How Mike Lynch’s Luxury Yacht Sank Within Minutes
The Bayesian was built to withstand hurricanes, but sailors who witnessed the scene were shocked at how quickly it disappeared into the Mediterranean.
Italian police divers near the site of the Bayesian yacht off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Aug. 21.
Photographer: Jonathan Brady/AP PhotoThis article is for subscribers only.
It was 3 a.m. on Monday and Captain Karsten Börner and his crew were already awake, preparing for an approaching thunderstorm just off the Sicilian coast.
Moored behind their schooner was a luxury yacht that carried tech tycoon Mike Lynch and a group of friends, family and advisers. Built to withstand hurricanes, the Bayesian was 56 meters (184 feet) long and worth an estimated £30 million ($39 million), making it one of the most capable high-end sailing vessels.