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English banker Jonathan Bloomer and American lawyer Chris Morvillo reportedly confirmed as among bodies recovered by Italian rescuers
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/aug/21/slugs-sicily-bayesian-yacht-sinking-search-mike-lynch-six-people-missing-updates
Divers scouring the wreck of the luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday have reportedly found the bodies of all six missing persons, writes Jamie Grierson and Lorenzo Tondo.
The UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his teenage daughter Hannah Lynch, the Morgan Stanley International chair, Jonathan Bloomer, his wife, Judy, and the Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, have been missing since the vessel went down Monday morning.
The 56-metre yacht, named Bayesian and sailing under a British flag, was carrying 22 people and had anchored just off shore near the port of Porticello when it was hit by what was believed to be a tornado or waterspout.
The body of the yachts chef, Recaldo Thomas, was located shortly after the vessel sank.
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malaise
(296,118 posts)Who was Stephen Chamberlain, colleague of Mike Lynch who died after road collision?
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/20/stephen-chamberlain-colleague-mike-lynch-died-collision-road-fraud
Hours after it was reported that the UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch was one of the people missing in Mondays superyacht sinking off the coast of Sicily, news of a tragic coincidence emerged.
Stephen Chamberlain, 52, Lynchs former co-defendant in a US fraud trial, in which they were both acquitted, had died in hospital after being hit by a car while jogging in Cambridgeshire.
Like his former boss, Chamberlain had risen to the most senior ranks in the British tech world before his success was overshadowed by the long legal battle related to their time running one of the UKs most prominent startups.
The collision occurred on Saturday morning on the A1123 Newmarket Road, north of Cambridge. Chamberlains lawyer said he had been fatally struck by a car while running. He was taken to hospital and put on life support, and his death was announced late on Monday.
BoRaGard
(7,591 posts)Dead men tell no tales.
Insensitively yours, BoRa
ScratchCat
(2,740 posts)I also don't believe in coincidences.
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)Hotler
(13,747 posts)bucolic_frolic
(55,143 posts)Closer for some people than some people think
Lonestarblue
(13,480 posts)obamanut2012
(29,369 posts)malaise
(296,118 posts)That poor.child
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)BamaRefugee
(3,884 posts)The thing about the "believed to be a waterspout"...seriously?
They weren't in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, they were just off the coast of Sicily, an area that would likely have many other vessels in proximity, and you can see a waterspout from a couple of miles away, ESPECIALLY one big enough to sink a 56 meter yacht...but no other ships saw it or reported it or ANYTHING?
There's no maritime weather radio channel in the Mediterranean?
malaise
(296,118 posts)muriel_volestrangler
(106,212 posts)Loads of people talk about it.
https://metro.co.uk/2024/08/20/a-waterspout-cause-sicily-yacht-tragedy-21456936/
https://archive.ph/muJ7k
"First came the wind, then the water -- it was definitely a tornado," said local fisherman Giovanni Lococco, describing the waterspout.
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/waterspout-may-sunk-uk-tech-204327551.html
At 3.55, a mini tornado arrived, Cefalù said. The docks of the port diverted it and it hit the sailboat head-on.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/aug/21/within-a-few-minutes-there-was-nothing-left-sailors-on-sinking-of-bayesian-superyacht
malaise
(296,118 posts)The Bayesian, carrying 22 passengers, sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning after being struck by a powerful type of wind called a downburst.
Seven people died, including the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Fifteen people survived, including Lynchs wife, whose company owned the Bayesian, and the yachts captain..
Ambrogio Cartosio, the head of the prosecutors office in Termini Imerese, said in a press conference at the towns court on Saturday that his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/article/2024/aug/24/sicily-yacht-sinking-manslaughter-investigation-opened
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)Unless you have a hurricane bearing down on you, it's not common to button up a 180ft boat at anchor for a incoming rain squall, they just got VERY unlucky. That being said it will not help the Captains resume.
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)I do question the crew size, 10? Was one of those the Chef so 9?
Even with 10, ones the Skipper, that give you 3 guys per watch (4 on, 8 off) which for a 180ft sailing vessel seems not enough to me, I realize she had roller reefing (the sails roll up at the touch of a button) but still not a lot of guys on duty.
For example I spent 3 years on Tall Ships and on the 173ft 3 masted staysail schooner we had 12-15 on watch when under way and 4-5 when anchored or tied up.
I was on this one:

malaise
(296,118 posts)Rec
you should write up some stories and post them in the Lounge. being a landlocked desert rat, I am still fascinated with the sea. don't know ANYTHING about ships/boats, have only been on a few short "rides" but loved them.
Attilatheblond
(8,880 posts)maybe same thinking follows them out to sea?
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)I assume the insurance company & Capt would have signed off on the crew size so maybe it is close to standard and not sure more guys would have helped if the Capt didn't order the keel down, the stern anchor raised and the boat buttoned up.
But 3 guys per watch on a 180ft sailing vessel seems too little to me.
FakeNoose
(41,637 posts)The original news story was unclear how many victims went down in the boat, but several were rescued from the water. I guess they were able to jump in time. Since the squall came up suddenly at 3 o'clock in the morning, it's likely that many passengers were below decks and became trapped when the boat sank.
Nixie
(17,984 posts)there is a CNN article saying the crew is being investigated for procedures relating to weather developments. They are saying the hatches might not have been closed, creating more storm stress. My Navy veteran figured this out right away.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/italian-authorities-open-manslaughter-investigation-into-superyacht-sinking/ar-AA1plYwj?ocid=BingNewsSerp
"Authorities cannot confirm at this stage whether some of the ships hatches were left open, Cammarano said, which could help explain why it sank so quickly."
Still under investigation, but the crew is possibly suspected of not following weather procedures.
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)Last edited Sat Aug 24, 2024, 08:26 PM - Edit history (1)
.... closing hatches and port holes isn't as necessary as when out at sea when a storm comes.
It's extremely unusual for 180 ft boat to have any kind of issue from weather while at anchor other than dragging the anchor.
During my 3 years on tall ships I don't recall ever having to button the boat up while at anchor.
Nixie
(17,984 posts)by the surface tornado...? But that's what the investigation is for, and that is the focus of the investigation per the article. It specifically states the hatches, so that tends to imply that procedures weren't followed which led to the catastrophic results.
But we'll see because we aren't there investigating, so it's just hunches from the media reporting,
We're going to Italy soon and are interested in the ferry tours or other water tours. But we found out that they are subject to sudden cancellations due to weather, so that makes it a little harder to plan a schedule. That's partly our interest in the weather aspect of this yacht demise.
How cool about your work on tall ships! They are spectacular. We went to see the Amerigo Vespucci in San Pedro CA during its world tour just a couple months ago. I'll get a link to this beauty. It was worth the 2-hour line to see it!
Link: Named the most beautiful ship in the world!
https://sailtraininginternational.org/vessel/amerigo-vespucci/
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)The Danmark: (but mostly cause I have been aboard her, all Tall Ship are beautiful IMO)

Nixie
(17,984 posts)Emile
(42,293 posts)malaise
(296,118 posts)than surprised.
Kid Berwyn
(24,399 posts)First thing to learn is if the yachts retractable keel was in the down position. If not, the vessel would could much more easily be knocked over or capsized by sudden high winds. Second thing are the status of two doors built into the hull, one aft to access the tender boat bay, the other an observation platform on one of the sides. Both, normally, are closed up at night.
A naval architect reported Perini Navi sister vessel has enormous sliding glass doors designed to keep the ocean out, even in flooding from a capsize. Unless locked or bolted, however, the doors will slide open when the yacht heels over. The guy said the wind knocked the boat over and water just poured in and below decks. For all on board, trying to evacuate a suddenly capsized and sinking yacht in the dark, must have been a terrifying and living nightmare.
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)Last edited Sun Aug 25, 2024, 01:44 PM - Edit history (1)
A strike against the Captains case IMO as she appeared to be anchored in deep water.
Although normally when anchored in a blow the bow always points into the wind so the keel down wouldn't help much, the boat would be pitching, not rolling, however if they got a sudden downburst the wind could have come from any quarter. (and most likely did)
I suspect the crew would be more familiar with layout then the guests (owner excepted) and found their way topside while she was still on her side flooding. She may have self righted with the keel down before the flooding got too much also. I am guessing the Capt will have trouble finding his next yacht.
Kid Berwyn
(24,399 posts)...the yachting expert discusses the problem of the lifting keel and the watertight doors. The captain must've made an assumption of being at anchor in nice weather when he shoud've erred with caution.
The boat's builder is working to focus blame to the captain, crew and weather. Right now, it looks like a combination of improbable factors came together at one terrible moment.
At the 5:30 mark of the video, the expert goes over the nautical engineer who reported the "design flaw or feature" where Perini Navi saloon doors reported to slide open. The captain has a lot to answer for -- and he will be going over it for every second of the rest of his life.
malaise
(296,118 posts)Rec
Blues Heron
(8,838 posts)not sure what to make of that, havent seen anything about that since, but if thats the case it might have contributed to the knockdown/sinking
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)anchor so she could swing into the wind...although a downdraft can come from any angle so it may not have helped but should have been done for prudence sake.
Blues Heron
(8,838 posts)sideways until the vents were submerged, and the open watertight hatches between compartments had been left open and the ship went down. Seriously sad.
malaise
(296,118 posts)The experts always weigh in
Voltaire2
(15,377 posts)are being recalculated. Please wait for updated results before setting your super yacht to sea.
😀
CatWoman
(80,290 posts)"hold my beer"
Too good
EX500rider
(12,583 posts)The Angle of Vanishing Stability is the angle of heel at which the vessel righting moment reaches zero, meaning that the vessel will not return to upright. Again, I forget the actual numbers for this, but the figures would be around 90 degrees with the moveable keel lowered and 75 degrees with it raised.
The Downflooding Angle is much more important though in the scenario we are talking about. This is the angle of heel at which water will start to enter the vessel (usually through engine room or accommodation ventilation ducts) once this starts the vessels is in serious trouble as stability is quickly reduced or lost due to the flooding.
The downflooding angle for Bayesian was around 40-45 degrees much less than the AVS. So, unless the vent dampers are closed (which with HVAC systems and generator running they would NOT be as they need to be open for that), the vessel will start to flood rapidly if heeled more than the downflooding angle.
Hull Openings
Bayesian had only one shell door in the hull, on the port side aft. As this was very close to the waterline, it was rarely used (remembering the extra 30T of ballast mentioned earlier this caused the water line to be 100mm higher than other 56m Perinis, hence much closer to the bottom of the shell opening meaning it could only be opened in flat calm conditions 100% it was NOT open at night)
There are no opening windows or portholes, which are all made from laminated marine glass bonded to the hull & superstructure.
Other deck hatch / superstructure openings that breach the watertight integrity on Bayesian are on or close to the centerline of the vessel. For these to be taking water if open, the vessel would have to be heeled way beyond the Downflooding Angle mentioned earlier, and hence already flooding via ducting/vents.
Only one opening was located far from the centerline, and could be vulnerable to downflooding at lower angles of heel this is the deck access to the lazarette area towards the stern. However, as it is located on the port (left) side of the aft deck, it would be unlikely to be an initial factor in this scenario as we know that Bayesian was knocked down to starboard, and as such this hatch, even if opened as crew were on deck etc, would have been one of the later parts to submerge.
I find the 40- 45 degrees before downflooding a little shocking for a sailboat, in storm crossing the Atlantic we had some troubles when I was crewing a Tallship, with most of our sails up, (she had more then 10,000 sq ft of sail) the bobstay chain broke (holds the bowsprit on the front of the boat down & has 2 of the 3 forestays that hold the mast up), the bowsprit broke, we had to take all sail down before the last forestay broke & we lost the rig and put someone in the water to secure the chain and torn jib sail and flying jib sail, while stopped we were blown sideways to the waves and I was on radio watch in the chart room watching the inclinometer (measures roll angle) and we were severely rolling and I clocked a 55 degree roll at one point, we took zero water down below, and that's on a boat built in the 1930's.
malaise
(296,118 posts)I am wrong to infer that apparently size mattered more than safety and that billionaires should employ folks like you as Consultants before buying toys that can kill them.