Updated: the 56 m S/Y Bayesian capsized in Italy

A 56-metre sailing yacht Bayesian capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily today in the morning. According to Reuters, on board the yacht was the family of Mike Lynch, an IT entrepreneur and venture capitalist, who is called the British Bill Gates. Lynch founded companies such as Autonomy Corporation and Invoke Capital.

At this point, it is official that seven people did not survive the crash:

- Mike Lynch,
- his 18-year-old daughter Hannah,
- Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer,
- his wife Judy Bloomer,
- Clifford Chance attorney Chris Morvillo,
- his wife, jeweller Neda Morvillo,
- the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas.

BOAT International, quoting a crew member, reports that the yacht was apparently hit by a so-called freak wave, which caused the yacht to heel about 20 degrees to starboard. While crew members attempted to secure falling objects and furniture, the heel rapidly increased and the yacht started to take water and sink. The rapid sinking was caused by a large influx of water ‘from the top down’, according to a captain, who wished to remain anonymous.

David Hutchinson, captain of Rosehearty, a sistership to Bayesian, said it was «very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size» and described the 56-metre boats as ‘bulletproof’. The Rosehearty captain said he had travelled around the world on his yacht many times and always had complete confidence in the boat. «We've been to Antarctica and Chile in 70-knot winds», he says, «and never once got into a situation that felt unmanageable». However, Hutchinson noted the differences between Bayesian and Rosehearty; in particular, Bayesian's 74m mast, which is the largest aluminium mast in the world. There are also slight differences in the layout of the living decks, with the guest cabins on Bayesian closer to the bow.

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