Italian prosecutors have concluded that the sinking of the superyacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily in August 2024 was not due to a storm, according to findings shared with Sky News. The 56-metre vessel sank on 19 August, killing seven people, including British billionaire Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter.
The weather at the time was described as 'little more than a squall', which should have been manageable for the crew. Preliminary findings suggest the yacht sank due to improper actions by the crew and their underestimation of the weather, with certain safety devices not being activated properly.
Investigators are exploring alleged crimes, including negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter, against the yacht's captain and two crew members. The Bayesian's manufacturers, Italian prosecutors, British marine investigators, and survivors have all offered different explanations for the sudden sinking.
An interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) released last May indicated that wind speeds of 63.4 knots on the yacht's beam were sufficient to tip it over. The report also challenged the builder's claim that the yacht could recover from a 73-degree heel, stating it would capsize at 70.6 degrees.
The yacht was recovered from the sea 10 months after sinking, following a multi-million-pound operation. At the time, 22 people were on board. Subsequent investigations identified that the boat was hit by a mesocyclone, a powerful rotating thunderstorm.
Victims included the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, and Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer. Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, survived and told doctors that the boat tilted at 4am, waking her and her husband.
