yacht huntress salvage

Sydney to Hobart yacht race competitor Huntress ashore on Christmas Beach.(Twitter: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania)

Race to salvage Huntress after Hobart competitor beached on Cape Barren Island

By Monte Bovill and James Dunlevie – ABC News

A yacht abandoned during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has washed ashore on one of Tasmania’s most remote beaches after drifting for a week, with concerns for the area’s culture and environmental significance.

The crew of Huntress, a 12-metre cruiser, enjoyed “36 hours of absolute champagne sailing” during the 77th Sydney to Hobart race before conditions changed dramatically.

“We had 12 hours of very testing conditions on Tuesday night that unfortunately resulted in the loss of our rudder at 0700hrs Wednesday. While surfing a wave at 20 knots (boat speed), we heard a loud thud,” the crew wrote in an Instagram post.

“It became obvious that the rudder had sheared off when we saw it floating away in the distance.”

With some of the eight on board experiencing seasickness and authorities informing them a “tow would be too dangerous”, the “extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision” was made to “leave Huntress floundering 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) offshore”, the team posted on social media.

The crew were then taken aboard a police vessel and transferred to Flinders Island, where they said a salvage operation was “already being planned for her safe transfer to mainland Tasmania” on December 29.

Since then, Huntress has been drifting off Tasmania’s north-east coast without navigation lights or transmission of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal after the yacht’s batteries went flat.

It has now washed ashore on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island.

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) first issued a warning to marine traffic on Tuesday, five days after the yacht was abandoned, alerting that Huntress was drifting 15 nautical miles off the Tasmanian mainland.

According to the MAST alert, an at-sea salvage attempt was due to take place — but before that could happen, the vessel had gone ashore.

In a now-deleted post, the boat’s owner said the team were “angry, devastated and at a complete loss as to how the hell it came to this, given she was floating around for a week now with ample opportunity to be towed to safety”.

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania manager Rebecca Digney said there were serious concerns about the yacht breaking up.

“At the moment, the yacht appears to be intact, but we are concerned what should happen if that yacht were to break apart. It’s going to be hard to recover the vessel and keep it intact.”

She described Christmas Beach as a “very clean, pristine and remote place”.

“It’s an area frequented by the Aboriginal people that live on truwana/Cape Barren Island,” she said.

“The island is the only parcel of land in the whole of Tasmania to have a permanent, full-time Aboriginal population living on Aboriginal land.”

The area is only accessible by foot or by boat.

Salvage attempts will now be made at the weekend.

It is the second year Huntress has failed to finish the Sydney to Hobart.

In 2021, in its maiden race, Huntress retired from competition due to mainsail damage.

Click on the link below to see full ABC News report

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-06/sydney-to-hobart-huntress-beached-cape-barren-island/101830434

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Dispute after Sydney to Hobart yacht wrecked in Tasmania

Monday, January 9th, 2023

Written by: Marine Industry News

A salvage dispute has erupted over the ownership of a racing yacht that washed up in Tasmania, after local Indigenous rights groups claimed they are entitled to a third of the vessel’s value.

The yacht Huntress was abandoned at sea after being damaged during the 2022/3 Sydney to Hobart race. Water police were called to rescue the crew of the 40-foot yacht on 28 December 2022, after the vessel struck an unidentified object, which tore off a section of its rudder. Skipper Victoria Logan has told media she believes the object was most likely a sunfish .

Logan and her seven crewmates were safely rescued, and the yacht was cut loose and left to drift at sea. Overnight (8 January 2023), it was refloated by Total Dive Solutions and is reportedly being towed back to safe harbour in the Tamar River, in northern Tasmania, today.

But Michael Mansell, chair of the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania, says the insurance company should not have salvaged the yacht, because “any vessels wrecked or washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land belongs to Aborigines”.

@rshyr yacht Huntress was abandoned on 28 Dec off Ansons Bay & drifted north to wash ashore on Aboriginal Land She looks largely intact on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Is We’re hoping salvage is swift, safe & successful as she poses a risk remote & pristine Country pic.twitter.com/z07f2TmxIx — Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (@ALCTlutruwita) January 5, 2023

Speaking to ABC News , he adds: “We do not give permission for the insurers to move the vessel Huntress ,” and implored that the vessel should not be removed until one-third of its value is paid, or the owners agree that Aborigines own the vessel.

Mansell points out that other vessels have been claimed under the old Indigenous sea law practice, which has been exercised in the area since the mid-1800s.

The salvage company reportedly sought permission to come to the island and would have been under the impression it was allowed to remove the boat. John Kavanagh from Pacific Maritime Lawyers told ABC he would be “surprised if there was any legal substance” to Mansell’s claims, adding: “The common law of salvage does not change the underlying title in the vessel.”

The council says it is now assessing its next steps, and will take further action if it believes it has a case.

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One response to “dispute after sydney to hobart yacht wrecked in tasmania”.

The last Tasmanian aboriginal died in late 1800’s as I understand it. So there is a difference between Tasmanian aboriginals and Aboriginals that live in Tasmania. This is either right or wrong so please comment.

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Vow to restore salvaged Syd-Hob yacht

The owners of a Sydney to Hobart yacht salvaged from a remote Tasmanian island after it was abandoned during the race have vowed to restore the vessel to its former glory.

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Huntress was recovered from Christmas Beach on Cape Barren Island in Bass Strait on Sunday, some 11 days after it ran into trouble.

The 40-foot yacht's rudder was sheared off after it hit an object on December 28 about 80 nautical miles east of Flinders Island. The boat's crew was rescued later in the day by water police.

Huntress, which was left to drift at sea before it beached last week, is now safely tied up in northern Tasmania.

"Receiving this news was simply a huge relief and the news we had been waiting to receive for several long days," a post on the boat's Instagram page read.

"Moving forward we will be working with our insurer to plan Huntress's repairs in restoring her to her former glory.

"This may take several months to complete but we cannot wait to get started!

"Finally, we wish to thank everyone for all the messages of support that we have received, it really has meant everything to us and has helped us keep going."

Following the salvage, the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania (ALCT) claimed the yacht should not have been removed from the beach, as it belonged to Indigenous people.

ALCT chairman Michael Mansell said there was an Aboriginal law on Cape Barren Island, also known as truwana, preventing the yacht from being removed unless a portion of its value was paid or ownership was given to the Indigenous population.

The ALCT has reportedly sent a letter to the yacht's owners and insurers requesting a formal meeting.

Total Dive Solutions, a company involved in salvaging Huntress, said Indigenous representatives provided "permission and local site knowledge" during the operation.

Huntress also failed to complete the Sydney to Hobart race in 2021 when it was forced to retire with mainsail damage.

Australian Associated Press

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Tasmanian Aboriginal land council claims part ownership of washed-up Sydney to Hobart yacht

Michael mansell says the salvage company that recovered the boat may have been unaware of the aboriginal law they were contravening..

Damaged Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress has been salvaged from truwana (Cape Barren Island).

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Race to salvage Huntress after Sydney to Hobart competitor beached on Cape Barren Island

By Monte Bovill

By James Dunlevie

Topic: Sailing

Sydney to Hobart yacht race competitor Huntress ashore on Christmas Beach. ( Twitter: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania )

A yacht abandoned during the Sydney to Hobart yacht race has washed ashore on one of Tasmania's most remote beaches after drifting for a week, with concerns for the area's culture and environmental significance.

Key points:

• After breaking a rudder, the crew of Huntress drifted before being rescued
• After several days, Huntress washed ashore on a remote Tasmanian beach on Aboriginal land
• There are concerns the yacht will break up before it can be salvaged, due to the remoteness of its location

The crew of Huntress, a 12-metre cruiser, enjoyed "36 hours of absolute champagne sailing" during the 77th Sydney to Hobart race before conditions changed dramatically.

"We had 12 hours of very testing conditions on Tuesday night that unfortunately resulted in the loss of our rudder at 0700hrs Wednesday. While surfing a wave at 20 knots (boat speed), we heard a loud thud," the crew wrote in an Instagram post.

"It became obvious that the rudder had sheared off when we saw it floating away in the distance."

With some of the eight on board experiencing seasickness and authorities informing them a "tow would be too dangerous", the "extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision" was made to "leave Huntress floundering 80 nautical miles (148 kilometres) offshore", the team posted on social media.

An image, with arrow drawn by crew members, indicating Huntress' broken rudder floating away. ( Instagram: huntress888racing )

The crew were then taken aboard a police vessel and transferred to Flinders Island, where they said a salvage operation was "already being planned for her safe transfer to mainland Tasmania" on December 29.

Huntress' crew pictured at Flinders Island airport, after waiting "nearly 12 hours to be rescued in rough seas". ( Facebook: Loretta Kiss )

Since then, Huntress has been drifting off Tasmania's north-east coast without navigation lights or transmission of an Automatic Identification System (AIS) signal after the yacht's batteries went flat.

It has now washed ashore on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island.

Huntress ashore on Christmas Beach, on Cape Barren Island. ( Twitter: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania )

Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST) first issued a warning to marine traffic on Tuesday, five days after the yacht was abandoned, alerting that Huntress was drifting 15 nautical miles off the Tasmanian mainland. 

According to the MAST alert, an at-sea salvage attempt was due to take place — but before that could happen, the vessel had gone ashore.

In a now-deleted post, the boat's owner said the team were "angry, devastated and at a complete loss as to how the hell it came to this, given she was floating around for a week now with ample opportunity to be towed to safety".

Beaching site not accessible by road 

A salvage of Huntress is set to be attempted this weekend. ( Twitter: Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania )

Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania manager Rebecca Digney said there were serious concerns about the yacht breaking up.

"Everyone is relieved that no one was on the vessel but just a bit shocked to have this ghost vessel wash up on the beach," she said.

"At the moment, the yacht appears to be intact, but we are concerned what should happen if that yacht were to break apart. It's going to be hard to recover the vessel and keep it intact."

The race tracker showing the location (green line) of Huntress drifting before it beached on Cape Barren Island. ( Supplied: Rolex Sydney to Hobart )

She described Christmas Beach as a "very clean, pristine and remote place". 

"It's an area frequented by the Aboriginal people that live on truwana/Cape Barren Island," she said. 

"The island is the only parcel of land in the whole of Tasmania to have a permanent, full-time Aboriginal population living on Aboriginal land." 

The area is only accessible by foot or by boat.

Salvage attempts will now be made at the weekend.

It is the second year Huntress has failed to finish the Sydney to Hobart.

In 2021, in its maiden race, Huntress retired from competition due to mainsail damage.

Huntress, Sydney to Hobart competitor, pictured in December 2022. ( Facebook: huntress888racing )

Salvage fight over Sydney to Hobart yacht Huntress as Aboriginal Land Council claims ownership

A stranded Sydney to Hobart yacht that washed up on a remote beach on a Tasmanian island has been salvaged despite a fight with the local Aboriginal Land Council, which claims the boat now "belongs to Aborigines".

The yacht, Huntress, washed ashore on Christmas Beach on truwana/Cape Barren Island after its rudder broke off during last month's race.

The crew was rescued and the yacht was cut loose and left to drift for a week before it washed ashore.

Overnight it was refloated and on Monday was towed back to safe harbour in the Tamar River, in northern Tasmania.

But Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania chairman Michael Mansell said the yacht should not have been salvaged by the insurance company because "any vessels wrecked or washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land belongs to Aborigines".

"We do not give permission for the insurers to move the vessel Huntress," he said.

"The yacht cannot be removed from the island until one-third of its value is paid or the owners agree that Aborigines own the vessel."

'White man's salvage laws do not apply'

Mr Mansell said he was citing an old Aboriginal sea law practice that evolved from the time of the white settlement and has been practised on truwuna/Cape Barren since around 1820.

"The Huntress has washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land on Cape Barren and that makes that vessel the property of Aboriginal people … that's always the Aboriginal law," he said.

"From the time that the white people chased us off our land in Tasmania and put us on the islands, the old people always applied Aboriginal traditional law to anything that washed up on the shores of Aboriginal land.

"Many boats have fallen under this law. The white man's salvage laws do not apply because this is sovereign Aboriginal territory and our laws override those of the white man.

"Some vessels that fell under this law were the Apparition in 1840; Antares in 1853; CC Funk in 1898 and Cambridgeshire in 1875 with general cargo valued at 52,000 pounds; GVH in 1895 and HJH at Badger Island in 1917; Idle Hour in 1930 and so on."

'We've missed the boat'

Cape Barren Island Aboriginal Association general manager Denise Gardner agreed the boat should not have been salvaged.

Ms Gardner said they had been unaware of the history of salvage laws and rights practised on the island, finding out after the yacht was retrieved.

"Unfortunately, we've missed the boat," she said. 

Ms Gardner said the salvage company had sought permission to come to the island and would have been under the impression it was allowed to remove the boat.

She said the association was now considering its next steps. 

"If we think we might have a case, then we'll take further action as we feel is required under the circumstances," she said 

Ms Gardner said they would consider redress in the form of a third of the boat's value being paid or the owners recognising a transfer to Aboriginal ownership.

"We need to take further action to establish our rights for the island, and that is the crux of this, I believe," she said.

'The salvor does not become the owner', lawyer says

John Kavanagh from Pacific Maritime Lawyers said he would be "surprised if there was any legal substance" to Mr Mansell's claims.

He said it was a common misconception that under the maritime law of salvage the finder could take ownership of a vessel or cargo.

"The common law of salvage does not change the underlying title in the vessel," he told the ABC.

"The vessel's ownership remains with the owners, even whilst it is wrecked, being salvaged or successfully salvaged.

"The salvor does not become the owner."

He said the salvor would be entitled to an "award" from the owners, but only if certain conditions were met: "danger to the vessel, acting as volunteers and successful salvage services."

"The salvor may have possession of the salved vessel and may have rights to retain possession pending payment of an award, but they don't own the vessel or any other salved property," Mr Kavanagh said.

"So even if the native title holders rendered salvage services, the law of salvage would not grant them ownership of the vessel or the wreck."

Land Council chairman yet to speak to insurance company

Mr Mansell said he had not yet been in contact with the Huntress's crew or boat insurance company, Pantaenius Australia.

A spokesperson from the insurance company said Aboriginal elders from the Island helped oversee the salvage efforts and there was no damage done to the beach or natural environment.

Total Dive Solutions, the company that completed the salvage of Huntress, thanked two Indigenous representatives from the island "for their permission and local site knowledge".

"Over the weekend our expert team worked around the clock to free the vessel from the challenging surf break," the company said in a statement.

"Rigging and equipment was swum to shore where we de-rigged the broken mast, the mainsail and boom and affixed to the vessel.

"Late Sunday night our support vessels pulled Huntress off the shore to deeper water.

"Total Dive Solutions recognises this could not have been possible without the support and assistance of the local Indigenous community, Pantaenius Insurance, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Marine and Safety Tasmania (MAST)."

Pantaenius said its priority was returning the yacht to the vessel's owner in the condition it was prior to the event, with an independent surveyor assessing whether it can be repaired.

Acting Tasmanian Premier Michael Ferguson said the government "would not be intervening" over the salvage matter.

"Quite clearly there should be some fair play and common sense … it's a good thing that no lives were lost during what could have been a very perilous situation with a yacht that needed to be abandoned at sea.

"I hope that sensible people will act sensibly."

Accident : Stranding could have been avoided - rescuers cause mast breakage

 ·  10.01.2023

An Australian sailing team had organised Sydney Hobart Race when the rudder broke at a boat speed of 20 knots. Due to the adverse circumstances, the sailors were forced to abandon the yacht and were taken to nearby Flinders Island by the police. The "Huntress", however, was to spend another week as a ghost ship on the Tasman Sea.

• ROLEX SYDNEY HOBART RACE: Aborigines claim stranded yacht for themselves

First rescue attempt failed

After abandoning their yacht on 28 December, the crew informed both the race management and their insurance company. According to YACHT information, the insurance company immediately organised a prompt rescue of the yacht. Sydney 39CR endeavoured. However, the company commissioned was unable to tow the damaged sailing yacht. Instead, the attempt resulted in the mast breaking. Allegedly, it was a fisherman who attached the towline to the forestay. This apparently could not withstand the pulling force and the forestay broke, after which the mast came down from above.

A second salvage attempt promised to the insurance company was not carried out for reasons still to be clarified. As a result, another salvage company was commissioned on 4 January. However, due to the distance, this company arrived too late to prevent the stranding.

Team of experts on duty around the clock

This fundamentally changed the initial situation for the salvage of the "Huntress". Christmas Beach is one of the most remote beaches in Tasmania and is also firmly in the hands of the Aborigines. In order not to violate their rights, the salvage company commissioned to do the job had, according to its own statement, obtained the permission of both the indigenous community of Tasmania and the local community on Cape Barren Island in advance.

Using two boats, wedges and inflatable bags, the yacht was recovered from the beach as planned. The team worked around the clock at the weekend until the mastless yacht was successfully transferred to the Tasmanian mainland late on Sunday evening. In addition to a marine biologist, indigenous people were also involved in the rescue of the "Huntress", according to a statement from the specialised company.

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Meanwhile, the team expressed its relief on its social media channels and announced its intention to start the refit. Even though this could take several months, they are highly motivated. However, according to the insurer, the yacht was in surprisingly good condition, with only a few scratches apart from the lost rudder and the broken mast.

However, it is not yet known whether there will be a possible legal dispute with the Aborigines regarding the ownership of the yacht. What is clear, however, is that it will probably not be expensive for the owner himself - any costs would be covered by his liability insurance.

More on the topic:

• SEAMANSHIP: Towing Part I: Preparation, hawser length and guidance
• ROUTE DU RHUM: How the spectacular rescue of the capsized Ocean 50 Tris succeeded
• SEEN EMERGENCY: Two boats stranded on the German Baltic coast

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Photo: Wolfgang Berthel

Related Video:  Russian tall ship collided with 2 Coast Guard vessels in Reykjavik

Watch CBS News

Satellite image shows super yacht linked to Putin out of reach of sanctions

By Catherine Herridge , Michael Kaplan, Andrew Bast, Jessica Kegu

March 3, 2022 / 7:30 AM EST / CBS News

As Europe and the U.S. bear down with a raft of aggressive sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, the super yacht he is believed to own has found safe harbor in a highly militarized port in Russian territorial waters. In new satellite imagery obtained by CBS News, the yacht can be seen docked in a port in Kaliningrad, near Russia's nuclear weapons operations. 

Experts say Putin's luxury vessel has become a symbol not only of his vast hidden wealth, but also of how challenging that money has been to find. 

"He's a KGB agent, so he's crafty. He knows how to hide when he needs to," said John Smith, former director of the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers and enforces all foreign sanctions.

Data from MarineTraffic, a global intelligence group, shows Putin's alleged yacht, the Graceful, left Germany two weeks before the invasion of Ukraine . 

Putin's government salary is said to be about $140,000, but that doesn't begin to explain the mansions, million-dollar watch collection and over-the-top yacht. 

"It would be fair to say he's among the richest men in the world," Smith said. 

Though he sells himself as a man of the people, his wealth is estimated to be more than $100 billion. 

Putin's critics allege he also has a cliffside palace that includes an amphitheater and a personal tunnel to the beach that doubles as a security bunker. 

"Of course, he doesn't acknowledge it as being his own," Smith said. "It doesn't fit with the public persona that he's trying to create to actually acknowledge it." 

Putin relies on his oligarch friends to shield his fortune from sanctions, Smith said. 

"So if he asked them to do something, they do it in terms of hiding assets, squirreling them in different parts of the globe, they will do what he needs," he said. 

Those who have tried to expose Putin's fortune have done so at great personal risk. 

Putin critic Boris Nemtsov was assassinated on a bridge in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015. Sergei Magnitsky died in 2009 under questionable circumstances in prison after he exposed $230 million in fraud by Putin's friends. Putin publicly condemned Nemtsov's murder and claimed Magnitsky died of a heart attack.  

His most recent No. 1 critic, Alexei Navalny , who helped expose Putin's lavish palace, emerged as a political rival and found himself repeatedly jailed. He nearly died after being poisoned two years ago, though Putin has denied responsibility for the poisoning. 

"Putin's wealth is one of the most dangerous topics," said Russian journalist Roman Badanin, who spent two decades investigating Putin's financial web. 

Badanin said Russian authorities sought to intimidate and silence his reporting team. Six months ago, he reached his breaking point. 

"I fled the country. My apartment was searched twice. I have like three criminal charges against me back in Russia," he said. 

In his State of the Union address, President Biden said the U.S. and its allies are waging economic war on Putin and Russian oligarchs. 

"We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments and your private jets," Biden said. 

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the formation of a new task force that would target Russian oligarchs. 

"Russia is not a transparent economy," Smith said. "The U.S. and our allies have decent information on some of [Putin's] assets, I think a lot will remain a mystery for a long time in the future." 

The biggest financial hit for Putin would be sanctions on the energy sector, which Smith says the Russian president has used to build up his wealth for years. So far, Washington and the Europeans have been hesitant to do that. 

• Vladimir Putin

Catherine Herridge is a senior investigative correspondent for CBS News covering national security and intelligence based in Washington, D.C.

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Satellite image shows Putin’s alleged super yacht out of reach of sanctions

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Experts say Putin’s luxury vessel has become a symbol not only of his vast hidden wealth, but also of how challenging that money has been to find.

“He’s a KGB agent, so he’s crafty. He knows how to hide when he needs to,” said John Smith, former director of the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers and enforces all foreign sanctions.

Data from MarineTraffic, a global intelligence group, shows Putin’s alleged yacht, the Graceful, left Germany two weeks before the invasion of Ukraine .

Putin’s government salary is said to be about $140,000, but that doesn’t begin to explain the mansions, million-dollar watch collection and over-the-top yacht.

“It would be fair to say he’s among the richest men in the world,” Smith said.

Though he sells himself as a man of the people, his wealth is estimated to be more than $100 billion.

Putin’s critics allege he also has a cliffside palace that includes an amphitheater and a personal tunnel to the beach that doubles as a security bunker.

“Of course, he doesn’t acknowledge it as being his own,” Smith said. “It doesn’t fit with the public persona that he’s trying to create to actually acknowledge it.”

Putin relies on his oligarch friends to shield his fortune from sanctions, Smith said.

“So if he asked them to do something, they do it in terms of hiding assets, squirreling them in different parts of the globe, they will do what he needs,” he said.

Those who have tried to expose Putin’s fortune have done so at great personal risk.

Putin critic Boris Nemtsov was assassinated on a bridge in the shadow of the Kremlin in 2015. Sergei Magnitsky died in 2009 under questionable circumstances in prison after he exposed $230 million in fraud by Putin’s friends. Putin publicly condemned Nemtsov’s murder and claimed Magnitsky died of a heart attack.

His most recent No. 1 critic, Alexei Navalny , who helped expose Putin’s lavish palace, emerged as a political rival and found himself repeatedly jailed. He nearly died after being poisoned two years ago, though Putin has denied responsibility for the poisoning.

October 2020: Alexey Navalny describes the poisoning ordeal he says Vladimir Putin perpetrated

“Putin’s wealth is one of the most dangerous topics,” said Russian journalist Roman Badanin, who spent two decades investigating Putin’s financial web.

Badanin said Russian authorities sought to intimidate and silence his reporting team. Six months ago, he reached his breaking point.

“I fled the country. My apartment was searched twice. I have like three criminal charges against me back in Russia,” he said.

In his State of the Union address, President Biden said the U.S. and its allies are waging economic war on Putin and Russian oligarchs.

“We are joining with our European allies to find and seize your yachts, your luxury apartments and your private jets,” Biden said.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department announced the formation of a new task force that would target Russian oligarchs.

“Russia is not a transparent economy,” Smith said. “The U.S. and our allies have decent information on some of [Putin’s] assets, I think a lot will remain a mystery for a long time in the future.”

The biggest financial hit for Putin would be sanctions on the energy sector, which Smith says the Russian president has used to build up his wealth for years. So far, Washington and the Europeans have been hesitant to do that.

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