The Bayesian, luxurious superyacht owned by UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, capsized off the coast of Sicily, resulting in the tragic deaths of seven individuals, including Lynch and his daughter. According to an interim report by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), the vessel was struck by wind gusts exceeding 80mph, leading to rapid flooding. This incident occurred near Portofino on August 19 while the yacht was supposedly seeking refuge from impending storms.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the yacht tilted to a perilous 90-degree angle within just 15 seconds at 4:06 a.m., causing chaos on board. The investigation highlighted that there were no immediate signs of flooding inside the yacht until water surged over the starboard side. Once the vessel tilted past 70 degrees, it became "irrecoverable."
Further findings revealed that the Bayesian was particularly susceptible to tipping over, even with wind speeds lower than 80mph, a fact that the crew and owner were unaware of due to a lack of pertinent information in the stability manual. The MAIB's investigation is ongoing, hampered slightly by criminal inquiries led by Italian authorities, which temporarily restrict access to the wreckage.
The recovery operation for the vessel has been put on hold following the death of a diver during salvage efforts. Despite this setback, work is anticipated to resume shortly.
The report meticulously outlines the chain of events prior to the yacht's sinking. Just an hour before the incident, wind conditions seemed mundane, with speeds around 9mph. However, those conditions escalated dramatically to 80.6mph shortly before the yacht capsized. As the storm materialized, the crew attempted to secure the yacht, but their efforts proved insufficient as injuries were reported from crew and guests amidst the chaos.
Dr. Simon Boxall, an oceanographer from the University of Southampton, emphasized that the crew acted appropriately, noting that several tasks, including engine ignition and positioning the yacht, take time to execute. Survivors managed to escape to safety via the yacht's life raft and were rescued by a nearby boat.
Mike Lynch, renowned in the UK tech landscape and often compared to Microsoft’s Bill Gates, was engulfed in legal disputes in his later years, culminating in his controversial extradition to the U.S. The inquest into the tragedy also looks into the deaths of other victims, including notable figures like Jonathan Bloomer and his wife. The investigation's final report remains forthcoming.
