The recovered Bayesian superyacht transferred to Sicilian port on its final journey

A British-flagged luxury superyacht that sank off Sicily last year, killing U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others, started its final trip to the Sicilian port of Termini Imerese on Sunday, a day after recovery crews completed the complex operation to bring it ashore.
The white top and blue hull of the 56-meter (184-foot) Bayesian, covered with algae and mud, was kept elevated by the yellow floating crane barge off the port of Porticello, before starting its transfer to Termini Imerese, where a special steel cradle was waiting.
The vessel will be made available for investigators for further examinations to help determine the cause of the sinking.
The Bayesian sank Aug. 19 off Porticello, near Palermo, during a violent storm as Lynch was treating friends to a cruise to celebrate his acquittal two months earlier in the U.S. on fraud charges. Lynch, his daughter and five others died. Fifteen people survived, including the captain and all crew members except the chef.
Italian authorities are conducting a full criminal investigation.
The vessel was slowly raised from the seabed 50 meters (165 feet) deep over three days to allow the steel lifting straps, slings and harnesses to be secured under the keel.
The Bayesian is missing its 72-meter (236-foot) mast, which was cut off and left on the seabed for future removal. The mast had to be detached to allow the hull to be brought to a nearly upright position that would allow the craft to be raised.
British investigators said in an interim report issued last month that the yacht was knocked over by 'extreme wind' and couldn't recover.
The report said the crew of the Bayesian had chosen the site where it sank as shelter from forecast thunderstorms. Wind speeds exceeded 70 knots (81 mph) at the time of the sinking and 'violently' knocked the vessel over to a 90-degree angle in under 15 seconds.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Guardian

2 hours ago

• The Guardian

Recovered Mike Lynch superyacht transferred to Sicilian town

The superyacht belonging to the late tech tycoon Mike Lynch has been moved to a town in Sicily where British and Italian investigators will examine its sinking. Lynch and his daughter Hannah, 18, were among seven people who died when the Bayesian sank off the Italian coast on 19 August 2024. Salvage teams said on Saturday that they had lifted the vessel 'fully and finally out of the water' for the first time since it sank during a storm. It was taken from the fishing village of Porticello at about 1.10pm local time on Sunday after it was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes. The vessel arrived two hours later in Termini Imerese, a town about 12 miles away, where it was due to moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide vital information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month, but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on 9 May, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. Lynch, who in June last year was cleared of fraud charges in the US relating to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011, was enjoying a lavish voyage around Sicily to celebrate his acquittal alongside Hannah and his wife, Angela Bacares, whose company owned the Bayesian. The lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, the Morgan Stanley International bank chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife, Judy, and the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, also died in the incident. Nine other crew members and six guests – including Bacares – were rescued. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Lynch, his daughter and the Bloomers, who were all British nationals.

Daily Mail​

2 hours ago

• Daily Mail​

Mystery surrounds death of woman who vanished from her home: 'She was the gentlest, kindest little lady'

The death of woman who vanished from her Melbourne home before turning up a week later in a hospital with severe injuries has sparked a homicide investigation. Julia Neira, 63, was reported missing by a neighbour on June 14 after she left her home at Noble Park, in Melbourne 's southeast, a few days earlier and failed to return. The Chilean national who emigrated to Australia had been seen talking with a man shortly before leaving the property. Two days after police were notified she was missing, they located Ms Neira in Dandenong Hospital with injuries described by police as 'consistent with being seriously assaulted.' She died from her injuries on Friday evening. Homicide Squad detectives are investigating her death, which is being treated as suspicious. Police confirmed they spoke with a 62-year-old Endeavour Hills man in relation to the incident. He has been released without charge pending further enquiries. Police believe Ms Neira and the man were known to each other. Officers confirmed they were able to speak with Ms Neira in hospital before her death. 'At this time, the exact circumstances surrounding the incident which led to her being injured are still being determined,' a police spokesperson said. Officers have been canvassing the area and collecting CCTV footage from around her Marna Court address from June 7 to June 14. Ms Neira's relatives live in Chile, and neighbours said the Marna Court community had become like the woman's second family. Ms Neira had lived in the area for six years. One neighbour told the Herald Sun the 63-year-old was an 'angel.' Another said Ms Neira was always ready for a cup of tea and a talk and that she was a loyal friend. 'She was the softest, gentlest, kindest little lady,' friend, Suzanne, told Nine News. 'I didn't sleep all night, I think Julia where are you, what's happened to you,' another neighbour, Zorca, said. 'I miss her so much.' Police are tracking down Ms Neira's next of kin overseas to notify them. Detectives said they were keen to speak to anyone who may have further information about the circumstances leading up to Ms Neira's death. Anyone with information has been urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online.

Rhyl Journal

3 hours ago

• Rhyl Journal

Bayesian yacht taken to Sicilian town for full investigation into sinking

Seven people died when the Bayesian sank off Sicily on August 19 including billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18. The vessel was held above the water by one of Europe's most powerful floating sea cranes, which set off from the fishing village Porticello at around 1.10pm local time. It was held in front of the crane as it moved. The vessel arrived in Termini Imerese, a town around 12 milies away at just after 3pm on Sunday. It will then be moved into a specially manufactured steel cradle, which has a tarpaulin underneath for pollution prevention. Salvage workers on site, not accompanying the vessel to port, are conducting a 'full sweep' of the seabed near Porticello for any potential debris, a project insider said. Italian prosecutors previously said raising and examining the yacht for evidence would provide key information for its investigation into the sinking. It will also aid the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) report on what happened. Simon Graves, an MAIB investigator, previously told the PA news agency: 'When the wreck is brought ashore, we'll be completing a full examination of the wreck and we'll be finding out all of the elements that might have contributed to the safety of the vessel.' Further details such as 'escape routes' will be included in its final report on the sinking, according to Mr Graves, who added: 'Once we get access to the vessel we'll be able to tell a fuller picture of activities on board and the sequence of events.' The vessel was originally expected to be raised last month but salvage efforts were delayed after a diver died during underwater work on May 9, prompting greater use of remote-controlled equipment. About 70 specialist personnel had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. 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 Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks, Kent.