Bayesian Yacht sinks off Sicily

[dudleybloke]

56m sailing yacht Bayesian sank in the early hours off the coast of Sicily, one person reported dead and several missing.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c0k4751jrm8o

https://www.yachtcharterfleet.com/luxury-charter-y...

[Seti]

That's a very large yacht, I'm surprised a storm (albeit quite a bad one) could have sunk it.

[mac96]

Seti said:

That's a very large yacht, I'm surprised a storm (albeit quite a bad one) could have sunk it.

Especially when you would expect them to have all the necessary modern tech, and to be aiming to avoid even moderately bad weather to keep their passengers comfy, and not seasick.
Strange.

[ralphrj]

There are some reports that the storm was actually a tornado which, if true, may explain how the yacht was damaged enough to sink.

[JoshSm]

ralphrj said:

There are some reports that the storm was actually a tornado which, if true, may explain how the yacht was damaged enough to sink.

Have a look at the CCTV showing a local restaurant and everything outside getting blown away; lasted under a minute, very very intense, so something like a tornado seems entirely possible.

[lambosagogo]

Now being reported that Mike Lynch is one of those missing - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/19/four-b...

Tech entrepreneur, recently cleared of wrongdoing in the US for a mega billions tech deal.

[Traffic]

Also reported the boat capsized.

With the Med water temp being so warm, the storms can be a lot worse at the moment and it does seem there has been some other really bad storms of similar nature this past week or two.

[Its Just Adz]

Shocking, like others said I'm surprised something that big would be turned over so easily.
Freak piece of weather perhaps.

[Greshamst]

Tough break for Mike Lynch, sounds like he was finally having some down time after having been extradited to the US and cleared of fraud after a decade long case dragged on.

[HoHoHo]

I know f-all about boats but that seems like quite a large boat to go over so quickly.

I rented a 55ft boat for my family for a day trip recently in Thailand and felt perfectly safe. We had food and unlimited booze and a great day out visiting various islands, swimming etc. With that in mind and thinking about that larger boat, imagine if you've got a full belly and some fine wine inside you at the end of a great evening and if it all happens really quickly I would guess you're lucky to get out of a cabin if it's being thrown around.

Dreadful

[JoshSm]

I guess any boat can roll if the conditions are right for it and it happens often enough to sailboats. Though you'd expect it to be fairly stable to quite extreme angles and to recover afterwards.

One thought was that a 75m mast in water 50m deep might stop it managing a full roll if it got to that point, and it wouldn't reach fully inverted either, so roll onto the side then rapid sinking?

[Traffic]

JoshSm said:

I guess any boat can roll if the conditions are right for it and it happens often enough to sailboats. Though you'd expect it to be fairly stable to quite extreme angles and to recover afterwards.

One thought was that a 75m mast in water 50m deep might stop it managing a full roll if it got to that point, and it wouldn't reach fully inverted either, so roll onto the side then rapid sinking?

Not sure these boats are really designed to handle a full capsize, but I think the mast perhaps broke the superstructure and that is how it became inundated with water.. Just my theory.

[Octoposse]

Trim and ballast?

Presumably we’ll find out in due course.

[Castrol for a knave]

It must have been horrendous, you only ever step up into a life raft....

If it has been hit by a sudden storm squall then no time to bring in the sails, so possible dismasting, or the mast loading overcame the keel and it lost its keel.

The Med can be bad for sudden storms and cross breaking confused seas, it must have been like being in a washing machine.

[ecsrobin]

JoshSm said:

I guess any boat can roll if the conditions are right for it and it happens often enough to sailboats. Though you'd expect it to be fairly stable to quite extreme angles and to recover afterwards.

One thought was that a 75m mast in water 50m deep might stop it managing a full roll if it got to that point, and it wouldn't reach fully inverted either, so roll onto the side then rapid sinking?

I’d have thought the angle of vanishing stability would be before the mast gets near to the bottom but every yacht is different and assuming it was just a capsize from the weather and not damaged or lifted by the force of the tornado.

[ecsrobin]

Castrol for a knave said:

If it has been hit by a sudden storm squall then no time to bring in the sails, so possible dismasting, or the mast loading overcame the keel and it lost its keel.

It was at anchor. The vessel nearby started its engines to maintain a course whilst at anchor then looked round and this vessel was gone.

[Castrol for a knave]

ecsrobin said:

Castrol for a knave said:

If it has been hit by a sudden storm squall then no time to bring in the sails, so possible dismasting, or the mast loading overcame the keel and it lost its keel.

It was at anchor. The vessel nearby started its engines to maintain a course whilst at anchor then looked round and this vessel was gone.

Really, bloody hell!

I suppose a bloody great wave beam on and the anchor stopping it from pointing would roll it, or a tornadic waterspout.

[Sheepshanks]

lambosagogo said:

Now being reported that Mike Lynch is one of those missing - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/08/19/four-b...

Tech entrepreneur, recently cleared of wrongdoing in the US for a mega billions tech deal.

Jeepers. Sounds like it was his boat (maybe in hi wife's name though)?

The mother and baby escape story is amazing.

[ecsrobin]

Castrol for a knave said:

Really, bloody hell!

I suppose a bloody great wave beam on and the anchor stopping it from pointing would roll it, or a tornadic waterspout.

Guessing you haven’t read the article here the current theory is tornado / tornadic waterspout.

[PushedDover]

ecsrobin said:

JoshSm said:

I guess any boat can roll if the conditions are right for it and it happens often enough to sailboats. Though you'd expect it to be fairly stable to quite extreme angles and to recover afterwards.

One thought was that a 75m mast in water 50m deep might stop it managing a full roll if it got to that point, and it wouldn't reach fully inverted either, so roll onto the side then rapid sinking?

I’d have thought the angle of vanishing stability would be before the mast gets near to the bottom but every yacht is different and assuming it was just a capsize from the weather and not damaged or lifted by the force of the tornado.

I dont the tornado as signifiacant as it was, would have sufficient effect wither to overturn a vessel on bare poles.

structural damage too seems bizarre for a coded vessel