An investigation has found that the sinking of a Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily, was not caused by a storm as originally suspected, according to reports.
The 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian sank off the coast of the Italian island on 19 August 2024, killing seven people including British billionaire and tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter.
Italian prosecutors have now found that a storm was not to blame for the incident, according to findings shared with Sky News.
The weather on the day of the incident amounted to “little more than a squall, a sudden increase in wind speed that precedes thunderstorms and downpours,” which should have been manageable for the crew of the ship.
Preliminary findings suggest that the yacht is thought to have sunk due to improper actions of the boat crew and their underestimation of the weather with certain safety devices not being activated properly.
The investigation is also exploring the possibility of alleged crimes, including negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter for the yacht’s captain and two of its crew members.
The yacht’s manufacturers, Italian prosecutors, British marine investigators and survivors have all made different claims about why the boat sank so suddenly.
Last May, an interim report into the sinking, released by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), showed wind speeds of 63.4 knots (73.0mph) on the yacht’s beam were sufficient to tip it over.
It was thought that the extreme winds were enough to topple the boat causing its passengers to be thrown into the sea.
The report suggested the structure may have compromised the boat’s stability in “motoring mode,” vulnerabilities that were not included in the yacht’s stability manual.
The MAIB report also challenged claims made by yacht builders The Italian Sea Group, finding that the Bayesian would capsize at a 70.6-degree heel, contrary to the builder’s assertion that it could recover from 73 degrees.
Giovanni Costantino, the Chief of TISG, has described the yacht as “unsinkable” and claimed the crew must have left doors or hatches open, allowing water in.
The Bayesian was recovered from the sea 10 months after its sinking following a multi-million-pound operation.
At the time of its sinking, 22 people were on board. A coastguard official in Palermo said that bad weather had been expected but not of the magnitude witnessed, with winds of up to 90mph recorded on the day.
Subsequent investigations identified that the boat was hit by a mesocyclone, which is a type of powerful rotating thunderstorm that can produce tornadoes or extreme wind bursts.
Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was also on board the vessel and managed to escape. She told doctors that at 4am, the boat had tilted and she and her husband were woken up.
Other victims included the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, and Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer.
