A newly released investigative report into the sinking of the luxurious Bayesian superyacht last year reveals that extreme wind gusts were primarily responsible for the disaster, which claimed seven lives. The British maritime authorities' findings indicate that the vessel's towering mast made it particularly susceptible to capsizing under high-wind conditions.
Bayesian Superyacht Capsized Due to High Winds, Investigation Reveals
Bayesian Superyacht Capsized Due to High Winds, Investigation Reveals
A tragic report sheds light on how the superyacht sank off Sicily, resulting in seven fatalities.
The Bayesian had been sailing near Palermo, Sicily, when a sudden storm struck. According to the investigation, a young deckhand who was on watch neglected to inform the captain about the approaching squall, instead opting to film the storm for social media. This delay created a chain of events that led to the ship capsizing just minutes after the captain was alerted.
“It was a matter of mere minutes from when the captain was woken to the yacht going down,” noted Captain Andrew Moll, the chief inspector of marine accidents at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. “Once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degrees, the situation became irrecoverable.”
The report emphasized that the Bayesian's single mast—one of the tallest globally—contributed significantly to its instability, contrasting sharply with similar yachts from the same manufacturer that feature a dual-mast design. While the company had previously claimed the yacht was "unsinkable" under proper conditions, experts pointed out that both the mast and the yacht's overall stability raised significant concerns.
As the storm intensified, the vessel’s protective awning was ripped away, and water quickly flooded the cabin area, forcing passengers and crew to scramble for survival in a panic-stricken environment.
The report continues to underline the critical need for improved safety measures and vigilance aboard high-performance vessels to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
“It was a matter of mere minutes from when the captain was woken to the yacht going down,” noted Captain Andrew Moll, the chief inspector of marine accidents at the Marine Accident Investigation Branch. “Once the yacht had heeled beyond an angle of 70 degrees, the situation became irrecoverable.”
The report emphasized that the Bayesian's single mast—one of the tallest globally—contributed significantly to its instability, contrasting sharply with similar yachts from the same manufacturer that feature a dual-mast design. While the company had previously claimed the yacht was "unsinkable" under proper conditions, experts pointed out that both the mast and the yacht's overall stability raised significant concerns.
As the storm intensified, the vessel’s protective awning was ripped away, and water quickly flooded the cabin area, forcing passengers and crew to scramble for survival in a panic-stricken environment.
The report continues to underline the critical need for improved safety measures and vigilance aboard high-performance vessels to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
