Inside the sunken superyacht of ‘British Bill Gates’

Bayesian, the superyacht owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch that sank off the coast of Sicily, Italy on Aug. 19, 2024. Photo by Yacht Charter Fleet

According to the Daily Mail, the Bayesian, which was previously known as the Salute, was constructed in 2008 by the esteemed Perini Navi in Tuscany, Italy. It measured 56 meters in length and was 11.51 meters at its widest point.

The New York Post reported that the vessel was initially purchased by Dutch real estate developer John Groenewoud for 30 million pounds (US$39.4 million). It is now owned by Revtom, a company that lists Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares as its legal owner.

At its launch, the superyacht boasted the world’s tallest aluminum mast, reaching 237 feet, and was celebrated at the World Superyacht Awards in 2009 for its exterior styling. It was also recognized as one of the best sailing yachts over 45 meters, reported The Telegraph.

Also awarded for the best interior at the 2008 International Superyacht Society Awards, the Bayesian featured sleek, minimalist designs by France-based architectural designer Remi Tessier, incorporating elements of Japanese style.

The Bayesian featured sleek, minimalist interior designs. Photo by Yacht Charter Fleet

It could accommodate up to 12 guests across six cabins, including a master suite, three double cabins, and two twin cabins, along with space for 10 crew members.

Both the hull and superstructure are crafted from aluminum, with interiors rich in various woods and leathers.

Powered by two 965-horsepower, 8-cylinder MTU engines, the yacht could reach speeds up to 15 knots and had a fuel capacity of 57,000 liters, enabling a range of up to 3,600 nautical miles (6,667 kilometers).

One of the cabins inside the Bayesian yacht. Photo by Yacht Charter Fleet

The Bayesian sank on Monday after being unexpectedly hit by heavy rain, strong winds, and a waterspout while anchored about 700 meters from Porticello harbor, east of Palermo on the island of Sicily, Italy.

Maritime experts suggest that a rare and unexpected "black swan" weather event—a phenomenon marked by its extreme rarity and severe impact, akin to Hurricane Katrina in 2005—may have caused the Bayesian superyacht's rapid demise.

At the time of the incident, 22 people were onboard, including 10 crew members and several prominent business figures.

The police confirmed that the yacht’s captain perished, 15 individuals survived, and six were reported missing, including Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, and guest lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife.

By Thursday, rescuers had recovered five bodies, though Hannah remained missing, sources told AFP.