superyacht engine room

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Tour a Superyacht Engine Room

Do me a favor: open the hood/hatch to the engine of your car, take a good look at it. If you’re someone who REALLY takes care of their car – maybe you frequent Concours events or are just someone who just loves their car – then your engine is probably very clean. But, it’s probably not as clean as the engine room of this superyacht. Okay, it’s a lot easier to clean and engine when you can actually walk around it, but still, the engine you’ll see in the video below is spotless. The video is done by TheYachtGuy Official, who walks around Lurssen’s Tis yacht, a 115-meter vessel. It also features two helicopter pads, a movie theater, elevator, swimming pool and a lot more. Check it out! And if this reminded you to clean your car, click the button below.

Featured Image via YouTube Screenshot/TheYachtGuy Official

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An Inside Look: 68m SUPERYACHT Engine Room Tour!

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to our channel for more incredible experiences aboard Motor Yacht Loon! #charter #YachtLife #UnforgettableMoments” 🔔

For daily updates, follow us on: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/motoryachtloon TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@motoryachtloon

🌏 For charter inquiries and to check out the yacht, please visit our official website: https://www.yachtloon.com

Filmed by onboard content creator @Blair_vb

#superyacht #superyachts #yachts #boats #megayacht #yachttender #charter #yachtcrew #yachtlife #yachttoursuper #yachting #yachtcharter #loonvideos

38 Comments

What a great inside look. I need to get down there and try out those trolleys. Alex and Blair did a great job show the heart of the yacht. We only had so much time to try and show as much as we could so if there is anything we missed you would like us to show or something that you would like a more in-depth explanation drop us a comment and we’ll try and add it to a future video. Looking forward to next weeks charter video where we saved an adrift sail yacht. Thank you everyone 🛥️🙏

Such good content! Well done guys 👍🏼

Professional and top notch crew with sense of humor to boot. Great job.

I love seeing supremely competent professionals operating complex machinery with standard-setting competence and professionalism. Thanks for showing us this fascinating part of the boat. Kudos to the engineers and content team!

Would love to see a lot of the refit. Also for sure love the nuts and bolts of the yacht.

Wow. That actually was amazing! I was thinking my eyes would glaze over, but I wanted to give it a watch to support y'all,…Surprisingly for me I found it really interesting! Now I know why these type of boats have such astronomical price tags! The stabilizers were fascinating to me! But the most surprising thing was when you opened the closet door to reveal Yozo! What the heck!? Such a handsome, charming guy stuck in a closet all day?? Big thank you to him! And, yes,…Alex did a fab job, charming as well, while I was watching I couldn't help think, His mother must be very proud!…

Weird but genuine question, do you have time/equipment to workout? Or do you basically have to stick to basic calisthenics in your free time to try to stay fit?

The spares material looks so organized. Nice ER.

This was excellent! What protects the yacht from lightning stikes?

LOON is a real superyacht

How about a day in the life of a guest on board a super yacht.

The nitty gritty details is what I enjoy seeing. Short of tracing systems and knowing all the pipes and fittings I enjoy this

Hi Paul which Superyacht model is this please say the name

I feel like I just watched something on Disney channel 😂😂. Everyone was so pumped up and having heaps of fun. I know bum f..k all about all that new technology but that was riveting, 30 minutes of pure engrossed entertainment. My god Alex.. you could make me buy absolutely anything you sold 😂 I skipped this episode as I thought it wouldn’t interest me but the bugga kept coming up so…. Smiled the whole way through it. Best crew ever Loon ❤️

Alex is soooo hot

Videos on nav equipment please

are you guys coming to the BVI? in season?>

Question, did Alex say what size and make engines are powering the propellers, like how many cylinders/ horsepower?

Woah, that's a lot more crew than I thought. The Chefs onboard must be busy cooking ! Do the Engineers have any other duties that are not typical for an engineer whilst guests are onboard?

how many litres of fuel does each generator and motor burn per hour would love to know cheers

Great video guys. Great walk through Alex, very cool to see all the components involved… I had no idea there are fuel cleaners too… makes sense though

WOULD BE NICE TO SEE HOW YOU LIVE ON BOARD WHEN YOU ARE ON DOWN TIME ? GET UP THE GOOD WORK 🙂

Thanks- Stay safe you all.

Very interesting video. The engine room is much more than just engines! As much as I do love engineering (my background) I'd love to see some more of the table centres and set ups. The ones you've shared so far look beautiful 🙂

Hi, I really like your videos. I like to learn from who does your videos. What do they use ie drones, gambles , editing software etc etc

Every one did a great job. Thank you for all the crews work. beautiful.

great vid guys

I thought you did a great job engineering dpt! So cool to see how the machinery of a Super Yacht works, well done thanks for the inside look!

Fantastic video…..2 engineers to look after all of that kit shows how efficient (expensive) the whole setup is.

Great seeing the engine room. the mysteries of the belly of the beast have been revealed lol. It would be nice seeing the engineers' working/fixing/servicing something like a tender or something big like an engine service.

WOW, finaly 😛 Nice work to all of you. Im an elctrical engineer and when i was young i dreamt about working on a yatch. Finaly i got to see inside the belly of a big yatch. Keep on the good work, an i´m looking forward for more vlogs and yes i want to see the reefit of the wessel. You guys rock 🙂

Great job. Nice to see the Snipes finally getting their due. How many total engineers does Loon carry and does one always have to be aboard?

As a non techie I thoroughly enjoyed this video well done on a great video. Love to see maintenance and repairs being done. Outstanding

I work in a Maritime safety center training crews in liferafts/firedrills etc so i would love a video of all your lifesaving equipment and firefighting stuff 🤘 Thanks for great videos👊👊🇦🇽

You know it was going to be complex but what an amazingly diverse range of systems those guys have to support.

What school/college/university qualifications do you both have. An idea for people starting out.

This brings back memories that statement "everything must work" says it all, comment from my captain once "talk to the engineer, I just drive it" yep nothing happens without a good engineering team, great video.

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Boat of the Week: This Speedy 153-Foot Superyacht Has Its Own Turbo Boost

Push a button and the turbine kicks in, which is yachting's equivalent of light speed., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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What do you get if you have two friends with a passion for boats, high-profile automotive careers and cash to burn? The answer is the 153-foot superyacht Excellence , a vessel that oozes speed, has brand pedigree and captures the hearts of all who own it.

Built in 2001 by Formula One racing car driver and automobile entrepreneur Roger Penske, who named her  Detroit Eagle , the yacht combined Feadship ’s Dutch craftsmanship with Penske’s own brand of engine. (Disclosure: Roger Penske is the father of Jay Penske, who owns this publication, as well as its sister publications in the Penske Media portfolio.)

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“At the time [Roger] Penske owned a company called Detroit Diesel that made diesel engines for boats, and he was also involved with a company that built turbine engines,” current owner and Penske’s longtime friend, Herb Chambers, told Robb Report . “So, he went to Feadship and built a lightweight aluminum yacht with a shallow draft to demonstrate the capability of his engines.”

The Feadship was originally built and owned for years by Roger Penske, who wanted a very fast, very luxurious superyacht. Penske installed his own Detroit Diesel-branded engines and then added a 5,600-hp turbine to give the yacht a 10-knot pop at the top end.  Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

The immaculate, polished-chrome engine room, with the diesels painted in fire-engine red, has always been a symbolic indicator of the type of impressive speeds the yacht can reach. The engines are 16-cylinder 4000 series, which generate 3,650 horsepower each. Penske then added something the superyacht world had never seen before–a Lycoming TF-50 gas turbine for an additional 5,600 horsepower.

“The boat can cruise at about 23 knots on diesel engines,” Chambers says, “but if you really want it to go fast, you push a button and the turbine kicks in taking the boat from 23 knots up to around 33 knots. It really is a remarkable vessel.”

Serial boat builder Chambers grew up in the Boston area, spending long summers on the water at his grandmother’s cottage. “I always had the desire to have a boat,” he says, a goal he realized at 24 with a 30-foot Trojan flybridge motoryacht. The Trojan would be the first of five yachts called A-Copy , named after his successful copy-machine business.

“After I sold the copy company and had this windfall of money, I ordered a 127-foot Feadship. The name A-Copy wasn’t of any significance to me anymore so I tried to think of a name that I would like,” Chambers says. “I’m not an avid reader, but I read Tom Peters’s book In Search of Excellence and loved it. It’s about running a good business. I thought Excellence , that is a great name for a boat.”

Launched last summer, Chambers’s newest 262-foot Abeking & Rasmussen “Excellence” has a futuristic hull shape, with an eagle-beak bow and large glass panels on the exterior.  Courtesy Abeking & Rasmussen

To date, Chambers has owned more than 40 yachts of many sizes. Some were even sold before he took delivery. The name “Excellence” serves as a constant reminder to his 30-year-long captain for the need to maintain high standards on board, he says. It has also carried through to Chamber’s six most recent yachts. This includes his largest yacht to date, a striking 262-foot Abeking & Rasmussen launched in 2019, on which he enjoys cruising the European waters of Croatia, Greece, Italy and St Tropez. That Excellence won Robb Report ’s 2020 Best of the Best award for interiors.

With its “eagle” reverse bow and triple-height glass atrium, the Winch-designed yacht turns heads wherever it goes. But that’s hardly surprising considering Philip Starck’s opinion-dividing Motor Yacht A was the design inspiration this latest Excellence .

“When I first saw Motor Yacht A , I said, ‘That looks like a submarine. Who would ever want to have a boat like that?’ And the second time I saw it, I said, ‘That boat is pretty nice. I kinda like that bow.’ And the third time I saw it, I thought, ‘I absolutely love that.’ So, that’s where the idea for Excellence ’s bow came from.”

While he has recently listed the Feadship “Excellence,” Chambers plans to enjoy the yacht for while he still owns her. He has often owned two yachts—the newer one that is often under charter, and a smaller, faster one that is at his disposal for his “personal use.” 

While Chambers’s appreciation of Feadship has long endured after his first foray with the Dutch shipbuilder, it wasn’t until a 2018 visit to Fort Lauderdale Boat Show that Penske’s 153-foot yacht caught Chamber’s eye. Prized by Chambers for its flexible speed and six-foot Bahamas-friendly draft, it is one of the few yachts that he hasn’t put on the charter market.

“I view the Feadship as a very personal boat,” says Chambers. “It’s only a four-stateroom boat, but you can bring three other couples or family members with you. When I told Roger Penske that I had bought the boat, he said his family was mad at him when he sold it because they loved it so much.”

An extensive 2019 refit of the yacht includes a full paint job, an updated sound system and refurb of the original John Munford interior. Chambers bought the yacht for his own personal use. “Because my boats get chartered, I always love to have a boat that’s available just for me,” Chambers says. “I built a 94-foot Mangusta for that purpose and used it in America when my big yacht was on charter in the Mediterranean or Caribbean. The Feadship can do pretty much what the Mangusta did, but it’s a bigger, more comfortable boat, so I sold the Mangusta at the start of 2020.”

The 2001 build has undergone a complete refurbishment of the interior. 

Being a serial owner, Chambers also recently listed the updated Feadship. He plans to enjoy the yacht while she is still available. Will he miss this Excellence ?

“I really don’t know,” Chambers says, pausing. “I would maybe look to build a similar boat, around 150 feet, something that would be fast. But the Abeking & Rasmussen Excellence is still new to me. The time for me to sell a boat is when I still like it.”

That creates a great opportunity for a buyer who wants a piece of superyacht history–a very fast superyacht history.

Excellence is co-listed for sale with Burgess  and Merle Wood & Associates for $16,900,000. Here are more views.

Images Courtesy of Burgess Yachts

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• December 3, 2023

The Yacht Captain’s Guide to Engine Room Maintenance

At the heart of every yacht’s performance lies the engine room; it’s the powerhouse that commands the waves. Recognizing this, Fly Yachts is dedicated to imparting the expertise necessary for meticulous engine room maintenance. The captain’s vigilance in this area is paramount, for it directly correlates with the vessel’s reliability and longevity. Anchored in our extensive knowledge, Fly Yachts illuminates the path to engine room maintenance that ensures smooth sailing and operational excellence.

Acknowledging the Engine Room’s Significance

The epicenter of yacht performance:.

• Proactive Approach : Adhering to a proactive maintenance philosophy can prevent unexpected breakdowns.
• Cleaning Regimen : Routine cleaning allows for a clear inspection and prevents obstructive buildup that can hinder performance.
• System Checkups : Regular monitoring of all engine room systems will ensure that everything is running at optimal levels.

Establishing a Seamless Maintenance Schedule

Timely and systematic practices are foundational to machine health, and the engine room’s regular upkeep is no exception.

The Maintenance Chronicle:

• Daily Logs : Maintain detailed records of engine performance, fuel levels, and any irregularities noted during operation.
• Scheduled Servicing : Follow the manufacturer’s recommended intervals for servicing core components.
• Inspection Rounds : Incorporate daily checks into the captain’s routine to spot early signs of wear or damage.

The Pivotal Role of Cleanliness

A clean engine room not only facilitates easier inspections but also mitigates the potential for fire hazards and other risks.

The Clean Engine Room Commandments:

• Oil and Fluid Spills : Address spills immediately to prevent slips and potential fire hazards.
• Bilge Maintenance : Regularly check and clean the bilge area to avoid oil accumulation and ensure the bilge pump functions correctly.
• Air Filter Care : Clean or replace air filters as needed to guarantee optimal engine breathing and performance.

Fluid Levels and Quality: The Lifeline of Engines

Engines depend on various fluids to operate smoothly, and monitoring these is a task of both precision and priority.

Fluid Dynamics:

• Oil Quality and Level : Regularly check oil levels and observe for any signs of contamination or metal filings.
• Coolant Check : Ensure coolant levels are sufficient and that the coolant is free from contaminants.
• Hydraulic Systems : Inspect hydraulic fluid levels and systems for leaks or pressure losses.

Ensuring Fuel System Integrity

The fuel system’s health is indicative of the engine’s performance, emphasizing the need for unwavering attention.

The Fuel Fortitude Framework:

• Fuel Filter Changes : Replace fuel filters at designated intervals to prevent clogging and potential engine starvation.
• Fuel Quality : Periodic testing of the fuel for water and other contaminants is crucial.
• Fuel Lines Inspection : Regularly inspect fuel lines and connections for any signs of wear or leaks.

Electrical System Checks and Battery Maintenance

The vessel’s electrical systems are as vital as the mechanical ones, demanding equal diligence.

Circuitry and Power Checks:

• Connection Integrity : Regularly inspect all connections for tightness and signs of corrosion.
• Battery Health : Keep batteries charged and clean; test battery life and replace as needed.
• Visual Survey : Look out for frayed wires, damaged insulation, or other electrical abnormalities.

Navigating Through Mechanical Components

Mechanical parts demand a detailed and technical maintenance routine to preserve their functionality.

Mechanical Mastery:

• Alignment and Tension : Check the alignment of shafts and tension of belts for signs of undue stress or wear.
• Exhaust System Inspection : Monitor for leaks or blockages which can lead to poor engine efficiency or hazards.
• Cooling System : Regularly flush and inspect the cooling system to avoid overheating and corrosion.

Professional Assistance for Complex Machinery

Recognizing when professional help is required is a hallmark of wise stewardship in engine room maintenance.

Seeking Savvy Skills:

• Major Servicing : Partner with certified service providers for major overhauls or when specialized expertise is needed.
• Emergency Scenarios : Have a dependable marine mechanic or technical support contact for emergencies.
• Ongoing Education : Stay informed about new maintenance techniques and technologies that can aid in the upkeep of the engine room.

Conclusion: Commanding the Engine Room Realm

A shipshape engine room is the result of a captain’s commitment to rigorous and routine maintenance. Guided by Fly Yachts’ detailed protocols and backed by our collective wealth of seafaring knowledge, the engine room becomes not a challenge but a testament to masterful maritime stewardship.

The Fly Yachts Benchmark of Care:

• Precision and Prowess : Ensuring the engine room operates flawlessly reflects a captain’s precision and the yacht’s prowess.
• Reliability and Readiness : A well-maintained engine room guarantees reliability and readiness for any voyage that calls.
• Calm in the Heart of Power : Amidst the strength of engines and systems, calm reigns, knowing that every component functions as intended.

Chart a course into the world of meticulous engine room maintenance with Fly Yachts. Engage with our knowledgeable team, and we’ll provide the guidance required to ensure your engine room—and your yachting adventures—are powered by reliability and captained with confidence.

Fly Yachts’ Frequently Asked Questions

What routine engine room maintenance should a yacht captain prioritize.

A yacht captain should prioritize engine checks, oil and filter changes, coolant levels, belt inspections, fuel system maintenance, and keeping the engine room clean and dry.

How often should a yacht’s engines be serviced?

Yacht engines should be serviced at least annually or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines, which may suggest more frequent service based on engine hours or usage.

What are the signs that an engine may require urgent attention?

Signs that an engine may require urgent attention include unusual noises, loss of power, excessive smoke, oil in the bilge, overheating, or any sudden changes in performance.

Can Fly Yachts assist with setting up a regular engine room maintenance schedule?

Yes, Fly Yachts can help establish a regular maintenance schedule tailored to your specific engines and operational patterns to ensure smooth performance and longevity.

What measures should be taken to prevent corrosion in the engine room?

To prevent corrosion, maintain dry bilges, use corrosion inhibitors, inspect and maintain anodes, and ensure good ventilation in the engine room.

Is it essential for a yacht captain to have a solid knowledge of the vessel’s electrical systems?

Yes, a solid knowledge of the vessel’s electrical systems is crucial for identifying potential issues, performing basic troubleshooting, and ensuring the safety of all on board.

What are critical spare parts to keep in the engine room for emergencies?

Critical spare parts include filters, belts, impellers, fuses, bulbs, hoses, and other engine-specific components that might require replacement without warning.

How should the cleanliness of the engine room be maintained?

Maintain cleanliness by regularly wiping down surfaces, keeping bilges free of oil and water, organizing tools and spare parts, and promptly addressing any leaks or spills.

How can a captain ensure all crew members are knowledgeable in engine room safety?

A captain can ensure crew knowledge by providing thorough training, conducting regular drills, clearly labeling all components, and maintaining up-to-date safety procedures and material safety data sheets (MSDS).

What role do documentation and logs play in engine room maintenance?

Documentation and logs play a vital role by providing a record of maintenance, repairs, and engine performance, which can inform future servicing needs and help diagnose issues quickly.

Set sail into the elite realm of yachting with Fly Yachts, where a full suite of services is available for those looking to buy, personalize, or charter the yacht of their dreams. Your nautical journey commences on our  homepage , where we introduce our dedication to excellence in all things yachting. For aspiring yacht owners, our  yachts for sale  page offers a curated collection of vessels ready to embark on new voyages. If you’re intent on crafting a yacht that resonates with your personal aesthetics, our  build a yacht  page will guide you through the customization process. Steer towards our  About Us  page to uncover the story and vision of Fly Yachts, and meet the team behind our esteemed brand. Adventurers eager to explore can chart their course using our  charter destinations  page, listing exquisite locations for your next luxurious journey. Our  Compass Articles  are stocked with insightful pieces, offering yachting advice and knowledge. When the time comes to transition from yacht owner to seller, our  sell your yacht  page will provide pointers for a smooth sales experience. For those whose passions lie above the water as well, visit our  aircraft for sale  page for a collection of high-end aircraft. Keep in tune with the yachting world’s latest updates through our  Gulfstream News . And for any inquiries or support, our  contact  page is the direct line to our responsive Fly Yachts team, always ready to assist you.

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How did the superyacht Bayesian sink?

• 20 August 2024, 10:56am

Ali Kefford

On Monday morning at 5 a.m. the superyacht  Bayesian  sank off the coast of Sicily, leaving one man dead and six people missing. Among the unaccounted for are the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who had been enjoying a celebratory cruise after a US jury acquitted him of fraud charges in June, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Fifteen people, including a baby, were rescued from the ship, after being found crammed into a nearby lifeboat.

The incident would have played out in a handful of horrific minutes.

How did the 56 meter  Bayesian  come to sink? Each of the current theories suggest the incident would have played out in a handful of horrific minutes.

Experts believe that a storm in the area created a waterspout (a sea tornado) and 100 mph winds, which blew towards the £14 million superyacht, along with thunder and lightning. Survivor Charlotte Golunski said the boat started rocking and taking on water, before she was thrown into the sea. For a few terrible seconds she lost her baby daughter in the waves, but managed to retrieve her and keep her from drowning.

At some point it appears that the vessel’s massive mast snapped, crashing into the sea, and then the ship capsized – sealing the  Bayesian’s  fate. The majestic yacht will have had a swift plunge to the seabed near the village of Porticello, in Palermo, Sicily.

It may prove to be the case that Bayesian’s 75-meter-high aluminium mast – one of the world’s tallest – was her undoing, acting as a pendulum as she rocked in the water, adding momentum to each successive swing. But the ship’s designers would have meticulously calculated the metacentric height – the distance between the centre of gravity and the metacentre – to prevent this.

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Sean thomas, it’s time to get rid of your pet.

Machinery issues cannot be excluded. Every maritime vessel has hull valves for functions such as engine cooling and sanitation. Any of these may have failed. It could also have been that one of the superyacht’s seals, such as the one around the propeller, broke open.

Because the  Bayesian  was flying under the British flag, she would have been subject to rigid maritime regulations concerning how she was managed at sea, including her crewing. Reading the weather warnings that night, the ship master will have known that, with the ship’s sails down, they would have to use the engine and the anchor to control the boat. It’s the weight of the chain that plants a yacht – rather than the anchor itself – and an insufficient chain length may have allowed  Bayesian  to be dragged onto rocks, which then punctured her hull.

However Bayesian was sunk though, it is undoubtable that the ship’s master would only have had minutes to respond to the emergency. Royal Navy commanding officers all agree that a captain must think and act decisively during a quickly escalating emergency. Dithering can lead to death in the worst seas. 

Fifteen years ago, when the navy ice patrol vessel  HMS Endurance’s  main engine room filled to the deckhead with sea water in 30 minutes, she was in such a remote position off Chile that her Mayday call went unanswered. It was left the  Endurance’s  crew, led by Cdr Tom Sharpe to stop her sinking. Eventually informed of the crisis, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he assumed the Royal Navy would sort the situation. Which Sharpe duly did. But  Endurance’s  near-miss highlights the loneliness of sea command, whether it is military or civilian. Those in charge must plot a way forward, then take full responsibility when things go wrong. There’s no time to consult onshore expertise.

That can apply wherever you are in the world. While sailors tend to be all too aware that the Atlantic is no benign mistress, capable of whipping up ferocious seas, some still underestimate the Mediterranean. This may be because the sea is enclosed and it can look comparatively small on a map. Seasoned mariners know though that the Med is well capable of creating a fatal storm – and should not be underestimated. 

They’re also aware of, and rightly respect, the sheer power of the sea. It’s something I’ve seen first-hand. Like yachts, Royal Navy warships sit high in the water for speed. When I sailed from Rio de Janeiro to the Falklands in a destroyer, we encountered the worst weather the crew had experienced in years. Waves relentlessly smashed over a rolling bridge, and officers of the watch repeatedly ducked down their heads to vomit into a bucket. Anyone not working was in their bunk and genuinely scared junior sailors eyed the captain nervously.

For his part, the commander remained calm and impassive and, once we reached the Falklands, appeared unsurprised to find that thundering waves had twisted the metal ladders on deck.

For the 12 guests on board  Bayesian , and her ten-strong crew, the obvious danger they were in will have been clear to them the moment they were abruptly awoken. It would have been chaotic on board, with a clamorous din and desperate scramble for a lifeboat.

It’s now a tragedy Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch, who have already arrived in Palermo, will have to assess.

Ultimately, if  Bayesian  was hit full-on by a waterspout, she would have been unlikely to survive, no matter what the crew did. Fate certainly seems to have dealt the most brutal of blows to those joyously gathered on the  Bayesian  to celebrate in the Mediterranean sunshine this summer.

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Resurfaced video shows Bayesian yacht three years before sinking off Sicily

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The specifications of the superyacht which sank off the coast of Sicily have been unearthed as the search for survivors continues.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch ’s Bayesian yacht was hit by a tornado over the ocean – known as a waterspout – off the coast of Porticello fishing village on Monday morning, causing it to sink after the mast snapped.

Follow Metro’s live blog for latest updates on the Sicily yacht sinking

One person, the yacht’s chef, has been found dead while six others – including Lynch, 59, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer – remain missing .

Christopher Morvillo, a lawyer for Clifford Chance, also remains unaccounted for.

The British-flagged Bayesian had 22 people on board, including 10 crew members. Now footage taken of the yacht in 2021 has reemerged.

Superyacht Times previously wrote a profile piece about the vessel, which was built by Italian firm Perini Navi and launched in 2008.

Details of the Bayesian

The yacht is 55.9m long and is 11.51m at its beam (widest point), a draught (depth of the vessel below the waterline) of 9.73m and an internal volume of 473 GT (gross tonnage).

Bayesian has an aluminium hull and superstructure, and is powered by two engines which give a top speed of 15.6 knots, with a cruising speed of 13 knots.

Its 57,000-litre fuel tanks mean it has a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles, and has water tanks storing up to 14,000 litres of fresh water, YachtCharterSalute reports .

Its interior architecture was designed by Rémi Tessier and most recently refitted in 2020. The cabins feature stunning modern bathrooms, and sleek wooden furniture with metal and accents.

The yacht previously sailed under the name ‘Salute’, and in total it has a capacity for 12 passengers and 10 crew.

There are six cabins below deck including one master cabin, three double and two twins.

The Bayesian has the largest aluminium mast and the second-tallest mast overall in the world, measuring in at 75m tall.

Its forward seating area can be converted into a fully enclosed glass veranda.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected] .

For more stories like this, check our news page .

MORE : Last moments of Bayesian yacht as it’s battered by storm before sinking

MORE : Lawyer’s haunting seven-word post before vanishing on Bayesian yacht

MORE : Woman sick of potholes risks her health to fix them

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The theories on what caused Bayesian superyacht to sink so quickly

Yahoo news uk rounds up the theories on what could have caused the bayesian to sink off the coast of sicily..

With the final body recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian luxury British yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on 19 August, attention now turns to trying to explain how the 56-metre vessel could seemingly sink within a matter of minutes during an intense storm while boats around it remained afloat.

Authorities said on Saturday the most likely cause was a "downburst", a strong downward wind, rather than a water spout - which involves rotating winds like a whirlwind or tornado - as initially suggested.

The disaster, off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, has baffled naval marine experts who said such a vessel, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini and presumed to have top-class fittings and safety features, should have been able to withstand such weather.

On Thursday, Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which manufactures Perini boats, said such yachts were "unsinkable bodies" and "the safest in the most absolute sense". He told Sky News: "This incident sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact."

Technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah died in the tragedy, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas , who was working as a chef on the Bayesian.

The Bayesian was moored just half a mile or so from shore when it sank as the area was hit by an intense storm, but it remains unclear exactly what caused the 56 metre long vessel to sink within a matter of minutes.

Here are some of theories discussed so far looking at what could have happened.

“From the information we have, it is a downburst we are talking about," prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano told a news conference on Saturday.

Downbursts are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly after hitting the ground.

Authorities said one thing they will be looking at is how it could affect one vessel and not others that were nearby at the time.

Cammarano said post-mortem examinations had yet to take place and there were a "whole number of preliminary stages to go through before the autopsies".

He said the passengers were all probably asleep at the time, which was why they failed to escape.

Key to working out exactly what happened will be recovering the wreck, which is lying apparently intact on its side at a depth of 50 metres (164 feet). However, this is likely to prove complex and costly.

"It's in the interests of the owners and managers of the ship to salvage it," another prosecutor, Ambrogio Cartosio said, adding "they have assured their full cooperation".

Hatch or windows were left open

There has been some speculation in media reports that the yacht sank because of a large hatch or windows being left open. Structural engineer Filippo Mattioni pointed to the possibility of "an open hatch" letting in water.

Before the downburst explanation was put forward, yachting experts suggested that the hatches could have broken or smashed during a waterspout, or were left open due to the hot weather, which could have allowed the Bayesian to fill with water quickly and sink. Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic university, said a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking in a huge amount of water.

He said that “one can make plausible assumptions that leave room for doubt” about what happened, suggesting that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by a waterspout, letting in water.

Divers who carried out underwater inspections of the boat reported that the hatch was open, according to La Repubblica, though this has not been confirmed by officials.

However, an industry expert dismissed the open hatch theory, telling Reuters that it should have taken hours for the Bayesian to fill up with enough water to sink it.

Fire department diver Marco Tilotta also told Il Messaggero daily the wreck was “apparently intact”, with “no gashes, no signs of impact”. However, only one half of the hull is visible to divers.

Was the retractable keel used?

The Bayesian was built with a retractable keel - a structure that lies under the hull that helps stabilise boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. Both Ratti and Mattioni have suggested that if the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, it would have reduced its depth under water from around 10m to 4m – making the vessel less stable.

Ratti said the boat might have started oscillating wildly, “like a pendulum” in strong winds. This would have put exceptional strain on the mast and potentially led to it breaking.

However, he conceded that “this by itself is not enough to justify the sinking”. Investigators have so far not said whether the retractable keel had been used.

Palermo's Coast Guard Chief, Raffaele Macauda, said there was no specific ban for the ship to be anchored where it was struck by the storm, adding that weather bulletins at the time were not reporting a major storm alert for the area.

The yacht’s mammoth mast

Perini Navi, the Italian luxury yacht maker who built the Bayesian, said the vessel featured the world's tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72m.

American entrepreneur Scott Painter – who took over Mike Lynch's Autonomy brand – told MailOnline that he believes the Bayesian may have been more vulnerable to capsizing in bad weather because of the height of its mast.

He said: “That could certainly contribute to a capsize as it would destabilise the yacht. And if it were to lean over too far, it could absolutely capsize the yacht.”

Sam Jefferson, editor of Sailing Today, told The Telegraph: “She has a very tall, aluminium mast – I believe it is the second tallest aluminium mast in the world – and that would not have helped. Stability was obviously the problem in the extremely strong winds she was experiencing and I’d assume the boat was pinned on its side and could not right before it filled up with water.”

Watch: What could have happened to the Bayesian yacht?

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht anchored nearby at the time of the storm, claims he saw the Bayesian’s mast “bend and then snap”. However, Ratt said an unusually tall mast is not by itself an element of vulnerability in a storm.

Initial reports suggested the mast had snapped, however a source told Corriere della Sera that divers found the mast in one piece.

Fire department diver Marco Tilotta said the wreck was intact and the mast was still attached. He added, that divers had not been able to inspect the full length of the mast but the section they had seen was undamaged.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told the BBC that it was difficult to say whether the mast broke, saying it was “pure guesswork”. He pointed out that divers have said the vessel is “basically intact” and if the mast was broken, “that would be a significant thing that would be reported”.

Freak waterspout was caused by 'higher than usual temperatures'

Italian authorities have reported stormy conditions that caused the yacht to sink. It was initially believed the Bayesian may have been hit by a waterspout – a rotating column of wind that forms over a body of water and is often likened to a tornado.

According to the US National Ocean Service, tornadic weather spouts have the “same characteristics” as a land tornado and are often accompanied by severe thunderstorms, “high winds and seas, large hail, and frequent dangerous lightning”.

But speaking at a news conference on Saturday, authorities said a "downburst" was more likely to be the cause (see more above).

Some climate experts have said the storm could have been caused by global warming. Luca Mercalli, president of Italy's meteorological society, said the sea surface temperature around Sicily in the days leading up to Bayesian’s sinking was about 30C – almost 3C more than normal. He told Reuters: “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

Borner, the captain of the boat moored nearby, also blamed more frequent episodes of intense heat during the summer months for playing a role in causing such storms.

‘A series of human errors’

The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Italian luxury yacht maker Perini Navi and was refitted twice – but reportedly not by Perini himself.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group TISGR.MI, which owns Perini, said the yacht was “one of the safest boats in the world” and basically unsinkable. He suggested that the sinking was down to a series of human errors – despite the storm being expected.

Speaking to Italian media, the CEO said that had the crew shut all doors and hatches, turned on the engine, lifted the anchor, lowered the keel and turned the yacht to face the wind, they would have suffered “zero damage”. He added that data showed it took 16 minutes from when the wind began buffeting the yacht, and it began taking on water, for it to sink.

Cartoisio said the tragedy will be even more painful if the investigation shows it was caused by "behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping".

He said that while the yacht had been hit by a sudden meteorological event, it was "plausible" that crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence had been committed.

But he added that the investigation so far is not focusing on any one individual.

Captain James Cutfield has been questioned, along with the other survivors. None of them have commented publicly on the sinking.

It has not been possible to carry out alcohol or drug tests on the survivors as they were in a state of shock and needed treatment for their injuries, officials said.

There is no legal obligation for any of the survivors to stay in Italy, but they are expected to cooperate with the investigation.

Will we ever know what happened to the Bayesian?

Experts are struggling to identify any single one cause, and are hesitant to make any conclusions, especially as the yacht was presumed to have top-class fittings and safety features. Another yacht anchored next to it remained afloat during the weather event.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, described the sinking as a potential “black swan event” – something that is unpredictable and is beyond what is normally expected from a situation and that has potentially severe consequences.

Nevertheless, he said he was confident the authorities would “get to the bottom” of what caused the vessel to sink, thanks to the accounts of survivors, witnesses and examination of the ship, which appears to have remained intact on the sea bed.

Who will lead the investigation?

Leading experts have already lent their knowledge of what could have caused the sinking of the Bayesian.

The official investigation into the disaster is being led by prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese.

Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, will be heading up the investigation alongside the assistant prosecutors.

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also assisting with inquiries. Their investigation is likely to take months to complete.

Horror CCTV footage shows Bayesian yacht engulfed by storm before capsizing (Manchester Evening News)

Who is Mike Lynch? 'UK's Bill Gates' among those missing from Sicily yacht (Yahoo News)

Divers faced with desperate conditions in search for survivors on sunken superyacht Bayesian (The Independent)

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Superyacht sinks latest: Investigators reveal where bodies were found as probe looks at 'crew's responsibility'

Italian officials revealed at a news conference there could be "a question of manslaughter" as they opened a shipwreck investigation and said the probe is also looking at the "crew's responsibility".

Saturday 24 August 2024 18:33, UK

• Superyacht sinking

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• Prosecutor: There 'could be a question of manslaughter'
• Probe 'concentrating' on crew's responsibility
• Seven bodies recovered after five-day search of superyacht wreckage off Sicily
• Saturday's papers pay tribute to youngest victim Hannah Lynch
• Hannah's sister pays tribute to 'my little angel'
• Explained: Inside the superyacht | What challenges have faced divers?
• Eyewitness: Sombre scenes greet rescue teams as final body is brought ashore
• Live reporting by Niamh Lynch

We're ending our live coverage for this evening but here is a recap of what we know:

• Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the Bayesian sinking;
• Officials have revealed more details on their investigation and the difficult five-day rescue mission;
• The six bodies found during the search in recent days were all in cabins on the left-hand - and highest - side of the ship. Five were found in the first cabin and the sixth was found in the third;
• Prosecutors said the six passengers were most likely asleep when the boat sank;
• The probe is now focusing on the crew and their responsibilities, with the captain set to undergo more questioning.

Monday 19 August

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 56 metre vessel - including a mother and baby - but another seven remain missing.

One body, later confirmed to be the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas, is found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among six people that remain missing.

Tuesday 20 August

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy's fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were "unsuccessful" because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as "complex", with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

Tributes pour in for Mr Thomas, with his friend Gareth Williams saying: "I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit."

Wednesday 21 August

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht's internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

Thursday 22 August

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

Friday 23  August

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, Hannah Lynch.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of the Lynch family that they are "devastated" and "in shock" after the deaths of Mike and Hannah.

Hannah's sister Esme pays tribute to her "little angel".

Saturday 24 August

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town, Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

As the focus now turns to the manslaughter investigation, here's another reminder of the seven victims of the sinking and the 15 people who survived. 

A close friend of the Lynch family has added to the chorus of tributes for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in Monday's superyacht sinking.

Susannah Gurdun, who lives in Suffolk, recalled being "daunted" when she first met Mr Lynch at a dinner party, before discovering he was "so much more than the corporate cliche".

"He was riveting.  He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything," she said.

Ms Gardun said the businessman also had a "thrilling ability" to make complicated subjects "accessible to those of us less blessed with a science acumen".

"In particular, he was wonderful with children.  I will never forget hearing him explain to a group of them - including our ten year old son - the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset," she said.

She went on describe Mr Lynch as a "true genius" and "phenomenal creative".

Ms Gardun said his daughter Hannah was also showing "serious literary promise", and added that it was "beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led".

"I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain.  Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family," she said.

"He was an extraordinary human being and it was - truly - a privilege to have known him."

A yacht crew member who survived the sinking has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, calling her a "diamond in a sea of stars".

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, has released a statement after divers recovered the final missing body from the wreckage, which is believed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

"Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars," she said.

"Bright, beautiful and always shining. What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything. 

"While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. 

"I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive."

Ms Murray's statement comes as a new image of Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch is released:

Prosecutors announced in this morning's news conference that they have opened a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigation.

Officials were unable to answer several queries from the media, saying they needed time to establish the facts, but what are the key questions facing prosecutors? 

Why weren't passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that some passengers may have been asleep when others were awake.

Asked why they were not woken up or alerted, he said that is something investigators are trying to work out from the statements of the survivors.

He called it an "essential" part of the inquiry.

Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?

The press conference heard several bodies onboard the sunken yacht were found in a single cabin which was not theirs.

Mr Cammarano said investigators currently do not know the reason for them being discovered in the same cabin.

The chief of the Palermo fire service, Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the yacht pinned to the right and suggested people tried to go on the other side, taking refuge in cabins in the higher part of the wreck.

Why did the boat sink?

The vessel had been deemed "unsinkable" by its manufacturer - Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.

Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.

He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.

Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?

Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.

Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.

Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.

What weather warnings was the Bayesian alerted to?

Maritime director of western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, said the weather at the time of the yacht's sinking was abnormal and there was nothing to suggest such an extreme situation would arise.

He said there were forecasts of winds and a storm alert, but there was no warning of a tornado.

"Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising," he said.

"There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions."

How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?

Mr Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.

"Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it's only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation," he said.

"I can't say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, [said] that it will be eight weeks."

He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.

Italian authorities detailed the challenging and meticulous rescue operation to recover the six missing people from the Bayesian wreck (see 9.18am post).

But why was the five-day search so difficult? 

Read more below...

More on this morning's press conference. 

One of the main updates from prosecutors was that they have opened manslaughter and shipwreck investigations after the deaths of seven people in the Bayesian sinking. 

Watch the announcement below...

Prosecutors have given a lengthy news conference this morning on their investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian. 

Read the full report on the prosecutors' probe below...

Marine investigator James Wilkes has been speaking to Sky News after this morning's press conference.

"Naturally, there are more questions than there are substantive answers at the moment - that's the nature of investigative work.

"Something forced that yacht to roll beyond its nominal stability limits, such that it wasn't able to right itself with the ingress of a certain amount of seawater that was coming into the yacht. 

"So the investigators are going to ask themselves one initial question - what must the conditions have been for this to happen? 

"Then they are going to look at the contributing factors to the yacht, sinking, and, and the unfortunate loss of life." 

Prosecutors said this morning that the future of the investigation is reliant on recovering the wreck. 

Mr Wilkes said the yacht is a "major piece of physical evidence in and of itself." 

"It's lying at 50 metres, which is a recoverable depth. 

"If it was significantly deeper, then I'm not sure they'd be considering salvage at this stage or certainly, the salvage question would be a lot more complicated to answer. 

"But if there was the ability to raise that yacht in one piece safely, then it gives the investigators physically more to look at."

Mr Wilkes said he was unsure if the yacht would have a "black box" - called a voyage data recorder in shipping. 

"It would record things like GPS position, heading speed, engine telemetry, whether the radars were on, what they were recording, alarms, communications from the yacht itself, any audio on the bridge.

"But more often than not, these are on merchant ships. The yacht was a commercial yacht in the sense that it could be chartered out so it's quite possible it has a voyage data recorder on, but I'm not sure that it does. I don't know that as a matter of fact," he said.

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Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

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By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

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Mike Lynch: Seven key unanswered questions around the sinking of the Bayesian

With the search continuing of the sunken bayesian an investigation has been launched to establish what caused the disaster off the coast of sicily, article bookmarked.

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With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht , which experts will examine in the coming days. For now, the focus is on finding the final sixth passenger since the yacht went down in the early hours of Monday 19 August.

Four bodies were recovered from the vessel on Wednesday, with the fifth brought to shore on Thursday morning. They have now been identified as British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Mr Lynch ’s 18-year-old daughter remains unaccounted for, with divers returning to the site to continue searching the sunken boat.

It will take weeks for Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, and his team to establish whether the sinking of the Bayesian was down to human error, an unpredictable weather event or whether anyone is liable.

They have said they will interview the survivors in the coming days – some of whom were pictured leaving the Domina Zagarella hotel in Santa Flavia, which has become the headquarters for survivors, police and rescuers.

Many questions face the investigators:

Were access hatches left open?

One expert at the scene in Sicily said an early focus of the investigation would be on whether the yacht’s crew had failed to close access hatches before the tornado struck.

Yachting experts have suggested that the hatches being open could have allowed the Bayesian to fill with water quickly and sink.

But Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Polytechnic University of Milan, said a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking in a huge amount of water.

“One can make plausible assumptions that leave room for doubt,” he said, before suggesting that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the waterspout.

Was the boat prepared for a storm?

Prosecutors will look at whether appropriate measures were taken in preparation for the storm.

The yacht’s captain, James Catfield, from New Zealand, told Italian media of the suddenness of the waterspout that turned a luxury super yacht into a death trap.

“We just didn’t see it coming,” he said.

Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains.

The coast guard said bad weather had been forecast, but added that it was more virulent than expected. Some locals spoke of a waterspout, or sea whirlwind, of exceptional force.

“It was a strange thing,” fisherman Andrea Carini said. The Bayesian was at anchor, its sails down, when the tempest hit, with another yacht moored nearby.

A nearby yacht, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell, remained anchored and weathered the storm after its captain turned on the engine to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian.

The captain, Karsten Borner, said he did not know whether the crew of the Bayesian had managed to switch on its engines.

“I don’t think they did things wrong, I think they were surprised by the power of the storm,” he said.

“I only know that they went flat with the mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes,” he said, adding that the storm was “very violent, very intense”, bringing in “a lot of water and I think a turning system like a tornado”.

Did the world’s largest aluminium mast have anything to do with the sinking?

The Bayesian was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 with a 75m (246ft) mast which it claims is the tallest aluminium mast in the world.

Scott Painter, who took over Lynch’s multi-billion dollar software company called Autonomy, founded in 1996, said Lynch’s yacht may have been more vulnerable due to the mast.

“The mast was the ultimate sailor’s bragging right,” Painter told the outlet. “That mast must’ve been over 240 feet tall, which is either the tallest or second tallest in the world.”

He added: “That could certainly contribute to a capsize as it would destabilize the yacht. And if it were to lean over too far, it could absolutely capsize the yacht.”

Captain Borner said: “If the mast had been broken they wouldn’t have capsized.”

Would a lightning shock wave damage the mast?

Colonel Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said the agency had registered intense lightning activity and strong gusts of wind in the area.

The Bayesian had one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world, according to its builder, Perini Navi.

“Having a tall aluminium mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology told the Politecnico di Milano.

The type of intensity unleashed by a violent lightning storm “could have created a significant shock wave”, he added.

Was the Bayesian keel retractable and was it down?

The Bayesian had a retractable keel, a fin-like apparatus under the hull that helps stabilise boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. It is not known whether it was down at the time of the vicious storm.

Both Ratti and Mattioni questioned whether the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, reducing the vessel’s depth under water and making it less stable. Ratti said strong winds might have caused the boat to start oscillating wildly, “like a pendulum”, putting exceptional strain on the mast.

Was the the Bayesian properly anchored?

Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy commander and defence commentator, told CBC News that a mast the size of the Bayesian’s is designed for a massive sail, and without that sail raised and catching the wind, the gusts likely would’ve had a negligible impact on the aluminum pole.

He instead suggested the anchor may have played a pivotal role.

“My kind of working assumption is that she was probably a bit further in at anchor, and it’s very likely, in these sort of conditions, that her anchor dragged,” he said.

He added the 10-strong crew was better off steering toward the anchor to stabilise the yacht or even raising the anchor and steering into the open Meditteranean to ride out the storm.

“They might have got caught in that middle ground where they’re not on a particularly good anchorage but the anchor is now controlling the bow of the ship”, he posted.

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The last 16 minutes of the ‘Bayesian’: a timeline of the sinking of the yacht in Sicily

O n Friday, search teams located the body of the daughter of British tycoon Mike Lynch . Hannah Lynch was the last person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian , the yacht that sank last Monday off the coast of Palermo, Sicily.

The luxury vessel was carrying 22 people on that fateful night of August 19. Of those on board, 12 were passengers, while 10 were crew members. Although most survived, six people were reported missing in the aftermath : the previously mentioned British businessman Mike Lynch; his daughter, Hannah Lynch; Jonathan Bloomer, the director of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Judy Bloomer; American lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo. Over the past few days, their bodies have been found inside the Bayesian, at rest on the bottom of the sea at a depth of 160 feet.

Luxury yacht Bayesian sinks in storm

The luxurious 184-foot yacht, flying the British flag, was built at the Perini Navi Viareggio shipyard in February 2008. The yacht boasted the world’s tallest aluminium mast, measuring 246 feet.

In addition to the storm and the powerful gusts of wind that contributed to the vessel’s destabilization and sinking, experts have also pointed to human error as a possible cause of the Bayesian’s demise. There is talk of a chain of mistakes, including open hatches and windows, improper alignment of the vessel, and poor positioning of the keel, the counterweight to the soaring mast.

Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera (link in Italian) has obtained details of the final 16 minutes of the Bayesian , thanks to the AIS (Automatic Identification System) tracking system, which links a ship’s onboard instruments to coastal stations and accurately tracks the vessel.

Final moments of the Bayesian

In this case the final moments ran from 3:50 a.m. to 4:06 a.m., the time of its tragic end.

A waterspout strikes the Bayesian. Despite being anchored, the tracking system shows a path that visually resembles a scribble: the yacht moves forward and backward, then side to side, and then once more forward and backward.

The anchor gives way, leaving the yacht fully exposed to the storm.

By this time, the yacht is taking on so much water that it becomes unmanageable. The power goes out, indicating that water has reached either the generator area or the engine room.

At 4:03 a.m., there is another slight change in the yacht’s trajectory. By 4:05 a.m., it vanishes from the tracking system after drifting about 400 yards. Surveillance footage recorded from a villa near the Porticello harbor corroborates this moment.

At 4:06 a.m., the EPIRB (emergency position-indicating radio beacon), a type of GPS that acts as an emergency beacon, automatically sends a distress signal to the Cospas-Sarsat satellite station in Bari, managed by the Coast Guard. The yacht, as reported by the 15 survivors, went down bow-first in a vertical position before coming to rest on the seafloor, starboard side down.

During these 16 terrifying minutes, 15 people managed to escape. The cook, Recaldo Thomas, died trying to get out. The other six, who were reported missing and have now been found dead, fought for their lives until the very end.