Italian Prosecutors Blame Crew Errors for Yacht Sinking

Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off Sicily have determined that severe weather was not the primary cause, attributing the disaster instead to crew errors, with potential criminal charges under consideration against the captain, two crew members, and possibly the vessel's builder.

The 56-meter yacht, owned by British billionaire Mike Lynch, sank around 5 a.m. on August 19, 2024, about half a mile from Porticello, near Palermo. It came to rest on the seabed at a depth of 50 meters. Experts appointed by prosecutors concluded the weather amounted to a squall, a brief wind gust preceding thunderstorms, which should have been manageable for the experienced crew. Preliminary findings point to improper crew actions, underestimation of conditions, and failure to activate certain safety devices as key factors.

Seven people died in the incident: Lynch; his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; yacht chef Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan national whose body was recovered shortly after; Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; and Lynch's lawyer, Chris Morvillo, and his wife, Neda. Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was among...