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BayCruiser 21: A Closer Look at Swallow Yachts’ Trailblazing Model

The BayCruiser 21, showcased for the first time at boot Düsseldorf 2024 by Swallow Yachts , stands as a testament to the distinctive attributes characteristic of the Welsh shipyard. Exhibiting a timeless clinker look and a robust deck featuring a high bow, this compact cruiser embodies the hallmark design elements associated with Swallow Yachts.

Noteworthy features include the ballast centerboard and folding rudder blade, emblematic of the shipyard’s craftsmanship. These features render the BayCruiser 21 an ideal trailer boat, appealing to navigators exploring tidal or shallow water areas. Weighing a mere 600 kilograms when unladen, the boat achieves stability through its 400-kilogram water ballast tank. Conveniently filled through the main sheet cap and a plug beneath, the tank’s location above the waterline eliminates any risk of water ingress into the cockpit.

Effortless draining via a hand pump facilitates the process, particularly when preparing to trailer out of the water or encountering low wind conditions. Maintaining alignment with Swallow Yachts’ design philosophy, the BayCruiser 21 features water ballast and a carbon rig, facilitating easy towing and launching with a standard car, while ensuring self-righting capabilities and exceptional stability when the ballast tank is full.

Accommodations include a sleeping cabin for two and a spacious self-draining cockpit capable of comfortably seating six individuals. The boat’s deep, profiled swing keel and liftable rudder enable it to dry out or float in minimal water depths of 0.25 meters. Propelled by a conventional outboard engine, the BayCruiser 21 accommodates an electric outboard, complete with dedicated battery space in the cabin.

Enhancing performance are the fully battened mainsail and blade jib, suspended from an all-carbon rig, offering efficient single-handed rigging. Anticipating the shift towards electric propulsion, the boat provides ample space for substantial batteries within the cabin, doubling as storage or house batteries when not utilizing an electric outboard.

Further refinements include additional seating and lounging spaces created alongside the outboard well, improved access to the water for swimming, and a designated area in the cockpit, beneath the optional spray hood, for a small stove. The retractable bowsprit contributes to a reduced overall length, minimizing mooring and marina costs.

The foredeck, featuring a dedicated anchor locker, is recessed, instilling a sense of security for those working in this area. In summary, the BayCruiser 21 encapsulates a blend of functionality, innovation, and thoughtful design, positioning it as a compelling choice for discerning navigators seeking versatility in a compact cruiser.

The word goes to the designer

Matt Newland is the designer of the boat and owner of Swallow Yachts. Here is how he describes the new BayCruiser 21:

The idea behind the design was to improve on the Bay Raider expedition, which was already our biggest selling model and a very important boat in our range. It was essential we did not lose the character or features of the original, making only improvements, in certain key areas:

A longer waterline length, with slightly more sail area in a more efficient sail plan. These factors combine to give better sailing performance.

Fully self-draining cockpit, with or without the water ballast – you can leave her on the water safe in the knowledge she will never fill up with rain water.

Side decks you can walk on. We took the trouble to angle these and make them as easy as possible to walk on, within the confines of the beam. There is a sturdy toe rail outside the side deck to keep your feet secure.

A better view over the cabin roof. More freeboard allows the seats and backrests to be a little higher, relative the cabin roof, meaning you no longer need to sit rigidly upright just to see ahead.

The cabin bunks have been redesigned so that you step down into a footwell between the heads of the two bunks. This makes it easier to get in and out, but more importantly keeps wet feet well away from any bedding. 

Dedicated space for a chemical toilet in the cabin, that slides away under the cockpit floor when not in use. When daysailing, guests can close the cabin and have privacy.

BayCruiser 21 specs

Hull Length: 6.02m (20’) Length Water Line: 5.67m (18’7”) Beam: 2.18m (7’ 2”) Weight (empty): 600kg (1322lbs) Water Ballast: 400kg (881lbs) Draught (keel up): 0.25m (10”) Draught (keel down): 1.5m (4’11”) Sail Area: 19sqm (204 sqft)

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

First look: Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32

• Toby Heppell
• July 19, 2023

The Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32 may have traditional styling but she is a thoroughly modern trailer-sailer capable of cruising many coastal spots

Product Overview

Look beyond the traditional styling of the Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32 and you’ll find a thoroughly up-to-date trailer-sailer concept with carbon rig, water ballast and deep draught (2.7m) lifting keel.

Construction is of lightweight clinker style epoxy plywood with all timber, including framing, CNC cut in house. It’s a method Swallow Yachts has already proven to be a reliable and cost effective means of producing light displacement boats with its Whisper 30 retro-style planing motor cruiser.

Total displacement is 2,300kg, which allows the boat to be towed by vans and larger 4×4 cars. While few owners will want to use a vessel of this size as a trailer sailer every weekend, it opens up a myriad of options for a longer summer cruise: western Scotland, the Friesian islands, south Brittany, or even the Baltic and Mediterranean are within reasonably easy towing reach.

Despite the low freeboard that helps contribute to the light displacement, the four to six berth interior will be spacious by the standards of daysailers and weekenders, with 1.9m of headroom.

Swallow Yachts BayCruiser 32 specifications

LOA: 9.76m / 32ft 0in Beam: 2.87m / 9ft 5in Draught keel up: 0.44m / 1ft 5in Draught keel down: 2.70m / 8ft 9in Displacement: 2,300kg / 5,070lb Price: £154,000 ex VAT Builder: swallowyachts.com

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Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

First look: Swallow Yachts 32 – wood-epoxy 30 footer

• Theo Stocker
• June 1, 2023

Swallow Yachts have announced the Swallow Yachts 32, which will be the largest yacht in their lineup and will feature wood-epoxy construction

Small boat specialist Swallow Yachts is venturing above 30ft for a sailing boat for the first time with the new Swallow 32, and it’s also returning to its roots with wood-epoxy construction.

Aimed at sailors who may have owned larger yachts before but want to downsize, Swallow Yachts owner Matt Newland explained that he ‘wanted to build a boat that was fun and easy to sail, simple to maintain and had timeless looks with as low an environmental impact as possible.’

He believes that while there are plenty of boats on the market that would fulfill this brief, very few have lifting keels or are road-transportable.

As ever, Matt has applied his engineering expertise to create a pretty boat packed with innovative ideas and the potential for a lively performance. For example, the keel hinge is engineered above the waterline to eliminate electrolysis and avoid the possibility of leaks. Propulsion is from a petrol outboard (electric is also an option), which is housed in a low coaming at the aft end of the cockpit. When sailing the engine lifts up and ‘bomb doors’ ensure a smooth hull profile – a setup that is designed to reduce drag, weight and complexity. Through-hulls have been kept to a minimum, as have electrical and electronic systems, reducing cost and simplifying maintenance.

Though not a true launch-and-sail trailer sailer, a four-by-four will still be able to tow the 32 on her own trailer, as boat and trailer come in at under 3.5 tonnes, and within the 2.9m overhang limit.

The cockpit is vast, but there’s still comfortable accommodation down below

The boat carries enough fixed lead ballast in the hull to make her self-righting from 90º while being sporty to sail, but water ballast tanks make the boat into a much more stable boat, able to stand up to a proper blow as well as reducing heel. Coupled with a keel-down draught of 2.8m, a fine entry at the bow and broad aft sections, this boat promises to be a good performer. You can sail with the lifting keel in any position for shoal waters, but lift it all the way and you’ve got a draught of just 40cm for creek crawling and drying out.

Newland has tried to draw lines that are timeless rather than trendy while a retractable bowsprit, backstayless carbon rig and square-top mainsail ensure she is right up there in terms of her contemporary design and latest tech.

The cockpit, designed to take non-sailing friends out in comfort, is a whopping 3.5m long from stern to just aft of the shrouds, where an offset companionway leads below to starboard of the keel case. Tiller steering and sheets come to the middle of the cockpit, with both main and self-tacking jibsheet being led to a single winch midships at the aft end of the cockpit table. This leaves both forward and aft ends of the cockpit clear of working lines. Cockpit benches continue to the stern, where the transom lowers to form a bathing platform.

Accommodation is comfortable for a weekend afloat (or lightweight cruising for a week or two). There’s a small galley at the foot of the companionway steps and an enclosed heads and shower compartment to port of the keel case.

Bench seats either side of a drop-leaf table in the saloon form extra berths, while there is a double V-berth in the forward cabin, and a small ‘child’s double’ tucked under the cockpit on starboard, aft of the galley.

Attention has also been given to reducing the 32’s environmental impact and end-of-life disposal. Deliberately classic styling aims to make the boat as timeless as possible. The plywood construction is stiff and light with a much lower C02 footprint than fibreglass.

It is only epoxy-glass sheathed below the waterline where protection is needed, and the keel stub is epoxy composite, into which the lead ballast is moulded. Bio-resins have been used throughout and cork is used for the decking.

Swallow Yachts 32 specifications

LOA: 9.75m/32ft 0in LWL: 9.13m/30ft 0in Beam: 2.89m/9ft 5in Draught (keel up/keel down): 0.4m-2.8m /1ft 4in-9ft 2in Sail area: 46.5m2/500 sq ft Lead ballast: 600kg/1,322 lb Water ballast: 900kg/1,984 lb Displacement inc water ballast: 3,200kg/7,054 lb Displacement empty: 2,300kg/5,070 lb Price: £154,000 ex VAT Builder: www.swallowyachts.com

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New and used Swallow Yachts for sale

• United Kingdom
• Swallow Yachts BayRaider 20
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Search all our new or used Swallow Yachts for sale. We have Swallow Yachts brokers and sellers from around the world at great prices.

History of Swallow Yachts

Swallow Yachts, initially known as Swallow Boats, was founded by Matt Newland in 2004 in the United Kingdom. With a deep passion for sailing and craftsmanship, Newland aimed to create a fleet of boats that combined traditional aesthetics with modern performance. This vision led to the production of numerous innovative designs that catered to both seasoned sailors and novices alike.Starting from modest beginnings in a small workshop, Swallow Yachts quickly gained a reputation for their excellent build quality and cleverly designed boats, such as the BayRaider and BayCruiser series. They have consistently focused on using advanced materials and techniques, including water ballast systems and computer-aided design, to ensure their boats are fast, safe, and easy to handle.Today, Swallow Yachts operates from their newly expanded facility in Cardigan, Wales. This state-of-the-art location allows them to continue pushing the boundaries of boat design and production. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction has enabled them to grow a dedicated following worldwide, making Swallow Yachts a respected and influential name in the marine industry.

Which models do Swallow Yachts produce?

Swallow Yachts produce a range of boats including the Swallow Yachts BayRaider 20 and Swallow Yachts BayRaider Expedition . For the full list of Swallow Yachts models currently listed on TheYachtMarket.com, see the model list in the search options on this page.

What types of boats do Swallow Yachts build?

Swallow Yachts manufactures a range of different types of boats. The ones listed on TheYachtMarket include Day boat , Trailer sailer , Yawl , Pilothouse and Cuddy cabin .

How much does a boat from Swallow Yachts cost?

Used boats from Swallow Yachts on TheYachtMarket.com range in price from £18,000 GBP to £26,000 GBP with an average price of £21,000 GBP . A wide range of factors can affect the price of used boats from Swallow Yachts, for example the model, age and condition.

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• bay cruiser 26

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Swallow bay cruiser 26 for sale in Hayling Island United Kingdom

Hayling Island United Kingdom

Make & Model

Swallow bay cruiser 26

MEASUREMENTS

Description.

The Bay Cruiser 26 from Swallow Yachts offers a unique combination of stunning performance and ground breaking accommodation. As you expect from swallow yachts, she is every bit the classic looker and is simple to launch, recover, and trail. 1 owner from new, available to view afloat in fantastic condition. Lots of extra material available on request including test report.

Construction

Construction Vacuum bagged, closed-cell PVC foam cored GRP hull and deck. Solid laminate in way of high load points such as keel area and chainplates, as well as non stiffness critical areas of deck. Standard deck colour is RAL9001 off white. Choice of hull colours. Gunwales, and all exterior timber in solid teak. Hull deck joint of lap over return hull flange type, bonded with structural adhesive and through bolted at stanchions and cleats. All fabrications on the boat from 316 stainless steel and fastened wherever possible with A4 stainless fastenings. Hull protected along bottom by UHMWPE strips screwed to keel line and to raised bilge runners.

Foils Rudder blades in GRP with foam filled centre. Incorporating lanyard on top to aid retrieval. Fully profiled section. Keel of the same, but with internal lead casting at the bottom end. Keel section changes to rectangular top to prevent dropping through bottom of boat. Keel lifted with 12v electric winch mounted in a recess on deck. Tail end of lifting line returns to clutch for hand winching from the cockpit. Electric lift switch located port side of companionway entrance. Keel case has sacrificial crush pad in aft bottom corner to spread impact loads.

Rig Custom made Carbon fibre mast with carbon spreaders and carbon boom. 6mm IX19 wire lower and cap shrouds. Lower chainplates through bolted to deck, Caps through bolted to hull. Forestay chainplate bolted through to hull stem. Custom designed mastraising plates at base of mast, allowing safe raising and lowering. Custom boom gooseneck arrangement to allow for quick boom removal. Quick release kicker plate for kicking strap and reef lines. Mainsheet is near boom end, shackled down to stainless pillar in cockpit. Jib sheets are 1:1 through selden cleating deck blocks.

Fully battened main sail with sail number and type. Roller reefing jib. Both sails from cream dacron. Dyneema halyards for jib and mainsail. Two reefing lines set up for single line slab reefing, with lines led back to the cockpit clutches.

Folding GRP bowsprit with anchor roller and spinnaker tack attachment. Roller sized to take a 6kg lewmar delta anchor. Primary bow roller bolted to stem head. Mooring cleats bolted to hull deck joint, two at bow, two midships and 2 stern. Solid Stainless castings.

Large anchor locker with attachment for bitter end and catch to hold closed in bow.

Two stanchions each side down the side deck with 4mm guardwires and intermediates. Two U-type stanchions aft, at either end of the cockpit to support canvas backrest for sitting out (choice of colours).

Fold down doors on transom, one side to have telescopic boarding ladder. Central stainless steel A frame at aft end of boat, incorporating a roller to support the lowered mast. Large cockpit lockers port and starbd. Starbd side with large shelf for fuel tank with further storage room under. Large capacity Whale hand pump fitted in port side backrest with divert valve (to switch between pumping ballast water and pumping bilge) in front of cockpit port side cockpit locker.

All lines except main outhaul led back to cockpit clutches and winches. Deck gear is from Spinlock (deck organisers), Selden (deck organisers, roller reefing, jib tracks, blocks and cam cleats), Harken (winches), Lewmar (deck hatches and clutches). These items have been carefully chosen for their performance, durability and ease of use. Teak handrails on both sides of both coachroof sections.

Length overall: 7.84m Length waterline: 7.27m Length, inc bowsprit and rudders 8.7m Marina length (bowsprit lifted, rudders over) 7-99m Beam: 2.54m Sail Area: 29-7m2 Standard empty boat weight: 1450kg Water Ballast Weight 750kg Keel Ballast weight 100kg Draught board up/down: 0.35m / 1.6m Air Draught under full rig: 10.4m Ballast ratio (tank full): 37%

Electrics Standard boat has IX 90AH lead acid battery bolted into place within a battery locker that can take 3 batteries of this size. Main isolator switch and 50A fuse, 16 way breaker panel. LED saloon lights, LED vee berth lights and heads light. 12V accessory out via cigarette type outlet at main panel.

Accommodations

Port side 1/4 berth 2.5m long. Starboard side 1/4 berth 1.92m long. Both with 75mm foam cushions in choice of colours with removable covers. Storage lockers with catches, under seats. Pull out storage under companionway. Slide out galley with twin sinks, single fold down tap, gimballed oven with grill and twin hobs. Sliding lockers port side under side decks. Storage shelf starboard side under side deck. Swing out folding oak leaved table with storage locker under. Clock and Barometer on main bulkhead. Solid oak trim for all interior hardwood. Tough flexiteek floor. Siding hatch overhead with perspex top. Marine ply washboards finished in epoxy primer and two pack polyurethane paint.

Asymmetric v-berth 1.98m long on centreline. Storage unit on starboard side giving separation of saloon and v-berth areas. Storage locker with catch under starboard side. Space below central section free for waste tank. Port section space reserved for mechanical area housing fresh water pump and waste exit pumps (if waste tank is fitted). 75mm foam cushions over the vee berth area, choice of colours with removable covers, infill on centreline for sleeping. Vee berth shelves mounted above for light storage.

Enclosed head compartment with manual toilet. Accessible seacocks for sea water flushing and exit. Waste pumped to holding tank, electric pump out overboard from holding tank, or via shore pump out fitting on deck. Storage compartment for toiletries. Fresh water supply to basin with single tap, draining through keel case. Opening hatch overhead.

Provided by thee opening lewmar deck hatches, an opening portlight in the starboard side window above the galley, and a ventilation gap around the top of the companionway.

Additional Information

Gas system supplied from external bottle locker sized to take camping gaz 907 bottles. Regulator and cut off valve fitted, with armoured hose to galley oven.

Water Ballast System 7501itre water ballast compartment operated from seacock under companionway step. Sight glass in side of tank adjacent to seacock to check level. Vent fitted at front end of vee berth, venting into anchor locker.

Fresh Water System

Pressurised freshwater system supplied from 801itre tank under front end of v-berth, via whale watermaster pump feeding galley and heads taps. 15mm quick connect plumbing used throughout.

European type approved twin axle galvanised steel trailer with 2800kg gross limit (ie including trailer weight of approx 650kg). Multi roller functionality to spread load on hull bottom. Limitedswing cradle at read for easy recovery. Twin adjustable keel rollers. 165R13 radial tyres. Spare wheel clamped to trailer. Full width light board with modern 13pin connector. 1134kg twin speed winch with webbing strap. Twin jockey wheels for easier manoeuvring (bow can be lifted very high).

Antifouling

Copper coat antifouling, including bottom end of drop keel and well up inside the keel case.

Rubbing Strip

Teak strip mounted along the bottom of the top plank. Aesthetic and practical purpose.

Asymmetric Spinnaker - bag launched

Conventional Asymmetric spinnaker in choice of up to three colours. Complete with storage bag to hang in companionway. 8mm sheets through ratchet blocks. Halyard and tack lines.

Asymmetric Spinnaker - on Top Down Furler

As above, but slightly shorter luff length and supplied mounted on a Selden GX7-5 top down furler.

Sprayhood Made from acrylic canvas with choice of colours. Twin aluminium frames that fold down. Clear window. Held to deck via plastic track. Easily removable. Stack Back boom bag Conventional style stack pack boom bag, webbing straps onto boom, and held up by adjustable lazy jacks, snap hooked on. Acrylic canvas material same as spray hood.

Standard Harken 15 self tailing winches have a power ratio of 17:1. An upgrade to Pontos compact 2-speed winches give a power ratio of 6:1 in first speed (fast line retrieval) and 45:1 in second speed. Pontos winch should be used with care - very easy to break something.

Oceanair pleated blinds on main saloon side windows. Roller blinds with flyscreen on main hatch above v-berth. LED ambient strip lights in saloon area adjacent to blinds and under the shelving in the v-berth area. Switched independently.

Twin Gas Hob and Draw.

Gimballed twin hob fitted instead of oven/hob. Draw fitted into space freed up, opening fore and aft.

Propex HS2000 system with twin outlets, powered by same gas supply as cooking. Outlet on starboard side saloon can be shut off. Outlet on starboard side forward shoots warm air into heads compartment if door left open. Thermostat controlled.

YAMAHA FT 9.9 - Approx 60- 80 hours run

Extended Warranty 27/09/2020

Engine Count

Engine Horse Power

Engine Hours

Engine Location

Propeller Type

3 Blade, Other

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Hull Material

Double Berths

Bridge Clearance

10.4 meters

Drive Transmission Description

0.31 meters

1450 kilograms

Engine Year

Engine Type

Fuel Tanks Capacity

No of Heads

Water Tanks Capacity

ABOUT SWALLOW BAY CRUISER 26

The Swallow bay cruiser 26 is 29 feet long and has a 8.3 feet beam and a draft of 1.6 meters. This 2016 Petrol Swallow bay cruiser 26 powered by Yamaha FT 9.9 LEL with 9.9 horsepower. The Swallow bay cruiser 26 is made of fiberglass.

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Questions for Investigators Trying to Unravel Mystery of Luxury Yacht’s Sinking

The investigators searching for answers about the shipwreck, leaving seven dead, face questions about extreme weather and possible human error or problems with the yacht itself.

• Share full article

By Alan Yuhas

More than 180 feet long, with a mast towering about 240 feet and a keel that could be lowered for greater stability, the Bayesian luxury yacht did not, in the eyes of its maker, have the vulnerabilities of a ship that would easily sink.

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

But the $40 million sailing yacht sank within minutes and with fatal results: seven dead, including the British technology billionaire Michael Lynch, his teenage daughter, four of Mr. Lynch’s friends and a member of the crew. Fifteen people, including the captain, escaped on a lifeboat.

Mr. Lynch had invited family, friends and part of his legal team on a cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate his acquittal in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

The Italian authorities have opened a manslaughter investigation, searching for answers from the survivors, the manufacturer and the wreck itself. They face a range of questions and possible factors.

An ‘earthquake’ in the sky?

When the Bayesian sank around 4 a.m. on Aug. 19, the waters in its area, about half a mile off the Sicilian port of Porticello, were transformed by an extremely sudden and violent storm, according to fishermen, a captain in the area and meteorologists.

But what kind of storm is still a mystery, compounded by the fact that a sailing schooner anchored nearby did not have its own disaster. Also unclear is whether the crew was aware that the Italian authorities had issued general warnings about bad weather the night before.

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby passenger ship, said he’d had to steady his ship during “really violent” winds . During the storm, he said, the Bayesian seemed to disappear behind his ship.

Severe lightning and strong gusts were registered by the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, according to Attilio Di Diodato, its director. “It was very intense and brief in duration,” he said.

The yacht, he said, had most likely been hit by a fierce downburst — a blast of powerful wind surging down during a thunderstorm. His agency put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about possible storms.

Locals have said the winds “felt like an earthquake.” A fisherman in Porticello said that he had seen a flare go off in the early-morning hours. His brother ventured to the site once the weather had calmed about 20 minutes later, he said, finding only floating cushions.

The Italian authorities have so far declined to say whether investigators had seen any structural damage to the hull or other parts of the ship.

Open hatches or doors?

The boat executive, Mr. Costantino, has argued that the Bayesian was an extremely safe vessel that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing. His company, the Italian Sea Group, in 2022 bought the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi, which launched the ship in 2008.

Mr. Costantino 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, would be 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.

At a news conference on Saturday, almost a week after the sinking, investigators said the yacht had sunk at an angle , with its stern — where the heavy engine was — having gone down first. The wreck was found lying on its right side at the bottom of a bay, about 165 feet deep.

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

Water pouring into open hatches or doors could have contributed to the sinking, experts say, but that on its own may not account for the speed at which such a large boat vanished underwater.

Asked about the hatches at the news conference, the authorities declined to comment on whether they had been found open at the wreck.

The authorities have also not specified whether the boat had been anchored, whether it was under power at the time or whether its sails had been unfurled.

A retracted keel?

The Bayesian had a keel — the fin-like structure beneath a boat that can help stabilize it — that could be retracted or extended, according to its manufacturer. On some yachts, keels can be raised to let the large vessel dock in shallower water, and extended downward to help keep a boat level.

But like the hatches, the status of the keel alone may not explain why a large ship sank with such precipitous speed. Investigators have not disclosed what divers may have seen at the wreck, aside from saying divers had faced obstacles like furnishings and electrical wiring in tight quarters. Officials want to raise the wreck to better examine it, a process that may take weeks.

Human error?

Ambrogio Cartosio, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said at the news conference that it was “plausible” crimes had been committed, but that investigators had not zeroed in on any potential suspects.

“There could be responsibilities of the captain only,” he said. “There could be responsibilities of the whole crew. There could be responsibilities of the boat makers. Or there could be responsibilities of those who were in charge of surveilling the boat.”

It remains unclear what kind of emergency training or preparation took place before the disaster, or what kind of coordination there was during it. So far, none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened the night the ship sank.

Prosecutors said they want to ask more questions of the captain and crew, who have been in a Sicilian hotel with other survivors. They said that neither alcohol nor drug tests had been performed on crew members, and that they have been allowed to leave Italy.

Prosecutors also said they were also investigating why the captain, an experienced sailor, left the sinking boat while some passengers were still on board.

Besides possible manslaughter charges, the authorities are investigating the possibility of a negligently caused shipwreck.

The bodies of five passengers were found in one cabin, on the left side of the yacht, the authorities said. The five were most likely trying to flee to the higher side of the boat and were probably sleeping when the boat started to sink, they said.

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• Swallow Yachts Association

We offer a personal, efficient brokerage service to buyers and sellers of second hand Swallows – please see below for our current range.

If you would like to speak to us about any of the boats for sale, about selling your own Swallow or if you wish to be kept up to date with news of new additions please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page

BayRaider Expedition – ( 2015 ) ‘Kingfisher’

We are pleased to offer this extremely carefully maintained BayRaider Expedition for sale. Her woodwork, sails and hull are all extremely well cared for, whilst the canvas work, road trailer and outboard engine have all been maintained annually to a high standard – meaning that her beautiful condition is well retained and you’re instantly ready to sail in style!

A full inventory is available on request and viewings can be arranged by appointment; this boat is located in Dorset.

 Inclusions:

MKII jib system

CopperCoat antifouling

Snipe road trailer

Depth sounder & log

Stack pack boom bag

Teak effect seating panels

Mooring cover

Tohatsu 5hp outboard engine

Splash-proof cabin cushions

Cockpit galley box

Porta potti

Mooring lines/fenders included.

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