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Yacht classification definitions

The merchant shipping sector is ruled by safety regulations developed since the beginning of the 20th century, and is familiar with international conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL and Load Lines. But the application of common safety requirements to pleasure vessels is something relatively new – a continuous work in progress – and is very much dependant on the service and the flag of the yacht.

Defining the problems

Definitions do not help. How often have we read of large yachts, superyachts, megayachts, gigayachts or other bombastic adjectives? How many times have we mentioned MCA, RINA, and Lloyd’s, without having a clear idea of who’s doing what?

A good starting point for understanding the subject is to clarify the main definitions and the roles of the main players:

Large yacht

A large yacht is a pleasure vessel with a load line length equal to or over 24m. Almost all the flag administrations have adopted safety codes dedicated to large yachts and this is, therefore, the only definition having a universal meaning in the international regulatory framework of yachts.

Commercial yacht

A motor or sailing vessel in commercial use (i.e. charter) for sport and pleasure, carrying no cargo and not more than 12 passengers.

Private yacht

A pleasure vessel solely used for the recreational and leisure purpose of its owner and his guests.

Flag administration

The government of the state whose flag the yacht is entitled to fly . This administration sets the safety regulations, manning requirements and fiscal aspects relevant to the yacht registration.

Different flag administrations can inspect the safety aspects of yachts with their own inspectors (see MCA for example) or delegate this activity partially or totally to other recognised bodies such as the classification societies.

The main flag authorities in the yachting industry are: The UK-MCA, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Malta, the Marshall Islands, Italy and Luxembourg.

Classification societies

Organisations that establish and apply technical standards in relation to the design, construction and survey of ships.

Classification rules are developed to assess the structural strength and integrity of the essential parts of the hull, the reliability and function of the propulsion, steering systems, power generation and all the other features installed on board which contribute to guarantee the main essential services.

In addition to this ‘third party check’ function, class societies carry out statutory duties on behalf of the major flag administrations in accordance with specific delegation agreements signed with each government.

The main class societies involved in yachting are: American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau Veritas, Det Norske Veritas, Germanischer Lloyd, Lloyd’s Register, and RINA.

Large yachts: Applicable rules and certificates

Private yachts

The mandatory requirements for these boats are very light. For the majority of flag states, a registration survey and a tonnage measurement, carried out by an authorised surveyor, are sufficient.

The only mandatory international conventions are those relevant to the marine environment: MARPOL and the Anti-Fouling System Convention.

The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) is intended to eliminate the intentional pollution and to minimise the accidental pollution of the marine environment caused by harmful substances.

The Anti-Fouling System Convention’s purpose is to eliminate the presence of harmful substances for the marine environment contained in anti-fouling paints applied to ships.

Classification

While classification is not mandatory, building and maintaining a private yacht in class is the only evidence that the boat has been designed, constructed and operated in compliance with appropriate technical standards. It is therefore highly desirable, especially in relation to insurance and re-sale purposes.

Commercial yachts

All flag administrations require commercial yachts to be certified in accordance with a specific large yacht safety code.

The most popular of these safety codes, and the first that was developed, is the MCA Large Commercial Yacht Code (LY2) published in 2004. It replaced the Code of Practice for the Safety of Large Commercial Sailing and Motor Vessels (LY1) published in 1997.

LY2 is applied by the Red Ensign Group Flags (UK, Cayman Islands, Isle of Man, Bermuda, Gibraltar, British Virgin Islands, etc.) and is recognised as a reference standard for all the yachting industry.

Other flags have developed similar codes. Luxembourg, Italy, Marshall Islands, Malta, Belize and The Netherlands are some examples.

While introducing a stricter set of rules and regulations compared to private yachts, commercial registration offers yacht owners the possibility of making a profit from the chartering activity of their boats, and allows them to take advantage of all the other benefits of a commercial operation (in particular VAT exemption on the purchase, sale, bunkering, provisions, dry-docking, and others).

Mandatory certificates

The number and type of the mandatory certificates depends on the size of the vessel; the following is an indicative list:

• International Tonnage Certificate : A measurement of the internal volumes of the yacht expressed in gross tons (GT). This measurement should not be confused with displacement tonnage, which quantifies the weight of a vessel.
• Large Yacht Code Certificate : Covers life-saving appliances, fire protection and means of escape, navigational and signalling equipment, intact and damaged stability, manning and crew accommodation.
• Class Certificate : This mainly deals with the yacht’s hull, machinery, electrical equipment and outfitting.
• International Load Line Certificate : This certifies the weather-tightness of the yacht.
• Safety Radio Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 300GT This concerns the radio communication and distress installations.
• MARPOL Annex I Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT This deals with the disposal of oil and bilge water from machinery spaces.
• MARPOL Annex IV Certificate : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400 or the yacht is certified to carry over 15 persons. This deals with the disposal of sewage from ships.
• MARPOL Annex V : This is applicable to all ships. It covers the disposal of rubbish.
• MARPOL Annex VI : This is applicable if gross tonnage exceeds 400GT as well as to all main and auxiliary engines with a power exceeding 130kW. It concerns the emissions from main and auxiliary engines (NOx and SOx).
• Safety Construction and Safety Equipment : These are additional prescriptions on machinery, electrical parts, life-saving and navigational equipment for yachts with a gross tonnage above 500GT.
• International Safety Management Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT. A certified management company is requested to carry out this service, preparing operational manuals, procedures for drills, and taking care of the maintenance of the yacht and its installations.
• International Ship and Port Security Certificate : This is only applicable to yachts having a gross tonnage greater than 500GT and deals with the anti-piracy certification. A certified management company is requested to provide the ashore assistance and establish on-board procedures and operational manuals.

The GT Factor

The gross tonnage value (GT) is a key issue, not only as a reference for the registration fees applied by the different flag administrations, but also because it determines whether an international convention, rather than a particular safety standard, applies to a yacht.

The table below summarises how the conventions and relevant certificates come into force depending on the gross tonnage of the yacht. In particular, the following values may have a critical impact:

300GT: In many codes, when you reach this value the yacht must be certified in unrestricted service (stricter requirements regarding stability, load line and life-saving appliances).

400GT: This is the threshold for almost all the environmental conventions such as MARPOL and Anti-fouling System.

500GT: This is the threshold for the application of the SOLAS Convention, meaning stricter requirements on machinery, safety systems, materials of construction, fire protection, life-saving appliances and navigational equipment. Furthermore an external certified management company is requested for the ISM and ISPS certifications.

The tonnage issue could also arise on existing yachts when undertaking major refits or modifications, in that any change to the internal volumes of the boat – such as adding enclosed deckhouses or superstructures, or modifying the hull transom or bow – will modify the tonnage value with the risk of subjecting the yacht to stricter mandatory rules.

UPDATE: Since this article was originally published, LY2 has been superseded by Large Commercial Yacht Code Revision 3 (LY3) .

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• Code Composites
• Code Yachts Code8

Code Yachts Code8 (2023) for sale in Hungary

£58,124 GBP Listed price €69,000 EUR Tax Not paid / Excluded Get a foreign exchange quote

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The Code Yachts Code8, available for sale in Hungary, has an overall length of 10.20 metres and a beam of 2.58 metres. Manufactured in 2023, this beautifully built vessel utilises glass/vinylester via vacuum infusion and offers optional full carbon construction with a carbon rig by Pauger. Designed for both solo and crewed racing, it boasts impressive downwind sail area of 132 m² and upwind of 52 m², with a full load weight of 1300 kg. Trailerable and easy to crane and rig, the boat is available for delivery three months post order. Additionally, the range includes the Code 10 (canting keel, full carbon) and Code 39, with used carbon fibre boats also available.

About this Code Yachts Code8

The CODE 8 OD is beautifully built in glass /vinilester (vacuum infused) in Hungary.

She can also be built in full carbon and have a carbon rigg by Pauger

Solo racer or crewed racing rocket with 132 m2 downwind and 52 m2 upwind (1300 kg fully loaded)

Trailerable and easy to crane and rigg up.

Available 3 months after order.

Code 10 (canting keeler, full carbon) and Code 39 also available - both full carbon

Used boats available in carbon fiber

Thank's to the chines she is a really easy to sail racer with a huge amount of stability. Beautiful racer built in same quality as the RC44, but at a fraction of it's costs. Trailer opt.

Main and Jib (Dacron) included

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Code Composites Code8 also found under:

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28’ High Performance Sportsboat

• Our latest project at Code Yachts, the Cayman 28 for a Cayman Islands client to enjoy high-performance racing with his mates, was launched on Hungary’s Lake Balaton by the yard just in time for their largest event of the year, the Blue Ribbon.  Described by the team after successfully completing the 96-mile race on only its second ever outing as a ‘Gentleman’s Skiff’, designer Mark Mills said after the race “it was debatable whether our shake-down sail should be one of the worlds largest races, but it was beautiful.  Racing down scenic Lake Balaton in company with almost 600 starters on a single start, and finishing after a night time battle reaching with 42 footers with Code Zeros… memorable!”
• The all-carbon sportsboat features extendable racks that allow the crew to produce far more righting moment than a conventional hiking position, as well as a more comfortable seating position. In daysailing mode with the racks in it becomes a simple sporty daysailer, with the flat cockpit floor running forward to the stem to produce a more secure foredeck.  With load-sharing sails by Doyle, the simple no-backstay rig is adjusted with underdeck forestay and jib tack purchases, relying on the pin-adjustable shrouds to make rig setup easy and repeatable.

Dimensions:

• Beam (racks in) 2,53 m
• Beam (racks out) 3,90 m
• Displacement 1100 kg
• Draft (shallow) 1,67 m
• Draft (deep) 1,92 m
• Main 27,00 sqm
• Jib 19,46 sqm
• Spinnaker 84,00 sqm

• Code Yachts Ltd. is excited to announce the launch of their latest project, the Cayman28, a high-performance racing yacht designed by the esteemed naval architect, Mark Mills, and engineered by SDK Structures, under the leadership of Steve Koopman. As a fresh wave in the sailing industry, Code Yachts is proud to introduce this state-of-the-art racing yacht that boasts exceptional speed, agility, and design.
• At Code Yachts, we are passionate about delivering unparalleled quality and attention to detail in all our projects, and the Cayman28 is no exception. This 28-foot racing yacht is constructed from carbon fiber and features top-of-the-line components, such as the innovative seating racks, which provide optimal stability and a secure platform for the crew even in the toughest sailing conditions.

• The engineering partner was SDK in Rhode Island to ensure the necessary light weight of 1100kg, smart detailing, and robust structure.  ‘Rooster’ as she is known was launched on schedule by Code Yachts in Hungary in time for their major event of the season, the 600-entrant Blue Riband, and after one short test sail raced the 96 miles around Lake Balaton.  Designed to take advantage of Doyle load-sharing sail designs the simple no-backstay rig is adjusted with underdeck forestay and jib tack purchases, relying on pin-adjustable shrouds to make rig setup easy and repeatable.  The philosophy for the boat was to keep it simple and light, with coarse and fine adjustment for the main and jib sheets removing the need for winches, while the asymmetric spinnaker sheet benefits from a low profile Harken Snubbair on the rack.

• The sliding racks are very successful, providing a more comfortable seating position than a conventional cockpit with a very solid feel even with 5 full size crew, leading to the description ‘Gentleman’s Skiff’.  The racks have sockets for carbon stanchions to carry a webbing strap for more comfort when extended or better enclosure when sailing with them retracted.  The appendages are all carbon, with a weed knife in the keel and a lifting rudder blade allowing easy weed-clearance in the Caribbean.  Three hatches on the floor offer access under the cockpit, revealing a Lombardini 10hp inboard and storage space.

CODE Yachts

CODE Yachts are luxury sailing yachts that have been engineered specifically for high performance racing. Innovative deck equipment increases its speed potential: carbon handlebar and tiller, carbon “racing” boom mast, Dyneema rigging, Harken winches and blocks, retractable carbon bowsprit.

The interior design is modern and minimalist, creating an impression of spaciousness, entirely done in the shipyard using experience and exquisite materials.

Unik Yachts is the official dealer of CODE Yachts in Ukraine, here you can get detailed information about yachts delivery terms and place an order for a boat.

CODE Yachts is the best value for money on the market, we offer a real racing car starting at 45,000 euros.

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• Reference ID 556
• Builder CODE Yachts(New builds)
• Model Code 8 OD-new
• Andrej Justin
• Location Hungary
• Engine type Single
• L.O.A. (mtr) 8.00
• Beam (mtr) 2.58
• Draft (mtr) 1.8
• Displacement (Kg) 990
• Material Vinylester

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Yacht description, code 8 is a fast daysailer with an outstanding value-for-money ratio.

Designed by Andrej Justin. New built by Code Yachts and Pauger.

Prices are ex yard, ex options and ex vat

• CE B certification

Keel and rudder

• Carbon pre-preg Araldite® epoxy rudders and tiller
• Cast lead bulb, galvanized steel keel console with fiber/epoxy peel, Durepox painting
• Main: 30 m 2
• Jib 1: 20 m 2
• Jib 2: 14 m 2
• Code Zero: 38 m 2
• Gennaker 1: 90 m 2
• Gennaker 2: 70 m 2
• Max crew: 6 (C,D)
• Crew in racing: 4
• CE design category: C 4
• Sparcraft aluminium mast
• Carbon bowsprit
• FSE Dyneema® ropes

Accommodations

Deck and cockpit.

• Harken winches, blocks and cleats, Spinlock clutches
• 2 pcs of Harken 20.2PTP pit winches
• 2 pcs of Harken 20.2PTP primary winches
• International anti-slip paintings on deck
• Navigation led lights
• Electric system
• 55Ah battery

Electronics and Navigational Gear

• Windex®

Company offers the details of this vessel in good faith but cannot guarantee or warrant the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of the vessel. A buyer should instruct his agents, or his surveyors, to investigate such details as the buyer desires validated. This vessel is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal without notice.

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CODE 8 YACHT CHARTER

49.99m  /  164'   benetti   1995 / 2016.

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Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Three VIP cabins
• Interior design from Zuretti
• Sleeps 12 guests

Primed for discerning charter guests, luxury yacht Code 8 offers the height of luxury living

The 49.99m/164' 'Code 8' motor yacht built by the Italian shipyard Benetti is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 6 cabins. This yacht features interior styling by French designer Zuretti.

Built in 1995, Code 8 offers beautifully proportioned decks for exquisite indoor/outdoor living during a luxury yacht charter .

Guest Accommodation

Code 8 offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 6 suites comprising a master suite, three VIP cabins and two twin cabins. There are 8 beds in total, including 3 queen and 4 singles. She is also capable of carrying up to 10 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Whatever your activities on your charter, you'll find some impressive features are seamlessly integrated to help you such as the underwater lights, adding spectacle and style after dark. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Powered by twin MTU engines, she comfortably cruises at 14 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 17 knots.

Code 8 offers you and your guests the perfect platform from which to enjoy your next luxury yacht charter. Please enquire for details of her summer and forthcoming winter cruising grounds and availability.

With its luxurious interiors, vast array of onboard facilities and a highly-trained and professional crew, a luxury yacht vacation onboard motor yacht Code 8 promises to be nothing short of spectacular.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Code 8, please provide .

Code 8 Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Code 8 has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

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'Code 8' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

$305,000 p/week + expenses

High Season

Cruising Regions

HOT SPOTS:   Abu Dhabi, Dubai

Winter Season

October - April

Charter Code 8

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

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Description

Refitted in 2021, HAPPY DAYS is a spacious motor-sailer with a classic exterior look and modern interior. 10 guests can comfortably be accommodated in 5 cabins which include 2 masters, 1 double and 2 twins. The aft master with its' panoramic sea view is particularly romantic. All cabins are en-suite and with 24 hour air-conditioning. The aft deck hosts full beam wide lounging cushions, a dining table that can easily seat 10 guests and a fully stocked bar for speedy service. A soft top cover that can be folded down to deck level offers protection from wind and sun when required. On the forward deck there is ample space with sunbathing mattresses for all guests and a seating area with two sunset cocktail tables. HAPPY DAYS comes with a 6.80m tender with a 200hp outboard engine, far more powerful compared to other vessels of her size, allowing for fantastic water sport experience. A professional crew of 5 are onboard to offer service with famous Turkish hospitality for an unforgettable vacation.

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Greece, Turkey, Mediterranean & EU

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Captain Owned

Lizette Cabeza

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Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Grant Jeide looked like another dude riding the rollicking waves left in the wake of a 23-foot (7-meter) boat ripping through the water at speeds of up to 40 miles per hour on a river in Northern California's Delta earlier this summer.

But Jeide was performing his aquatic acrobatics behind a different breed of boat — one powered by electricity instead of gasoline. Unencumbered by the din and acrid smell of a combustion engine, the boat's passengers could chat with Jeide as he surfed behind them while they savored the afternoon breeze wafting along the river.

“It's like a playground back there, you feel like you could just ride all day,” exclaimed Jeide, part of the sales team at Arc Boats, a 3-year-old startup embarking on a voyage to electrify the waters in the same way that Tesla led the charge to electrify the roads .

They're people like Jonathan Coon, a self-proclaimed geek who got rich after starting 1-800 Contacts in his college dorm room back in the 1990s and can afford to splurge on the sleek, high-powered vessels that Arc Boats is designing and building.

After spending more than $300,000 on a luxury cruiser called Arc One a couple of years ago, Coon is forking over another $258,000 to become the first customer in line to get Arc Sport — a model made for popular aquatic pastimes such as wakeboarding and water skiing.

It's something that Coon wouldn't have considered buying just a few years ago after renting gas-powered boats and riding on the gas-powered boats of friends and hearing about all the hassles that went into maintaining them, along with the cost to fuel up vessels that usually only get a few miles per gallon.

“My view on boats had always been that the best kind of boat is someone else's boat because they can be such nightmares,” Coon, 54, said during an interview from Austin, Texas, where he is overseeing the development of a lakeside community. “But that's not the case now. These guys just nailed every little detail on an electric boat that's just fun to use.”

Arc Boats CEO Mitch Lee is a long-time nerd, too. He grew up in San Jose, California — the cradle of Silicon Valley — where he began trading in currency exchanges when he was just 8 years old. After moving on to Northwestern University to study mechanical engineering, Lee created a personal finance app called Penny that he sold in 2018 to Credit Karma, which is now owned by Intuit.

That deal helped provide Lee with the money to start Arc Boats in Southern California with Ryan Cook, a friend he met at Northwestern. Electrifying boats has been in the back of Lee's mind since Tesla rolled out its first car — the Roadster — in 2008 and he wondered if the technology would eventually work on the boats he grew to love as the son of parents who loved to water ski.

The success of Tesla's expanding line-up of vehicles and the electric cars made by other automakers finally created a supply chain of batteries and other parts needed to electrify boats, too. Arc Boats, founded in 2021, now employs more than 100 employees, including former engineers who worked for Elon Musk at two of his breakthrough companies — Tesla and rocket ship maker SpaceX .

After selling only a handful of the Arc One luxury cruisers, Lee foresees being able to ramp up production to sell hundreds of the Arc Sport model across the U.S. annually.

Besides its home state of California, Arc Boats is targeting other water-loving hot spots such as Texas, Idaho, Minnesota, Michigan and other parts of the country with lots of lakes and people who want to have fun on them. The first Arc Sport is supposed to be delivered to Coon before the end of this year.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm for a product like this, because it solves all these core pain points that gas boat owners have today,” Lee, 35, said while piloting an Arc Sport on the San Joaquin River near Bethel Island, California. “It’s quieter. It’s far more reliable. It’s way cheaper to operate. You’re not inhaling fumes off of the back of the boat. And we’re doing an interview on a boat where all you hear is the sound of the water.”

A wide range of other boat makers trying to shift away from gas-combustion engines and fuel tanks that can easily cost $300 to $600 to fill for a day traversing a lake or river are making similar arguments. Some, like Sweden's Candela and another California startup, Navier, are selling electric-powered hydrofoil speedboats that probably wouldn't work as well for water skiing or wakeboarding.

A variety of other electric boats, in a range of different styles, are being made by a list of others, including Vision Marine, Ingenity, RS Electric, Duffy Boats and Rand Boats.

Compared to electric cars, the market for electric boats is a drop in the bucket. Worldwide sales of electric boats stood at just $5 billion in 2021, and even with steady double-digit annual growth, are only projected to reach roughly $17 billion by 2031, according to Allied Market Research. In contrast, global sales of electric automobiles surpassed $250 billion last year.

Lee is trying to steer Arc Boats in the same direction that Tesla followed after barely making a dent in the auto market during its formative years. Just like Tesla's vehicles, the Arc Sport will be equipped with a variety of technology that will make the boat akin to a floating computer.

The boat comes with display screens, sensors, Wifi, a hydraulic system for raising and lowering the roof, a 226-kilowatt battery and software that can be updated over the air. Lee envisions those software updates making it possible to provide people who own the Arc Sport with upgrades as the technology improves and potentially makes it possible for the boat to autonomously dock.

The Arc Sport's hefty price tag is also an echo of the Tesla Roadster, which sold for $80,000 to $125,000. Now Tesla sells sedans in the $40,000 range, with ambitions to lower the price even more.

“Over time, we expect our technology to get less expensive,” Lee said of the Arc Sport as he prepared to show off the boat's 500-horsepower motor. “There are a lot of tailwinds here.”

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Italian Authorities Open Manslaughter Investigation in Yacht Disaster

A prosecutor involved in the inquiry into the sinking said it was “plausible” that crimes were committed during the accident.

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By Emma Bubola and Jeffrey Gettleman

Reporting from Termini Imerese, Sicily

Italian authorities said on Saturday that they had opened a manslaughter investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian luxury yacht, but that they had not yet zeroed in on any potential suspects.

The sleek, $40 million sailing boat went down fast in a storm off Sicily’s coast on Monday morning, killing Michael Lynch, a British tech billionaire; his teenage daughter, Hannah; four of his friends; and one member of the crew. The captain escaped on a lifeboat with 14 others.

On Saturday, Ambrogio Cartosio, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said at a news conference that it was “plausible” crimes were committed during the accident.

“There could be responsibilities of the captain only,” he said. “There could be responsibilities of the whole crew. There could be responsibilities of the boat makers. Or there could be responsibilities of those who were in charge of surveilling the boat.”

Here is what the authorities said on Saturday:

It will be difficult to determine the cause of the sinking until the yacht is brought to the surface and inspected, which could take weeks.

Five bodies were found in the same cabin.

The yacht sank at an angle, with the stern — where the heavy engine is situated — having gone down first.

The captain and the crew, who have been holed up in a Sicilian hotel with other survivors, are allowed to leave Italy. But prosecutors said that they still want to ask them more questions.

The authorities did not perform alcohol or drug tests on the captain or the crew.

The authorities would not comment on whether hatches on the deck had been left open, which would have allowed water to pour in during the yacht’s sinking.

In addition to possible manslaughter charges, the authorities are also investigating the possibility of a negligently caused shipwreck, a crime that carries up to several years in prison upon conviction.

Investigators said they were focusing on why the 184-foot-long Bayesian, which was built in 2008, went down so quickly, especially when other yachts nearby weathered the storm.

Executives at the company that built the boat have said there is nothing faulty with the design of the yacht and have tried to shift the blame to the crew.

At the news conference on Saturday, the authorities were asked why the captain, James Cutfield, an experienced sailor, left the sinking boat while some passengers were still on board.

“The investigations are also focusing on this,” said Raffaele Cammarano, another prosecutor. But he added that the witnesses they had spoken to said that “the event was really, really sudden.”

Some people who were along the Sicilian coast at the time of the sinking described seeing waterspouts, which are vicious funnels of water and wind that sweep across a body of water during thunderstorms. But on Saturday, Italian authorities said they believed it was more likely that a downburst occurred at the time of the accident.

A downburst is a blast of powerful wind that comes surging down from the sky during thunderstorms. The Italian authorities said that extreme weather was “one of the main elements” of their investigation, but added that they were still at the early stages of their inquiry and that they did not want to “play the probability game.”

The rescuers found the bodies of five passengers in one cabin, which was on the left side of yacht. The yacht was found lying on its right side at the bottom of a bay, in about 160 feet of water. The authorities said the passengers who died were most likely trying to flee to the higher side of the boat and were probably sleeping when the accident happened.

The authorities said that they were not certain whether a black box existed and that the hull was still being searched.

Mr. Cartosio would not comment directly on the actions of the crew, but said that it would be “even more painful” if “the sinking was caused by behaviors that were not perfectly in order with the responsibilities that each person must have in the management of navigation.”

But he added that “this is just, in fact, the beginning of an inquiry.”

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

Jeffrey Gettleman is an international correspondent based in London covering global events. He has worked for The Times for more than 20 years. More about Jeffrey Gettleman

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Breaking news, i lived ‘below deck’ on a luxury yacht — here’s what you need to know.

Tahiti, St. Thomas and the French Riviera — I’ve yachted in all of these exotic locales, albeit from the comfort of my couch. And, millions of Americans are in the same boat.

In 2013, “Below Deck,” introduced the masses to the most glamorous mode of traveling: yachting. Since then, it’s become a Bravo mainstay with Season 9 of “Below Deck Mediterranean’’ premiering in June.

But how real is the reality show? I spent five nights on a yacht in Croatia to find out.

A tip on tipping

My suitcase wasn’t bursting with Benjamins. An agency at your final destination provides cash for the crew’s tip money. While you’re expected to tip $30,000 for a two-night cruise on “Below Deck,” in real life you only have to tip 10% to 15% of your charter fee. That’s about $10,000 for a two-night cruise on a 180-foot charter yacht like Mustique (from $250,000 a week), which stars in the new season.

According to Zvonimir Androić, president of the yacht charter company Via Croatia, more often than not, the tip comes from what’s left over after provisioning.

So, shun the Dom Pérignon and skip the beluga caviar, and you’ll have money to spare.

What’s up, dock?

In real life, “Below Deck’s” favorite commercial-break cliff-hanger isn’t nearly as dramatic. Docking in our yacht, Via Croatia’s five-cabin, 100-foot Adriatic Escape (from $52,800 a week), was breezy.

I asked the crew if they hated setting up the slide — a tortuous, Herculean task if you believe what you see on TV.

“It’s not that bad,” a twentysomething Croatian deckhand, as cute as his on-screen counterparts, told me. “That said, we’re definitely not sad if you don’t ask for it.”

Play it cool

Despite being served meat on more than one occasion, my vegetarian co-guests on board weren’t divas when it came to cuisine — a major source of chef-related stress on the show.

Tantrums aren’t the norm Barbie Pascual, the “Below Deck” stewardess famous for putting up with former “RHONY” star Jill Zarin’s demands for the perfect Diet Coke in the “Real Housewives of Grenada” episode, tells me. “Guests know they are being filmed so their reactions are more extreme than they’d be if the cameras weren’t around,” she says.

Pascual’s biggest tip for first-time yachters? Don’t go skinny dipping, like they do on the show, after dark.

“People forget about currents, sharks, etc.,” she says. “Jumping in the water should always be with the captain’s consent!”

Our humorless Croatian yacht captain was a far cry from “Below Deck Mediterranean’s” affable Captain Sandy Yawn. I think we only saw him twice over the course of four days, and he definitely didn’t join us for dinner.

That was fine by us because the stews and deckhands were always handy with anything we needed — including at chat.

Asking for it

“No” is a word you’ll never hear on a yacht, unless there is a safety issue, Pascual says.

While we didn’t ask our crew to do a striptease or decorate for ‘70s night (two recurring requests on the show), out-there demands aren’t out of the question, as long as you’re willing to pay for it.

For example, Via Croatia is currently retrofitting one of its multimillion-dollar superyachts for an upcoming charter booked by a multigenerational Jewish family from Florida.

“In addition to paying the charter fee, the client is literally buying everything new: pots, pans, silverware, et cetera,” said Androić. “They’re even spending $30,000 on a new tender for the elderly mother-in-law.”

Now, I’m no reality show producer, but a picky primary trying to keep his wife, her elderly mom and their kosher kids happy at sea has the makings of an Emmy Award-winning episode.

Yachting on a budget

Charters are cheapest at the beginning and end of a destination’s season. Via Croatia’s yuppiest yacht, the 160-foot, 12-cabin Agape Rose , fetches $200,000 a week in July and August. But it’s just $164,000 a week in April and October. Divide that by 24 of your closest friends and family and it’s just $6,800 a person.

If that’s still too much, consider booking a yacht club suite on one of MSC Cruises ’ Mediterranean voyages.

Sure, you’ll be on a cruise liner, but for $1,659 a person you’ll be treated to seven nights of private butler service with a private pool and restaurant that the pleb passengers don’t even know exists.

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