mrs boss yacht

Mike Lynch yacht sinking must be due to 'chain of human errors', boss of boat builder says

T he superyacht that capsized off the coast of Sicily this month , in which the tech magnate Mike Lynch and six others died, could only have sunk because of human error, according to the chief executive of the company that owns the vessel’s manufacturer.

It is thought the Bayesian was struck by a downburst — a gusty wind associated with storms — causing the vessel to capsize and sink within minutes. The victims included Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Fifteen people survived, including Lynch’s wife, whose company owned the Bayesian.

“The first thought when I read the news of the sinking was that there was a problem related to the management of the boat or the fact that the hull may have hit a rock,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the Bayesian’s manufacturer, Perini Navi.

But when the passengers declared they had not heard a loud noise onboard, which would have meant that the yacht had struck a reef, I realised the yacht had taken on water due to a hatch that was left open. Otherwise the Bayesian cannot sink. 

Italian prosecutors have placed three crew members under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, including the captain of the yacht, James Cutfield , 51, from New Zealand. Being investigated in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.

The yacht was built by Perini in 2008, and named Salute. Lynch acquired it in 2014 and changed the name to Bayesian, after the 18th-century mathematician Thomas Bayes, whose work on probability informed Lynch’s professional thinking.

Perini Navi was founded in 1983, and filed for bankruptcy in February 2021. In December of the same year, the Italian Sea Group secured the acquisition of the brand and several Perini properties for €80m. Costantino’s company bears no responsibility for vessels constructed by Perini Navi before its acquisition, including the Bayesian.

Nevertheless, he said he had a sense of duty to show support for and defend the Perini brand. “Seven people have died onboard a vessel with our brand, which is why I want to speak up, also out of respect and closeness to the families who have lost relatives and friends,” said Costantino. 

I imagine the crew is going through the worst moment of their lives. However, something in the way they handled the situation did not work. There was a chain of human errors.

After the incident, Costantino delved into the maritime routes of the Bayesian that night, reviewed the weather bulletin predicting an approaching storm, and examined footage from surveillance cameras capturing the final moments of the sinking ship.

“The strong wind arrived at 3.50am,” he said. “Up until that moment, the Bayesian was still anchored. From 3.50 to 4.03, the ship moved as it was dragged by the wind, tilting towards the side where there is a lateral hatch that leads to the garage [where jetskis, inflatables and other water sports kit is stored]. 

"In the garage, there is another door leading to the engine room. If that door was open, it means that water has also entered the engine room, causing the inevitable sinking.” 

The ship’s engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, who was in charge of the engine room, and sailor Matthew Griffith are also being investigated.

Italian prosecutors have suggested the sinking could have been the result of human error, but officials have also indicated it would be challenging to conduct a thorough inquiry without recovering the wreck.

Costantino said vessels such as the Bayesian must able to float even if a single compartment is flooded. “I can tell you with certainty that the ship took on water in these 13 minutes. It took on water not only flooding the garage but also the engine room,” he said.

In recent days, experts, sailors, and captains have speculated about potential flaws in the management of the incident or the vessel that could have led to the sinking. However, they emphasise these are merely conjectures, and the families of the victims will need to await the conclusion of the investigations to understand what happened.

Costantino also said the Sir Robert Baden Powell, a Dutch-flagged sailing vessel built in 1957 and located about 150m from the Bayesian when the storm struck, did not suffer damage.

“A ship from those years cannot have the technology of the Bayesian,” he said. “Yet that ship did not suffer damage. Its crew had prepared it well to face the storm. They even managed to provide assistance to the Bayesian.” 

He added: “The local fishermen did not go out that night. These people took the weather conditions seriously. How did the crew of the Bayesian not take the meteorological bulletin seriously? I struggle to explain it. How did they, when they realised they were losing the ship, not think of rescuing the passengers who were in the cabins? At the moment, only God knows.” 

Cutfield’s lawyers said they were “currently working alongside other legal representatives to evaluate the defence strategy and review the technical aspects of the case”.

Costantino is optimistic the investigation will shed light on tragedy. “I expect the truth to come to light, for the sake of justice for those who have died.”

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Mike Lynch’s yacht was ‘unsinkable’, says boss of company who built boat

Giovanni costantino insisted there are no flaws with the design and construction of the bayesian, article bookmarked.

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Boats like Mike Lynch’s superyacht are “unsinkable”, according to the chief executive of the company that builds and sells the vessels.

Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, said there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian and it is “one of the safest boats in the world”.

The Bayesian, a 184-ft superyacht carrying 22 passengers and crew, was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it disappeared beneath the waves in a matter of minutes after a freak tornado struck.

The Italian Sea Group owns Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini that built the vessel owned by British tech magnate Mike Lynch, who was confirmed dead on Thursday after his body had been recovered from the wreck of the boat.

Mr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah is still unaccounted for. The bodies of the other four people who vanished when the boat went down were recovered from the yacht on Wednesday.

“The ship sank because it took on water, from where investigators will have to say,” Mr Costantino told television news programme TG1 late on Wednesday.

Citing data from the yacht’s automatic tracking system and based on available footage, Mr Costantino said it took 16 minutes from when the wind began buffeting the yacht, and it began taking on water, for it to sink.

Mr Costantino said the Milan-listed group had suffered “enormous damage” to its reputation, with shares falling 2.5 per cent since the disaster.

The disaster has baffled naval marine experts who said such a high end vessel should have top-class fittings and safety features and should have been able to withstand such weather.

Besides Mr Lynch and his daughter, the other people who failed to escape from the boat were Judy and Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch’s wife, managed to get to safety, while the body of the onboard chef, Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, was found near the wreck hours after the disaster.

Specialist rescuers have been searching inside the hull of the sunken yacht for the past three days, but operations have been challenging due to the depth and the narrowness of the places that the divers are scouring, the fire brigade said.

Additional reporting by agencies

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Missing revealed as divers search superyacht that sank in storm off Sicily

ROME — Rescue teams and divers were searching Tuesday for six missing people, including a British tech magnate and a Morgan Stanley boss, after a luxury superyacht sank in a storm off Sicily .

The identity of those still missing emerged after an initial search of the 184-foot sailboat, named the Bayesian, was unsuccessful Monday. The British-flagged tourist vessel had 22 people aboard when it sank because of “a violent storm” off Sicily’s main city, Palermo, around 5 a.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) on Monday, the local coast guard said.

Newly released video shows the moment the vessel suddenly sank after being battered by the storm. In the video, the 250-foot mast, which was lit up and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored.

Fifteen people were rescued by a boat present in the immediate vicinity and then brought ashore by coast guard vessels, but six passengers, including American, British and Canadian citizens, remained missing, it said. They were believed to be trapped in the boat's hull, some 164 feet underwater, posing a challenge to divers who returned Tuesday to the site off Porticello, near Palermo.

Salvatore Cocina, director of Sicily’s Civil Protection Agency, told NBC News that the missing include British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter, Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

Cocina did not specify the nationalities of the missing. He also did not identify Lynch's daughter or the wives of Bloomer and Morvillo.

A spokesperson for Clifford Chance, where Morvillo works as a lawyer, confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday that he and his wife, Neda, were among the missing. 

Aki Hussain, chief executive officer of U.K. insurance company Hiscox, where Bloomer is a nonexecutive chairman, confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday that Bloomer and his wife, Judy, were missing.

Italy’s national fire department said that its divers were able to get inside the wreck during a late-night dive Monday, inspecting some cabins under the bridge, but were having trouble navigating because of obstructions and narrow access gates. One of those obstructions was reported to have been caused by furniture from the cabins that moved during the storm that struck the ship early Monday.

Rescuers said that there might be bodies inside the cabins, especially considering the timing of the storm, but that they had so far been unable to check through the ship’s portholes.

Divers were forced to work in 12-minute underwater search shifts because of the depth, while surface searches continued in the area of ​​the shipwreck with a helicopter and a fire brigade boat, it added.

Mike Lynch, who was regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was cleared of fraud charges in a blockbuster U.S. trial earlier this summer. Sources told CNBC on Monday that his wife, Angela Bacares, has been rescued. Italian news agency ANSA identified his daughter, missing alongside her father, as Hannah, 18.

Just days earlier, Lynch's co-defendant, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being “fatally struck by a car” while out running Saturday, his lawyer Gary Lincenberg said in an emailed statement.

The sailing vacation that ended in tragedy appeared to be something of a celebration after Lynch’s acquittal — Morvillo was one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers and Bloomer testified in his defense.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our Chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing,” Hussain, the Hiscox CEO, said in an emailed statement.

A Morgan Stanley spokesperson also said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular the Bloomer family, as we all wait for further news from this terrible situation.”

The Eve Appeal, a British cancer charity, described Judy Bloomer in an emailed statement as “a brilliant champion for women’s health and medical research.”

Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it was deploying a team of four inspectors to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The coast guard said in a statement Monday that the ship’s cook had died. It did not give his nationality. Reuters identified him as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35, told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled to safety.

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered, Bayesian can carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites.

The yacht’s nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

Luca Mercalli, an Italian climatologist and president of the country’s meteorological society, told Reuters that the storm could have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, a more frequent phenomenon that doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Storms and heavy rainfall have swept Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat.

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli said. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

Claudio Lavanga reported from Rome and Yuliya Talmazan from London.

Superyacht sinks latest: Investigators reveal where bodies were found as probe looks at 'crew's responsibility'

Italian officials revealed at a news conference there could be "a question of manslaughter" as they opened a shipwreck investigation and said the probe is also looking at the "crew's responsibility".

Saturday 24 August 2024 18:33, UK

• Superyacht sinking

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Prosecutor: There 'could be a question of manslaughter'
• Probe 'concentrating' on crew's responsibility
• Seven bodies recovered after five-day search of superyacht wreckage off Sicily
• Saturday's papers pay tribute to youngest victim Hannah Lynch
• Hannah's sister pays tribute to 'my little angel'
• Explained: Inside the superyacht | What challenges have faced divers?
• Eyewitness: Sombre scenes greet rescue teams as final body is brought ashore
• Live reporting by Niamh Lynch

We're ending our live coverage for this evening but here is a recap of what we know:

• Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the Bayesian sinking;
• Officials have revealed more details on their investigation and the difficult five-day rescue mission;
• The six bodies found during the search in recent days were all in cabins on the left-hand - and highest - side of the ship. Five were found in the first cabin and the sixth was found in the third;
• Prosecutors said the six passengers were most likely asleep when the boat sank;
• The probe is now focusing on the crew and their responsibilities, with the captain set to undergo more questioning.

Monday 19 August

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 56 metre vessel - including a mother and baby - but another seven remain missing.

One body, later confirmed to be the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas, is found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among six people that remain missing.

Tuesday 20 August

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy's fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were "unsuccessful" because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as "complex", with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

Tributes pour in for Mr Thomas, with his friend Gareth Williams saying: "I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit."

Wednesday 21 August

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht's internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

Thursday 22 August

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

Friday 23  August

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, Hannah Lynch.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of the Lynch family that they are "devastated" and "in shock" after the deaths of Mike and Hannah.

Hannah's sister Esme pays tribute to her "little angel".

Saturday 24 August

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town, Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

As the focus now turns to the manslaughter investigation, here's another reminder of the seven victims of the sinking and the 15 people who survived. 

A close friend of the Lynch family has added to the chorus of tributes for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in Monday's superyacht sinking.

Susannah Gurdun, who lives in Suffolk, recalled being "daunted" when she first met Mr Lynch at a dinner party, before discovering he was "so much more than the corporate cliche".

"He was riveting.  He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything," she said.

Ms Gardun said the businessman also had a "thrilling ability" to make complicated subjects "accessible to those of us less blessed with a science acumen".

"In particular, he was wonderful with children.  I will never forget hearing him explain to a group of them - including our ten year old son - the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset," she said.

She went on describe Mr Lynch as a "true genius" and "phenomenal creative".

Ms Gardun said his daughter Hannah was also showing "serious literary promise", and added that it was "beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led".

"I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain.  Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family," she said.

"He was an extraordinary human being and it was - truly - a privilege to have known him."

A yacht crew member who survived the sinking has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, calling her a "diamond in a sea of stars".

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, has released a statement after divers recovered the final missing body from the wreckage, which is believed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

"Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars," she said.

"Bright, beautiful and always shining. What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything. 

"While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. 

"I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive."

Ms Murray's statement comes as a new image of Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch is released:

Prosecutors announced in this morning's news conference that they have opened a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigation.

Officials were unable to answer several queries from the media, saying they needed time to establish the facts, but what are the key questions facing prosecutors? 

Why weren't passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that some passengers may have been asleep when others were awake.

Asked why they were not woken up or alerted, he said that is something investigators are trying to work out from the statements of the survivors.

He called it an "essential" part of the inquiry.

Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?

The press conference heard several bodies onboard the sunken yacht were found in a single cabin which was not theirs.

Mr Cammarano said investigators currently do not know the reason for them being discovered in the same cabin.

The chief of the Palermo fire service, Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the yacht pinned to the right and suggested people tried to go on the other side, taking refuge in cabins in the higher part of the wreck.

Why did the boat sink?

The vessel had been deemed "unsinkable" by its manufacturer - Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.

Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.

He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.

Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?

Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.

Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.

Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.

What weather warnings was the Bayesian alerted to?

Maritime director of western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, said the weather at the time of the yacht's sinking was abnormal and there was nothing to suggest such an extreme situation would arise.

He said there were forecasts of winds and a storm alert, but there was no warning of a tornado.

"Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising," he said.

"There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions."

How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?

Mr Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.

"Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it's only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation," he said.

"I can't say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, [said] that it will be eight weeks."

He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.

Italian authorities detailed the challenging and meticulous rescue operation to recover the six missing people from the Bayesian wreck (see 9.18am post).

But why was the five-day search so difficult? 

Read more below...

More on this morning's press conference. 

One of the main updates from prosecutors was that they have opened manslaughter and shipwreck investigations after the deaths of seven people in the Bayesian sinking. 

Watch the announcement below...

Prosecutors have given a lengthy news conference this morning on their investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian. 

Read the full report on the prosecutors' probe below...

Marine investigator James Wilkes has been speaking to Sky News after this morning's press conference.

"Naturally, there are more questions than there are substantive answers at the moment - that's the nature of investigative work.

"Something forced that yacht to roll beyond its nominal stability limits, such that it wasn't able to right itself with the ingress of a certain amount of seawater that was coming into the yacht. 

"So the investigators are going to ask themselves one initial question - what must the conditions have been for this to happen? 

"Then they are going to look at the contributing factors to the yacht, sinking, and, and the unfortunate loss of life." 

Prosecutors said this morning that the future of the investigation is reliant on recovering the wreck. 

Mr Wilkes said the yacht is a "major piece of physical evidence in and of itself." 

"It's lying at 50 metres, which is a recoverable depth. 

"If it was significantly deeper, then I'm not sure they'd be considering salvage at this stage or certainly, the salvage question would be a lot more complicated to answer. 

"But if there was the ability to raise that yacht in one piece safely, then it gives the investigators physically more to look at."

Mr Wilkes said he was unsure if the yacht would have a "black box" - called a voyage data recorder in shipping. 

"It would record things like GPS position, heading speed, engine telemetry, whether the radars were on, what they were recording, alarms, communications from the yacht itself, any audio on the bridge.

"But more often than not, these are on merchant ships. The yacht was a commercial yacht in the sense that it could be chartered out so it's quite possible it has a voyage data recorder on, but I'm not sure that it does. I don't know that as a matter of fact," he said.

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BOSS is a 36.27 m Motor Yacht, built in Netherlands by Feadship and delivered in 1988.

Her top speed is 23.0 kn, her cruising speed is 19.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 4200.0 nm at 12.0 kn, with power coming from two Detroit Diesel diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 4 crew members waiting on their every need. She has a gross tonnage of 214.0 GT and a 7.21 m beam.

She was designed by Frits De Voogt , who also completed the naval architecture. Frits De Voogt has designed 53 yachts and created the naval architecture for 67 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

Her interior was designed by Degeorge & Niedland and Associates In Design - she is built with a Teak deck, a Aluminium hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

BOSS is in the top 30% by LOA in the world. She is one of 1177 motor yachts in the 35-40m size range, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 0.68 kn above the average, and her top speed 1.13 kn above the average.

BOSS is currently sailing under the United States of America flag, the most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1655 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near United States of America. For more information regarding BOSS's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Previous Names: GALLANT LADY,M,OZARK LADY,DETROIT EAGLE,ALLEGRA
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Semi-displacement
• Builder: Feadship
• Naval Architect: Frits De Voogt
• Exterior Designer: Frits De Voogt
• Interior Designer: Degeorge & Niedland , Associates In Design
• Refits: 1993,1999

Yacht featured in

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Specifications

Basic information.

• Builder Blue Seas
• Model Hardtop Cruiser
• Category Downeast
• Condition Used
• Fuel Type Diesel
• Hull Material Fiberglass
• LOA 30' 8"
• Number of Engines 1
• Make Cummins
• Power HP 210.00 HP
• Hours 3450.00
• Location Middle

"Miss Boss" 1990 Blue Seas 31'

MISS BOSS is truly a "must see to appreciate" and also a truly "turn key" cruiser we're offering. Having spent much of its life on fresh water, she was purchased by a fastidious owner who really sorted things out nicely and left no component or system untouched, which resulted in a 31' Downeast Cru

Full Description

Notable Updates and Upgrades

• Awlgrip - Flag Blue hull 
• Awlgrip - Sport White decks and super structure 
• Bottom was soda-blasted and an epoxy based barrier coat was applied 
• St. Couix Davit System added 
• Fuel tanks replaced - 2017
• 4 Blade prop balanced and tuned by Accu-Tech 
• Replaced cutlass bearing 2017
• Replaced AC wiring and added Blue Seas AC/DC circuit breaker panel - 2011
• Added Xantrex 100A 2500W Inverter/Charger
• (3) New 12V lead acid batteries to run - windlass, bow-thruster, and engine start 
• (4) 6V Golf Cart Batteries - 440A hours for house system 
• All plumbing hoses were replaced - 2016
• All windows and ports were removed and rebedded - 2017 
• Installed new forward Bomar hatch - 2018
• All engine/transmission hoses and connections replaced - 3,000hrs
• New exhaust elbow and muffler hose installed - 2018
• Complete engine survey performed by "Cummins Northeast" . Said to be in excellent condition - 3,100hrs
• Applied 3M UV blocking film to all salon windows - This is not window tint 

Navigation Equipment

• Garmin 7215 Touch Screen - Radar & GPS 
• Garmin xHD Open Array Radar - 2018
• Garmin Auto-Pilot - Interfaced with Radar and GPS
• Raymarine 9" Hybrid Touch Screen Radar & GPS - 2016
• Raymarine Quantum Radar Dome - 2016
• Rayamrine ST60 - Speed & Depth
• Raymarine ST60 - Windspeed & Direction
• (2) Raymarine Camera's - Fwd on the bow and aft back-down camera
• Standard Horizon Matrix GX3000S with Distress and ram Mic in Cockpit and Hailer Horn
• Echo Max Radar Transponder & AIS
• Ritchie Binnacle Compass
• Stainless Steel Search Light

Additional Information

• (3) windshield wipers
• Fairclough fitted winter cover
• Saltwater washdown in cockpit and run hose forward to bow
• LED dome lights; courtesy lights; red & white LED chart lights
• Four electric bilge pumps; manual bilge pump
• Small Igloo cooler for cockpit
• Custom removable teak cockpit table
• 35 lb CQR anchor with 200' chain
• (3) electric automatic bilge pumps and 1 Edson emergency hand pump, accessible from cockpit (5 total pumps).
• Fenders; docklines
• Fire extinguishers
• Magma propane BBQ grill
• LPG tank in port locker
• Bass LPG solenoid control
• (2) Brazilian Cherry and Canvas deck chairs
• Screens for companionway door
• White Textaline windshield cover and white windshield cover; also, blue Sunbrella windshield cover
• Ocean Air screen and shade cover on forward hatch
• Accumulator tank for water pressure system
• Digital display water counter to monitor fresh water supply

Accommodations

Owner's Stateroom

• V-Berth with filler cushion
• Shelving outboard
• Storage lockers Below
• Custom 2" mattress topper 
• Hanging locker
• All custom teak interior 
• Large Seettee, converts to a double berth (New 2022)
• Large built-In cabinet with chart storage, (3) deep drawers, and 12V/120V Refrigerator
• Steering Station with built-in Capt seat
• Custom built-in companion seat
• Jenson HDTV (DC power) and HD TV antenna 
• Fusion AM/FM/CD stereo with (6) speakers

Galley  

• Portside lower galley with ample storage
• Force 10 LPG cooktop with oven
• Isotherm Cooling Plate
• Stainless steel sink with new Moen faucet
• Spacious enclosed head
• Stainless steel sink with hot & cold pressure water
• New Moen faucet and shower head

Hull & Deck

• Cockpit controls and hydraulic steering on starboard side of cockpit
• Fiberglass swim platform with stainless steel ladder below
• Sunbrella cockpit bimini top
• Stainless steel handrails
• Lewmar electric windlass
• Cummins 6BT5.9, 210 hp diesel, FWC, with 3,450 hours 
• Two Racor 500 fuel filters with 5 micron filters
• 2017   4 bladed prop, balanced and tuned by Accutech
• Custom Algae-X polishing system (completely independent of fuel manifold system); Racor 1000 filter with 10 micron filter
• Kobelt controls
• Stainless steel shaft
• PSS dripless shaft seal
• Fully insulated and custom made engine hatches
• 11.5-12 knots @ 2400 RPM
• Maximum speed: 14 knots @ 2600 RPM 
• Vetus Bow Thruster
• 12V DC & 110V AC electrical systems
• 50' 30 amp shore power cord
• Blue Seas AC/DC circuit breaker panels
• 110V air conditioning in both cabins
• Bus heater runs off engine cooling system
• Xantrex 100 amp 2500w inverter/charger
• Three 12V lead acid batteries to run windlass, bow thruster and engine start
• 4-6V golf cart batteries- 440 amp hours for house system
• 6 gallon hot water heater, off 110V or off the engine

Listing MLS by Yachtr.com

Brewer Yacht Sales is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by DiMillo’s Yacht Sales. It is offered as a convenience by this broker/dealer to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a particular vessel

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"SS Delphine" – A 257-foot Steam Yacht

By: rick casali.

One of the largest private yachts ever built and sailed on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River is the 257-foot steam yacht Delphine . She was built in 1921 for Horace Dodge Sr., co-founder of the Dodge Brothers Automobile Company. The massive yacht was built near Detroit in River Rouge, MI, by the Great Lakes Engineering Co., at a cost of over $2 million.

Delphine is powered by twin quadruple-expansion steam engines that produce 1,500 horsepower each. Mr. Dodge designed these large engines, which still operate the yacht today. They turn only about 150 revolutions per minute, which is awfully slow compared to modern marine engines. And they are said to be quite easy on fuel oil. Delphine cruises at 9 knots and she has a range of about 2,500 nautical miles. She was reported to have a top speed of 15 knots. The yacht carries over 200,000 gallons of fuel oil, as well as over 300,000 gallons of fresh water.

Horace and John Dodge were hugely successful in the automotive business. Initially, they supplied axles, engines, and other components to Henry Ford and other manufacturers.  Eventually, they made the decision to build their own motorcars under the Dodge name, and were known for durable and dependable automobiles, sold at a competitive price. Having accumulated millions of dollars in wealth, they built large mansions in Grosse Pointe, MI, as well as motor yachts – all of which were the result of their ingenuity and driven business habits.

Unfortunately, Horace Dodge and his brother John never got to enjoy or sail on Delphine as they both died of influenza in 1920, after attending the National Automobile Show in New York City. At the time of their deaths, they were only about 55 years of age. Horace’s wife Anna took over control of Delphine, and the Dodge family cruised her through the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, and on the East Coast. While at anchor on the Hudson River in 1926, Delphin e caught fire, and partially sank.  Under Anna’s direction, she was re-floated and restored. In 1940, Delphine struck a rock off Manitoulin Island, ON, in Lake Huron, and again went through some restoration and repairs.

During WW II, the Dodge yacht was requisitioned by the US Navy and was re-named the USS Dauntless.  She became the flagship of Admiral Ernest King, who was Commander-in-Chief of the US Atlantic Fleet. It also reported that during WW II, US President Franklin Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Russian Ambassador Molotov had a secret meeting to discuss war strategy, in the smoking room of the large yacht. Following the war, she was used as a training vessel for steam yachts by the Lundenberg Maryland School of Seamanship. She went through a series of owners over the following 18 years. At one point, she was considered being sold for scrap metal.

Delphine , which was named for Horace and Anna Dodge’s daughter, was ultimately restored, and sold for $22 million.  Another massive five-year restoration from stem to stern was finished in 2003, and was reported to cost 45 million Euros. She was owned by the Tunisian Ineke Brunynooghe – who apparently does not like to fly. Upon completion of the restoration, Princess Stephanie of Monaco re-christened the vessel. Today, she flies the flag of Portugal, and is available for charter.

Delphine has 11 staterooms, which can accommodate 24 guests.  The guest staterooms are 14 by 14 feet, each with a private bath. The owners’ stateroom is 25 by 25 feet. Delphine has a swimming pool, massage suite and spa, a gourmet galley, a small hospital, and about 3,000 square feet of deck space. She has five decks, and originally had a crew of 54. Today, a crew of 32 is the norm. The living spaces in the interior were designed by Tiffany’s. One of her features was the installation of a $60,000 organ. Today, the organ has been replaced by a Steinway grand piano.

In terms of support vessels, Delphine originally had two 20-foot launches for the captain and crew; a 30 foot launch; and a 35-foot express launch for owners and guests that was capable of doing 40 miles per hour. The 1,700-ton vessel has a beam of 36 feet and draws an amazing 14 feet.

Today, Delphine is available for charter in the Mediterranean Sea, and frequents ports in France, Monaco, Italy, and Greece.  This luxury yacht has all the water toys and modern comforts that wealthy charter clients expect. Many Grand Prix drivers have visited Delphine , as she is frequently anchored in Monaco for the famous auto race.

During her history of cruising US waters, it is evident that Delphine transited the St. Lawrence River and Thousand Islands a number of times. Her 14-foot draft would have limited where she could find a berth in the Islands. Mrs. Dodge had good friends in Cape Vincent, and visited them on the Delphine . Alexander and Lucy Rutherford, who owned the Windy Bank estate, entertained Mrs. Dodge on more than one occasion. The property, at the northwest corner of Broadway and Real Streets, and is now owned by David and Sharon Wiley. It is also reported that Mrs. Dodge enjoyed having dinner at the Carleton Hotel, while in the Cape Vincent area aboard the Delphine . The Rutherfords were also entertained by Mrs. Dodge aboard Delphin e on numerous occasions. Her last visit to Cape Vincent was in June, 1955. Mrs. Dodge passed away at her home in Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, on June 2, 1970 at the age of 103.  Thus far, I have not been able to uncover any photos of ports-of-call that Delphine made while in the Thousand Islands or Lake Ontario.

Some say that her design length of 257 feet was limited by the capacity of the Welland canal and locks. In the 1920’s, Delphine was the largest private yacht to pass through the locks. The tragic story of owner Horace Dodge, not ever able to enjoy his nautical dream, reminds me of the story of George Boldt and Boldt Castle. It is ironic how health can change the future, despite incredible wealth.

By Rick Casali

Rick Casali is a resident of Wellesley Island.  During his youth, his parents had a cottage from 1947 to 1970 named The Orchards on Grindstone Island.  Rick now splits his time between Stuart, Florida and the River.  He worked for Columbia Gas System for 29 years, and ran their Washington, DC office. Then in 2000, he started brokering boats and yachts, and continues as a broker with North Point Yacht Sales.  Rick and his wife Anne cruise the River in a Seaway 24 Seafarer named "Miss Annie" and they live on Tennis Island.

Be sure to see more of Rick Casali's tributes and reviews . He had now written over a dozen and they are not only interesting but provide an important historical review of River life.

Posted in: Volume 18, Issue 12, December 2023 , People , History , Places , Sports

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Rick Casali

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Mrs L (ex: Streamline II)

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MRS L yacht NOT for charter*

50.8m  /  166'8 | mondo marine | 2009 / 2021.

Owner & Guests

Cabin Configuration

• 1 Convertible
• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Recently Refitted for chartering
• Fold out balconies
• Cinema lounge can converts into 6th cabin
• Underwater lights

The award winning 50.8m/166'8" motor yacht 'Mrs L' (ex. Streamline) was built by Mondo Marine in Italy at their Savona shipyard. Her interior is styled by Italian designer design house LUCA DINI Design & Architecture and she was completed in 2009. This luxury vessel's exterior design is the work of Cor D. Rover Design and she was last refitted in 2021.

Guest Accommodation

Mrs L has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 suites. She is also capable of carrying up to 12 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

Her features include a movie theatre, satellite communications, gym, deck jacuzzi, WiFi and air conditioning.

Range & Performance

Mrs L is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, with aluminium decks. Powered by twin diesel MTU (12V 4000 M71) 2,480hp engines running at 2000rpm, she comfortably cruises at 15 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 18 knots with a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles from her 85,000 litre fuel tanks at 12 knots. Mrs L features at-anchor stabilizers providing exceptional comfort levels. Her water tanks store around 16,000 Litres of fresh water. She was built to Lloyds Register ✠ 100 A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6 LMC classification society rules, and is MCA Compliant.

*Charter Mrs L Motor Yacht

Motor yacht Mrs L is currently not believed to be available for private Charter. To view similar yachts for charter , or contact your Yacht Charter Broker for information about renting a luxury charter yacht.

Mrs L Yacht Owner, Captain or marketing company

'Yacht Charter Fleet' is a free information service, if your yacht is available for charter please contact us with details and photos and we will update our records.

Mrs L Photos

Mrs L Awards & Nominations

• The World Superyacht Awards 2014 Best Refitted / Rebuilt Yacht Winner

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

M/Y Mrs L

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MASTER LOST AT SEA, YACHT FOUND ADRIFT; OWNER ONE OF 3 HELD; The Nomad, With Helm Unmanned and Out of Control, Seized 18 Miles Off Jersey.TWO OF CREW IN A DAZEForty Liquor Bottles in Cabin --Leland H. Ross, Owner, Says Captain Fell Overboard.LOG OF CRAFT IS MISSING Coast Guard Tows Her to Philadelphia--The Three Men toGet Hearing Today. Ross and His Men Detained. Mrs. Boss Left Craft Last Week. MASTER LOST AT SEA, OWNER ONE OF 3 HELD Fail to Find the Log. Wife Goes to Philadelphia.

Photo Morris Rosenfeld, N.Y.

• April 5, 1929

The leisurely West Indian cruise of the schooner yacht Nomad with its owner, Leland H. Ross, prominent yachtsman, aboard, became a voyage of mystery late Wednesday, it was revealed yesterday, when Coast Guardsmen boarded the craft off the Jersey coast and seized her. View Full Article in Timesmachine »