unfinished yacht for sale

An unfinished 168-foot superyacht abandoned in 2007 just sold after going up for auction with bids starting at $1.5 million — see inside the 40% complete yacht

• An unfinished superyacht abandoned just before the Great Recession was up for auction starting at $1.5 million.
• The 168-foot motoryacht could cost between $16 million to $25 million to complete.
• Take a look at the nearly half-finished motoryacht that was just sold on November 15.

The auction for a 168-foot superyacht starting at only $1.5 million — an absolute steal — has officially closed.

The catch? It's only about 40% finished and the winning bidder is now responsible for bringing the 168-foot Trinity Tri-Deck yacht to life.

The final sales price of the vessel, sold through Boathouse Auctions, is not public.

But Jack Mahoney, a director at Boathouse Auctions, told Insider in an email that there were 32 interested groups that resulted in three final bids.

And both the buyer and seller were ultimately "pleased with the outcome," Mahoney said.

Yacht and boat sales have continued to skyrocket throughout the COVID-19 pandemic with some ultra-luxury yachts selling for millions of dollars above their initial asking price.

Source: Insider

And the ultra-wealthy's demand for luxury homes at sea has yet to slow down.

Superyacht sales hit a record high in 2021 even as manufacturers struggled to keep up with demand amid supply chain and staffing problems.

This incomplete yacht may not be turnkey like the other vessels that have been sold during superyacht market's boom, but at least it is semi-customizable.

The previous owner of the 168-foot Trinity was formerly owner of the now-defunct luxury yacht-building company Trinity Yachts.

In the face of the Great Recession, the project was abandoned in 2007 when it was only 40% complete.

Since then, the half-finished semi-displacement yacht had been stuck in storage where it was regularly checked.

After several years, the vessel was finally put up for auction on Boathouse Auctions starting at a cool $1.5 million …

… a bargain compared to other — albeit complete — superyachts.

For now, the motoryacht is just a nearly completed shell of its potential (the aluminum hull and superstructure are about 95% done).

But picture its potential as a six-stateroom, four-deck yacht with luxurious amenities like an elevator.

Of the six staterooms, four for guests and two for the crew.

The customizable yacht can also accommodate spaces like a galley, formal dining area, owner's lounge …

… deck with a 12-person dining table …

… several salons, and an outdoor lounge on the sun deck.

It obviously wouldn't be a luxury superyacht without a large sun deck.

The current owner can build out this lounge by adding a bar, dinette, outdoor galley, and more lounge seats to create the perfect space to bask under the afternoon sun.

And when it's time to cool off in the water, the owners can head to the garage for access to toys like jet skis and a jet tender.

Along with the half-complete motoryacht, the highest bidder also received several parts like engines and a watertight door …

… as well as some help from the original Trinity Yacht's design and engineering team.

When it's finally complete, the home at sea will be able to hit up to 23 knots with a less than eight-foot draft.

But to finish the project, its owner will have to cough up at least $16 million for lower-end finishes, according to estimates from shipyards in Greece and Turkey, Mahoney, told Insider in October.

If they want top-of-the-line amenities, the project could cost upwards of $25 million.

To compare, buying a new yacht of this similar size could cost over $35 million, according to the 168-foot Trinity 2007's listing page.

Source: Boathouse Auctions 

The unfinished yacht was likely far from inexpensive …

… but with time, patience, and a few extra supplies, the yacht's new owner could find themselves saving close to $20 million.

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• Trinity T-056 - 168ft Trinity 2007

168ft Trinity  2007  Gulfport, Mississippi

Bidding ended: november 15, 2022, "trinity t-056" vessel overview.

Designed as a luxury six stateroom motoryacht with elevator service to all four decks, the semi-displacement 168’ Trinity Tri-Deck has a top speed of 23 knots, shallow draft of less than 8’, under 500 gross tonnage, and was constructed under ABS oversight and standards. In addition to the aluminum hull and superstructure which are approximately 95% complete, the vessel comes with a long list of inventory and parts including:

• 2 – MTU- 16V 4000 90- 3,750HP @ 2100 RPM, TIER I ENGINES; S/N 527105368 & 527105369 (New Engine Warranty begins at startup)
• 2 – ZF 7640 TRANSMISSIONS WITH 3.826:1 REDUCTION RATIO; S/N 50026324 & 50026325
• 2 – NORTHERN LIGHT 155 KW @ 1500 RPM- 50 CYCLE- SEA WATER COOLED
• 1- 4,000 LB. NAUTICAL STRUCTURES SWIVELING TENDER DAVIT
• 1- 4,000 LB. NAUTICAL STRUCTURES TELESCOPING GARAGE TENDER DAVIT
• 1- SET- GULF MED MARINE (Quantum)- MOD QC 1500 TWO FINS 3.0 sq. m. – “ZERO SPEED”
• 1- QUANTUM CENTRAL HYDRAULIC SYSTEM
• 1- WINEL SLIDING WATER TIGHT DOOR
• 1 – 50 TON DOMESTIC WATER COOLED CHILLER PLANT
• 1 – CONTAINER FULL OF MISCELLANEOUS PARTS 

Pliske Marine Surveyors completed a detailed survey of the vessel and equipment on August 22, 2022. The survey is attached. It is well-organized and includes total project costs to date including production costs, engineering costs, and line-item equipment/material costs. The survey also references a number of other supporting documents, statements, warranties, etc., all of which are chronologically listed in the Documents folder. The Pliske survey covers the follow:

Generator Service and Warranty

• Current Status
• Project Engineering
• Quality Control Checklist
• MTU Engine Service, Preservation
• Audio Gauge Sounding 
• MTU Engine Warranty
• Project Valuation

In addition to the survey with photos and considerable supporting documentation, a 25 minute walkthrough video by the owner was prepared for prospective buyers and builders with production and design schedules available.

INTERIOR DESCRIPTION

Main Deck: full beam owner’s suite is located forward, followed by the commercial galley, the formal dining area and the main salon. Heading aft there is an outdoor bar area followed by a seating area with bench seating and lounge chairs and tables. Note – there is an elevator to all four decks of the yacht.

Bridge Deck: forward is a seating area ahead of the helm and a center walkway down to the bow deck which is where one of the three tenders is stored. The helm station has side door exits, port and starboard, it features a large raised bench seat. Aft of the helm are two cabins – the captain’s suite to port is accessed from the helm. The VIP cabin is to starboard and accessed from the hallway. There is a nice owner’s lounge aft of that with a small standup bar, a four person card table to starboard and an L-shaped settee to port, and stepping out to the deck there is a large dining table for 12 and finally a lounge area to accommodate two big sofas, four lounge chairs, and cocktail tables.

Sun Deck: the sun deck has considerable room to entertain with standup bar with 4 stools, a dinette for 6-7 people, outdoor galley, enclosed head to starboard, four lounge chairs, two large forward-facing raised bench seats with tables, and a large tender mounted athwart ship with davits furthest aft.

Lower Cabin Deck: the main crew area is forward with a dinette/lounge area, two cabins forward with upper and lower berths, each with a private head. Two single-berth cabins aft of that with a shared head. In the stern of the vessel is the engineer’s cabin with upper and lower berth, private head, and desk area.

Guest Accommodations- there are four full guest suites with king-sized berth cabins and two twin-berth cabins that also have Pullman berths, as well as the VIP cabin on the Bridge Deck.

The engine compartment is well laid out with room to service all the equipment and systems aboard the yacht. Aft of that is the tender garage with room for a Novurania jet tender and two jet skis. Modifications to the layout to accommodate personal preferences can be made at this stage of construction.

WHY BUY THIS YACHT?

Savings of both time and money. With the hull and superstructure nearly 95% complete, and the entire vessel approximately 40% complete, it is estimated that this project should be completed with high yacht finish for $25 million based on bids received from qualified yards in the US, Greece, and Turkey. The current price for new model yachts in this size range with similar fit and finish, engines and equipment, from well-known builders is considerably higher than $35 million, representing a significant personal or business opportunity for the right buyer. While we have recommended the six stateroom floorplan due to our knowledge of the yacht resale market, the new owner can make key changes to the configuration to suite their particular interest.

SUPPORT TEAM

One of the concerns people have when taking over any yacht project is how to get the yacht finished including design work and actual construction. The original Trinity design and engineering team that designed this particular yacht is available to help complete the remaining drawings. Everyone who was involved in this yacht from the CEO down wants to see this yacht successfully completed and be part of the history of Trinity. The support team can provide whatever help is needed to get into production as fast as possible regardless of which yard you choose for the yacht for completion. The yacht is in storage in Gulfport, Mississippi. It is secure and checked regularly. The MTU engines are serviced and under full new warranty coverage that begins when the yacht is completed. The yacht can remain in its current location through February 15, 2023 to make sufficient arrangements for completion. The Owner is prepared to assist the Buyer by offering advice and suggestions on the best way to complete the project. Some amazing people are on standby to help you complete this project.

AUCTION PROCESS:

All auction participants must register on this site (upper right “Sign In”). The deposit to bid on the 168’ Trinity 2007 is $100,000. Deposits will be held in escrow with the Listing Brokerage, Hargrave Yacht Brokerage, and must settle in their account prior to access being granted to bid. Bidding will open at $1,500,000 (which is less than the current value of just the MTU engines – under warranty – and ZF transmissions) and the official Reserve Price is $2,500,000. Should the Reserve not be met, the high Bidder agrees to leave their bid open for a period of 24 hours following the conclusion of the auction during which time the Owner considers the offer.

Pliske Survey Aug 2022

ABS Status Survey June 2016

MTU Engine Service and Preservation

MTU Engine Warranty Statements

Drawing Report and List of Remaining Drawings

Van Aller Engineering Quote

Quality Control and ABS Inspection Logs

Boathouse-Auctions-Purchase-Sales-Agreement-168-Trinity.pdf

Amenities & Features

• The yacht is constructed under ABS standards and the year of vessel completion will be the year of manufacture on the documentation
• Aluminum hull and superstructure are approximately 95% complete, the entire vessel is nearly 40% complete
• Six stateroom tri-deck motoryacht, elevator service to all four decks, top speed of 24 knots, draft of less than 8’, under 500 gross tons
• Pliske Marine Surveyors completed a detailed survey of the vessel and equipment on August 22, 2022 (survey above)
• 2 – MTU- 16V 4000 90- 3,750HP @ 2100 RPM, New Engine Warranty begins at startup
• 2 – ZF 7640 TRANSMISSIONS WITH 3.826:1 REDUCTION RATIO
• 2 – NORTHERN LIGHT 155 KW @ 1500 RPM- 50 CYCLE- SEA WATER COOLED WITH SOUND SHIELDS

Contact Info

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Pliske Survey Aug 2022 147.2 kb Download

ABS Status Survey June 2016 219.2 kb Download

MTU Engine Service and Preservation 303 kb Download

MTU Engine Warranty Statements 175.6 kb Download

Generator Service and Warranty 1.2 mb Download

Drawing Report and List of Remaining Drawings 437 kb Download

Van Aller Engineering Quote 69.2 kb Download

Quality Control and ABS Inspection Logs 2.5 mb Download

Boathouse-Auctions-Purchase-Sales-Agreement-168-Trinity.pdf 225.1 kb Download

Time is running out! Last chance to register to bid.

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How sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily unfolded

One man has died and six people are missing after a luxury yacht sank in freak weather conditions off the coast of Sicily.

The 56m British-flagged Bayesian was carrying 22 people - 12 passengers and 10 crew - when a heavy storm that created waterspouts struck early on Monday.

Fifteen people were rescued and a search operation for those unaccounted for - who include the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch - is continuing.

Here is what we know about the tragedy so far and how it unfolded.

What happened to the yacht?

The Bayesian was struck by a sudden and powerful storm in the early hours of Monday morning, witnesses say.

It was reportedly anchored to the sea bed outside the harbour at Porticello, a small fishing village to the east of Palermo, when what the Italian coastguard described as a "violent storm" hit.

The storm was so fierce that it caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air and mist, to appear over the sea.

The vessel disappeared beneath the water at about 05:00 local time (04:00 BST).

A doctor treating survivors said the ship "capsized within a few minutes".

• Follow live updates here
• 'For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea' - yacht survivor
• Who are the missing and rescued?
• What might have caused yacht to sink
• Divers battle 10-minute dive window and debris in yacht search

Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm struck, causing the 72m (236ft) aluminium mast to break in half and the ship to lose its balance and sink.

However, divers on the search and rescue team have said the ship was "practically intact" on the seabed, raising questions as to whether the mast was broken.

The ship's unusually tall mast may have contributed to its sinking, according to Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the mast acted almost like a sail in the strong wind "especially with it being so high".

The extreme winds could have caught the mast and pushed the yacht over, he said.

Karsten Borner, captain of a nearby boat, said after the storm had passed, the crew noticed the yacht that had been behind them had disappeared.

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

His crew took on board some survivors, including three who were seriously injured.

Another witness, Fabio Cefalù, captain of a trawler, said he was about to go out on a fishing trip when he saw flashes of lightning so he stayed in the harbour.

"At about 04:15 we saw a flare in the sea," he said, according to the EVN news agency reports.

"We waited for this waterspout to pass. After 10 minutes we went out to the sea and we saw cushions and all the rest of the boat [that had sunk], and everything which was on the deck, at sea. However, we did not see any people in the sea.”

Another fisherman described seeing the yacht sinking "with my own eyes".

Speaking to the newspaper Giornale di Sicilia, the witness said he was at home when the tornado hit.

"Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very big," he said.

Shortly afterwards he went down to the Santa Nicolicchia bay in Porticello to get a better look at what was happening.

He added: "The boat was still floating, then all of a sudden it disappeared. I saw it sinking with my own eyes."

One of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Golunski, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica how she held up her one-year-old daughter Sofia to stop her from drowning.

She said the two of them and her partner James survived only because they were up on deck when the yacht sank.

They were woken by “thunder, lightning and waves that made our boat dance”, and it felt like "the end of the world" before they were thrown into the water.

Charlotte said: "For two seconds I lost my daughter in the sea, then quickly hugged her amid the fury of the waves."

She added: "I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.

"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."

What is the latest with the search?

Six passengers remain missing and the Palermo coastguard says the search and rescue operation is continuing "incessantly".

The search began on Monday and specialist divers have been working at the site since early on Tuesday morning.

One diver told Italian media the yacht was "practically intact" on its side at the ocean's basin, about 50m below the surface.

The ship's hull is obstructed with furniture and various objects, the Italian fire and rescue service has said.

Divers are looking for ways to access the yacht's cabins, but they have just 10 minutes to search on each dive before they need to return to the surface, the Italian news agency Ansa has reported.

A 1cm thick glass window is also being considered as an entry point.

Francesco Venuto, a spokesperson for Sicily's civil protection agency, told the BBC on Monday rescue teams fear the bodies of those missing "must be" in the boat.

"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," he added.

A specialist caving search and rescue diving team arrived from Rome on Monday, hoping to "achieve results" either during the night or by Tuesday morning at the latest, the director general of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, said.

On Monday, the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch sent a team of four investigators to carry out a preliminary assessment of the Bayesian's sinking, the BBC understands.

Who was on board?

There were 22 people on board when the storm hit, including 12 passengers and 10 crew.

The body of one man has been recovered. He has not been formally identified, but the Palermo coastguard said he was the ship's cook. His nationality has not been confirmed.

Among the six people still missing is 59-year-old tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, known by some as the "British Bill Gates".

Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.

In June, he was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an $11bn (£8.64bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Afterwards, he told the BBC in an interview he had been able to prove his innocence only because he had the wealth to pay the enormous legal fees required.

The other missing people include Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo.

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is among the 15 people to have been rescued, with eight of those receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

Charlotte Golunski, her husband and daughter Sofia were also rescued and were unharmed, but taken to hospital for check-ups.

She said they had been on the yacht with a group of colleagues.

The daily Il Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported the vessel had mostly British passengers on board, but also people from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and British-French citizens.

A doctor based in Palermo said the "very tired" survivors were "constantly asking about the missing people".

Dr Domenico Cipolla told Reuters that one woman he treated described the trip as a "corporate holiday", with some of those on board "very young".

"There were a lot of work colleagues, friends, a few husbands, wives, or a couple of friends who had joined in," he adds.

What is a waterspout and why do they form?

A waterspout is similar to a tornado and can form over oceans, seas or large lakes.

The western half of the Mediterranean has experienced severe storms since the middle of last week.

Through Sunday night and into Monday morning, a zone of bad weather passed by the north coast of Sicily.

BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor said: "A waterspout is a tornado that has occurred over water rather than land.

"They can form during intense storms, on the base of cumulonimbus/thunder clouds.

"Turbulence, and the wind blowing in slightly different directions around the cloud, can cause rotation under the base of the cloud and the spout to form.

"Like tornadoes, they bring powerful winds, but instead of picking up dust and debris they cause a water mist around the column of rotating air."

What is the Bayesian, and who owns it?

The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites, and is listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week.

It was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi.

The Bayesian's registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd, which is based on the Isle of Man.

The yacht's name is understood to derive from the Bayesian theory, which Mr Lynch's PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on.

Mr Lynch's wife Ms Bacares is named as the sole legal owner of Revtom, which is registered in the Isle of Man.

The Bayesian completed a number of sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.

A spokesperson for Camper and Nicholsons International, the firm that manages the 2008-built boat, told BBC Verify: "Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew."

Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Five bodies found in sunken superyacht, officials say

So far four bodies had been brought to shore from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily, an official said.

ROME — Authorities have identified four bodies pulled from the sunken wreckage of a superyacht that sank off Sicily this week, Italian officials said Wednesday. A fifth body has been spotted but not yet reached, with a sixth person still missing.

Vincenzo Zagarola, an Italian coast guard official, said the four bodies brought ashore by divers were identified as two married couples: Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and charity trustee Judy Bloomer; and attorney Chris Morvillo and jeweler Neda Morvillo.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were also reported missing after the Bayesian yacht sank early Monday.

The British-flagged, 183-foot-long Bayesian was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew members roughly half a mile from the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello when it encountered what authorities called a “violent storm” about 4 a.m. Monday.

Of the 15 people rescued, eight — including a 1-year-old girl — were taken to hospitals in conditions that were not life-threatening. The body of the yacht’s chef, identified as Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan, was found during initial recovery efforts.

Lynch, 59, is known for founding the tech venture capital firm Invoke Capital and co-founding the tech firms Autonomy and Darktrace. He was recently acquitted of all charges after a decade-long U.S. fraud trial related to the 2011 sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard; the voyage on the Bayesian, owned by a company controlled by Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was intended to be a celebration of his legal victory, Britain’s Telegraph reported . Bacares was one of those rescued.

Many of the guests on board had business or legal ties to Lynch: Chris Morvillo, a partner at Clifford Chance in New York, represented Lynch in the concluded legal battle.

It’s not clear exactly what type of storm struck the Bayesian, but weather data suggests it was probably a tornadic waterspout or severe thunderstorm.

Charlotte Golunski, a guest of Lynch who was rescued, described to Italian media holding on to her 1-year-old daughter , Sophie, amid the storm. “For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea,” she told Giornale di Sicilia. “Then I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves.”

Lynch sold Autonomy, which was once England’s biggest software company, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for more than $11 billion. He was subsequently accused of overvaluing the company and was charged in the United States with fraud. He was acquitted in June.

The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Italian shipmaker Perini Navi, according to the SuperYacht Times.

The Sir Robert, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel anchored nearby, responded immediately to help survivors before the Italian coast guard arrived.

The yacht sank to a depth of more than 160 feet. The first attempt by fire-brigade cave divers to search inside the yacht was unsuccessful, rescue authorities said .

Sands reported from London and Taylor from Washington. Bryan Pietsch in Anchorage contributed to this report.