‘We didn’t see it coming’: Bayesian superyacht captain breaks silence as freak tornado sank vessel in just 12 minutes
By James Halpin,
2024-08-20
THE captain of the Bayesian superyacht has broken his silence after the vessel sank off the coast of Sicily.
One person has died and six remain missing after the £14m yacht was hit by a tornado yesterday at about 5am local time.
The £14m Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, Italy yesterday Perini Navi Divers are now searching for the missing Reuters CCTV footage caught the high winds battering the nearby city of Palermo on Sunday night RAI Emergency and rescue services heading out to sea after the Bayesian sank Reuters Brit entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among the people missing Getty - Contributor Passengers were reportedly sleeping while they were inside the luxury superyacht Yacht Charter Fleet
The boat sank just a couple hundred metres off the shore 50m below the waves.
Those on board said the mast collapsed in stormy weather causing glass to shatter everywhere and the boat to capsize.
Witnesses said a 12-minute waterspout had struck the boat, bringing a furious vortex against the vessel.
The ship’s captain James Calfield, 51, spoke from hospital yesterday and said he had no idea the tornado was coming towards the ship.
Others told Italian outlet Ansa that the anchor was down when the storm hit on Monday morning, causing the ship to lose its balance.
Some 22 horrified passengers, made up of passengers and staff, screamed in fear as the boat flipped over.
The body of one man, the boat’s chef, has been found near the destroyed ship.
Fifteen people were rescued from the water, including a one-year-old British girl, whose mum held her above her head before they were saved.
Mike Lynch, previously dubbed “the British Bill Gates”, was hosting a party on the boat along with his wife and daughter.
Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said 200kmh winds could be felt over Sunday through Monday.
He described the weather as: “A so-called funnel cloud forms, generating winds of up to 200kmh which can create a water spout at sea by sucking water into the air.
“The event can be restricted to a few hundred metres and be over in ten minutes.”
The Bayesian has the highest aluminium mast in the world with experts believing the height could have caused the vessel to tip over.
The yacht slept 22, with 10 being staff Yacht Charter Fleet Italian divers returned to the scene on Tuesday AP
A one-year-old British girl named Sophia was rescued by her mother Charoltte Golunski in the sea after the sinking before they were rushed to hospital.
Golunski spoke about the frantic rescue, telling Giornale di Sicilia: “For two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves.
“I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy. Many were screaming.
“I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.
“Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on board.”
MOST PASSENGERS FROM UK
The majority of passengers were understood to be from the UK.
Citizens from New Zealand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, the US and two dual British-French nationals were also on board.
Eight of those rescued were receiving treatment in hospital last night, according to the Italian Coastguard. None was thought to be in a serious condition.
Among the injured are the Kiwis lawyer Ayla Ronald and captain James Catfield, 51; Sasha Murray, 29, of Ireland; and Myin Kyaw Htun, 39, from Myanmar.
Who are the six still missing from the Bayesian yacht tragedy?
By Ellie Doughty, Foreign News Reporter
THE BAYESIAN superyacht was hosting a lavish party for 12 guests, with 10 crew also onboard.
After 15 people were rescued from the water on Monday, six people remain missing and one has been found dead.
Italian authorities said the man recovered near the yacht wreckage was the chef working onboard.
Four of the missing are British and two are American.
Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, are among the four Brits lost at sea.
International chairman of bank giant Morgan Stanley, Brit Jonathan Bloomer, 70, is also missing along with his wife Judy.
As is top New York lawyer Chris Morvillo, a solicitor at major firm Clifford Chance who worked for Mike Lynch, and his wife Neda.
Divers scoured the sea on Monday Ruckas Helicopters were also looking for survivors yesterday Reuters
I cant imagine holding a 1 year old above your head for any real length of time while treading water. I CAN imagine keeping the 1 year olds head above the water and treading water long enough to be rescued, though. But try holding 18lbs above your head while you tread water using only your feet.
Mike Nevins
08-20
water spout not a tornado. one forms over land the other over water.
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