Billionaire Mike Lynch, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among seven people who died when the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily – a new interim report has shed light on what happened
Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht was vulnerable to “extreme winds” at the time of its tragic sinking, say investigators. The 59-year-old billionaire and daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven people who died when the 184ft Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily last August.
The tragedy, which sparked a huge search and rescue operation and made headlines around the world, prompted questions about how the yacht was able to sink to the bottom of the sea within the space of only a few minutes. Wind of 63.4 knots on the vessel’s beam – its widest point – were strong enough to tip it over, a new interim report by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch found.
It added the Bayesian, which has a 237ft mast, may also have been susceptible to lighter gusts. The MAIB said such vulnerabilities were unknown to the owner or the crew, as they were not included in the stability information book on board.
Bayesian yacht inquest: Major update after mysterious sinking killed Mike Lynch and daughter
At 4.06am on August 19 wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (80.6mph) and violently knocked the UK-registered vessel over to a 90-degree angle in fewer than 15 seconds, the report said. It went on: “There was no indication of flooding inside Bayesian until water came in over the starboard rails and, within seconds, entered the internal spaces down the stairwells.” Andrew Moll, chief inspector of marine accidents, said: “The interim report presents a desktop study of the facts as we know them.
“The study has reviewed the yacht’s stability, likely local weather conditions and the effect of that weather on the yacht. The findings indicate the extreme wind was sufficient to knock the yacht over.
“Further, once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degrees, the situation was irrecoverable.
“The results will be refined as the investigation proceeds, and more information becomes available.”
The interim report stated that a Met Office study and local observations suggested “probable transient presence of hurricane force winds well in excess of 64kts” at the time, which were were “sufficient” to knock the Bayesian over.
In another part of the report, it was detailed how survivors on board one of the Bayesian’s lifeboats let off two flares in the aftermath.
The second of these was seen by the crew of passing ship Sir Robert Baden Powell, who later took the occupants on board.
Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy, 71, who were all British nationals. The others who died in the tragedy were US lawyer Chris Morvillo and wife Neda, and Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
The MAIB, which is investigating as the yacht was registered in the UK, said its report was based on limited evidence due to an Italian criminal probe restricting access to the wreck. No date has been set for when the final report will be published.
