PALERMO, Sicily. A rescue operation is underway off the coast of Sicily after a luxury yacht, carrying British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and five others, sank during a violent storm early Monday.
The 56-meter-long (184-ft) superyacht, Bayesian, was anchored near Porticello when a fierce waterspout struck, leading to its capsizing. The yacht was carrying 22 people at the time, including Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, and other notable individuals such as Judy and Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo.
As of Tuesday, divers are continuing their search of the wreck, which rests at a depth of approximately 49 meters (160 feet). “The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” said Salvatore Cocina, head of civil protection in Sicily. The search has been complicated by the confined spaces inside the wreck and challenging underwater conditions. Fire brigade spokesman Luca Cari noted, “Inside the sailing ship, the spaces are very confined, and if you hit an obstacle it is very complicated to move forward.”
The vessel’s mast, a notable 75 meters (246 feet) in height, might have snapped during the storm, but this has yet to be confirmed. The yacht, which was listed for charter at up to €195,000 per week, had a crew of 10 and 12 passengers. The intense storm and waterspout left little time for those below deck to escape. Karsten Borner, skipper of a nearby vessel, reported that the Bayesian sank within two minutes after flipping on its side.
Out of the 22 on board, 15 managed to escape before the yacht capsized. One body was recovered, believed to be the cook, and survivors include Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. The rescue efforts involved helicopters and rescue boats, with the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch deploying a team to Italy for a preliminary assessment. The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office is providing consular support to the British nationals and their families.
Lynch, who was acquitted in June of fraud and conspiracy charges related to the $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp, has been a prominent figure in the tech industry. His acquittal followed a high-profile trial in San Francisco.
The Bayesian, originally named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag, was built in 2008 by Italian firm Perini Navi and featured a minimalist interior designed by French designer Remi Tessier. It accommodated 12 passengers in luxurious settings and was equipped with modern amenities.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are grappling with the difficult conditions and the hope of finding the missing individuals.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
