Special forces divers and robots search Mike Lynch’s sunken Bayesian yacht for clues

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

Find out moreClose

As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.

Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.

Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election

Andrew Feinberg

White House Correspondent

Specialist military divers are currently searching the sunken Bayesian yacht for clues as to why it sunk in a freak storm off the coast of Siciliy, killing seven passengers.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning, and is now lying 50 metres below the surface of the water.

About six divers from the Italian navy’s Comsubin unit are investigating the superyacht for electronic equipment, which includes data storage and CCTV and to see if doors were left open during the storm.

A source close to the investigation told The Times: “The investigating magistrate has asked Comsubin to investigate so he can check statements made by the crew of the yacht.”

Three crew members including the yacht’s captain are under investigation, with plans being discussed to raise the yacht from the ocean bed to assist enquiries.

Sources close to New Zealander James Cutfield, 51, the captain, told the Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera that is living through the darkest days of his life.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates.

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.

Also killed was the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, whose body was recovered floating near the wreckage.

According to the authorities, efforts to raise the yacht will be made by the vessel’s owner, UK company Revton, which is controlled by Mr Lynch’s widow Angela Bacares.

They have reportedly employed the Genoa-based diving company Drafinsub to use sonar and a submersble robot to examine the yacht to discover the best plan to raise it.

It is likely to take two to three days to complete, with 18,000 litres of fuel having to be syphoned from the yacht’s tanks in order to avoid any spillage.