What caused Mike Lynch’s yacht to sink?

The tragic sinking of Mike Lynch’s superyacht off the Sicilian coast has left many questioning what could have caused such a devastating incident.

Italian authorities have reported that the yacht was struck by a waterspout, a powerful weather phenomenon that led to the vessel’s capsizing.

A waterspout, according to the US National Ocean Service, is a rotating column of whirling air and water mist, often described as a mini-tornado.

These can be particularly dangerous, especially when they form over water or move from land to sea during thunderstorms.

The waterspout that struck Lynch’s yacht was of the tornadic variety, resembling a traditional land tornado but occurring over the water.

The yacht, named the Bayesian, was a 56-meter-long (184 feet) British-flagged vessel carrying 22 people, including 10 crew members.

The incident occurred early Monday, August 19 2024 morning at approximately 5 a.m. (03:00 GMT) while the yacht was navigating the Tyrrhenian Sea, east of the Porticello harbor, near the Sicilian capital, Palermo.

The cruise had reportedly been undertaken to celebrate the recent acquittal of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who had been facing a fraud trial in the United States.

However, the celebration turned to tragedy when the yacht encountered the severe stormy conditions that led to its sinking.

Rescue efforts have been underway since the incident, with one person confirmed dead and six others still missing. The deceased, whose body was found at a depth of about 50 meters (164 feet), is believed to be the yacht’s chef, according to reports from the AFP news agency.

A second body has also been spotted inside the sunken yacht, though authorities have yet to confirm the identity.