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Investigations and financial disputes going on one year after sinking

One year after the sinking of the 'Bayesian' in the night of August 19, 2024, at around 4 a.m., in the waters of Porticello between Casteldaccia and Bagheria, in the province of Palermo, the investigations were ongoing. Most likely, a downburst – a sudden, violent downdraft – struck the anchorage at Porticello. At 03:50 a.m. the 'Bayesian’s anchor began to drag. At 04:00 a.m., a blackout occurred: water had reached the generator. Three minutes later, the yacht disappeared from local radars and cameras. At 04:10, after drifting 358 meters, the vessel heeled beyond its Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS) and sank. The stark contrast with the fate of the nearby vessel, the Dutch schooner 'Sir Robert Baden Powell', anchored just 100 meters away and left unharmed, remained one of the most debated points. Among the still-open hypotheses is the possibility of water ingress through the yacht’s stern doors, never definitively confirmed. The Prosecutor’s Office of Termini Imerese immediately opened a case for shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter, placing three crew members under investigation: The Italian Coast Guard compiled a 42-page report reconstructing the events, confirming that the combination of extreme weather and insufficient countermeasures proved decisive. A controversial element remained the captain’s decision to stay in Porticello, despite advice to seek shelter in the port of Marina di Villa Igiea. In parallel, the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) launched its own technical investigation. The preliminary report, published in May 2025, revealed that the yacht’s AVS that night was only 70.6° in the given configuration (sails down, engine on, keel retracted). This meant that a lateral gust exceeding 63 knots could trigger irreversible capsize. Crucially, this information was missing from the vessel’s Stability Information Book, leaving the crew unaware of its vulnerability in those conditions. On the financial front, the sinking triggered a dispute of enormous proportions. Two insurance policies have been involved: Hull & Machinery, covering material damage, and Protection & Indemnity (P&I), covering civil and environmental liability. While the yacht’s estimated value was around €30 million, total compensation could exceed €400 million, with some sources suggesting coverage as high as €2 billion. However, the outcome will largely depend on the investigations: potential design flaws or documentation gaps could shift liability from the captain to the shipyards involved.

Salvage concluded with raising of the mast

The mast of the 'Bayesian' was salvaged using inflatable lifting balloons and delivered to the port of Termini Imerese in Palermo on June 25, along with loose items that may have moved away from the vessel during the 10 months since the sinking. Remote-controlled submersible equipment was used to locate the debris in the vicinity of the sinking site. The salvage was thus concluded two days after the wreck itself was lifted into heavy steel supports on the quayside, which had tarpaulin underneath to prevent pollution. The materials have been delivered to the Italian authorities, and salvage personnel and equipment have subsequently left Sicily. About 70 salvors had been mobilised to Porticello from across Europe to work on the recovery operation. Report with photos: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14861579/New-photos-enormous-mast-Mike-Lynchs-doomed-Bayesian.html

Investigation aboard the Bayesian underway

Images revealed what the inside of the 'Bayesian' was looking after it was resurfaced and placed in a manufactured steel cradle in Termini Imerese, In one picture, a lounge area can be seen, complete with sofas and other furniture, while another shows the hatch down to the lower deck. Now the yacht is back on land, a balloon-like instrument will be used to lift its 72m (236ft) mast after it was cut off with a remote-controlled tool to rest on the seabed. Salvage workers continued a ull sweep of the ocean floor nearby. After full examination of the yacht, the UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) will publish a report into its investigation. Things like the vessel's "escape routes" will be included in the final report. The family of the Bayesian chef Recaldo Thomas, who was among those who died, said in a statement through the Thomas family lawyers Keystone Law, that they want the investigation to establish the truth of what happened and bring those responsible to justice. A UK inquest will look at the deaths of Mr Lynch, Miss Lynch, Morgan Stanley banker Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife Judy, 71, who were all British nationals. The US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda also died. 15 people, including Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, were rescued. Report with photos: https://news.sky.com/story/pictures-reveal-inside-of-bayesian-sunken-superyacht-after-it-was-resurfaced-for-full-examination-13390043