Investigators Determined the Reason for a Superyacht's Demise Off Sicily's Shores in August
The Infamous Bayesian Shipwreck sent shockwaves through the elite society in 2024, occurring off the Sicilian coast.
Image Source: EAST NEWS.
Initial findings from the British investigators' probe into the sinking of technology tycoon Michael Lynch's superyacht, Bayesian, revealed a gory tale. The luxury vessel sank in mere minutes during a ferocious night storm in August 2023, just 800 meters from the picturesque Italian coastline of Porticello, Palermo. Seven souls, including Lynch, perished, while an unlikely 15 passengers miraculously survived.
The inquiry unveiled a lethal combination of human error, questionable design, and Nature's wrath. A young sailor on watch duty, rather than awakening the captain, captured the brewing disaster on video and broadcasted it on social media. Minutes later, the storm shredded a protective barrier on the bridge, causing the vessel to capsize within 16 minutes, plunging into the Mediterranean depths. Witnesses described an apocalyptic scene of wild winds and torrential rain that accompanied the catastrophic storm. The captain of a neighboring vessel recalled it as a scene straight out of a horror movie, "tons of water crashing down," remarking that he'd never witnessed such a fast sinking of a vessel of its size.
Is it worth taking the plunge to the popular peninsula without waiting for the summer heat and the crowd at the sea video?
The yacht belonged to tech mogul Michael Lynch.
imagesource: ru.wikipedia.org.
According to data obtained by the infamous tabloid Daily Mail, the investigation revealed several possible factors contributing to the calamity. For instance, the superyacht's structural design, characterized by low-lying ventilation gaps and oversized glass doors, allowing water to swiftly flood in if the vessel leaned. The towering 72-meter mast, one of the tallest worldwide, increased the risk of capsizing extremely when strong winds buffeted the vessel. Navigation experts believe that this raised the boat's center of gravity, which would eventually lead to a disaster.
A fatal construction flaw could've sealed the fate of the vessel, asserted retired Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin in an interview with "KP." A 56-meter yacht is a worthy vessel, and such mammoth masts are installed with one purpose - to sail at high speeds. Although today's sailing yachts usually do not sail under sail, it seems romance prevailed here. However, a super-sized mast moved the center of gravity upwards. Moreover, it appears the crew made a grave error. It seems likely that before the storm, the team opted not to lower the sail, which possibly led to the yacht capsizing and sinking. In these latitudes, winds can be savage. As for the oversized glass doors and other features, it seems the manufacturer and client desired a blend of luxury and nature. But the sea is merciless and unforgiving. It's no surprise that vessels launch with every detail scrutinized to prevent such tragedies.**
The ill-fated Bayesian yacht sank in August 2024 in just a few minutes during a catastrophic night storm.
IMAGE SOURCE: GLOBAL LOOK PRESS.
INVESTIGATION CONTINUES...
The shipwreck off the Sicilian coast has sent ripples through the Western establishment. Among the passengers on board were Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, along with Morgan Stanley International Investment Bank's chairman of the board, Jonathan Bloomer, and his spouse Judy, as well as American lawyer Chris Morville with his spouse Neha. Also among the deceased was head chef Reinaldo Thomas. Four of the seven perished victims died from asphyxiation. Trapped in the remaining air pockets, they succumbed to oxygen deprivation. No water was found in their lungs, windpipes, or stomachs.
Parallel to the British investigators, Italian law enforcement is conducting their own investigation. Swiftly after the shipwreck, charges were brought against the yacht's captain, 51-year-old New Zealander James Catfield, the chief engineer Tim Parker Ito, and another crew member, Matthew Griffith. They are accused of causing the shipwreck and involuntary manslaughter.
The operation to lift the Bayesian yacht began in early May. However, on May 9, one of the divers perished during preparation work, leading to the decision to halt the operation.
- The investigation revealed a tragic combination of human error, questionable design, and natural forces that led to the sinking of technology tycoon Michael Lynch's superyacht, Bayesian, off the Sicilian coast.
- A possible factor contributing to the tragedy was the superyacht's structural design, characterized by low-lying ventilation gaps and oversized glass doors, which allowed water to flood in if the vessel leaned.
- Navigation experts believe that the towering 72-meter mast increased the risk of capsizing when strong winds buffeted the vessel, raising the boat's center of gravity.
- Retired Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin asserted in an interview that a fatal construction flaw could have sealed the fate of the vessel.
- The ill-fated Bayesian yacht sank in August 2024 in just a few minutes during a catastrophic night storm, and the investigation into the incident continues, involving both British and Italian law enforcement agencies.
