shift in the mindset of the youth towards being more active, although not necessarily through conscripting,” he said, adding that students have been sending supplies to the Ukrainian front to help the embattled nation fight off its Russian aggressor.

Other countries such as Finland, Norway and Sweden have small standing armies but also the ability to call up thousands — and sometimes hundreds of thousands — of already-trained volunteers at a moment’s notice.

The Finnish Defense Force, for example, only has about 13,000 active members. But it can activate nearly a million reservists — and 280,000 of those can respond immediately, CNN said.

That makes it a good example of how to mix a small professional army with a mammoth amount of civilian reinforcements, Hamilton said.

That model worked well against the Russians in the past, specifically when the country nearly fought the Soviet Union to a standstill during a series of savage wars that ended with the Moscow Armistice in 1944.

Germany has also sought to reinvigorate its military, which has not been a priority since the country’s defeat in World War II.

This year, the nation updated its plans to respond to a war in Europe. And last month, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius proposed a new voluntary military service so the country would be “ready for war by 2029.”

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization — a k a NATO — is also trying to up its game in response to the Russian threat.

“Since 2014, NATO has undergone the most significant transformation in our collective defense in a generation,” rep Farah Dakhlallah told CNN.

“We have put in place the most comprehensive defense plans since the Cold War, with currently more than 500,000 troops at high readiness.”

The alliance doesn’t tell its members whether to conscript citizens, Dakhlallah said. But about a third do, and others are now weighing it.

“The important thing is that allies continue to have capable armed forces to protect our territory and our populations,” Dakhlallah said.

Retired US Gen. Wesley Clark said Putin’s campaign of open war against Ukraine — with the goal of recreating the Soviet empire — should be a wake-up call.

“So we’ve now got a war in Europe that we never thought we would see again,” Clark, who also served as NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told CNN.

“Whether this is a new Cold War or an emerging hot war is unclear,” he continued.

Still, “it’s a very imminent warning to NATO that we’ve got to rebuild our defenses.”

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