yacht services corporation

Mike Lynch yacht sinking latest: Bayesian captain ‘declines to answer questions’ in manslaughter probe

LIVE – Updated at 20:30

The captain of the Bayesian has “exercised his right to remain silent” as he faced further questioning from Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of billionaire Mike Lynch’s superyacht , according to his lawyer.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges and was questioned for the third time by the Termini Imerese prosecutors on Tuesday.

“The captain exercised his right to remain silent for two fundamental reasons,” lawyer Giovanni Rizzuti told reporters. “First, he’s very worn out. Second, we were appointed only on Monday and for a thorough and correct defence case we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don’t have.”

Being placed under investigation does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow. It is still unclear whether other individuals will also be placed under investigation.

It comes amid tributes for the owner of the British-flagged vessel Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer , his wife Judith Bloomer , Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, who all died in the disaster.

• Bayesian captain ‘exercised right to silence’, lawyer says

Captain under investigation after sinking of Lynch’s yacht, judicial source says

• Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster

Tribute to ‘genius’ storyteller Mike Lynch

Pausing coverage.

Good evening, that’s all for today on our coverage.

What happened when boat started sinking

The Bayesian sent its last signal before sinking via the tracking Automatic Identification System (AIS) at 0206 GMT, according to the MarineTraffic website.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said a red flare alerting rescue services about the emergency was fired into the sky at 0238 GMT, more than 30 minutes after the boat had gone down.

The head of Palermo’s Fire Brigade, Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the boat sank from the stern and is lying on its starboard side at a depth of around 50 metres (164 feet).

In the yacht, the bodies of the dead were found in the cabins on the left-hand side of the boat, where the passengers may have tried to search for remaining bubbles of air, he added.

Prosecutor Cammarano said the passengers were all probably asleep at the time of the storm which was why they failed to escape.

The Bayesian captain’s legal team

The Bayesian captain James Cutfield was asked to appoint a lawyer after questioning by Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of the yacht on Sunday.

The 51-year-old has been placed under investigation for possible manslaughter and shipwreck, according to his lawyer Aldo Mordiglia.

Mr Mordiglia is one of two lawyers who are representing the New Zealander. The other is Palermo lawyer Giovanni Rizzuti.

According to Italian media reports, Mr Mordiglia, from Genoa, is specialised in maritime and international law.

Bayesian captain ‘exercised right to silence’ in manslaughter probe questioning, lawyer says

The captain of the Bayesian yacht chose not to respond to prosecutors’ questions as he was spoken to for a third time on Tuesday, his lawyer has said.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges.

Being placed under investigation does not imply guilt or mean that charges will necessarily follow. Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio has said his team would consider each possible element of responsibility including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The Times reported one of Mr Cutfield’s lawyers as saying that the captain is “understandably very shaken up” after the ordeal last Monday.

Giselda Vagnoni has more in this report:

Lawyer gives update on investigation into captain of superyacht that sank off Sicily

Who was on the Bayesian?

The sinking of the Bayesian off the coast of Sicily made headlines across the world, with interest rising when it was revealed that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among those onboard.

It then emerged that the boat trip was a celebration by Mr Lynch with friends, colleagues and his legal team after he won a decade-long legal battle.

Here we explain who was onboard the ship during the tragedy:

Who was on Bayesian and how they were celebrating end of Mike Lynch’s court battles

Why did the Bayesian sink?

Hatches and doors left open overnight on the superyacht Bayesian may have caused it to sink in Italy , a sailing expert has said.

Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, believes the vessel’s huge mast is also likely to have contributed to the deadly event.

Mr Jefferson told the PA news agency: “I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side.

“I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that.

“The reason it got pinned over so hard was because the mast is huge.

“It acted almost like a sail. (It) pushed the boat hard over on its side.

“(The boat) filled with water before it could right.

“This is all speculation, but that’s the only logical explanation.”

Bayesian now an ‘environmental bomb'

Reports in Italy are emerging about the sunken Bayesian with divers from the coast guard beginning to film the wreck under the request of the prosecutor as the investigation gathers pace.

There are also concerns over the 18,000 litres of fuel and oil reportedly still on the boat.

Speaking to local outlet Corriere Della Sera, a fisherman said: “It is an environmental bomb at the bottom of our sea.”

Mass for the victims

In case you missed it over the bank holiday weekend, a mass for the victims of the Bayesian tragedy was held in Porticello on Sunday.

Flowers were also sent into the sea as a mark of tribute to those who died.

Boat was ‘one of the safest in the world’

The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Perini Navi, an Italian luxury yacht maker. It featured the world’s tallest aluminium mast, measuring 72 metres, but early reports that the mast broke in the storm have so far proven unfounded.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, said the yacht was “one of the safest boats in the world” and basically unsinkable.

He alleged that the sinking was due to a chain of human errors given that the storm was expected. He made his assertions partly based on data from the Automatic Identification System. The captain and other crew members have not spoken publicly about the disaster and attempts by Reuters to reach them have been unsuccessful.

Costantino said that had the crew shut all doors and hatches, turned on the engine, lifted the anchor, lowered the keel and turned the yacht to face the wind, it would have suffered no damage.

He added that data showed it took 16 minutes from when the wind began buffeting the yacht, and it began taking on water, for it to sink.

Nothing wrong with the Bayesian being moored offshore - say coast guard

The Bayesian was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it sank in the pre-dawn dark amid a very severe and sudden weather event.

Prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said on Saturday the event was most likely a “downburst”, a very strong downward wind that is an intense but relatively frequent event at sea, rather than a waterspout which involves rotating winds like a tornado.

The coast guard have also said that given the weather forecast, there was nothing wrong about the Bayesian being moored offshore rather than at sheltering at port. Another yacht anchored nearby emerged from the storm unharmed.

Twenty-two people were on board, and 15 survived, including nine out of 10 crew members as well as Lynch’s wife, whose company owned the Bayesian. They were found on a life raft.

Six out of the 12 passengers died. Prosecutors, who have put the yacht’s captain James Cutfield under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, said the ship would have to be pulled out of the water before the investigation could be concluded.

Puzzlement over sinking

The sinking has puzzled seafarers and nautical engineers, who have said that it should have taken hours for the Bayesian to fill up with enough water to sink it, making its swift demise incomprehensible.

There have been suggestions that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been inadvertently left open by the crew, or broken or smashed by the storm, letting in water.

Experts also wondered if the yacht had been moored with its keel up, potentially compromising its stability. The keel is a fin-like stabilising structure under the hull, which can be partially lifted to reduce the depth of the boat in shallow waters or harbours.

Prosecutors have said it was too early to comment on either hypothesis. They also said crew members were not immediately tested for alcohol or drugs because they were in a state of shock when rescued.

Captain of Bayesian under investigation - recap

The captain of the Bayesian is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck , a judicial source has said, as the probe into the sinking of the superyacht in a storm off Sicily continues.

Italian prosecutors have placed James Cutfield under investigation over the deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six other people , the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Monday, confirming earlier reports by Italian media.

Being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow. Notices to people under investigation need to be sent out before authorities can carry out the autopsies on the bodies of the dead.

Bayesian captain ‘investigated for manslaughter’ as probe into sinking continues

Mike Lynch’s wife leaves Sicily

Mike Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the 15 survivors of the sunked Bayesian.

Her husband and 18-year-old daughter Hannah, however, were among the seven people who died.

Many of the survivors have stayed in Italy as authorities try to work out what happened onboard ahead of the sinking last week.

But on Sunday, Ms Bacares reportedly left Sicily along with other survivors in a private jet.

Bayesian captain ‘deeply affected’ by ordeal

James Cutfield, 51, the captain of the tragic Bayesian, faces further questioning from prosecutors in Italy today after he was placed under investigation for possible manslaughter and shipwreck.

One of his lawyers, Giovanni Rizzuti, told the Guardian on Monday: “Our client is deeply affected by this ordeal.”

“We are currently assessing, with other legal representatives, the defence strategy and examining the technical aspects of the case.”

What are investigators focusing on?

Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed an investigation has been launched on Saturday.

He said his team will consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, and the yacht’s manufacturer.

The Bayesian, a 184ft (56m) British-flagged luxury yacht, went down near the Mediterranean island in southern Italy last Monday.

Investigators are focusing on how a vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailing boat remained largely unscathed.

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and could have been a “downburst” - a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

The crew were saved, apart from the chef, while six passengers were trapped in the hull.

Bayesian captain facing further questioning from prosecutors on Tuesday

Prosecutors in Italy continue to investigate the captain of a superyacht that sank during a storm off Sicily last week.

James Cutfield, the 51-year-old New Zealand national who was captain of the Bayesian, was among 15 survivors of the August 19 sinking that killed British tech magnate Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah and five others.

Mr Cutfield is being investigated for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck, said lawyer Aldo Mordiglia, one of two attorneys appointed for the captain’s defence.

Mr Mordiglia said Mr Cutfield, who already has been questioned, would be questioned again by prosecutors on Tuesday. He declined to discuss the strategy for the defence.

Under Italian law, being under investigation does not imply guilt and does not necessarily lead to criminal charges.

On Saturday, chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed an investigation has been launched.

New York lawyer who died in yacht disaster wrote haunting LinkedIn post weeks before

A lawyer who died after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily wrote a haunting post on LinkedIn two months before he joined the doomed voyage.

In one of his only posts on the site, Christopher Morvillo, 59, thanked his legal team after they helped British tech tycoon Mike Lynch win a fraud trial and discussed living “happily ever after.”

Graig Graziosi and Mike Bedigan report:

NYC lawyer who died in yacht disaster wrote haunting LinkedIn post weeks before

What is a downburst?

Officials said the superyacht had been hit by a downburst and the Italian officials said they would be looking at how it could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels, according to the translation of the conference.

A downburst is an intense burst of wind at ground level emenating from the strong downdraft of a thunderstorm; the wind often blows radially from a point source, as opposed to the rotating winds associated with a tornado.

Downbursts usually last just a few minutes, and can be particularly dangerous for aviation.

They have been blamed for a number of air crashes over the years, although the risk tends to be well forecast by meteorologists allowing pilots to avoid them.

Ex-court appointed guard says Mike Lynch ‘became more like a family’

A court-appointed armed guard, tasked with ensuring Mike Lynch did not abscond while facing fraud charges, has paid tribute to the tech mogul, saying the security team “became less of a detail and more like a family”.

Rolo Igno also described “the memory of a beautiful soul” in Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah.

Mr Igno said he had the “privilege” of spending “almost every waking moment” with Mr Lynch while he was in custody in San Francisco, describing the detail as unlike any other he had ever worked and one that was “life changing”.

“As an executive protection agent, the number one rule is simple, don’t ever get close to the principal,” he said.

“They aren’t your friends, they’re a client and the relationship is strictly professional. But with Mike, that didn’t fly with him and for me that rule quickly dissolved.”

Final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy revealed by fire service boss

Why was mike lynch’s yacht named the bayesian.

Autonomy, the software firm which Mike Lynch sold in a £8.64bn deal in 2011, was a pioneer of business data analysis, using machine learning and what Mr Lynch called “adaptive pattern recognition”.

It used a statistical method called “Bayesian inference” at the heart of its software, devised by the 18th-century mathematician Thomas Bayes.

The yacht’s name, Bayesian , harks to the same model that was at the heart of Autonomy’s – and Mr Lynch’s – success.

How did Mike Lynch make his money?

Once dubbed the “British Bill Gates”, Mike Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares were valued at £852m in 2023 by the Sunday Times Rich List.

The 59-year-old tech tycoon is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and had been in the headlines after he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case.

My colleague Barney Davis has more details:

Mike Lynch net worth: How the billionaire made his money

Watch: Captain details Bayesian sinking 'within two minutes' after rescuing survivors

In focus | how the world of yachts got supersized.

The sinking of the 56-metre yacht Bayesian and the tragic deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his guests and boat staff have given the public a glimpse into the rarefied world of superyachts, writes Boat Internationa l’s Lucy Dunn .

From the sheer size of the mast (74 metres, roughly the size of seven two-storey houses stacked on top of each other) to the expense ( Bayesian was put up for sale in 2014 with an asking price of $30m, which is around £23m), to the sheer luxury (the interiors were by Remi Tessier, the designer behind Claridge’s new penthouse), it’s a world few people normally get to see.

There are currently 12,626 superyachts on the water around the world with 1,166 superyachts in build or on order. If you have been to a Greek island this year, or maybe the Amalfi coast, you may have glimpsed them coming in and out of harbours and wondered who owns a yacht like that. Or who can afford to charter a yacht like that – which have an average price of around £180,000 a week.

While you may think of glossy influencers and A-listers, the superyachting fraternity is where millionaires are sorted from the billionaires from the centi-billionaires; the 0.001 per centers. Rarely will you find a celebrity with the financial clout to afford a yacht owned by Lynch, these are generally under-the-radar industry titans who don’t have household names.

So, what exactly makes a superyacht super? According to Boat International, where I work, it can be applied to any boat, motor or sailing yacht which is over 24 metres in length. Size, in the superyacht world, is everything – and yachts are getting bigger all the time.

Read the full article with Independent Premium:

Giant masts, moon pools and explorer pods: How the world of yachts got supersized

Friend pays tribute to Bayesian chef Recaldo Thomas

Recaldo Thomas was the superyacht’s chef and the first person whose death was confirmed.

The Canadian-Antiguan national was found by the Italian coastguard near the sunken boat. A friend of Mr Thomas, who asked to remain anonymous, said the yachting community has been saddened by his death.

She told The Independent: “He was a one-of-a-kind special human being. Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life his friends and his job.”

Bayesian captain to be questioned again on Tuesday, lawyer says

James Cutfield, the 51-year-old New Zealand national who was captain of the Bayesian, is being investigated for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck, said lawyer Aldo Mordiglia, one of two attorneys appointed for the captain’s defence.

Mr Cutfield, who already has been questioned, will be questioned again by prosecutors on Tuesday, Mordiglia said.

Under Italian laws, being under investigation doesn’t imply any guilt, and doesn’t necessarily lead to criminal charges.

Chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed on Saturday that an investigation had been launched and that his team would consider each possible element of responsibility including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision and the yacht’s manufacturer.

Watch: The moment Bayesian yacht was engulfed by storm

Yacht ‘should have taken hours' to fill up with enough water to sink it.

The sinking of the Bayesian has puzzled seafarers and nautical engineers, who have said that it should have taken hours for the yacht to fill up with enough water to sink it, making its swift demise incomprehensible.

Bayesian sank from its stern, fire chief says

The Bayesian sent its last signal before sinking via the tracking Automatic Identification System (AIS) just after 4am local time, according to the MarineTraffic website.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said a red flare alerting rescue services about the emergency was fired into the sky more than 30 minutes later.

Hannah Lynch was ‘one of the best English students in the country’, teacher says

Hannah Lynch had just completed her A-levels and secured a place to study English at Oxford University.

Her former English teacher Jon Mitropoulos-Monk said she was “one of the best English students in the country” having scored 100% in her English Literature GCSE.

Patrick Jacob, a family friend, paid tribute to her on Friday, saying: “Hannah was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge. She was also warm, loving and deeply considerate; remarkably for her age.

“I am 50 years older than her and in my life I have never met anybody like Hannah. We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise. Her loss is unbearable.”

How Mike Lynch’s inner circle celebrated end of billionaire’s 13 year court battle

After a decade-long legal battle which had seen him extradited to the US to face an $11bn fraud case, Mike Lynch had celebrated by inviting his close friends, colleagues and those who helped him on his legal team aboard his boat as a gesture of gratitude.

Yet a week of sunshine along the Italian coastline would soon turn to horror after the boat capsized shortly before dawn, only offering those onboard a few minutes to get themselves to safety.

My colleagues Rachel Hagan and Jabed Ahmed report:

Prosecutors say powerful wind could have caused the Bayesian’s ‘extremely rapid’ demise

Investigators are reported to be focusing on how the 56-metre luxury yacht Bayesian – a vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi – sank while a nearby sailing boat remained largely unscathed during the storm off the coast of Sicily last Monday.

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and could have been a “downburst” – a localised, powerful wind which descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Prosecutors say no suspect identified so far

On Saturday, chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed an investigation has been launched into the sinking of the superyacht but said a suspect has not been identified.

He said his team will consider each possible element of responsibility, including those of the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, and the yacht's manufacturer.

Five found in same cabin while Hannah Lynch found alone in another, according to reports

Five corpses were all found in the same cabin on the Bayesian while the body of Hannah Lynch was found alone in another, according to Italian officials.

The five people that rescue divers found together appeared to have gathered in the first cabin on the left of the superyacht in an attempt to escape, reported The Telegraph , while the 18-year-old was discovered in the third cabin on the left on her own.

Girolamo Bentivoglio Fiandra, a senior officer from the fire service, said on Saturday: “The yacht tended to the right and obviously the bodies tried to go to the other side and take refuge in their cabins. We found five bodies in a cabin on the left and another one in the third cabin on the left. They were in the higher part of the shipwreck.”

Prosecutors describe Bayesian sinking as ‘extremely rapid’

Prosecutors have described the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht as “extremely rapid” and suggested it could have been caused by a “downburst”.

A downburst is a localized, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah were ‘part of a united, vibrant, loving family’

Family friends of Mike and Hannah Lynch have said the father and daughter were part of a “united, vibrant, loving family” – with the teenager remembered as a “diamond in a sea of stars” and the tech mogul as a brilliant storyteller.

The pair were among seven people who died after the luxury superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning.

Mr Lynch was the creator of software giant Autonomy and had been cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud related to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Ellie Ng reports:

Teenager who died in superyacht tragedy was ‘a diamond in a sea of stars’

Rolo Igno also described “the memory of a beautiful soul” in Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah, 18, after they died in the sinking of the luxury superyacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily early on Monday.

Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, and was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard, after a trial at a federal court in San Francisco , California.

Bayesian captain insisted ‘we didn’t see storm coming'

The captain of the Bayesian insisted he did not see the storm that sank the Bayesian last week.

Speaking of the storm, James Catfield, 51, said on Tuesday: “We didn’t see it coming.”

A judicial official, who asked not to be named, confirmed to Reuters on Monday the earlier reports in Italian media that the New Zealander was being investigated by Italian prosecutors after the superyacht capsized in a tornado off the coast of Sicily last Monday.

Mike Lynch had concerns over Lucy Letby conviction, says former minister

Former cabinet minister Sir David Davis has said that Mike Lynch , the tech mogul who died when his yacht sank off the coast of Sicily last week , was planning to examine the murder conviction of nurse Lucy Letby over concerns about its safety.

Sir David, the former Brexit secretary, has previously told The Independent he plans to spearhead an investigation questioning the conviction of Letby after a number of experts cast doubt over her guilt.

Sir David said he hopes to visit Letby in prison as part of an investigation into whether the serial baby killer may be the victim of a miscarriage of justice . Letby is serving 15 whole-life sentences for seven murders and eight attempted murders of babies in her care at the Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016.

My colleague Jabed Ahmed reports:

Mike Lynch had questions over Lucy Letby conviction, says former minister

Mike Lynch’s net worth and how the billionaire made his money

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was among seven people who died after the luxury superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily early on Monday morning

The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and had been in the headlines after he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case.

He was on the boat, named Bayesian, which sank in bad weather in the early hours of Monday near the Sicilian capital Palermo .

My colleague Barney Davis reports:

Watch: Final moments of seven who died in Bayesian tragedy revealed by fire service boss

What the investigation is focusing on.

Italian prosecutors have placed Captain James Cutfield under investigation over the deaths of Mike Lynch and six others after the British tech tycoon's superyacht sank off Sicily last week, a judicial source told Reuters .

The official, who asked not to be named, confirmed earlier reports in Italian media that New Zealander Cutfield was being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck.

Bayesian was ‘built to go to sea in any weather’, says designer of superyacht

A nautical architect that was part of the team that designed the Bayesian has said the superyacht was “built to go to sea in any weather”.

In an interview published on Monday in the daily La Stampa, Franco Romani also said it was likely the yacht had taken on water from a side hatch that was left open.

He added that the crew underestimated the bad weather and that they should have made sure that all openings had been shut and the anchor removed before the storm hit the boat.

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among the people initially unaccounted for after his superyacht Bayesian sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday.

On Saturday morning, Italian authorities announced a manslaughter investigation had been launched into the deaths of seven people, after a five-day operation that has seen divers carefully navigating their way into the cabin bedrooms.

After a decade-long legal battle which had seen him extradited to the US to face an $11bn fraud case, Mr Lynch had celebrated by inviting his close friends, colleagues and those who helped him on his legal team aboard his boat as a gesture of gratitude.

As prosecutors investigate Bayesian captain James Cutfield over possible manslaughter and shipwreck after the ship’s sinking last week, we’re hearing more from his lawyers on him right now.

Giovanni Rizzuti, one of Mr Cutfield’s lawyers, confirmed to The Guardian that that he was facing further questioning from prosecutors on Tuesday.

And he said: ““Our client is deeply affected by this ordeal. We are currently assessing, with other legal representatives, the defence strategy and examining the technical aspects of the case.”

Superyacht captain under investigation following sinking, reports say

Italian prosecutors have officially launched an investigation into James Cutfield, the captain of a superyacht owned by British tech mogul Mike Lynch, after the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily last week, resulting in the deaths of Lynch and six others, according to Italian news reports.

A 51-year-old New Zealand national, Mr Cutfield is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck, the Italian newspapers La Repubblica and Corriere della Sera said.

How billionaire’s superyacht trip to celebrate end of 13 year legal battle ended in tragedy

How billionaire yacht trip to celebrate end of 13 year legal battle ended in tragedy

Key questions for investigators of the Bayesian yacht tragedy in Sicily

• Why weren’t passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?
• Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?
• Why did the boat sink?
• Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?
• What weather warnings was the Bayesian alerted to?
• How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?

Full report: Manslaughter investigation launched after Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sinks

A manslaughter investigation has been launched following the deaths of  seven people onboard the Bayesian  superyacht  which sank off the coast of  Sicily .

Italian public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio, from nearby town Termini Imerese, said his office has opened an initial investigation into manslaughter and negligent  shipwreck . No specific suspects have been named, so far.

Read the full report below:

Manslaughter investigation launched after Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sinks

Susannah Gurdun, a close family friend of the Lynch’s from Suffolk, shared a series of heartfelt stories about Mike Lynch and who he was beyond being one of Britain’s biggest tech moguls.

Ms Gurdun told of his “thrilling ability” to explain difficult and complicated concepts in a way people could easily understand.

His wife, Angela Bacares, and his daughters were telling Ms Gurdun of his ability to “conjure beautiful stories out of thin air”.

The following evening, Mr Lynch told a story as the dinner plates were cleared about a hero, who was the same age as Ms Gurdun’s son, embarking on adventures in search of treasure. She called it “magical”.

She added that she was not surprised to learn that Hannah had begun showing “serious literary promise”.

Tributes to a ‘brave’ and ‘selfless’ friend who died on Bayesian

Friends of Recaldo “Rick” Thomas have paid tribute to their ‘brave’ and ‘selfless’ friend who was found in the water near the superyacht Bayesian.

“Rick could have jumped off and survived, I have no doubt about that. But he wouldn’t have left people on board and just swum away,” his friend Gareth Williams told  The Sunday Times .

“I read that the first mate was quite young, Rick would have said to him, ‘Get off the boat, man, I am here, I got this.’ That’s just who he was.”

He added: “He had this infectious smile and a sultry, baritone voice. He was the type of person you could sit in a room with — no TV, no music playing, and just be. You didn’t have to say a word. You just enjoy his company.”

Who died on the Bayesian yacht?

Mr Lynch and  Hannah  were among the seven people who died after the Bayesian  superyacht  sank near Porticello at about 5am local time on Monday.

Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo also died.

Recaldo Thomas was the  superyacht ’s chef and the first person whose death was confirmed.

Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster: Thursday 22 August - Saturday 24 August

Thursday 22 August

• The search resumes for the remaining missing person.
• The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.
• A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.
• Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

Friday 23 August

• The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.
• Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.
• A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are “devastated” and “in shock” after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.
• Hannah’s sister Esme pays tribute to her “little angel”.

Saturday 24 August

• A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town – Termini Imerese.
• Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.
• The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigade’s chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.

Former cabinet minister Sir  David Davis  has said that  Mike Lynch , the tech mogul who died when his  yacht  sank off the coast of  Sicily , wanted to examine the murder conviction of nurse  Lucy Letby  over  concerns about its safety.

Uncertainty over how long it will take to retrieve shipwreck, officials say

(206) 282-3500

• Authorized Installers

Welcome to Yacht Services

Yacht Services is one of the premier marine service businesses in the Pacific Northwest. We have been serving the Pacific Northwest for nearly 20 years and work on wide variety of motor yachts. Our technicians hold many marine certifications including ABYC & NMEA2000. We are located on Lake Union and perform work all over the region. 

Authorized Service Center for:

Sign up to hear from us about specials, sales, and events.

Yacht Services

2046 Westlake Avenue North Suite 105, Seattle, Washington 98109, United States

(206) 282-3500 [email protected]

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

2046 Westlake Ave N. Ste 105, Seattle, WA 98109

Copyright © 2024 Yacht Services - All Rights Reserved.

BOATING EASY

Elite Yacht Management, Maintenance and Service Care

The gold standard in yacht management and crew placement

Elite Yacht USA is proud to be one of the industry’s best yacht companies; a national leader in all things yacht management, service and care.

Whether you’re interested in Yacht Management, Detail Services, or Planned Maintenance, our team includes veteran captains, experienced engineers, and a professionally trained deck crew.

In business since 2012, our team’s wealth of yacht knowledge is what sets us a part from others. Our clients rest easy while we protect their investments with our proven management programs.

Yacht Management

Yachting is a passion and our goal is to enhance the experience of ownership through proactive management​. A luxury yacht operates in an exclusive and complex environment – organization and communication are key to successful yacht management.

Crew Services

Elite Yacht Management ensures that only the very best crew operate on your yacht. We are proud to supply professional crew on your vessels – these crew members share the Elite Yacht Management mission to exceed Owners’ expectations.

Provisioning Service

Cover the bulk of your dining needs with an array of catering services for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Available supplies range from locally sourced produce to prepackaged entrees, beer, wine, liquor, and other supplies.

Planned Maintenance

A planned maintenance system increases the safety and reliability of any yacht, significantly reducing the risk of operational performance failure. We set up planned maintenance procedures in accordance with Manufacturer’s Guidelines, Warranty Guidelines, and more. 

Yacht PROTECTION

Ceramic Coating

Ceramic Coatings are the ultimate protection against dirt, sun, exhaust stains, and oxidation while giving an unrivaled gloss to your vessel. Coatings can last 4-6 times longer than traditional wax.

Paint Protection Film

XPEL’s ULTIMATE PLUS™ is one of the premiere paint protection films on the market. Available in three different thicknesses to offer you the protection you need for exterior and interior surfaces.

PRIME™ Window Tint can be applied to cabin windows & wind screens to help reduce glare while providing extra UV protection, while VISION™ can help bring some privacy, style, and extra security where your boat needs it most.

Teak Maintenance

Enhance your yacht’s beauty and durability with our teak maintenance services, including expert repair, precision caulking, and premium staining. We restore your teak to its original luster, ensuring it withstands the elements and looks immaculate on the water.

More Yacht Services

•  Audio System Services
•  AC Repairs
•  Captain Services
•  General Repairs
•  Underwater Hull Cleaning
•  Oil Change Yearly Program
•  Wax & Wash Yearly Program
•  Teak Restoration
•  Teak Staining
•  Teak Caulking
•  Spring Cleaning Yearly Program

what clients think

“I have been a customer of Elite Yacht USA for the past two boating seasons and consider myself somewhat of a “perfectionist” when it comes to maintaining my Tiara Sovran. Doing so takes meticulous work and EYS has met or exceeded my expectations every step of the way.”

Dan W. – Belmont Harbor

“Dave is a young man who has built an impressive business in a relatively short time frame. He is an incredibly hard worker and has a keen focus on quality service. He is constantly researching better methods to apply to his business.”

David Rolls – 65ft. Fairline

“Elite is the best is the business when it comes to Yacht Care! Have hired them for a few services and they are top notch. Excellent communication, attention to detail, and amazing results. Highly recommended!”

Richard M Bassett

“We have worked with Elite on several service projects, we are continually impressed with their level of professionalism. Their desire for perfection, hard work, and excellent communication is an all around job well done. Highly recommended for all yacht care!”

Barnacle King

Get in touch with a pro.

+1.954.213.9621

[email protected]

Frequently Asked

How much does yacht management cost.

Buying a yacht is a major investment that requires expert management. Our management service costs vary based on factors such as the yacht’s size and condition, the length of the management agreement, and the specific services you choose to include.

Why is it so important to deal with a reputable yacht management company?

We have the blueprint for managing superyachts effectively, backed by hands-on experience. We understand the intricacies of daily yacht operations, recognizing each yacht’s unique aspects such as ownership, size, operation, and crew. Despite these variables, the foundation of successful yacht management remains consistent: communication, clarity, and competence

How do I protect the paint on my yacht?

XPEL offers comprehensive protection for both land and sea with its ULTIMATE PLUS™ ‘self-healing’ Paint Protection Film. This film safeguards watercraft surfaces from scratches, spills, and environmental corrosion. It provides a durable protective seal for various materials, including fiberglass, hardwood, and granite.

XPEL ULTIMATE PLUS is the ideal choice for preserving your jet ski, boat, or any marine watercraft, ensuring long-lasting protection and a pristine appearance.

Why Elite Yacht USA

Elite Yacht USA is proud to support many of the world's most successful entrepreneurs and family offices across the globe. Our mission since we began, has been to make yacht ownership easy and to build trust with our clients by providing accountability and consistent services.

Mike Lynch won a dramatic 12-year legal battle over his tech company. Weeks later, he and his top lawyer are dead.

• Mike Lynch won an unexpected jury acquittal after a dramatic 12-year legal saga.
• HP accused him of cooking the books of his company Autonomy to make it seem worth billions more.
• He finally won — and then he, his lawyer, and his codefendant all died within days.

In 2011, Mike Lynch was the toast of the tech world.

Hailed as Britain's Bill Gates, Lynch sold Autonomy, his groundbreaking data-management company, to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Shareholders and business commentators were puzzled about what HP, a hardware company, would do with Autonomy, a software company — and why the latter was worth $11 billion. HP's executives said at the time that Autonomy had the potential to transform HP and usher the Silicon Valley titan into a new generation.

None of that happened. A year after the acquisition, HP wrote down $8.8 billion of the purchase value and accused Lynch of lying about Autonomy's finances.

The claim led to a vicious decadelong series of legal disputes.

Another Autonomy executive, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted of fraud in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison. Federal prosecutors brought criminal charges against Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, the company's former vice president of finance.

Lynch's court battles concluded with a three-month criminal trial in San Francisco. After just two days of deliberation, jurors found Lynch and Chamberlain not guilty on all counts.

"The truth has finally prevailed," his lawyer Chris Morvillo said.

Within months, Lynch, Chamberlain, and Morvillo were all dead.

A takeover doomed from the start

Lynch, who studied neural networks for his Ph.D. at Cambridge University, spun off Autonomy from a previous company, Cambridge Neurodynamics, in 1996.

Using sophisticated algorithms, Autonomy allowed users to organize and search through large amounts of unstructured data. It was a bright spot in Britain's tech industry and was listed on the country's stock-market index.

Autonomy's clients included Oracle, Adobe, Cisco, AT&T, and HP itself. But HP's purchase of Autonomy was controversial.

The hardware company's CEO, Léo Apotheker , who had been in the position for less than a year, tried to shift the company's direction. HP had struggled to sell printers and servers as part of its traditional hardware business. Apotheker wanted to spin off HP's personal-computing division and make a big bet on moving the company into software, which had higher margins.

Analysts hated the idea. Shareholders sued. HP's value dropped by more than half. The company's board fired Apotheker within weeks of the decision to buy Autonomy, before the deal even closed.

Related stories

His successor, Meg Whitman, fired Lynch and wrote down the value of Autonomy by $8.8 billion, which indicated HP paid nearly four times what it should have. The New York Times columnist James B. Stewart floated the case that it was the worst acquisition in corporate history — even worse than AOL's ill-fated purchase of Time Warner.

In a stunning move, HP accused Lynch of fraud the following year. The company alleged he and Hussain, a former CFO, inflated Autonomy's sales figures. The FBI and the UK's Serious Fraud Office both opened investigations.

Lynch fervently denied accusations of wrongdoing. He pointed out that Autonomy was audited by Deloitte, which hadn't found issues. Lynch said HP stifled Autonomy with mismanagement and bureaucracy that pushed out employees and stymied sales.

The culture at HP, he said, was poisonous.

"It was like boarding a plane, realizing the engine is on fire, and then going up to the cockpit only to find that the pilots are having a fight," he told The Telegraph at the time .

According to The New York Times, lawyers representing shareholders in the lawsuit against HP obtained a copy of the company's own KPMG-prepared due-diligence report. The report said that Autonomy wasn't transparent enough with its finances, but Apotheker moved forward with the takeover anyway, deciding that Autonomy's potential was worth it.

A legal morass

The UK's Serious Fraud Office announced in January 2015 that it closed its investigation into Autonomy, finding insufficient evidence for legal action, though it referred some issues to the US Justice Department.

In the subsequent months, HP and Lynch sued each other in the UK. As those cases wound their way through the British court system, US prosecutors continued investigating HP's purchase of Autonomy. In 2016, they brought fraud charges against Hussain, who was found guilty in a 2018 jury trial. British regulators formally barred him from the financial industry earlier this year after he completed a five-year sentence in the US.

HP unloaded Autonomy altogether, selling parts of it in 2016 and 2017.

In November 2018, Justice Department prosecutors went directly after Lynch and Chamberlain.

Their indictment accused Lynch and Chamberlain of falsifying financial documents, lying to auditors and regulators, and suppressing the voices of people who criticized Autonomy's financial practices.

Lynch was no longer looking at civil fights over money. He was facing the prospect of up to 20 years in prison.

For years, Lynch fought extradition to the US. Powerful in British political circles — he had advised David Cameron when Cameron was prime minister and served on the boards of the BBC and the British Museum — he and his lawyers argued that his legal issues should play out in the UK, not the US. American criminal laws were unfairly stacked against him, his lawyers said.

HP's lawsuit against Lynch — still churning in the background — finally went to trial in 2019. Apotheker testified he would have abandoned the Autonomy acquisition if he had a better understanding of its finances. Lynch argued that the whole morass was orchestrated by Whitman, Apotheker's successor, who harbored political ambitions (she ran for governor in California and is currently the US ambassador to Kenya) and wanted to shift the blame for Autonomy's failures to someone else.

Robert Hildyard, the judge who oversaw the case, ruled mostly in HP's favor. In a 2022 decision that ran over 1,700 pages, he wrote that HP overpaid for Autonomy because of deceit from Lynch and Hussain. Hildyard hadn't yet decided how much they would owe in damages, but he wrote it would be "substantially less" than the $5 billion HP asked for.

When he wasn't fighting legal battles, Lynch continued to be an entrepreneur. He founded a venture-capital firm, Invoke Capital, and invested in and helped run the cybersecurity firm Darktrace, which,  Politico reported, has deep ties  to Britain's intelligence agencies.

Financial disclosures Lynch filed last year as part of his criminal case indicated he was worth about $450 million.

The criminal trial

The UK finally extradited Lynch to the US in May 2023 , where he prepared for his trial — alongside Chamberlain as a codefendant — while under house arrest in San Francisco.

Lynch had a top-shelf legal team, but after the British court loss and Hussain's conviction, the chances of an acquittal seemed bleak.

Lynch testified at the end of his three-month trial, which began in March, telling jurors he wasn't involved in day-to-day financial oversight of the company. Misunderstandings, he said, could be chalked up to the differences between British and American accounting practices.

"A lot of what we've been looking at is like peering through the door of a kitchen and seeing the sausage-making machine, and that's how it really works," he told jurors, according to The Times of London . "If you take the microscope into even the most spotless kitchen, you'd find bacteria. If it wasn't there, that'd be something very abnormal. I don't think Autonomy was any different."

Jurors believed him. In June, they declared Lynch not guilty of the 15 charges against him, clearing Chamberlain as well.

Morvillo, one of Lynch's lawyers in the trial — as well as in the preceding decade of legal disputes — praised the jury, saying it had rejected "the government's profound overreach in this case."

"This verdict closes the book on a relentless 13-year effort to pin HP's well-documented ineptitude on Dr. Lynch," Morvillo said in a joint statement with his attorney colleague Brian Heberlig. "Thankfully, the truth has finally prevailed."

In an interview with The Times of London after the trial , Lynch reflected on how, with a great burden lifted off him at the age of 59, he could remake his life.

He mourned the deaths of his brother and mother, who both died ahead of the criminal trial. He mused about using his fortune to start a British version of the Innocence Project, which prevents wrongful convictions in the US.

"Now you have a second life," he told The Times. "The question is, what do you want to do with it?"

But first, a celebration. Lynch; his wife, Angela Bacares; one of his two daughters; Morvillo and his wife, Neda; and several others went on a superyacht, the Bayesian , which was anchored outside Sicily and owned by Bacares.

Chamberlain moved back to the UK. While running near his home, a driver hit him with a car . He died in a hospital on Saturday.

On Monday, a sudden storm struck the Bayesian. The yacht capsized.

Of its 22 passengers, 15, including Bacares, were rescued.

But rescuers have pulled five bodies from the wreckage, including Morvillo's and Lynch's . A sixth remains trapped inside the boat. Lynch's daughter Hannah remains missing.

Correction: August 22, 2024 — An earlier version of this story misnamed Lynch's lawyer. His name was Chris Morvillo, not Charles Morvillo.

• Main content

Superyacht Sales, Charter, Construction & Management

Yacht Sales, Charter, and Construction Experts

Moran Yacht & Ship is proud to be considered one of the world’s best yacht companies; a leader in luxury yacht sales, construction, charter, and management. Whether you are interested in buying a yacht , selling your yacht , luxury yacht charter , or new yacht construction , our super yacht brokers and yacht managers are here to assist. Family-owned and operated, our luxury yacht brokerage has been the preferred choice for yacht buyers, sellers, and charterers for over three decades.

Featured Yachts For Sale

Interested in buying? Moran is proud to have the most impressive fleet of all the world’s brokerage companies. With over three decades of experience in yacht sales and purchase, along with countless time spent at sea, our knowledgeable luxury yacht brokers will guide you through the process of purchasing or selling a yacht. Learn more about our featured luxury yachts for sale here.

Our Approach

Our experience is what sets us apart from other yacht companies. The Moran team is made up of marine industry experts, including veteran Captains and engineers, meaning that we are uniquely positioned to provide world-class superyacht services. Our team’s wealth of luxury yacht knowledge is what first draws people to us, while our straightforward approach is what keeps clients coming back time and time again. We Do What We Say, honoring our promises and commitments to clients and fellow brokers above all else. By providing honest, specialist, yet unbiased advice to everyone who passes through our door, we maintain an extraordinarily high rate of repeat business.

Featured Yachts For Charter

Want to charter or know more about how to charter a yacht ? Moran Yacht & Ship is considered one of the very best yacht companies in the world for luxury yacht charter , with an expert team who will always go the extra mile to provide you with the right itinerary, vessel, and superyacht crew . Learn more about our featured luxury yachts for charter here.

Integrity and the relentless pursuit of the deal defines Moran Yacht & Ship - I am grateful that you were on this journey with me. This magical machine KISMET is the second yacht I’ve had built with Moran Yacht & Ship. KISMET has brought joy, hope, and the gift of discovery to many lives - including my own. You have made this world a better place! Owner, KISMET

By way of background, my business interests include controlling stakes in 3 publicly traded companies which operate vessels in the 500 to 5000dwt range. On average, one new vessel a year would be added to the fleet. As a result, I have access to in-house marine architects, engineers and construction supervisors. Consequently, when I decided to build my first large motor yacht, I did not feel I needed the services of a company like Moran Yacht & Ship. In any event, I was persuaded to let them negotiate on my behalf while I simultaneously held discussions with other building options. Moran Yacht & Ship understands yachts, their incredibly complex systems, and what constitutes a practical solution to various owners’ ideas. In short, I would not consider building another yacht without engaging Moran Yacht & Ship to provide the services they are so good in delivering. Former Owner, NORTHERN STAR

Latest Yachting News

Want to find out what we’ve been up to? View our latest yachting news, including recent yacht sales, price reductions, and completed custom yachts . Offering a full selection of yachting services, the Moran Yacht & Ship team is always busy working on our next big project. Discover our latest updates here.

Sailing Sardinia & Corsica in Style

15% Discount on New England Charters Aboard UTOPIA IV

Dining Michelin-Style in the Mediterranean Part 2

• Brokerage New Construction How to Buy How to Sell
• Yacht Fleet Yacht Catalog Charter Marketing Destination Guides
• Financial Services Payroll & Accounting Payroll Service Process Logistical Support Admin Services Crew Admin
• Job Descriptions Crew FAQ
• About Sitemap

36M MAMMA MIA NOW AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER

Luxury Yacht Group is pleased to welcome Mamma Mia to our charter fleet. Available for charters in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

40M ALEGRE NOW AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER

Luxury Yacht Group is pleased to welcome 40m Alegre to our charter fleet. Available for charters this Winter in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

THE ULTIMATE YACHTING EXPERIENCE

Luxury Yacht Group has global resources to build, sell, charter and crew your yacht. Understanding that every happy yacht starts with a competent crew our resources focus on your crew and how they impact your yachting enjoyment.

CHARTER WITH LUXURY YACHT GROUP

Luxury Yacht Group represents the finest yachts for charter around the world.

WE SUPPORT YOUR YACHT

We operate some of the best run yachts and work hard to support them with sensible shore based solutions. From basic payroll services to full service regulatory compliance we have the expertise to be sure that your yacht operates effectively.

THE BEST CREW HAVE DISCOVERED LUXURY

Luxury Yacht Group operates the largest crew agency with agents on three continents providing almost 24/7 coverage. The best crew have discovered Luxury.

New Construction

There is nothing more exciting than building your new yacht. We follow every detail and deliver on those details.

A simple guide on the process of buying a yacht.

How to Sell

A simple guide on how to sell your yacht.

Why Charter with Luxury Yacht Group?

We book the finest yachts around the world. Our charter brokers know the yachts and most importantly their crew. We go the extra mile to be sure that your vacation is truly memorable.

Our Charter Marketing Expertise

Our team of marketing professionals will generate the best possible net income for your yacht. We have experience marketing yachts priced from $40-$700,000 per week.

Featured Yachts

We can book all yachts worldwide but have curated a selection of our favorites here for you to review.

Featured Destinations

We have prepared itineraries for some of the finest charter destinations around the world.

Shore Support Services

Payroll & Accounting

We are experienced in accounting for yacht operations and crew payroll, providing streamlined, hassle-free payroll, contracts, and health insurance operation for yacht owners worldwide.

Support services have clear and simple pricing. Please review our offerings and their pricing here. We offer straightforward services and don't believe that you should have to enter into a big negotiation over the support service your yacht needs.

Document Library

Download library of very useful templates and forms published by Luxury Yacht Group. Go here for templated SEA's, terms and conditions, work lists and other useful "stuff".

Crew Placement

Crew Members

Luxury Yacht Group finds crew work onboard the finest yachts around the world. We place thousands of crew on yachts every year for full time, rotational, seasonal or day work positions.

The best crew have discovered Luxury! With over 140,000 crew registered and over 250,000 references verified Luxury Yacht Group is your “go to” resource for the finest crew to staff your yacht.

Crew Job Descriptions

PDF Summary Salary Guidelines

Why Use LYG for Crew Placement

Cost calculator.

Industry leading operating cost calculator tool

Luxury Yacht Group has built a comprehensive and realistic operating cost calculator tool with over 100 fields in the chart of accounts. You can utilize this tool free of charge.

Why choose Burgess' yacht management services?

• Yacht Management

Discover the Burgess difference

With over 65 highly qualified experts and yacht managers worldwide, our very experienced and cost-effective management team ensures your enjoyment of your yacht is first-class, wherever you are in the world.

Service package tailored to fit your precise needs

Our management team provides a comprehensive tailored service across the board, including a proven 24-hour emergency response service, berthing, operational management, technical support, crew, accounts, safety, and security. You are never on your own with Burgess yacht support.

All your yacht management needs provided in-house

Burgess has the most qualified and established yacht management team in the industry. We have over 30 years' experience of managing motor and sailing yachts from 40-150m and over in length. Our extensive yachting expertise guarantees that your yacht and interests are in safe hands.

Personalised service from a dedicated yacht manager

Providing a direct link between you and our entire team, your personal yacht manager ensures all operational, technical, and financial needs are handled with the utmost discretion. The safety of your yacht, guests, and crew is our highest priority.

Our aim is to allow an owner to get maximum enjoyment from his yacht without the day-to-day worry of the yacht's operation. We work very closely with the captain and crew to ensure the yacht is operated as safely and efficiently as possible.

A suitably experienced Technical Manager is assigned to each management team to provide required technical support. Our Planned Maintenance Systems, on board inspections and 24/7 support ensure maximum yacht reliability and resale value.

Safety and Security

Unlike some Yacht Management companies, we provide safety and security services in-house as we believe their implementation and operation has to be fully integrated with all other areas of operation, such as technical support and crewing matters.

Cost control is important to all yacht owners. Our experienced accounting team prepares accurate, fully-itemised budgets and detailed monthly accounts and supplies them to the owner in a timely manner.

Yacht owner services

Yacht ownership made easy with Burgess' yacht owner services

• Charter Management

• Sales Management

Yacht Insurance

• Yacht Marketing

• Berths for sale

Procurement

• Crew Services

Sold: 74m NEW SECRET

Eight sales totalling half-a-billion euro in three weeks

Wanda Group and Burgess partnering in China to develop superyacht services

Sold: 29.1m AMELIA

Sold: 63.8m MAGNA GRECIA

Prime Côte d'Azur berth long leases for sale

Sold: 29.1m ALCANARA

ALVIA delivered – a true Burgess full-service yacht

Sign up to our newsletter, stay in the loop.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated with all things Burgess.

What would you like emails about?

• Chartering a yacht
• Buying or selling a yacht
• General superyacht news

In order to understand how we use and protect your personal information, please read our privacy policy .

• Mediterranean
• French Riviera
• Corsica & Sardinia
• The Balearics
• Croatia & Montenegro
• The Bahamas
• Caribbean - Leeward Islands
• Caribbean - Windward Islands
• British Virgin Islands
• US Virgin Islands
• New England
• Indian Ocean
• The Red Sea
• South East Asia
• New Zealand
• French Polynesia
• Motor yachts for charter
• Sailing yachts for charter
• Latest offers
• Destinations
• New to charter
• Meet the Charter team
• Superyacht videos
• 360° yacht tours
• Corporate & event charters
• Inspiring charter ideas
• Charter FAQs
• Every day different

MOONLIGHT II

Charter for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

For an unbeatable F1 experience

Early season availability in the BVI’s

Charter from mid-November onwards from St Maarten or Tortola

• Motor yachts for sale
• Sailing yachts for sale
• Yachts for sale over 200 feet
• Yachts for sale from 150 to 200 feet
• Yachts for sale under 150 feet
• Tenders and chase boats for sale
• Yachts under construction
• Meet the Brokerage team
• Sold yachts
• Yacht marketing
• New Build Sales
• Refit a yacht
• Delivered yachts
• Yacht designers
• Meet the Technical Services team
• Meet the Yacht Management team
• Crew vacancies
• Meet the Crew Services team
• Procurement Services
• Meet the Insurance team
• 360 degree yacht tours
• Boat shows and events
• Office vacancies
• Talent pool
• Office locations
• Burgess in Asia
• Burgess Blue Oceans
• Strategic partners
• Press centre
• Company Operations
• New Business
• Technical Services
• Burgess Impact Report 2023

Filter your results

• Yachts for charter
• Yachts for sale

We Are Yacht Brokers

Welcome to Atlantic Yacht & Ship, Inc. We remain an integral leader in the yacht and ship brokerage industry, serving the yachting community since 1959. Atlantic Yacht & Ship, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida is located in the heart of the “Yachting Capital of the World”. Whether buying or selling a quality motor yacht, center console, or having your luxury yacht built. Atlantic Yacht & Ship is your one-stop resource for the highest quality luxury yacht sales and service in the yachting industry today. The dynamics in buying or selling a yacht are complex and time consuming, but at Atlantic Yacht & Ship, our team of professional yacht brokers are prepared to handle the entire process and create a positive and easy experience for all our clients.

Presenting Our Featured Yachts

The Most Recent Yachting News

See Us At These Yachting Events

• First Name *
• Last Name *
• Boating State * Outside US / Canada Alabama Alaska Alberta Arizona Arkansas California - North California - South Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida - East Coast Florida - West Coast Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Manitoba Maryland Massachusetts - North of Boston Massachusetts - Boston and South Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Brunswick New Hampshire New Jersey - North of Sandy Hook New Jersey - South of Sandy Hook New Mexico New York - Great Lakes New York - Coastal North Carolina North Dakota Nova Scotia Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania - East Pennsylvania - West Puerto Rico Rhode Island Saskatchewan South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming
• Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Portsmouth, Rhode Island

Specialties.

Hinckley is Rhode Island’s largest boatyard. Located just six miles from Newport,RI, we are the location that serious boaters rely on for boat repair, refit and yacht restoration. Says Captain Angus Fuller of the SV Matelot: “The standard of work by all the various trades at that yard is very high. The individuals concerned take a huge amount of pride in their work endeavoring to do the best job possible. It really is very impressive. I have personally cruised over 40 countries around the world and HYS rates as the best boatyard in terms of the work.”

Inboard, Outboard & Mechanical

At Hinckley Portsmouth our mechanical department is highly experienced with certified technicians to work on inboard and outboard engines, marine generators, exhaust and fuel systems, jet or pod drive systems. From marine diesel repair to propeller repair or pod replacement, Hinckley’s machine shop is a boat repair resource providing captains and owners with in-depth service.

Hinckley Portsmouth is a fully certified Yamaha and Mercury Marine dealership for outboards, and Cummins, Yanmar, Volvo (marine diesels and IPS), Westerbeke, Caterpillar, and all major marine inboard diesel engines. We also repair and replace bow thrusters, windlasses, hydraulic systems, fixed and variable pitch props and shafts.  Hinckley is now an authorized installer of Seakeeper gyro stabilization systems.  See us for a Seakeeper quote.

CONTACT INFORMATION

1 Little Harbor Landing Portsmouth, RI 02871 Tel: 401-683-7100 [email protected] DIRECTIONS

FACILITIES & CAPABILITIES

Boat Painting, Marine Finishes, Fiberglass Repair

Whether you require Awlgrip, Alexseal, Interlux or other marine paint finish, Hinckley Portsmouth has a state of the art paint booth that will paint your boat to look like new. We take pride in being the best in the industry in yacht painting. Whether you need hull paint or a complete hull and deck paint job, we will be happy to provide an estimate for your boat and complete your new yacht painting project on time and on budget. While your yacht is with us, take advantage of our renowned fiberglass repair and gel-coat repair. Hinckley has all your boat painting and yacht finishing needs covered. Our facilities can accommodate boats up to 140’ with separate facilities for mast refinishing. Marine varnish and teak refinishing are specialties. Let Hinckley Portsmouth restore your teak deck, bring back the luster of your yacht’s brightwork, replace teak rails or other trim pieces. Let Hinckley Portsmouth give your teak varnish a brilliant finish.

Boat Storage

Hinckley Portsmouth is RI’s largest boatyard. With our waterfront acreage and 196,000 square feet of indoor boat storage, Hinckley will make sure your boat is secure and dry for the winter storage season. On our 15 acres we have room to store 450 boats, all of which are professionally shrink-wrapped with or without access door. Hinckley provides more indoor boat storage than any boatyard in the area. For boat storage, all the options are available for all makes and models at Hinckley Portsmouth. Hinckley’s Portsmouth marina also has boat slips available in the heart of America’s favorite cruising grounds. Deep water slips for yachts up to 180’. Megayacht tie-up is available along our main bulkhead.

Boat Upholstery

We offer complete boat upholstery and marine canvas services for all boat seating, indoor and outdoor canvas. From bimini to settees, to port shades, boat curtains and crew carpet, call on us. Our marine upholstery department works closely with several interior design specialists who will work with you or let your designer commission our workroom to create just the right interior for your boat.

Whether you need to repair the running rigging, replace a hydraulic system or install a new winch or roller furler, our sailboat rigging department has the expertise. We are servicing dealers for Antal, Lewmar, Edson, Harken, Navtec, Ronstan, Schaefer and more.

Marine Electronics

Let Hinckley take care of all your marine electronics needs. We are servicing dealers for Furuno, Raymarine, KVH, Simrad, B&G, Flir, Northstar, Garmin and most other marine electronics.  Ask about Hinckley’s remote vessel monitoring system, OnWatch.  Hinckley OnWatch reports all your boat’s critical information right to your phone or tablet, and to your Hinckley Service Manager so we can help even when you’re off our docks.

Marine Carpentry

Hinckley’s reputation for marine woodwork is well deserved and recognized throughout the world. Let our shipwrights work on your teak repairs, teak deck, toe rail, overhead, cabinetry or any fine woodworking detail. See Hinckley Portsmouth for port and windshield replacements, too.

PROJECT GALLERY

Nepenthe – 43′ cheoy lee.

• Installation of new refrigeration and freezer systems
• Installation of new cabin heating system
• Complete re-build of aft head compartment
• Total re-wiring of DC/AC electrical systems
• Replacement of entire teak/holly cabin sole throughout interior
• Re-build of entire galley area with new Corian countertop, new custom icebox with vacuum insulation panels and new custom pull-out trash bin
• View Project Gallery

Dance Smartly – 107′ Palmer Johnson

• Awlgrip spray painting of hull and deck
• Soda blasting
• Prime and paint the bottom
• Removal and re-installation of premier teak caprails
• Replacement of all (24) ships house batteries
• Major service to the engine and both generators
• Installation of new engine mounts
• Major service to air conditioning systems
• Light sanding of all teak decking

Matelot 80′ Southern Wind

• Awlgrip spray painting of hull
• Transom door fabrication
• Fiberglass repair and refair
• Full service to engine
• Rewire of switch panel at helm.

Valiant 97′ Motoryacht

• Bottom paint
• Added bulwark doors

Palawan 75′ Little Harbor

• Complete hull peel
• Topsides paint
• Replace electronics
• General mechanical maintenance

Bay Wind 54′ Hylas

• Extensive recondition after storm damage

Virago 100′ Swan

Connect With Us

• Yacht Sales
• Co-Brokerage

Yacht Storage

• Yacht Services

Need a place to store your boat or yacht for the winter?

Let marine services assist you..

Marine Services is one of the premier storage and service facilities in the nation even offering outside and inside heated storage. Store with us and have the peace of mind to know that your boat is secure and in good hands. We are here to help with all your storage needs.

• Inside Heated Storage:   Over 100,000 square feet of indoor heated storage
• Inside Cold Storage
• Outside Storage with shrink-wrap
• 24-HR Security

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better.

You can use this tool to change your cookie settings. Otherwise, we’ll assume you’re OK to continue.

Some of the cookies we use opens in a new tab/window are essential for the site to work.

We also use some non-essential cookies to collect information for making reports and to help us improve the site. The cookies collect information in an anonymous form.

To control third party cookies, you can also adjust your browser settings opens in a new tab/window .

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts