yachting news uk

Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Semi-Finals – Back from the Brink as conditions take a hand

Day 3 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Semi-Finals – ‘Sudden-death’ exit looms for two teams

Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Semi-Finals go to Monday shoot-out

RS700 and RS800 National Championships at Hayling Island

Day 2 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Semi-Finals in Barcelona

Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – Inaugural Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship

INEOS Britannia opens Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final in impressive style

Day 1 of the Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Finals in Barcelona – GBR v SUI and USA v ITA

2024 Star Worlds – Kostecki and Sperry take title by tightest of maragin

Victory for Joost Schuijff’s Leopard 3 saw the Farr 100 win the Rolex IMA Maxi 1 World Championship by a clear three points on the Costa Smeralda

Ireland’s Tom Dolan is overall winner of the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec

Bourgnon leads at Intermediate Sprint – La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec race leader Dolan fourth

The 2024 RS700 and RS800 National Championships took place at Hayling Island SC 12 to 15 September.

RS700 and RS800 National Championships – Day 1 at Hayling Island SC

Finn Gold Cup title for Oskari Muhonen of Finland

Day 1 of the 2024 RS700 and RS800 National Championships taking place at Hayling Island SC.

Ben Ainslie picks Alinghi Red Bull Racing as Semi-Final opponent

Ben Ainslie’s Ineos Britannia has selected to race Alinghi Red Bull Racing as their Louis Vuitton Cup Semi-Final opponent

Dragon Gold Cup – Restored seventy-eight-year-young GBR192 Bluebottle wins race 5

Graham Bailey, sailing the restored Bluebottle GBR192 with Julia Bailey, Will Bedford and Killian Boag won race 5 of the 2024 Dragon Gold Cup

Cayard and Kleen take their third race win at 2024 Star World Championship

Paul Cayard and Frithjof Kleen won their third race out of four sailed and are the provisional leaders.

Ireland’s Tom Dolan (Smurfit Kappa-Kingspan) finishing 7th on Stage 3 Thursday morning, wins the 55th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec overall

Dragon Gold Cup – Beadsworth snatches Race 4 win to move into contention with two races to go

With four races down and two to go Australia’s Peter Gilmour sailing JPN56 YRed continues to hold a narrow lead at the Dragon Gold Cup 2024

Yachting Monthly

• Digital edition

Sailing news

Sailing and yachting news, covering ocean racing and events from around the world

Tragic sinking of superyacht Bayesian; Italian prosecutors investigate

• August 29, 2024

Italian prosecutors are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sinking of the 56m Perini Navi sloop in the early morning of 19 August when a violent storm struck the yacht off…

Greek Transit Log now available online

The new digital system aims to make it easier for visiting sailors to obtain the Greek Transit Log, required for all private foreign-flagged recreational boats over 7m

New Leaderbox Blue marine conservation project backed by Henri-Lloyd

• August 28, 2024

Henri-Lloyd has announced it is sponsoring Monty Halls's Leaderbox Blue marine conservation project which aims to increase citizen science research in the marine world

Maiden crew’s First Mate Rachel Burgess: ‘The girls showed how tough they were’

• July 9, 2024

I got the call while sitting in a little cafe in Horta in the Azores. Say ‘hell, yes’ first, think about the logistics second. So that’s how I became First…

Jeanneau has contacted Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 owners amid safety concerns

• June 25, 2024

The Jeanneau recall concerns the models which are equipped with Sleipner-Sidepower retractable bow thruster modules and were produced in 2020, 2021 and 2022. The European Commission in June issued a…

Sailing square riggers: ‘You’re more appreciative of what sailing used to be’

Most cruising yacht sailors would agree that any field of knowledge that might sharpen their own skills is worthwhile learning about. But does Patrick O’Brian rattling on about thimbles and…

New rules to mean easier cruising to France from 1 June 2024

• June 3, 2024

Sailors can now check in to Schengen zone in 53 French marinas rather than having to use official Ports of Entry

Orcas ‘attack’ and sink a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar

• May 14, 2024

A pod of orcas have attacked and sunk a 15m yacht in Moroccan waters in the Strait of Gibraltar, the latest in a series of attacks in the area, the…

Growing demand for electric propulsion at South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show

• April 25, 2024

Electric sailing propulsion took centre stage at this year’s South Coast & Green Tech Boat Show, with a strong showing of new products and systems – both outboard and inboard.…

Maiden’s all-female crew win the Ocean Globe Race

• April 22, 2024

Maiden has beaten 14 teams to win the Ocean Globe Race on IRC handicap, becoming the first ever all-women crew to win an around-the-world yacht race, it was confirmed early…

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The latest on sailing action, races and regattas – and our pick of interesting things reverent and irreverent….

‘It’s completely crazy!’ Irish sailor Tom Dolan takes historic Solitaire du Figaro victory

• September 12, 2024

Irish skipper Tom Dolan said that he wanted to cry with joy as he secured…

What next for Grenada after Hurricane Beryl?

• August 27, 2024

Hurricanes are not unexpected in the Caribbean. On average about seven form each year. But…

Sinking of the Bayesian Superyacht: What we know as rescue efforts enter third day

• August 21, 2024

The tragic sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily has left the…

Breaking news: One dead, six missing after sailing superyacht sinks off Sicily

• August 19, 2024

Update Tuesday 20 August: Specialist divers have, this morning launched a fresh search for the…

Ben Ainslie: “We’re a bit of a dark horse” – America’s Cup countdown

• August 16, 2024

It’s one week to go until the first races of the 37th America’s Cup in…

Google Doodle Today: Celebrating Olympic Sailing on Day 7

• August 2, 2024

Google continues honouring the Paris 2024 Olympic games on its homepage by showcasing a sailing…

WATCH: Orca yacht sinking – Sailor shares details of two-hour orca encounter which sank his yacht off Spain

• July 30, 2024

Robert Powell and his crew were five miles off the Spanish coast in 40m of…

Best Prime Day boating deals: How to save big on sailing gear

• July 16, 2024

It’s here! Amazon’s big summer sale, Prime Day 2024 is running this week (Tuesday 15th…

Crew member killed in Man Overboard incident in Aegean 600 offshore race

• July 10, 2024

The fourth edition of the Aegean 600, a relatively new 605-mile offshore race around the…

Unprecedented early season Hurricane Beryl set to hit Windward Islands: yachts evacuate

• July 1, 2024

Cruisers and other sailing yachts have been evacuating Grenada and many Caribbean islands as Hurricane…

X-Yachts XR first look: An AI approach to racing yacht design

• June 25, 2024

This model is intended as a serious return to X-Yachts’ racing DNA, following an unprecedented…

British Vendée Globe hopeful Sam Goodchild dismasted in transat race

• June 6, 2024

Sam Goodchild, one of the leading contenders for this autumn’s Vendée Globe solo around the…

Oyster Yachts announce they are back in profit with World Rally proving popular

• May 14, 2024

Oyster returned to profit in January this year and expects to make an overall profit…

Breaking barriers: How UpWind by MerConcept is aiming to usher in an offshore racing transformation

• February 13, 2024

In a newly announced move, MerConcept, the offshore sailing and sustainable tech hub in Concarneau,…

Fifteen round Cape Horn in a week! Round the world racers stream out of Southern Ocean

• February 11, 2024

Armel Le Cléac’h’s 100ft foiling trimaran Maxi Banque Populaire XI became the 15th boat to…

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race winner decided by 51 seconds

• December 27, 2023

Law Connect has won the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours, after the closest…

Whale ‘pingers’ trialled to deter orcas

• December 5, 2023

A new acoustic deterrent device is to be tested in the waters off Portugal to…

Amazing rescue: Ocean 50 trimaran sails home on one float

• November 29, 2023

Luke Berry and his co-skipper Antoine Joubert were competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre on…

Slingsby and Neuschäfer crowned Sailors of the Year 2023

• November 15, 2023

The 2023 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards were presented to Tom Slingsby and…

Transat Jacques Vabre 2023: IMOCA 60s are final fleet to start

• November 7, 2023

The Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 officially started on Sunday 29 October, but with a particularly…

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Coppercoat: The environmentally sensitive antifoul choice *sponsored post*

Yachting Monthly sponsors the Chichester Marina Boat Show and Watersports Festival

Round the Island Race 2019: Entries open

Düsseldorf Boat Show 2019: Fairline announces yacht line-up

Düsseldorf Boat Show 2019: Bavaria to showcase its complete range of motoryachts

• Subscribe Now
• Digital Editions

New boats at Southampton Boat Show: Saxdor 400 GTC

New Boats at the Southampton Boat Show: Sargo 45

New Boats at Southampton Boat Show: Cormate Chase 35

New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Princess S65

New Boats at Cannes Boat Show 2024: Sunseeker Predator 55

Lifejacket may have saved boater after fall from motor boat

Latest from

‘The ride is so violent that helmet and body armour is becoming the norm’ – Pete Goss

Tragic sinking of superyacht Bayesian; Italian prosecutors investigate

Greek Transit Log now available online

Get ready for Southampton Boat Show 2024

How to deal with an unwell member of your crew

New Leaderbox Blue marine conservation project backed by Henri-Lloyd

Louis Vuitton Cup Racing Abandoned Due to Severe Weather

How to watch America’s Cup challenger series, the Louis Vuitton Cup live streams from anywhere

Cannes World Premiere For All-New 19-Metre Contest 63CS

Lightning near-miss forces Louis Vuitton Cup Day 5 racing to be abandoned

Why is there no Paralympic Sailing at Paris 2024?

5 expert tips: How to build a great sailing crew

How to deal with rubbish at sea

Tributes paid to Drascombe stalwart Sharon Geary Harwood

Seaworthy, cheap dinghies for less than £500

Lessons learned from the sinking of Morning Cloud 3

Countdown to the Mini Globe Race 2025

Plymouth sailor, who was rescued off the French coast, appeals for help in getting his boat home

From practical boating, boat tests and cruising to amazing marine footage, we’ve collected the best videos

Video: Overview of the IC-M25 Buoyant Marine VHF Handheld Radio

Followtheboat: Night anchor watch in a pirate zone

Followtheboat: Running aground and sailing defensively in pirate waters

Jungle sailing: Followtheboat on hitting logs and running aground

Sailing up river: Followtheboat go in search of elephants and monkeys

Boat test videos, video: how to - drive an ips boat.

Boat test: Bénéteau Swift Trawler 47

VIDEO: Used Boat - Princess 52

Sailing skills

How to tension your yacht’s rig with wire or rod rigging.

Gear reviews

What is inside your liferaft.

How marine fabrics are changing

This revolutionary self-driving trailer makes boat launching a doddle

Everything you need to know about boat decking

Best Prime day deals on Pressure washers

Best Prime Day cooler and 12V portable refrigerator deals

• Yachts for sale
• Yachts for charter
• Brokerage News

The latest news of yachting with new launches, refits and new projects.

• Brokerage news
• Charter news
• Branded Content
• Boosted Instant

Latest yacht news

Latest brokerage news

New listings

• Competitions
• British Yachting Awards
• Southampton Boat Show
• Print Subscription
• Digital Subscription
• Single Issues
• Advertise with us

Your special offer

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting today!

Save 32% on the shop price when to subscribe for a year at just £39.95

Subscribe to Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting!

Save 32% on the shop price when you subscribe for a year at just £39.95

New Yachts on the Market: Latest Racing & Cruising Designs

Yacht Sharing Guide: Best Ownership Options & Schemes

Olympic Entertainment VS Fairness: Emma Wilson’s Bronze

Cannes Boat Show 2024: Top Six New Boats

Latest news.

Cruising Gone Wrong: Jess Lloyd-Mostyn’s Column

New October 24 Issue: On Sale Now!

METSTRADE / Yacht Racing Forum 2024: Our Media Partners

Top Speakers at Southampton Boat Show: Best Day to Visit

Jib Furler Buyer’s Guide: Best Brands for Headsail Furling

Dream Yacht Ownership Programs: 10% Income Offer

ZOLEO: Your Satellite Lifeline on the Open Seas

Sunsail’s Sailing Adventures: Celebrating 50 Years and Beyond!

An enduring Allure

Seamless Satellite Communication: ZOLEO’s Safe Sailing Solution

INEOS Britannia Team Profile: Royal Yacht Squadron

New Gear at Southampton Boat Show 2024: Fresh Sailing Kit

America’s Cup Boats: What it’s like helming an AC75

Practical advice.

How to Sail on a Budget: Tom Cunliffe’s Column

Anchoring Masterclass: How to Anchor like an Expert

South Atlantic Cruising: Sailing Cape Town to Brazil

Latest on cruising.

Finding Uninvited Guests Onboard: Sailing with Animals

How to Avoid Cabin Fever: Tom Cunliffe’s Column

Steering by the Stars: A Guide to Celestial Navigation

Med Mooring Masterclass: How to Moor with Perfect Technique

How to Passage Plan: Clive Loughlin’s Cruising Tips

Latest gear.

Gear Test: Splash Robe

Southampton Boat Show 2024: What to Expect

Gear Test: Shore2Sea Dry Bag

Best Prime Day Deals for Sailing: Helly Hansen Gear

Six Top Sailing Torches: Durable & Waterproof

Offering a wealth of practical advice and a dynamic mix of in-depth boat, gear and equipment news, Sailing Today is written cover to cover by sailors, for sailors. Since its launch in 1997, the magazine has sealed its reputation for essential sailing information and advice.

• Telegraph.co.uk

ADVERTISING

© 2024 Chelsea Magazine Company , part of the Telegraph Media Group . | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy

• AMERICA'S CUP
• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Boats for sale

Absolute Yachts at Cannes with a contemporary and innovative collection

Absolute Yachts always stand out, whether you’re at a marina or a boat show. We’ve seen confirmation of this again recently at the Cannes Yachting Festival, where the Podenzano-based shipyard showcased the best of its

Innovative Sailing World Championship: English crew triumphs

A one-of-a-kind event followed by sailing enthusiasts and beyond, where young and determined crews battled it out to the last mile. In the end, the English crew came out on top, but everyone will remember

Aquila Power Catamarans conquering Cannes

Aquila Power Catamarans, a world leader in the production of innovative and high-quality power catamarans, is participating in the 2024 Cannes Yachting Festival, showcasing its two flagship models that are already winning the hearts and

Ranieri Cayman 19 Sport: power and character

The Ranieri Cayman 19 Sport is an inflatable boat that’s truly accessible to everyone, as it can perform well with just a 40-horsepower engine, which doesn’t require a boating license. The smallest model in the

Navaltecnosud Boat Stand brings excellence to 7 international boat shows

The 2024/25 autumn-winter season for Navaltecnosud Boat Stand will be filled with nautical events, during which some significant new developments will be unveiled. The Italian company, founded by Roberto Spadavecchia, specializes in the production of

TuttoBarche becomes YachtDigest and shifts into high gear

TuttoBarche becomes YACHT DIGEST  It seems incredible, but ten years have already passed since the birth of THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING MEDIA, the yachting digital publisher that, founded in 2013, went online with its first pages

Nox Oceani triumphs at the RS21 under 23 national circuit

Great triumph for the Nox Oceani team at the RS21 under 23 national circuit. The sailing team, based at the Porto Rotondo Yacht Club in Sardinia, claimed victory in the circuit after the regatta in

PRESTIGE F-Line 5.7, the evolution of the species

The PRESTIGE F-Line 5.7 introduces a concept, a cruising experience, and living spaces that are truly innovative, designed to meet the new expectations and aspirations of high-end yachting enthusiasts. The second model of the new

Helm seats for yachts: discovering the Besenzoni range with over 50 models

Helm seats for yachts are a crucial component on board any vessel. Their comfort is essential, especially during longer journeys when many hours are spent at the helm. Moreover, these seats must be made from

Official debut for the Solemar SE line: SE33 is the RIB we’ve all been dreaming of

Solemar continues to introduce exciting innovations in the cabin RIB market, a sector in which the Italian shipyard is a clear leader. Following the much-anticipated debut last September at the 2023 Genoa International Boat Show

Language switcher

Browse categories.

© 2021 – THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING MEDIA Designed by BLive Communication

ABOUT YACHTINGNEWS.COM

Yachting News is an interactive multimedia magazine dedicated to the world of boating.

The International Yachting Media is the worlds most widely read boating magazines network. Whit its portal It broadcast its original contents in five languages and in more than 200 countries developing 950,000 views a week. Our web portals are the main source of information for yacht and boat owners, the place where they can find anything about their boating passion.

THEINTERNATIONALYACHTINGMEDIA.COM  | SUPERYACHTS.NEWS | YACHT DIGEST

VIRTUAL BOAT SHOW |  TUTTTOBARCHE |  TOUSLESBATEAUX |  TODOSLOSBARCOS

BOATING NEWS FREE APP

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Subscribe For Latest Updates

Sign up to receive the best of Yachting News, sea trials, boat review and world premieres .

The only ADVERTISING FREE newsletter

UK Edition Change

• UK Politics
• News Videos
• Paris 2024 Olympics
• Rugby Union
• Sport Videos
• John Rentoul
• Mary Dejevsky
• Andrew Grice
• Sean O’Grady
• Photography
• Theatre & Dance
• Culture Videos
• Fitness & Wellbeing
• Food & Drink
• Health & Families
• Royal Family
• Electric Vehicles
• Car Insurance Deals
• Lifestyle Videos
• Hotel Reviews
• News & Advice
• Simon Calder
• Australia & New Zealand
• South America
• C. America & Caribbean
• Middle East
• Politics Explained
• News Analysis
• Today’s Edition
• Home & Garden
• Broadband deals
• Fashion & Beauty
• Travel & Outdoors
• Sports & Fitness
• Climate 100
• Sustainable Living
• Climate Videos
• Solar Panels
• Behind The Headlines
• On The Ground
• Decomplicated
• You Ask The Questions
• Binge Watch
• Travel Smart
• Watch on your TV
• Crosswords & Puzzles
• Most Commented
• Newsletters
• Ask Me Anything
• Virtual Events
• Wine Offers
• Betting Sites

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in

Mike Lynch: Seven key unanswered questions around the sinking of the Bayesian

With the search continuing of the sunken bayesian an investigation has been launched to establish what caused the disaster off the coast of sicily, article bookmarked.

Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world

Sign up to our free morning headlines email, thanks for signing up to the morning headlines email.

With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht , which experts will examine in the coming days.

Italian publication Giornale di Sicilia reported post-mortem examinations were completed at a Palermo hospital and the bodies have now been returned.

The Bayesian was hit by a suspected “downburst” of strong wind early on 19 August. The 56m-long, £30 million yacht drifted for about 400 metres from its anchorage near the fishing port of Porticello before sinking.

Fifteen of the 22 passengers and crew survived the incident by clambering onto an inflatable liferaft.

The bodies of tech billionaire Mike Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates“, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah and four other people were found by divers on board. Post-mortem examinations suggest they had been trapped in a room below deck.

Jonathan Bloomer, the international chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank; his wife Judith, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a US lawyer; and his wife Neda, a jewellery designer, also died in the sinking.

It will take weeks for Ambrogio Cartosio, the chief prosecutor of Termini Imerese, and his team to establish whether the sinking of the Bayesian was down to human error, an unpredictable weather event or whether anyone is liable.

Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the wreckage parts of the deck, computer material, video surveillance systems, hard drives and various other equipment, that could explain how the Bayesian sank.

Prosecutors have said they will interview the survivors – some of whom were pictured leaving the Domina Zagarella hotel in Santa Flavia, which has become the headquarters for survivors, police and rescuers.

Many questions face the investigators:

Were access hatches left open?

One expert at the scene in Sicily said an early focus of the investigation would be on whether the yacht’s crew had failed to close access hatches before the tornado struck.

Yachting experts have suggested that the hatches being open could have allowed the Bayesian to fill with water quickly and sink.

But Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Polytechnic University of Milan, said a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking in a huge amount of water.

“One can make plausible assumptions that leave room for doubt,” he said, before suggesting that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the waterspout.

The recovered video could show whether the crews left doors open, which might have allowed the yacht to flood.

Was the boat prepared for a storm?

Prosecutors will look at whether appropriate measures were taken in preparation for the storm.

The yacht’s captain, James Catfield, from New Zealand, told Italian media of the suddenness of the waterspout that turned a luxury super yacht into a death trap.

“We just didn’t see it coming,” he said.

Luca Mercalli, the president of the Italian Meteorological Society, said on Tuesday that the crew should have made sure that all the guests were awake and given them lifejackets in light of the forecasted heavy rains.

The coast guard said bad weather had been forecast, but added that it was more virulent than expected. Some locals spoke of a waterspout, or sea whirlwind, of exceptional force.

“It was a strange thing,” fisherman Andrea Carini said. The Bayesian was at anchor, its sails down, when the tempest hit, with another yacht moored nearby.

A nearby yacht, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell, remained anchored and weathered the storm after its captain turned on the engine to keep control of the vessel and avoid a collision with the Bayesian.

The captain, Karsten Borner, said he did not know whether the crew of the Bayesian had managed to switch on its engines.

“I don’t think they did things wrong, I think they were surprised by the power of the storm,” he said.

“I only know that they went flat with the mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes,” he said, adding that the storm was “very violent, very intense”, bringing in “a lot of water and I think a turning system like a tornado”.

Did the world’s largest aluminium mast have anything to do with the sinking?

The Bayesian was built by Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 with a 75m (246ft) mast which it claims is the tallest aluminium mast in the world.

Scott Painter, who took over Lynch’s multi-billion dollar software company called Autonomy, founded in 1996, said Lynch’s yacht may have been more vulnerable due to the mast.

“The mast was the ultimate sailor’s bragging right,” Painter told the outlet. “That mast must’ve been over 240 feet tall, which is either the tallest or second tallest in the world.”

He added: “That could certainly contribute to a capsize as it would destabilize the yacht. And if it were to lean over too far, it could absolutely capsize the yacht.”

Captain Borner said: “If the mast had been broken they wouldn’t have capsized.”

Would a lightning shock wave damage the mast?

Colonel Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said the agency had registered intense lightning activity and strong gusts of wind in the area.

The Bayesian had one of the tallest aluminium masts in the world, according to its builder, Perini Navi.

“Having a tall aluminium mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology told the Politecnico di Milano.

The type of intensity unleashed by a violent lightning storm “could have created a significant shock wave”, he added.

Was the Bayesian keel retractable and was it down?

The Bayesian had a retractable keel, a fin-like apparatus under the hull that helps stabilise boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. It is not known whether it was down at the time of the vicious storm.

Both Ratti and Mattioni questioned whether the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, reducing the vessel’s depth under water and making it less stable. Ratti said strong winds might have caused the boat to start oscillating wildly, “like a pendulum”, putting exceptional strain on the mast.

Was the the Bayesian properly anchored?

Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy commander and defence commentator, told CBC News that a mast the size of the Bayesian’s is designed for a massive sail, and without that sail raised and catching the wind, the gusts likely would’ve had a negligible impact on the aluminum pole.

He instead suggested the anchor may have played a pivotal role.

“My kind of working assumption is that she was probably a bit further in at anchor, and it’s very likely, in these sort of conditions, that her anchor dragged,” he said.

He added the 10-strong crew was better off steering toward the anchor to stabilise the yacht or even raising the anchor and steering into the open Meditteranean to ride out the storm.

“They might have got caught in that middle ground where they’re not on a particularly good anchorage but the anchor is now controlling the bow of the ship”, he posted.

Prosecutors have said their investigation will take time, and will require the wreck to be pulled up from the sea bed.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article

Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.

New to The Independent?

Or if you would prefer:

Hi {{indy.fullName}}

• My Independent Premium
• Account details
• Help centre

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans ‘genuinely shocked’ and outraged as star returns for season 5 after sexual assault allegations

Share this with

Below Deck Sailing Yacht fans have been left fuming after the season five trailer dropped earlier today, following the sexual assault allegations against Gary King.

The bosun first appeared on the Bravo spin-off series in the second season, which aired in 2021, and has remained part of the cast ever since , alongside Captain Glenn Shephard and chief stewardess Daisy Kelliher.

Last year, viewers were shocked after a crew member alleged that the 36-year-old tried to force himself on her behind the scenes – something he fiercely denied.

The accusations emerged after the fifth series had been filmed, with many questioning whether it would ever air due to the controversy.

The dramatic teaser was released today ahead of the release date on October 7, showing King and Kelliher at the forefront of the drama on board.

However, while it is not clear how much of a part he will play in the upcoming season, viewers were reeling over the decision and called Bravo out airing the episodes.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C__S1l5y19q/?hl=en

Flocking to the comments below the official Below Deck page, Bravo4therestofus posted: ‘Ummmm my understanding was that Gary was NOT coming back sooooooooo ?!!,!?! [sic].’

Glamisgrrrl agreed: ‘Right?! So gross they’re just letting him come back.’

‘How is Gary back??? And why? Ick,’ Arielle_Smith said.

Over on Reddit, NBCaz commented: ‘Can’t say I’m excited to see that Gary is still gonna be a part of this [sic].’

As Pinsleric added: ‘Not only is Gary not scrubbed, he’s featured in the trailer. I’m genuinely shocked.’

Last year, Samantha Suarez claimed that she met King while preparing for season four in Sardinia and had accompanied him back to his hotel in July 2022, after he had filmed interviews for the show.

The former crew member – who worked on the hair and makeup team, and would also assist the talent manager with tasks – alleged that he was drunk and behaving erratically while she attempted to keep him contained in his room.

She claimed to Rolling Stone that he suggested for her to join him in bed, and that he greeted her in his underwear when she later returned, before coming up behind her and grabbing her, pressing her against his body and refusing to let go.

Suarez said that she immediately informed bosses of the incident and had meetings with executive producers and the show’s talent manager, insisting that she didn’t feel comfortable working around King.

Others also claimed that he was seen grabbing a female staff member’s bum and continued to touch her inappropriately when she asked him to stop.

When one team member reported his behavior, they claimed that no one acknowledged it initially, before a producer eventually stepped in to ask him to stop.

Both Suarez and the crew member, who was vocal about what they witnessed, were reportedly not asked to return to the show, having worked on the franchise for some time – while King returned for the following season.

The allegations emerged in August and the reality star later denied them. He posted a message on Instagram in November, vowing: ‘It’s sad that people will do anything in their power to bring you down.

‘It’s not about how you fall but how you get up. Luckily for me the fall was into a sea of daisies.’

The post is currently still visible and includes some of the hashtags: ‘#iwascancelledbecauseofalie #anythingforaplatform #dontbelieveeverythingyousee #ivegotmyheadheldhigh #worldisanuglyplace #iwouldneverdothat #onwardsandupwards.’

At the time of the Rolling Stone article, a Bravo spokesperson told  Metro.co.uk  in a statement: ‘Bravo is committed to maintaining a safe and respectful workplace for cast and crew on our reality shows.

‘We require our third-party production companies to have appropriate workplace policies and trainings in place and a clear process on how to report concerns.

‘The concerns Ms Suarez raised in July 2022 were investigated at that time and action was taken based on the findings.’

A spokesperson for 51 Minds Entertainment, the company that produces Below Deck, added to the outlet: ‘51 Minds is committed to providing an environment in which every member of the casts and crews on our productions feel respected and, most importantly, safe.

‘51 Minds provides mandatory harassment and sensitivity training for every series it produces at the outset of each new season and lays out a clear process on how and to whom to report any questionable activity.

‘With any complaint filed, a timely investigation is launched and, based on the findings, appropriate actions are implemented to ensure the safety of our cast and crew, up to and including termination.

‘With regard to the incident reported by Ms Suarez involving Mr King, the case was investigated and reviewed as soon as it was submitted, and production acted accordingly based on the results.’

Hot Property Picks from Metro

London’s ‘secret’ village with ‘stunning views’ named one of UK’s best to live in

World War II bomb shelter with amazing sea views on sale for £25,000

We bought an uninhabited island for £24,000 — it was a lot cheaper than a house deposit

Almost every Omaze dream home has been sold — but I'm keeping mine

Bed in conservatory listed as 'studio flat' to rent for £1,200 per month

Bravo declined to comment when approached by Metro.co.uk.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : America’s Got Talent star Emily Gold, 17, dies weeks after appearing on show

MORE : Meryl Streep recoils in shock over unexpected remark at the Emmys

MORE : Friends star says TV series reflected attitude that ‘only white stories sold’

Get us in your feed