Mike Lynch, the late tech billionaire, lost his superyacht Bayesian in a tragic incident where fierce winds of approximately 117km/h overwhelmed the vessel’s stability, resulting in it foundering. This preliminary finding comes from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report.
According to investigators, Bayesian was particularly susceptible to strong winds while under propulsion, a vulnerability unknown to both the owner and crew, which wasn’t detailed in the onboard stability information booklet.
On August 19, 2024, the luxurious yacht, featuring a 75-m (246ft) mast, was anchored near Porticello in the Palermo province. Just before dawn, a violent storm hit, claiming the lives of seven, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.
Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife, was among the fifteen survivors.
MAIB conducted a comprehensive review of the yacht’s stability, the local weather, and how weather impacted the yacht. They commissioned a stability study by the University of Southampton’s Wolfson Unit for Marine Technology and Industrial Aerodynamics.
Researchers created a model replicating the details in the approved stability information booklet and adjusted it for conditions on the night of the sinking, simulating the yacht operating on its engines with the centreboard up.
The report noted that a fast-moving mesocyclonic thunderstorm generated brief gusts of hurricane strength, causing the yacht to capsize within 15 seconds of being pushed over 90 degrees. The report asserted that the situation was hopeless once the yacht tilted past 70 degrees.
Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, explained that the wind forced the yacht to lean beyond its stable position, and their research suggested that high winds could have contributed to the accident.
Flooding occurred rapidly as water poured over the starboard rails and flowed down the stairwells into the yacht’s interior.
MAIB stated that their findings were limited due to a criminal investigation by Italian authorities, restraining their access to the wreck and other evidence.
The report will be expanded to include details like “escape routes” and other specifics once investigators gain full access to the vessel.
The comprehensive investigation report will not be available for at least a year.
The wreck is currently situated 50 meters deep in the bay of Porticello.
Salvage efforts to retrieve the Bayesian, which began in early May, were halted following a diver’s death during underwater work and are set to resume after preparatory work on Thursday.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/15/mike-lynchs-superyacht-sank-in-high-winds-says-report
