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About the Marina

Situated in Falmouth Harbour, the Antigua Yacht Club Marina is ideally located among shops, boutiques and restaurants. The historic Nelson's Dockyard is just a few minutes walk away as well as the beautiful "Pigeon" beach.

Boats drawing up to 25 feet are able to be accommodated stern to/alongside and all berths have water and electricity (110, 220, 380 Volts up to 400 amps). The AYC Marina features an exclusive on the water complex which includes a gourmet Restaurant, a Travel agent, chandlery, 2 cafes, supermarket and liquor store, 3 boutiques, a gym and much more. The AYC Marina offers duty free fuel facilities and a new system of delivering fuel that allows you to pump directly to your slip at up to 400 liters per minute.

The AYC Marina hosts the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta in April followed by the Antigua Sailing Week.

  • Wi-Fi is available throughout the entire property

Dockage Rates

Stern to the dock:.

Length Range Without Credit Card With Credit Card
Up to 75 ft US$2.50 / ft US$2.60 / ft
76 ft to 99 ft US$3.00 / ft US$3.15 / ft
100 ft to 140 ft US$3.50 / ft US$3.65 / ft
Over 140 ft US$4.00 / ft US$4.20 / ft
Tenders under 75 ft US$2.00 / ft US$2.10 / ft
Catamarans Apply above dockage rates to length x 1.5

Alongside the dock:

Length Range Without Credit Card With Credit Card
Up to 75 ft US$3.75 / ft US$3.90 / ft
76 ft to 99 ft US$4.50 / ft US$4.70 / ft
100 ft to 140 ft US$5.25 / ft US$5.50 / ft
Over 140 ft US$5.50 / ft US$5.75 / ft
Tenders under 75 ft US$3.00 / ft US$3.15 / ft

- Other Rates -

  • Electricity
  • Fiber (Internet)
Length Range Without Credit Card With Credit Card
Up to 75 ft US$10.00 / Daily US$10.50 / Daily
76 ft to 150 ft US$15.00 / Daily US$16.00 / Daily
151 ft to 200 ft US$25.00 / Daily US$26.00 / Daily
Over 201 ft US$30.00 / Daily US$31.00 / Daily
Up to 75 ft US$40.00 / Weekly US$42.00 / Weekly
76 ft to 150 ft US$85.00 / Weekly US$89.00 / Weekly
151 ft to 200 ft US$110.00 / Weekly US$115.00 / Weekly
Over 201 ft US$130.00 / Weekly US$136.00 / Weekly

Without Credit Card: US$0.55 per KWh

With Credit Card: US$0.57 per KWh

Without Credit Card: US$0.15 per Gallon

With Credit Card: US$0.157 per Gallon

$0.10 USD / Foot

- Facilities -

High flow rate fuel.

Phone: +1 (268) 771-9357 E-mail: [email protected]

AYCM Hotel & Resort

Phone: +1 (268) 562-3030 E-mail: [email protected]

AYC Marina Gym

Phone: +1 (268) 460-1544

Dockside Liquors & Supermarket

Phone: +1 (268) 463-9000 VHF: channel #68

BWA Yachting

Tel: +1 268 562 8629 E-mail: [email protected]

ABSAR Medic Station

Phone: +1 (268) 720-3992

Maurice Underwater Services

Phone: +1 2687216827 E-mail: [email protected]

Bars, Cafe's & Restaurants

- contact us -.

Call us anytime!

Here's Our Number:

+1 (268) 460-1544

Fax or Radio Us!

VHF: channel # 9 or #68 Fax: +1 (268) 460-1444

Send us an email!

Email Address

[email protected]

© Marina & Resort LTD

Welcome to The Catamaran Hotel

1.268.460.1036

Rooms and Suites

Our rooms & suites, find your perfect room.

Our charming, friendly and picturesque hotel is nestled between lush palm trees and tropical flowers, opening directly onto a small intimate beach with a charming sunbathing deck and swimming pool. All rooms are fully air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, kitchenette, cable television, telephones and wi-fi. The Catamaran Hotel has recently upgraded certain rooms to welcome plus-sized persons in a way to ensure that they can enjoy a comfortable and memorable stay at the resort.

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Superior View

Sleeps 3, Queen Bed & Single Bed

catamaran club antigua

Sleeps 2, 2 Full Beds.

catamaran club antigua

Captain’s Cabin

Sleeps 3, Queen & Twin Beds

catamaran club antigua

Admiral’s Suite

Sleeps 4, Queen & Sofa Beds

catamaran club antigua

Catamaran Marina is situated on the North side of Falmouth Harbour, right in the heart of Caribbean yachting. The hustle and bustle of English Harbour is just a stone's throw away, but is far enough for a quiet 'far from the madding crowd' atmosphere.

With our recently extended docks we have a total of over 60 berths, both stern to and along side with a maximum length of 200 ft and 14 ft draft.

Facilities Include:

  • Electricity (110v, 220v and 380v three phase)
  • Diesel fuel (both regular and duty free)
  • Garbage disposal
  • Storage lockers
  • Fully stocked chandlery
  • Restaurant / Bar
  • 14-room hotel
  • 24-hour security, by way of cameras and guards

Marina Rates

Winter stern to rate (nov 1 - may 31).

Daily $1.25 per ft. per day
Monthly $0.90 per ft. per day

Summer Stern To Rate (Jun 1 - Oct 31)

Daily $0.60 per ft. per day
Monthly $0.40 per ft. per day
Electricity $0.55 per kW
Water $0.15 per gal.
$0.04 per liter

Please Note

  • All prices in $USD currency
  • Alongside Rates Are Double
  • Minimum Length - 35 ft.
  • Multi-hulls 50% Surcharge
  • Docking fees must be paid in advance
  • Check out time is 12:00 noon
  • Proprietor: Cap. Hugh R.M. Bailey M.B.E
  • We accept Visa & Master Card

Catamaran Marina - Directory

  • Go back to directory.
  • Add to Address Book.

Catamaran Marina

Sir Hugh Bailey established the Catamaran Marina in 1974 as one of the first full service marinas in Antigua & Barbuda. With his partner, Helen, and their loyal trusted team, the Cat Club Marina continues to support the Caribbean yachting industry with personalised and efficient service. With stern-to and alongside berths, water, fuel and electricity (110, 220 & 380 3-phase), Catamaran Marina will meet your yacht’s every need.

The Boatyard with our brand new haul-out facility, Bailey’s Boatyard offers insurance approved hurricane cradles and 24-hour security. Our chandlery is fully stocked with competitive prices and will meet all of your maintenance and service requirements.

Falmouth Harbour Antigua

catamaran club antigua

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Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort

Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Falmouth Harbour, Antigua West Indies, West Indies English Harbour Town, Antigua & Barbuda – Excellent location - show map

catamaran club antigua

Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort Reserve now

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Value for money

You're eligible for a Genius discount at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort! To save at this property, all you have to do is sign in .

Located in Falmouth Harbour, this waterfront resort is 3 km from the panoramic views of Shirley Heights Lookout. It features an on-site spa, a fitness center, and rooms with a flat-screen TV. Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort boasts bright rooms with Indonesian furniture and ceiling fans. Guests can relax on the private balcony, boasting views of the garden or the marina. Massage services are available at this Antigua resort. Concierge services and a gift shop are also offered. St. John’s, the capital of Antigua, is a 20-minute drive from the Antigua Marina Yacht Club Resort. VC Bird International Airport is 22 km from the property.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.0 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

  • Non-smoking rooms
  • Family rooms
  • Free parking

Property highlights

Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.0)

Free parking available on-site

Loyal customers

끖 There are more repeat guests here than most other properties.

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Availability

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catamaran club antigua

Property surroundings

Resort facilities of antigua yacht club marina resort.

  • Toilet paper
  • Towels/sheets (extra fee)
  • Additional toilet
  • Bath or shower
  • Private bathroom
  • Free toiletries
  • Wardrobe or closet
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Refrigerator
  • Socket near the bed
  • Fold-up bed
  • Clothes rack
  • Flat-screen TV
  • Cable channels
  • Satellite channels
  • Coffee house on site
  • Wine/champagne Additional charge
  • Invoice provided
  • Concierge service
  • Babysitting/child services Additional charge
  • Daily housekeeping
  • Ironing service Additional charge
  • Laundry Additional charge
  • Fax/photocopying
  • Fire extinguishers
  • CCTV outside property
  • CCTV in common areas
  • Smoke alarms
  • 24-hour security
  • Safety deposit box
  • Minimarket on site
  • Air conditioning
  • Wake-up service
  • Tile/marble floor
  • Private entrance
  • Ironing facilities
  • Wake up service/Alarm clock

House rules Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort takes special requests - add in the next step!

Child policies.

Children of any age are welcome.

Children 14 years and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

The number of extra beds and cots allowed is dependent on the option you choose. Please check your selected option for more information.

All cots and extra beds are subject to availability.

The fine print Need-to-know information for guests at this property

Upon check-in photo identification and credit card is required. All special requests are subject to availability upon check-in. Special requests cannot be guaranteed and may incur additional charges.

Please note that American Express Credit Cards are not accepted by the property. Only Visa & MasterCard can be used.

Guests are required to show a photo identification and credit card upon check-in. Please note that all Special Requests are subject to availability and additional charges may apply.

Please inform Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

In response to Coronavirus (COVID-19), additional safety and sanitation measures are in effect at this property.

As a result of Coronavirus (COVID-19), this property has temporarily suspended its shuttle services.

FAQs about Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort

Is antigua yacht club marina resort popular with families.

Yes, Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort is popular with guests booking family stays.

What type of room can I book at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort?

How far is antigua yacht club marina resort from the centre of english harbour town.

Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort is 750 yards from the centre of English Harbour Town. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What is there to do at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort?

How much does it cost to stay at antigua yacht club marina resort.

The prices at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort may vary depending on your stay (e.g. dates you select, hotel's policy etc.). See the prices by entering your dates.

How close to the beach is Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort?

The nearest beach is just 650 yards from Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort. All distances are measured in straight lines. Actual travel distances may vary.

What are the check-in and check-out times at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort?

Check-in at Antigua Yacht Club Marina Resort is from 15:00, and check-out is until 12:00.

The best of English Harbour Town

Most popular cities

  • Saint Johnʼs
  • Jolly Harbour
  • Dickenson Bay

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Jolly Harbour Yacht Club Antigua & Barbuda W.I.

Sailboat Top View

You've just docked at the online home of the Jolly Harbour Yacht Club.

Join us on the exquisite twin island paradise of Antigua and Barbuda. Our friendly and fast-growing yacht club is located in Jolly Harbour, one of the islands safely situated harbours, with beautiful tropical breezes and calm waters that provides top amenities for yachts, powerboats and mega-yachts.

Whether you are a beginner or experienced sailor, boat owner, crew, or just want to join in the social activities, you are welcome to come and join the fun, action and adventure.

Membership details can be found on our Membership page.

What's On

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Saturday Club Sailing

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Annual Regatta

JOLLY HARBOUR YACHT CLUB.jpeg

Valentine's Regatta

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Antigua Yacht Club

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  • Members’ Coffee Morning – May 15th, 10AM
  • Special Q & A w/ Tracy Edwards & Junella King of ‘Maiden’ Friday 10th @ 6:30PM AYC Event Centre
  • Welcome Home Junella King!

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Antigua Yacht Club Marina & Resort

Antiguan hospitality and dramatic views of the marinas.

The Antigua Yacht Club Marina and Resort offers you an opportunity to enjoy Antiguan hospitality. The Resort comprises of 30 executive suites studio residences (either as single or double unit configurations) and a 19 room hotel.

catamaran club antigua

All rooms are equipped with private balconies, ceiling fans, air condition units, In-room safes, satellite television, hairdryers, direct dial phones, wireless broadband internet access. The resort has a health spa, Turkish steam bath, fully equipped fitness center and a dedicated emergency room with first aid and accident/emergency assistance available.

Each accommodation offers dramatic views of the Falmouth Harbour and the Marinas. They come equipped with ceiling fans, air condition units, electronic safes, DVD/CD players, flat screen televisions, wall mounted hairdryers, direct dial telephones, wireless and modem internet access, daily housekeeping service and fully equipped laundry facilities.

catamaran club antigua

Antigua Yacht Club Marina & Resort Falmouth Harbour

Phone: 1-268-562-3030 Fax: 1-268-562-3031

Website: aycmarinaresort.com Email: [email protected]

Category: unique properties

Distance from airport: 20.3km

Distance from St Johns: 19.9Km

' title=

  • ENTRY LISTS 2025
  • ASW Official Notice Board & Documents
  • Peters & May RAR
  • RAR Official Notice Board & Documents
  • Race Charter Options
  • GENERAL INFORMATION

Marinas, Customs & Immigration

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catamaran club antigua

A large number of charter boats in particular book space at Nelson’s Dockyard Marina in English Harbour.  A number of big parties are held there so it is a good location if you want to be in the heart of the social activity.  Information about Nelson’s Dockyard Marina can be found here:  http://nationalparksantigua.com/yachting or by contacting:  [email protected] or [email protected] .  On the other side of English Harbour  you will find Antigua Slipway which functions as both a boatyard and fuel dock.

There are three marinas located in Falmouth Harbour that are also possibilities.  Two are within walking distance of Antigua Yacht Club but the third is a short dinghy or car ride away.

A lot of action will take place in the immediate vicinity of Antigua Yacht Club Marina which is adjacent to Antigua Yacht Club.  Antigua Yacht Club is the administrative centre of Antigua Sailing Week.  The Committee Desk and Protest Desk are located there as are all of the official notice boards and results boards.  In addition, the daily prize givings are held at AYC after racing each afternoon.  More information about Antigua Yacht Club Marina is available here:   https://aycmarinaresort.com/marina/ .  The Marina can also be contacted by email at:  [email protected] .

Also very close by is Falmouth Harbour Marina:  http://www.antigua-marina.com/  and there is a booking link on that page.

The third marina in Falmouth is a little further away and is known as the Catamaran Marina:   http://www.catamaranmarina.com/marina.html .  Contact information can be found here:  http://www.catamaranmarina.com/contact.html .  This is a nice, friendly marina with a very quaint atmosphere but it is a dinghy or car ride away from Antigua Yacht Club.  If you want peace and quiet, though, this would be a good choice.

Rates at all of these marinas are similar but please contact the marinas directly for current rates.  Detailed information is available on the individual websites or you may contact the marinas directly for more specific information.  You are probably already familiar with our website:  www.sailingweek.com .  For more information about Antigua itself, I highly recommend  www.antiguanice.com , which will provide you with information on everything you might want to know about Antigua.

CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION

We wish you a warm welcome to Antigua and Barbuda! It is the objective of the Antiguan Government and the Departments of Customs and Immigration to make procedures for entry by sea as quick and simple as possible. The main ports of entry include English Harbour, Jolly Harbour, Deepwater Harbour and Heritage Quay. Yachts wishing to visit Barbuda must clear in at one of the official ports of entry in Antigua prior to proceeding to Barbuda. As part of the clearance process, a Cruising Permit for Antiguan and Barbudan waters will be issued which is valid for a period of one month. If you plan to remain for longer than one month, it will be necessary to renew the Permit when it expires.

eSeaClear, the Caribbean pre-arrival notification system is available and fully functional in Antigua. eSeaClear is an advanced online web service that makes it faster and easier to clear into Antigua. Vessel operators can store and submit declaration information electronically, eliminating the need to fill in forms manually upon arrival at each port. eSeaClear is currently available in three ports in Antigua – English Harbour, Jolly Harbour and Deepwater Harbour. All Customs, Immigration and Port Authority officials have been fully trained and are able to facilitate entry into Antigua using the eSeaClear system. For more information and to complete clearance forms online, go to: www.eseaclear.com .

Upon arrival in Antigua, however, it is still necessary for the Captain of the boat to proceed to Customs and Immigration as soon as possible while all passengers and crew remain on board the vessel until clearance procedures have been completed. When arriving after hours, the Captain must also remain on board until the port offices open and he/she has been able to clear in. If you plan to spend any time in the English and Falmouth Harbour areas, please be aware that your vessel will be subject to National Parks fees in additional to regular cruising fees. When proceeding to Customs and Immigration, be sure to take ship’s papers, passports and other documents relevant to everyone on board.

If you will have passengers or crew arriving by air without an outbound airline ticket, they will be required to produce a letter signed by the yacht’s Captain or agent explaining that they are joining the vessel and it will be necessary to have them signed onto the ship’s papers at the port closest to the vessel’s location. For passengers or crew leaving a yacht in Antigua, they will have to be signed off the vessel by an Immigration official upon presentation of an airline ticket for outbound travel. If they are transferring to another yacht, both Captains will have to present ships’ papers to enable the transfer.

Thanks for visiting Antigua and Barbuda. We hope Antigua Sailing Week meets all of your expectations and you will enjoy the exceptional variety of experiences that local yachting has to offer!!

CUSTOMS UPDATE

All goods and services for genuine yachts in transit will be free of all taxes and duties including fuel and provisioning to be used by charter guests. Support containers are considered a temporary import and will be free of all duties and taxes subject to the contents being re-exported and any spares consumed being shown to have been used in the maintenance of the yacht. In instances where major items cannot be accounted for, the applicable duties and taxes will become due and payable. Once imported, crews will have free access to the containers.

ASW Trademark

Use of the Antigua Sailing Week logo, a registered trademark of Caribbean Sailing Events Inc., is absolutely prohibited for any purpose without the express written permission of Caribbean Sailing Events Inc.

Quick Links

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National Sailing Academy Dockyard Drive, English Harbour, Antigua.

Tel: +1 (268) 725-6651

E: [email protected]

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Sicily Yacht Sinking: Mom Heroically Saves Her 1-Year-Old Baby, One Body Finally Recovered, & More Updates

A mother's heroic rescue of her 1-year-old from a sinking yacht off Sicily has captured attention, as rescue teams recover one body and search for others.

A deadly storm off the coast of Sicily, Italy, on August 19, 2024, transformed a luxury yacht voyage into a tragic disaster. As the yacht was engulfed by the waves, one body was recovered, and several passengers remain unaccounted for, feared lost.

Amid the chaos, a determined mother defied overwhelming odds to miraculously rescue her 1-year-old daughter from the dangerous, swirling waters.

A Mother's Heroic Rescue

Charlotte Golunski, her partner James Emsley, and their baby Sophie were aboard the luxury yacht Bayesian when a sudden storm struck, causing the yacht to sink . As the yacht was hit by powerful waves, Charlotte and her family went above deck. In the chaos, a massive wave tore Sophie from Charlotte's arms, sending the baby into the sea.

In what Charlotte called a miracle , the same wave brought Sophie back to her. "I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning," she told Italian newspaper La Repubblica .

The courageous mom added , "It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others [sic]."

Charlotte, Sophie, and James were rescued by the Italian coast guard. A doctor at the Palermo hospital reported that the baby and mother are in good condition, and the father will be discharged soon.

Body of 'Sought After' Chef Recovered

Amid the ongoing search efforts, the body of Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef aboard the luxury yacht, was recovered . Recaldo, known for his deep voice and warm personality, was a beloved figure in the yachting community.

Gareth Williams, a friend of 30 years, remembered that Recaldo had "a smile that lit up the room." Before the tragedy, Recaldo told Gareth that he needed to work two more seasons to fix up his late parents' house. "He loved yachting, but he was tired," Gareth added .

Recaldo had spent much of his life in Antigua, where he became a role model for young people in the community. "Personality was very important in his job. The world's richest people want to hang out with someone social. He was sought after," said another friend, Eli Fuller.

Tara Williams, Recaldo's former workmate, shared her grief on Facebook, "We met when I worked on Kialoa with him in 1999 for a trip back from St Marteen, he had a giant smile to light up a room, a kind, huge-hearted, hilarious man with friends in the industry around the globe and was loved by so many [sic]." She added , "Rick, Ricksta, Recaldo Thomas, you will be forever in my heart my friend."

More Missing Passengers Feared Dead

While one body has been recovered, several passengers are still missing and feared dead, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Lynch had been celebrating a legal victory aboard the yacht when disaster struck. His wife, Angela Bacares, survived but was injured.

Meanwhile, Francesco Venuto, a spokesman for Sicily's civil protection agency, speculated that the missing bodies "must be there [in the boat]." He added , "We've been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we've found nothing. That wouldn't make sense, in these conditions we should have found something by now."

Local mayor Giuseppe D'Agostino expressed growing concern, saying , "With the passage of time it is becoming more difficult to hope for their survival." As the search continues, Italian officials, along with a UK team, will investigate why the Bayesian sank. Experts noted that it's very rare for superyachts to capsize.

Charlotte's heroic rescue of her daughter offers a rare glimpse of hope amid the tragedy of the Bayesian sinking, one of the latest water-borne accidents this year. Authorities remain optimistic that more passengers will be found as search and rescue efforts continue.

The Coast Guard, Italian fireboats, and a fire brigade helicopter search for missing passengers after the luxury yacht Bayesian sinks off Porticello, Sicily | Source: Getty Images

Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank. Was it a 'black swan event'?

Portrait of Cybele Mayes-Osterman

The Bayesian set off on a leisurely cruise around Italy's southern coast on a sunny day in late July.

The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of Morgan Stanley − set sail from the Amalfi Coast, bound for Sicily.

Less than a month later, the ship had sunk 160 feet under the water , leaving its cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing and prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention.

Now, experts are trying to piece together why in the early hours Monday the Bayesian was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water.

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A perfect storm led to Bayesian sinking, experts say

The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told USA TODAY.

The Bayesian was well-built: A 2008 product of Italian ship maker Perini, it was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Schanck.

The bout of bad weather that swept the area when the ship went down was also out of the ordinary in the northern Mediterranean, "which isn't renowned for prolonged, significant stormy weather," he said.

"The fact that those two elements have then resulted in the foundering of a super yacht is pretty extraordinary," Schanck said. "These things don't happen every day."

After the ship sank just before 5 a.m. local time, 15 people, including a 1-year-old, were pulled from the water. Some were rescued from a life raft by the crew of a ship docked nearby.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities.

As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Several missing passengers were involved in Lynch's trial on fraud charges, including Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley chair who served as his character witness, and one of Lynch's attorneys. Lynch, accused of fraud after he sold his company to electronics giant Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges weeks ago.

Who is Mike Lynch? UK entrepreneur among those missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily

Tornado formed over unusually hot water

Storms in the area that night may have whipped up a water spout, a tornado over the water , according to local meteorologists.

It was likely triggered by the water's unusual warmth, said Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist who served in the Navy.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence," he said. "But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water."

At 83.7 degrees, water in the area was more than 3 degrees hotter than average on the day the Bayesian sank, likely the result of climate change, Shema said.

"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.

The water spout may have spun up when cooler air dropped from mountainous places nearby onto the hot water, he said. "A water spout is a vortex, basically like a tornado, spinning real fast, sucking up water and moisture as the column rises," he said.

Although water spouts only reach around 120 mph, as compared with tornadoes on land, which can reach up to 300 mph, "you don't need 200 mph to sink a ship," he said.

"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, "which would heel the boat over for sure."

Water spouts spring up suddenly, Shema said. Before they strike, winds can be slow, but "once the water spout comes over, bam, it's on," he said.

Before sunrise, the ship's crew may not have seen the water spout coming. "The visibility was probably a big factor," he said.

With the windows of the yacht opened, as they likely were in the hot weather, the water spout could have triggered water that flooded through the portholes, Shema said, causing the ship to sink.

Tragedy strikes: Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast

Search continues, but shift to recovery phase approaches

Italian authorities said the Bayesian was probably at anchor when the storm struck, meaning it couldn't maneuver and ride the waves, according to Mitchell Stoller, a captain and maritime expert witness. Other ships in the area that turned on their engines rode out the storm, he said.

"When you're at anchor and you see weather, you start your engine and you put the wind on the bow. You don't let it get on the side," he said.

Schanck said another key question concerns the position of the keel, a heavy weight underneath the boat that acts as a counterbalance to keep it upright, when the ship sank. When lifted, "that's going to affect the stability of the vessel, because, obviously, you've now raised the center of gravity of that vessel," he said.

The Bayesian was floating over 160 feet of water at the time, deep enough that the keel would likely be deployed. But the fact that "the vessel heeled over so heavily makes me question that," Schanck said.

The cause of the disaster may not be known until the ship can be examined in more detail, experts say. Prosecutors in a nearby town have already opened an investigation.

Schanck said investigators will have plenty to work with once the operation moves into a recovery phase.

"The vessel is intact and in good condition on the seabed," he said. "There's a lot of eyewitness accounts from other vessels in the area and the shore."

As the search entered its second day on Tuesday, the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later on, today or tomorrow, we'll probably see some mention of a recovery operation being stated," Schanck said.

The decision to would depend on whether rescuers find signs of life in the ship and air pockets or survivable spaces, Schanck said. At this point, survivors on the water's surface looks unlikely. "My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.

"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

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  23. Sicily Yacht Sinking: Mom Heroically Saves Her 1-Year-Old Baby ...

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  25. Why Bayesian super yacht sank, leaving 1 dead, 6 missing

    Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities. As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter.

  26. Mike Lynch: Body of British tech entrepreneur recovered from yacht

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