British Tech Mogul Mike Lynch among Six Missing After Luxury
Yacht Sinks Off Sicily
British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is among six people
missing after a violent storm sank the luxury yacht "Bayesian" off
the coast of Sicily early Monday. The 56-meter British-flagged sailboat,
carrying 22 people, was anchored near Porticello when it was struck by severe
weather, according to the Italian Coast Guard. One person has been confirmed
dead, while 15 others, including a one-year-old child, managed to escape before
the yacht vanished beneath the waves.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the dead
and missing, but a source close to the rescue operation confirmed that Lynch,
59, was among those unaccounted for. The missing individuals reportedly include
nationals from the UK, the U.S., and Canada.
Witnesses described the sudden and extreme conditions, with
one nearby captain recounting how he fought to maintain control of his vessel
during the storm. When the storm passed, he noticed that the Bayesian had
disappeared. His crew later found survivors on a life raft, including three
seriously injured individuals, a baby girl, and her mother.
Lynch, often dubbed "Britain's Bill Gates," is
well-known for founding Autonomy, the UK's largest software company, which he
sold to HP for $11 billion in 2011. The sale led to a high-profile legal battle
with HP accusing Lynch of fraud - a charge he denied and was eventually acquitted
of in June.
As investigations into the sinking continue, divers are
inspecting the wreck, now lying at a depth of 49 meters. Prosecutors in Termini
Imerese have opened an inquiry into the incident. The Bayesian, built by
Italian shipbuilder Perini in 2008 and refitted in 2020, was a renowned vessel
known for its towering 75-meter aluminum mast and award-winning design. The
yacht was owned by Revtom Limited, with Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, listed as
the firm's sole shareholder.
The yacht left Milazzo, Sicily, on August 14 and was last
tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, anchored before the storm hit.
British officials are in contact with local authorities, offering consular
support to those affected by the tragedy.
