Authorities from Italy and Britain are working to understand why a 184-foot luxury superyacht sank during a severe storm off Sicily’s coast early on Monday. Divers have located five bodies and are still looking for a sixth.

Witnesses reported that the Bayesian yacht was hit by a waterspout while anchored. It went down rapidly in 160 feet of water, approximately half a mile from Porticello, Sicily, around 5 a.m. local time.

At the time of the incident, there were twelve guests and ten crew members aboard. Fifteen people were rescued. The body of the yacht’s chef was found on the same day.

While the names of the deceased have not been officially released by Italian authorities, those on board included the ship’s owner, British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah.

Reports indicate that Mike Lynch’s body has been recovered, according to YSL News.

Information about the superyacht Bayesian

The Bayesian, constructed in Italy by Perini Navi, was delivered in 2008. It was one of ten units built and was registered under the UK flag.

Who was on board the Bayesian during its sinking?

In addition to Mike Lynch and his daughter, those missing and presumed dead include:

• Christopher Morvillo, an attorney from New York
• Neda Morvillo, his spouse
• Jonathan Bloomer, an executive at Morgan Stanley
• Judy Bloomer, his wife
• Recaldo Thomas, the ship’s chef

Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among the rescued individuals.

Mike Lynch was acquitted of fraud charges in June, which were related to the sale of his tech company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard. Prosecutors alleged Lynch and another executive provided misleading revenue figures about Autonomy.

The yacht’s voyage along southern Italy was intended to celebrate Lynch’s acquittal.

What are investigators examining?

According to Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, the Bayesian is designed to be “unsinkable” and is considered one of the safest yachts worldwide. Investigations are being carried out by authorities in the town of Termini Imerese, Sicily, alongside the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch. The ship’s captain, James Cutfield, is under investigation.

Initial reports mentioned that the ship’s 240-foot aluminum mast had broken, but divers later confirmed that the vessel remained intact, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Authorities are looking into whether the crew adhered to safety protocols, such as properly closing portholes and hatches before the storm hit.

Contributions by: Christopher Cann and Cybele Mayes-Osterman

Source: Reporting and research from YSL News Network; Reuters; boatinternational.com; marinetraffic.com