A tragic incident unfolded off the northern coast of Sicily on Monday, August 19th, as a luxury yacht belonging to British tech tycoon Mike Lynch sank, claiming the lives of at least seven people, including Lynch himself. The 56-meter (184-foot) superyacht, named “Bayesian,” was reportedly caught in a violent storm that struck shortly before 5 am local time. While fifteen of the 22 people on board were rescued, the vessel, flying the British flag, ultimately succumbed to the tempestuous conditions.
The Italian coast guard, who coordinated the rescue efforts, attributed the sinking to the severe storm, highlighting that while bad weather had been forecasted, its intensity exceeded expectations. Local residents described witnessing a powerful waterspout, a rotating column of air and water, that may have played a role in the yacht’s demise.
The nearby yacht, the 42-meter “Sir Robert Baden Powell,” managed to withstand the storm by turning on its engine to maintain control and avoid a collision with the “Bayesian.” The captain of the “Sir Robert Baden Powell,” Karsten Borner, expressed uncertainty about whether the “Bayesian’s” crew had managed to activate their engines. He described seeing the “Bayesian” with its mast submerged in the water, stating that it sank within just two minutes.
The rapid sinking of the “Bayesian” has baffled maritime experts, raising concerns about the vessel’s design and the crew’s actions. Andrea Ratti, a professor of nautical design at Milan Polytechnic University, suggested that open or damaged portholes, windows, or other openings could have allowed water to flood the yacht quickly, given its size. However, Matthew Schanck, chair of Britain’s Maritime Search and Rescue Council, noted that it would usually take hours for a yacht of that size to sink, making the “Bayesian’s” swift demise an unlikely occurrence.
The “Bayesian” boasted a number of notable features, including the world’s tallest aluminum mast, measuring 72 meters. While a tall mast presents a greater surface area exposed to wind, experts like Ratti and structural engineer Filippo Mattioni affirmed that it does not inherently compromise stability during storms. Dive teams confirmed that the wreck was intact and the mast remained attached.
Another distinctive feature of the “Bayesian” was its retractable keel, a stabilizing structure beneath the hull that can be raised to reduce the vessel’s draft when navigating shallow waters. Ratti and Mattioni questioned whether the keel had been raised during the storm, potentially compromising the yacht’s stability.
The “Bayesian,” built in 2008 by the Italian luxury yacht maker Perini Navi, underwent two refittings, although not by the original manufacturer. Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, described the “Bayesian” as “one of the safest boats in the world” and essentially unsinkable. He attributed the sinking to a series of human errors, given the forecasted storm. According to Costantino, had the crew closed all doors and hatches, activated the engine, lifted the anchor, lowered the keel, and turned the yacht to face the wind, they would have experienced minimal damage. Data revealed that the “Bayesian” took on water and ultimately sank within 16 minutes of the storm’s initial impact.
The tragic sinking of the “Bayesian” has underscored the importance of preparedness, particularly in the face of unpredictable weather conditions. It has also prompted a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, seeking to understand the contributing factors and prevent similar tragedies from occurring in the future.
