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Dramatic video captures the moment a massive 40-meter superyacht sank off the coast of Italy

• A superyacht sunk off the coast of Southern Italy over the weekend.
• Video of the boat's demise showed the ship sinking stern-first with its bow straight in the air.
• The Italian Coast Guard rescued nine people from the ship before it submerged.

A superyacht measuring nearly 130 feet sunk off the coast of southern Italy on Saturday, after members of the Italian Coast Guard rescued nine people from the submerging ship.

This weekend, the Italian press reported that the 39.4-meter motor yacht named "My Saga" sunk off the coast of Catanzaro Marina.

Video from the scene shows the massive boat teetering into the water before fully sinking stern-first.

—Sky News (@SkyNews) August 22, 2022

Sky News reported that worsening weather conditions rendered it impossible for a rescue tugboat to bring the yacht to safety.

An investigation into what caused the ship to sink is underway, the outlet reported. 

The yacht was built in Italy in 2007, according to Super Yacht Times, and was traveling from Gallipoli to Milazzo under a Cayman Islands flag with a full Italian crew when it sunk. 

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Superyacht My Saga sinks off the coast of Italy

This is the dramatic moment a luxury yacht was seen sinking off the coast of Italy after it was battered by a storm.

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Dramatic footage has shown the moment a 39m-long superyacht sank off the coast of Italy after it was battered by a storm.

Nine people were rescued from the My Saga yacht on Saturday as it capsized in the Gulf of Squillace, off the coast of Catanzaro in the south of Italy.

Video of the incident showed the ship on the water for a few moments before it completely went under stern-first, The Sun reports.

An investigation to determine what caused the vessel to sink has been launched.

According to Super Yacht Times , My Saga was travelling from Gallipoli, Turkey to Milazzo in Italy under a Cayman Islands flag.

Four passengers and five crew were all rescued from the vessel.

The outlet reports that on Saturday, the Port Authority of Crotone received a message from the yacht saying they were taking on water at the stern.

Two patrol vessels rushed to the location and rescued five people while the captain and the rest of the crew remained on-board.

Even though a tugboat arrived at the scene to help and rescue the remaining staff, the worsening weather conditions made it impossible to take the vessel to safety.

The luxury superyacht was built in Italy in 2007 under the name Yuko .

The vessel, which could reach speeds of 12.5 knots, could accommodate up to 12 guests in six staterooms, as well as eight crew members.

The ship was designed by Tim Heywood while the interior was designed by Jean-Marc Achy.

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Back in June, a $10 million luxury yacht sank after it was rammed by a runaway tugboat in a Spanish harbour.

The huge supply vessel was filmed crashing into a replica 1910 schooner, which was docked at Tarragona, 100km south of Barcelona.

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission

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39-meter M/Y My Saga Sinks off Coast in Italy

Associate Editor Aileen Mack joined Dockwalk in July 2018. She is a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. If she’s not at a concert or coffee shop, she is lost in a book, movie or a YouTube rabbit hole. Email Aileen at [email protected] .

M/Y My Saga sank around 1 p.m. on August 22 in the Gulf of Squillace, about nine nautical miles from the coast of Catanzaro Marina, according to local media Il Messaggero . The yacht was sailing from Gallipoli to Milazzo, and she ended up taking on water. There were no reported injuries.

In the early morning hours of August 20, the Port Authority of Crotone was notified that My Saga was taking on water from the stern. A Romanian patrol boat and a patrol boat from Crotone, Italy, were sent to the scene, and four guests and a crewmember were evacuated and taken to the port of Catanzaro Marina.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Guardia Costiera (@guardiacostiera)

At dawn, tugboat Alessandro Secondo arrived and began towing the yacht toward Crotone with four crewmembers, including the captain, on board the tug. However, due to the weather conditions and the vessel’s heavy listing, the salvage efforts became more difficult and then impractical, the Guardia Costiera reports. Unfortunately, the water invaded the hull, causing My Saga to sink.

An investigation into the cause of the incident is being conducted by the Catanzara Coast Guard Command.

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Superyacht sinking off Italian coast caught on video

Italian coast guard rescued 4 passengers and 5 crew members from my saga superyacht.

The Italian Coast Guard captured the moment a 130-foot superyacht sank into the Mediterranean Sea

Footage captured the moment disaster struck off the Italian coast.

The Italian Coast Guard released videos of 130-foot superyacht My Saga sinking into the Mediterranean Sea.

The yacht was cruising from Gallipoli to Milazzo when it began taking on water at the stern Saturday evening.

LEONARDO DICAPRIO TRAVELED ON GAS-GUZZLING PRIVATE JETS, YACHTS WHILE FUNDING CLIMATE NUISANCE LAWSUITS

The yacht is shown listing heavily to starboard. (Italian Coast Guard)

After receiving a distress call, the Coast Guard dispatched two patrol vessels to rescue the nine people on board, and a tugboat to tow the vessel back to port in Crotone.

BREACHING WHALE JUMPS OUT OF OCEAN AND LANDS ON TOP OF A MASSACHUSETTS FISHING BOAT

During the rescue operation, the vessel was partly submerged and listed to starboard — nine miles off the coast of Catanzaro Marina. 

Footage captured what happened next as the vessel’s bow went up into the air. Rescuers forfeited the operation and the steel-hulled yacht rapidly disappeared beneath the waves stern-first.

The yacht lists heavily to starboard before submerging underwater. (Italian Coast Guard)

The Italian Coast Guard reported that harsh weather and sea conditions, in addition to the increasing incline of the vessel on its starboard, made retrieving My Saga "impractical."

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The yacht rapidly sank underwater stern-first. (Italian Coast Guard)

My Saga was the first yacht of its caliber that Monaco Yachting and Technologies had built by 2007. The yacht was purchased by an undisclosed owner in 2022, according to SuperYacht Times.

The Italian Coast Guard has launched an "administrative investigation" to identify the cause of the incident, according to a translation of the Coast Guard’s Facebook post.

Rachel Paik is a Fox News Digital Production Assistant.

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By SuperyachtNews 22 Aug 2022

39m superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy

All crew members have been rescued without serious injury…….

Image credit: @SteveNorrisTV/ Twitter

The 39m motor yacht My Saga has sunk off the coast of Italy after it began taking on water at the stern. The local press reported that the yacht officially sunk at 13.00 on the 20th of August in The Gulf of Squillace, roughly nine nautical miles off the coast of Catanzaro.

Reports have suggested that the vessel was cruising from Gallipoli to Milazzo with an all-Italian crew. The Port Authority of Crotone received a message from the yacht the night before which revealed they were taking on water at the stern. 

Two patrol boats were subsequently sent out and the full crew were rescued without any injuries.

A tugboat attempted to bring the vessel back to shore, but unfortunately, weather conditions worsened throughout the day and the vessel ended up taking on too much water.

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MY SAGA yacht NOT for charter*

39.4m  /  129'3 | monaco yachting & technologies | 2007.

• Amenities & Toys

Special Features:

• Impressive 4,606nm range
• RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) classification
• Sleeps 12 overnight

The 39.4m/129'3" motor yacht 'My Saga' (ex. YuKo) was built by Monaco Yachting & Technologies in Monaco. Her interior is styled by design house Jean-Marc Achy architecte dplg and she was completed in 2007. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Tim Heywood Design.

Guest Accommodation

My Saga has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 7 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Range & Performance

My Saga is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with teak decks. Powered by twin diesel Caterpillar (C-18) 503hp engines, she comfortably cruises at 11 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 14 knots with a range of up to 4,606 nautical miles from her 48,400 litre fuel tanks. Her water tanks store around 8,840 Litres of fresh water. She was built to RINA (Registro Italiano Navale) classification society rules.

*Charter My Saga Motor Yacht

Motor yacht My Saga is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

My Saga Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

My Saga Photos

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39m My Saga yacht sinks off the coast in Italy

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The Italian press reports that the 39.4-metre motor yacht  My Saga  sunk around 13:00 today in the Gulf of Squillace, about 9 nautical miles off the coast of Catanzaro Marina.

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Who Owns The Superyacht “My Saga” That Sank In Italy

An unnamed oligarch is the owner of the superyacht “My Saga” “My Saga” was the first yacht of its caliber built by Monaco Yachting and Technologies. According to SuperYachtTimes , the yacht was purchased in 2022 by an unnamed owner.

The 131-foot luxury yacht carrying nine passengers and crew sank off the southern Italian coast on Monday.

According to a dramatic video taken by the Italian coast guard, the super yacht “My Saga” likely ran into trouble during bad weather, as it listed in rough waters near Calabria before disappearing into the sea.

The moment disaster struck off the coast of Italy was captured on video.

The Italian Coast Guard released video of the sinking of the 130-foot superyacht My Saga in the Mediterranean Sea.

Saturday evening, the yacht was cruising from Gallipoli to Milazzo when it began taking on water at the stern.

The Coast Guard responded to a distress call by dispatching two patrol vessels to rescue the nine people on board, as well as a tugboat to tow the vessel back to port in Crotone.

The vessel was partially submerged and listed to starboard during the rescue operation, nine miles off the coast of Catanzaro Marina.

What happened next, as the bow of the ship rose into the air, was captured on video. Rescuers abandoned the operation, and the steel-hulled yacht vanished stern-first beneath the waves.

The Italian Coast Guard reported that retrieving My Saga was “impractical” due to the harsh weather and sea conditions, as well as the vessel’s increasing incline to starboard.

By 2007, My Saga was the first yacht of its caliber built by Monaco Yachting and Technologies. According to SuperYachtTimes, the yacht was purchased in 2022 by an unnamed owner.

The Italian Coast Guard has launched a “administrative investigation” into the incident’s cause.

Video of The Superyacht “My Saga” Sinking

Below, is a video of the superyacht “My Saga” sinking;

Jay Immanuel is a passionate blogger who is keen to pass across relevant information to users in the web. He can be reached at [email protected]

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Questions for Investigators Trying to Unravel Mystery of Luxury Yacht’s Sinking

The investigators searching for answers about the shipwreck, leaving seven dead, face questions about extreme weather and possible human error or problems with the yacht itself.

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By Alan Yuhas

More than 180 feet long, with a mast towering about 240 feet and a keel that could be lowered for greater stability, the Bayesian luxury yacht did not, in the eyes of its maker, have the vulnerabilities of a ship that would easily sink.

“It drives me insane,” Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company that made the ship, said after its wreck last week. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

But the $40 million sailing yacht sank within minutes and with fatal results: seven dead, including the British technology billionaire Michael Lynch, his teenage daughter, four of Mr. Lynch’s friends and a member of the crew. Fifteen people, including the captain, escaped on a lifeboat.

Mr. Lynch had invited family, friends and part of his legal team on a cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate his acquittal in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

The Italian authorities have opened a manslaughter investigation, searching for answers from the survivors, the manufacturer and the wreck itself. They face a range of questions and possible factors.

An ‘earthquake’ in the sky?

When the Bayesian sank around 4 a.m. on Aug. 19, the waters in its area, about half a mile off the Sicilian port of Porticello, were transformed by an extremely sudden and violent storm, according to fishermen, a captain in the area and meteorologists.

But what kind of storm is still a mystery, compounded by the fact that a sailing schooner anchored nearby did not have its own disaster. Also unclear is whether the crew was aware that the Italian authorities had issued general warnings about bad weather the night before.

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby passenger ship, said he’d had to steady his ship during “really violent” winds . During the storm, he said, the Bayesian seemed to disappear behind his ship.

Severe lightning and strong gusts were registered by the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, according to Attilio Di Diodato, its director. “It was very intense and brief in duration,” he said.

The yacht, he said, had most likely been hit by a fierce downburst — a blast of powerful wind surging down during a thunderstorm. His agency put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about possible storms.

Locals have said the winds “felt like an earthquake.” A fisherman in Porticello said that he had seen a flare go off in the early-morning hours. His brother ventured to the site once the weather had calmed about 20 minutes later, he said, finding only floating cushions.

The Italian authorities have so far declined to say whether investigators had seen any structural damage to the hull or other parts of the ship.

Open hatches or doors?

The boat executive, Mr. Costantino, has argued that the Bayesian was an extremely safe vessel that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing. His company, the Italian Sea Group, in 2022 bought the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi, which launched the ship in 2008.

Mr. Costantino said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, would be to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

At a news conference on Saturday, almost a week after the sinking, investigators said the yacht had sunk at an angle , with its stern — where the heavy engine was — having gone down first. The wreck was found lying on its right side at the bottom of a bay, about 165 feet deep.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

Water pouring into open hatches or doors could have contributed to the sinking, experts say, but that on its own may not account for the speed at which such a large boat vanished underwater.

Asked about the hatches at the news conference, the authorities declined to comment on whether they had been found open at the wreck.

The authorities have also not specified whether the boat had been anchored, whether it was under power at the time or whether its sails had been unfurled.

A retracted keel?

The Bayesian had a keel — the fin-like structure beneath a boat that can help stabilize it — that could be retracted or extended, according to its manufacturer. On some yachts, keels can be raised to let the large vessel dock in shallower water, and extended downward to help keep a boat level.

But like the hatches, the status of the keel alone may not explain why a large ship sank with such precipitous speed. Investigators have not disclosed what divers may have seen at the wreck, aside from saying divers had faced obstacles like furnishings and electrical wiring in tight quarters. Officials want to raise the wreck to better examine it, a process that may take weeks.

Human error?

Ambrogio Cartosio, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said at the news conference that it was “plausible” crimes had been committed, but that investigators had not zeroed in on any potential suspects.

“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.”

It remains unclear what kind of emergency training or preparation took place before the disaster, or what kind of coordination there was during it. So far, none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened the night the ship sank.

Prosecutors said they want to ask more questions of the captain and crew, who have been in a Sicilian hotel with other survivors. They said that neither alcohol nor drug tests had been performed on crew members, and that they have been allowed to leave Italy.

Prosecutors also said they were also investigating why the captain, an experienced sailor, left the sinking boat while some passengers were still on board.

Besides possible manslaughter charges, the authorities are investigating the possibility of a negligently caused shipwreck.

The bodies of five passengers were found in one cabin, on the left side of the yacht, the authorities said. The five were most likely trying to flee to the higher side of the boat and were probably sleeping when the boat started to sink, they said.

After Mike Lynch’s fatal yacht sinking, is Sicily still a yachting paradise?

The Bayesian was moored around 300 meters off the coast of Porticello when it was struck by freak weather conditions last Monday and sank. 

The boat had been carrying 22 people, 15 of whom were rescued and seven of whom died—including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.

It was considered technologically advanced and had been restored four years ago. It is still unclear exactly how the yacht sank, but marine accident investigation teams have assessed the sunken vessel and have been reporting their findings. 

Sicily has long been known as a sailing paradise with azure waters, underwater caves, warm, dry summers and relatively calm conditions. 

But thanks to climate change, could more erratic weather patterns threaten the future of Sicily as a sailing destination?

The Mediterranean is warming

Initial hypotheses suggest a downburst played a role in capsizing the Bayesian. 

Climate scientists are linking the freak weather event in Sicily to climate change and the warming Mediterranean sea.

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, these are “powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.”

Climate scientists are linking the freak weather event in Sicily to climate change and the warming Mediterranean sea. Waters have reached 30C, up three degrees from its average temperature, following two months of brutal heatwaves. 

Warming waters have also contributed to more frequent episodes of exceptional weather.

“Occurrences of tornadoes or Mediterranean hurricanes have been increasing in frequency over the last 10 to 15 years,” Roberto Danavaro, a marine biologist at the University of Ancona, told the Guardian . 

“And based on the high temperatures, we are likely to see more in September and October. The heat of this summer will not bring anything good.” 

However, the captain of the Bayesian James Cutfield is also under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck.

“We didn’t see it coming.” Captain of the Bayesian, James Cutfield

The 51-year-old New Zealand national has been questioned by magistrates and will undergo further questioning this week, Italian daily La Repubblica reports. 

Under Italian law, being placed under investigation doesn’t imply any guilt and doesn’t necessarily result in criminal charges.

News site ANSA also reports that other members of the crew are also likely to be investigated as prosecutors consider whether the sinking was caused by negligence or errors.

Cutfield told Italian press that the storm had taken them by surprise: “We didn’t see it coming.”

A crew member was on duty on the bridge during the night and was in possession of equipment to receive weather warnings. But images show that the rocket to signal an emergency was launched half an hour after the yacht began to sink.

“The crew should have checked that everything was closed.” Architect of the Bayesian, Franco Romani

The architect of the Bayesian, Franco Romani, told Italian newspaper La Stampa that the yacht was designed to withstand “all weather conditions.”

He believes the sinking was due to a side hatch being left open, which would have allowed water to enter below deck as the boat began to list.  “The crew should have checked that everything was closed,” he added. 

Marine investigation teams have confirmed that the vessel remains intact underwater and the mast was not broken. 

Is sailing under threat in Sicily? 

The downburst appears to have hit a restricted area—with neighboring boats remaining unscathed—and formed very rapidly, meaning the crew had little time to prepare. 

“As with many Mediterranean destinations, Sicily is subject to seasonal winds, including the Mistral (northwestern wind) and the Sirocco (southeastern wind), which can cause rapid changes in weather conditions,” says Raphael Sauleau, CEO of international yachting company IYC .

Eva de Wilde, who runs the yachting holiday company EcoSailors with her partner Pietro Paolo Vital, notes that end-of-season downbursts are getting more frequent as the sea warms. 

“Very often the Mediterranean is seen as a calm pool but you always need to keep an eye on the weather forecast,” she says.  

Yachting experts also say there is plenty you can do to improve safety and preparedness when sailing.

James Ballard, who captained superyachts for 25 years and is now CEO of House of Assets, says that anchorages are generally quite safe in Sicily but again, the wind is something to be aware of.

“If you are on the north coast [where the Bayesian was moored] for example you have a long way to get around to cover on the east side including going through the Messina strait,” Ballard says.

“Sailing always comes with risk so you have to be fully prepared, have researched where you are going and safe ports of call and that you have adequate safety equipment on board.” James Ballard, CEO of House of Assets.

His advice is to put out more anchor chains than you might normally when mooring. 

“This means if the wind does pick up and you don’t have time to start the engines you have enough chain to hold the boat.” He also says it is essential to have someone on watch in the evenings. 

“Sailing always comes with risk so you have to be fully prepared, have researched where you are going and safe ports of call and that you have adequate safety equipment on board,” he adds.

Both Sauleau and de Wilde emphasize that incidents like the sinking of the Bayesian in this region are not the norm. 

“The sea, by its nature, can be unpredictable, and it’s crucial to adhere to all safety protocols, even under seemingly serene conditions,” Sauleau says. “But Sicily has long been a favored sailing destination with a history of few reported incidents.”

De Wilde says the extreme conditions that hit the Bayesian should not put people off sailing in the area. 

“What happened to the Bayesian is something really uncommon,” she says. “When they explain exactly what happened we will all be able to learn from their experience and be even more prepared for an event like this.

“Sailing around Sicily you will discover this amazing region in a special and different way. Only a sailboat can offer you this particular experience,” she adds.  

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Drones & divers to keep scouring Bayesian wreck as saga ‘moves to investigation mode’ after Hannah Lynch’s body found

• Ryan Merrifield
• Emily-Jane Heap
• Published : 19:13, 23 Aug 2024
• Updated : 0:46, 24 Aug 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THE Bayesian saga has moved into investigation mode after the body of the final missing person was found.

Divers, aided by hi-tech underwater drones, will continue scouring the yacht wreckage before it is raised from the seabed off the coast of Sicily.

The 184ft luxury sailboat - owned by tech tycoon Mike Lynch - was sunk in a fierce storm in the early hours of Monday, with 22 people on board.

Questions continue to be raised about the lead up to the tragedy, which saw seven people die, including Mr Lynch, 59, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Italian authorities are investigating offences of shipwreck and multiple culpable homicide - similar to the charge of manslaughter in the UK - against unknown persons, according to Italian media.

It comes after the final minutes onboard the yacht - which was struck by a rare tornadic waterspout amid a fierce storm - have been revealed thanks to its black-box.

READ MORE ABOUT THE DISASTER

Inside last 16 mins of Bayesian as ‘black box’ reveals minute-by-minute horror

Moment waterspouts batter Italian coast on same day that superyacht was sunk

Hannah's body was the last to be retrieved from the wreckage on Friday morning.

Others to perish included Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Yacht chef Recaldo Thomas also died, with his body pulled from the open water near the wreckage site soon after the search began.

Officials confirmed the search for those missing had been brought to an end this morning.

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A green body bag was brought to the port of Porticello.

It comes as...

• Brit teen  Hannah Lynch was found on the sunken boat  on Friday as her family paid tribute
• Five bodies were recovered from the yacht wreck  on Wednesday and Thursday including Brit tycoon Mike Lynch
• The CEO of the firm that produced the Bayesian said the boat is  'unsinkable' and pointed to human error
• Captain James Cutfield was quizzed for two hours  by cops and remains at the  centre of a probe
• Experts believe the yacht's 'tallest mast in the world' may have contributed to the disaster after a  freak ‘Black Swan’ weather event struck
• Pictures showed the  tiny raft that saved up to 15 people
• Frantic text messages  from the survivors revealed the chaos

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah has not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

Mr Zagarola said: "From the first moment, it has not been easy or quick to inspect the boat.

"Think of an 18-storey building full of water."

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15 - including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares - were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch's acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, 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.

Mr Zagarola previously said a decision on whether to raise the sunken yacht from the seabed is "not on the agenda", but will be in the future.

The luxury yacht's captain, James Cutfield, has reportedly been questioned by authorities in connection with the sunken yacht.

Giovanni Costantino, chief executive of the firm that built the yacht, told The Times it was "absurd" that passengers on the yacht were in their cabins.

He told the newspaper: "Why were (they) in their cabins?

"Local fishermen saw the storm was coming, why did no-one on board the Bayesian realise?

"From 3.50am, the captain had four minutes to get the passengers out of their cabins."

He continued: "They should have jettisoned the anchor, started the engine, pointed the bows to the wind and put the keel down.

"If they had done that, no-one on board would have been afraid, they would have been back to bed in an hour and ready to push on with their voyage."

Tributes have been paid to those who died in the disaster, with some describing Mr Lynch as a "visionary unlike any other".

Eleanor Lightbody, the chief executive of the legal AI company he founded called Luminance, said: "He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow's challenges before others even knew they were coming.

"Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed. I feel honoured to have known him, worked with him and learnt from him over the years."

Emily Lynch, in a tribute to her sister Hannah , said: “Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

"Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice. 

"No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

"She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me. 

"And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals. 

"She is my little angel, my star."

In a tribute to Mr Lynch, family friend Albert Read said: "I've never met anyone like Mike - a searing intellect, a steel that would transform the world around him, an instinct for family and friends - organising children's treasure hunts, big gatherings of neighbours in Suffolk - and, with Angela, a determination to light up the worlds of art and science for his two beloved daughters. 

"Warm, funny, brilliant, loyal and exceptionally brave, with a heart as big as his brain."

In a statement confirming their parents' deaths, the Bloomer family described the couple as "incredible people and an inspiration to many".

They said: "Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren.

"Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now."

A helicopter, remotely controlled underwater vehicles, naval units and cave divers have been used in the search.

Bayesian was moored around half a mile off the coast of Porticello when it sank as the area was hit by a storm.

The wreckage of the Bayesian is resting on the seabed off the coast at a depth of 50 metres (164ft).

Prosecutors in the nearby town Termini Imerese are scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday morning.

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Making a racquet: hamptonites’ favorite clubs for tennis, padel and pickleball.

The 2024 US Open Tennis Championship is upon us. While the professionals are battling it out in Flushing Meadows, Hamptonites will be practicing their moves at a series of new exclusive racquet clubs. 

These are not your traditional, run-of-the-mill country clubs. They are chic, social, and all about wellness, both on and off the court. They offer members not just access to beautifully maintained courts, but also views; spas; personal trainers; Michelin-starred food; and exclusive soirees.  

“It’s bridging the gap between private social members clubs with the traditional country club,” said Waylon Ian Chin, CEO of NAOA , a private members club that opened in East Hampton in May. “Our thesis was about creating a club that is good for you.” 

Members, who pay a $30,000 initiation fee plus $12,000 in annual dues, can hit on one of ten tennis courts. Two are made of European red clay, and eight are made of har tru clay, which is crushed granular stone. 

The eight-acre campus — with pristine landscaping — also boasts four pickleball courts; three padel courts; a wellness area with cold plunges and an infrared sauna; a retail shop; a bar; and a restaurant run by a Michelin-starred food group.  “We felt that country clubs have a bad reputation when it comes to the quality of their menus,” said Ian Chin. “We said, ‘Let’s really lean into that.’”

Another club in full swing this summer is the Racquet Lounge at Southampton, a five acre oasis with four padel courts, six pickleball courts, and seven tennis courts (six Har-Tru and one hard.) 

It was founded in 2023 by the Kent Hospitality Group , the masterminds behind SAGA, Crown Shy, and Overstory in New York City (SAGA does all the food at the Racquet Lounge making mostly gourmet sandwiches, salads, and smoothies.) 

Members can play amongst themselves or take lessons from attractive professionals. They can also participate in tournaments, camps, and social events like lobster bakes and barbecues (a new clubhouse in the middle of the property offers viewing balconies for those who want to watch the action from above.)  

Other new clubs are skipping tennis and offering pickleball or padel, fast growing sports, especially amongst the rich and famous.

In Montauk padel lovers can join Privé Padel , located in the Montauk Yacht Club, which reopened in May under the group that owns Proper Hotels. The new padel courts are located on the harbor and surrounded by glass walls, which mean players, who pay $500 for the season, get unobstructed views of the surrounding yachts and wildlife. 

“We saw court reservations double from June to July, and we are on track to double July’s reservations in August,” said Nicholas Solarewicz, founder and CEO. 

Brisas , which also opened this summer in East Hampton, has three padel courts and a 4,0000-square-foot lounge with an outdoor sauna and yoga studio; a snack bar; and a game area. All the furniture, including a wooden ping pong table, is hand-crafted from artisans in Mexico. The latter is made “from a single piece of wood sourced from a remote Mexican forest,” said founder Rohan Kamdar. 

Members can join padel clinics to improve their games. But they can also try candle making; floral arranging; and ceramics (there is a pottery studio on site.)  

The spirit is “Bohemian,” said Kamdar. “Brisas hopes to revitalize an antiquated industry — the classic country club — removing the ‘all-white outfits’ and instead inviting all walks of life to come play barefoot and be their most authentic selves.” 

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