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Who’s Missing From Sunken Yacht? Tech Mogul Mike Lynch and 5 Others.

Mr. Lynch, the former chief executive of the software firm Autonomy, who was acquitted on fraud charges in June, was with friends and family when the yacht went down in a severe storm.

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Mike Lynch, in a suit and carrying a leather briefcase, is walking toward a building.

By Michael J. de la Merced

Michael de la Merced reported on Mike Lynch’s career and legal battles over the course of 13 years across two continents.

A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea aboard a superyacht was supposed to be a celebratory event for the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , who was acquitted in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

Instead, it turned into a disaster after the yacht, a 180-foot boat called the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily in a violent storm. Of the 22 passengers aboard, 15 were rescued, one body was recovered and six were still missing. Search operations at the site of the sunken yacht were continuing on Tuesday.

Here’s what we know about the passengers.

Mike Lynch and his family

Mr. Lynch, 59, is a British software entrepreneur who had once been described as his country’s Bill Gates. He founded the software firm Autonomy, which analyzed clients’ unorganized data, and turned it into one of the most prominent British technology companies of its time. He became a widely known corporate leader, who advised David Cameron, the British prime minister at the time, and joined the board of the BBC.

In 2011, Mr. Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion, which was far above its market value, earning him hundreds of millions. But HP investors almost immediately soured on the transaction, and the American tech giant quickly fired its chief executive — and then Mr. Lynch.

HP later accused Mr. Lynch of misleading it about the state of Autonomy’s business, setting off a decade-long legal ordeal for the British executive, who denied the accusations. U.S. prosecutors charged him and other executives with fraud, and Autonomy’s chief financial officer was convicted in 2018.

Despite appeals to the British government, Mr. Lynch was extradited to the United States last year and was confined to a townhouse in San Francisco ahead of his criminal trial, which began in March. Facing the possibility of decades in prison if convicted, Mr. Lynch and another colleague were instead acquitted of all charges.

Mr. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, 57, accompanied him on the yacht, and she was rescued on Monday when it sank. She was a consistent presence at his trial in the United States. Records show that she controlled Revtom, the company listed as the owner of the Bayesian.

Hannah Lynch, Mr. Lynch and Ms. Bacares’s 18-year-old daughter, was also on the yacht and was among those who were still missing.

The other guests

Among those unaccounted for is Jonathan Bloomer, 70, chair of Morgan Stanley’s international arm and the chairman of Hiscox, an insurance provider that trades on the London Stock Exchange. His wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, is also listed as missing.

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

Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a New York-based partner at the international law firm Clifford Chance, is also among those missing. A former federal prosecutor who comes from a family of prominent lawyers, Mr. Morvillo represented Mr. Lynch during his criminal trial in San Francisco. His wife, Neda, 57, was with him on the yacht and is also among those confirmed as missing.

“We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” a representative of Clifford Chance said in a statement.

Survivors include Charlotte Golunski, a partner at Mr. Lynch’s venture firm, Invoke Capital; Ms. Golunski’s husband, James Emslie; and their 1-year-old daughter Sophie. Also rescued were Ayla Ronald, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and her partner, Matthew Fletcher.

The yacht had a crew of 10. The body of the chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered from the water, the Sicilian Civil Protection Department said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting, and Kitty Bennett and Susan Campbell Beachy contributed research.

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

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Captain of doomed yacht that capsized off italian coast speaks out as desperate search for survivors is carried out.

The captain of the doomed Bayesian superyacht that capsized off the coast of Italy on Monday said the crew and passengers had no idea a tornado was about to rage through the region until their ship sank.

Captain James Catfield, who piloted the 184-foot, British-flagged luxury yacht, was among the 15 crew members and passengers to survive after the tornado struck Monday before sunrise.

“We didn’t see it coming,” Catfield told Italian newspaper La Repubblica from the hospital, where he was limping due to an injury.

search team

One person, believed to be the on-ship chef, died in the wreck and six people remain missing, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and top New York City lawyer Christopher Morvillo .

Morvillo’s wife, Neda, a jewelry designer, is also one of the six passengers still missing, officials said. 

In addition to the Morvillos and Lynch, the missing include Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, as well as Jonathan Bloomer, a chairman at Morgan Stanley Internationa l, and Bloomer’s wife, Judy.

yacht

What to know after a tornado sank the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily, leaving one dead and six missing:

  • A superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily after a tornado hit the area early Monday, killing one passenger and leaving five others missing — including Michael Lynch, a tech tycoon known as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” officials said.
  • Lynch had invited guests from the legal firm that represented him, Clifford Chance, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage,  according to the Telegraph . 
  • Captain James Catfield, who piloted the 184-foot, British-flagged craft, was among the 15 crew members and passengers to survive after the tornado struck Monday before sunrise.
  • Security camera footage shot from 650 feet from where the  Bayesian sank Monday  shows it slowly disappearing.
  • Italian authorities have said the chances of the passengers surviving the disaster was very small, but “never say never.”

Sunken yacht in Italy

Morvillo, 59, helped Lynch, the owner of the capsized luxury boat, win his fraud trial earlier this year.

Lynch had invited guests from the legal firm that represented him, Clifford Chance, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage, according to the Telegraph . 

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on Aug. 14 and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, according to vessel tracking app Vesselfinder.

search team

Police divers continued their search for the missing passengers Tuesday, focusing on an area some 164 feet underwater, where officials believe people may be trapped.

The search thus far has been slow because the Bayesian sits 50 meters below the surface, where divers can only stay for 12 minutes at a time, fire rescue officials said Tuesday.

Fire officials have said the six people unaccounted for will be referred to as “missing” until they are located in the wreckage. 

With Post wires

search team

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Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank. Was it a 'black swan event'?

Portrait of Cybele Mayes-Osterman

The Bayesian set off on a leisurely cruise around Italy's southern coast on a sunny day in late July.

The luxurious super yacht − which boasted one of the largest masts in the world and carried a crew of business moguls, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his family and a chair of Morgan Stanley − set sail from the Amalfi Coast, bound for Sicily.

Less than a month later, the ship had sunk 160 feet under the water , leaving its cook dead and six of its passengers, including at least two Americans, missing and prompting a massive search that has drawn international attention.

Now, experts are trying to piece together why in the early hours Monday the Bayesian was quickly pulled under the waves amid a storm that saw at least one tornado spin up over the water.

A perfect storm led to Bayesian sinking, experts say

The combination of unlikely factors that could have contributed to the ship's fate constituted a "black swan event," Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told USA TODAY.

The Bayesian was well-built: A 2008 product of Italian ship maker Perini, it was constructed in accordance with international maritime standards and commercially certified by the U.K.'s Maritime and Coastguard Agency, according to Schanck.

The bout of bad weather that swept the area when the ship went down was also out of the ordinary in the northern Mediterranean, "which isn't renowned for prolonged, significant stormy weather," he said.

"The fact that those two elements have then resulted in the foundering of a super yacht is pretty extraordinary," Schanck said. "These things don't happen every day."

After the ship sank just before 5 a.m. local time, 15 people, including a 1-year-old, were pulled from the water. Some were rescued from a life raft by the crew of a ship docked nearby.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook and a native of Antigua, was found dead, according to authorities.

As of Tuesday, six people were missing, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter. Several missing passengers were involved in Lynch's trial on fraud charges, including Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley chair who served as his character witness, and one of Lynch's attorneys. Lynch, accused of fraud after he sold his company to electronics giant Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges weeks ago.

Who is Mike Lynch? UK entrepreneur among those missing after superyacht sinks off Sicily

Tornado formed over unusually hot water

Storms in the area that night may have whipped up a water spout, a tornado over the water , according to local meteorologists.

It was likely triggered by the water's unusual warmth, said Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist who served in the Navy.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence," he said. "But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water."

At 83.7 degrees, water in the area was more than 3 degrees hotter than average on the day the Bayesian sank, likely the result of climate change, Shema said.

"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.

The water spout may have spun up when cooler air dropped from mountainous places nearby onto the hot water, he said. "A water spout is a vortex, basically like a tornado, spinning real fast, sucking up water and moisture as the column rises," he said.

Although water spouts only reach around 120 mph, as compared to tornadoes on land, which can reach up to 300 mph, "you don't need 200 mph to sink a ship," he said.

"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, "which would heel the boat over for sure."

Water spouts spring up suddenly, Shema said. Before they strike, winds can be slow, but "once the water spout comes over, bam, it's on," he said.

Before sunrise, the ship's crew may not have seen the water spout coming. "The visibility was probably a big factor," he said.

With the windows of the yacht opened, as they likely were in the hot weather, the water spout could have triggered water that flooded through the portholes, Shema said, causing the ship to sink.

Tragedy strikes: Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast

Search continues, but shift to recovery phase approaches

Italian authorities said the Bayesian was probably at anchor when the storm struck, meaning it couldn't maneuver and ride the waves, according to Mitchell Stoller, a captain and maritime expert witness. Other ships in the area that turned on their engines rode out the storm, he said.

"When you're at anchor and you see weather, you start your engine and you put the wind on the bow. You don't let it get on the side," he said.

Schanck said another key question concerns the position of the keel, a heavy weight underneath the boat that acts as a counterbalance to keep it upright, when the ship sank. When lifted, "that's going to affect the stability of the vessel, because, obviously, you've now raised the center of gravity of that vessel," he said.

The Bayesian was floating over 160 feet of water at the time, deep enough that the keel would likely be deployed. But the fact that "the vessel heeled over so heavily makes me question that," Schanck said.

The cause of the disaster may not be known until the ship can be examined in more detail, experts say. Prosecutors in a nearby town have already opened an investigation.

Schanck said investigators will have plenty to work with once the operation moves into a recovery phase.

"The vessel is intact and in good condition on the seabed," he said. "There's a lot of eyewitness accounts from other vessels in the area and the shore."

As the search entered its second day on Tuesday, the rescue effort may shift in that direction soon. "I suspect, later on, today or tomorrow, we'll probably see some mention of a recovery operation being stated," Schanck said.

The decision to would depend on whether rescuers find signs of life in the ship and air pockets or survivable spaces, Schanck said. At this point, survivors on the water's surface looks unlikely. "My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.

"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

Bayesian: What we know about the superyacht that sank

The Bayesian, which capsized in the early hours of Monday, was an award-winning yacht owned by a company controlled by the wife of tech tycoon Mike Lynch.

nachtwind yacht owner

News reporter @niamhielynch

Tuesday 20 August 2024 17:23, UK

Pic: Perini Navi

The Bayesian, the award-winning superyacht, sank during a tornado off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday.

The body of one person, Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who was working on the boat, has been found, but six tourists - including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah - remain missing.

Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued along with 14 others - including Charlotte Golunski, a mother who told la Repubblica she held her one-year-old baby above the waves to save her from drowning.

The girl's father James Emsley also survived, according to Salvo Cocina of Sicily's civil protection agency.

Among those unaccounted for are Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at major firm Clifford Chance, Mr Cocina said.

But what do we know about the ship?

The British-flagged 56 metre ship - previously called the Salute - was built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, and refitted in 2020.

More on Superyacht Sinking

Charlotte Golunski

Hero mum slept with baby on deck when storm sank yacht, doctor claims

Rescue personnel work at the scene where a luxury yacht sank, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 20, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane

Superyacht sinking: Friend of tycoon Mike Lynch 'hoping for a miracle' - as divers try to reach cabins of Bayesian

Clockwise: Mike Lynch, Christopher and Neda Morvillo,  Jonathan Bloomer and Stephen Chamberlain. Pics: Linkedin/Patrick McMullan/PA

Key members of Mike Lynch's legal success now centre of tragedy after superyacht sinking

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  • Superyacht sinking

Its 72-metre mast is the world's tallest aluminium mast, and the second tallest overall. The yacht can reach a maximum speed of 15 knots and weighs 543 tonnes.

The French design house Remi Tessier fitted out the Japanese-style interior decor, with touches of light and dark beige and dark wood furnishings, as well as a teak deck.

Pic: Danny Wheelz

It won the best exterior styling at The World Superyacht Awards in 2009, and best interior at the International Superyacht Society Awards 2008.

It has six guest bedrooms - one master, three doubles, and two twins - holding 12 people, and can carry another 10 crew members.

Pictures show air conditioning units in several of the bedrooms, which could counter expert claims open windows may have caused water to rush in and tip the boat over faster.

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nachtwind yacht owner

Shipspotting.com says it is owned by a firm called Revtom Limited. Mike Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, is named as the sole shareholder of the firm on company documents.

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies after being hit by car days before yacht sinking We can learn from Lynch's extradition and unsuccessful prosecution

The yacht's name would resonate with Mr Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune involved a statistical method known as Bayesian inference, based on an 18th-century theory, that helps forecasters predict outcomes more reliably.

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nachtwind yacht owner

The price to charter the yacht is not stated, but similar vessels are listed at around £170,500 a week.

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Six people missing, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, and one dead after tornado sinks luxury yacht off Sicily

R escuers were on Monday searching for six people – including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch – who went missing after a luxury yacht was hit by a tornado and sank off the coast of Sicily, killing one of the 22 people on board.

The vessel was hit by the tornado at around 5 a.m. Monday, according to a spokesperson for Italy’s Coast Guard. The yacht was anchored about a half a mile from the port of Porticello on the Mediterranean island.

Four Britons and two Americans are among those missing, the spokesperson said.

A source told CNN that Lynch, the founder of software giant Autonomy, was a passenger on the yacht. The source spoke to CNN on the condition of anonymity, as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Fifteen people were rescued, including Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, and one child was airlifted to the children’s hospital in Palermo. Eight people were hospitalized in total, according to the mayor’s office. One body was found on the hull of the yacht, the Coast Guard said.

A small waterspout – one of several types of tornadoes – developed over the area Monday morning, according to a report from the European Severe Weather Database. Other strong storms across Sicily brought torrential rainfall late Sunday, dumping more than 4 inches (100 mm) of rain in less than four hours in Brolo, east of Palermo.

The weather forecast had warned of potential strong winds, with storms across the entire southern region of Italy Sunday, the Coast Guard spokesperson added.

One survivor, Charlotte, 35, described how she battled to hold onto her one-year-old daughter, Sofia, reported Italian news agency ANSA, as a barrage of waves sank the yacht.

“In two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she told journalists. “Many were screaming.”

The captain is among the survivors, the spokesperson for Italy’s Coast Guard said.

The 56-meter yacht called the “Bayesian,” which flies under a British flag, had mostly British passengers and crew, in addition to two Anglo-French, one Irish and one Sri Lankan, the spokesperson told CNN. The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade told CNN two of its citizens were involved in the incident, but were not among those still missing. The nationality of the dead person has not been disclosed.

The Italian fire brigade said its divers had reached the yacht’s hull 49 meters (160 feet) below sea level, according to a press statement. The brigade also dispatched helicopters to bolster the search operation.

The captain of a nearby boat said he turned on his engine to avoid crashing into the Bayesian, Reuters reported, as fierce gales swept the area.

“This morning we got this strong gust and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position,” he told reporters on Monday. “After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is deploying a team of four inspectors to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment of the yacht, a source familiar with the operations told CNN. The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not say when the team is expected to arrive in Sicily.

British tycoon among those missing

Lynch, the British entrepreneur missing from the yacht, had been plagued by legal woes since 2011 , when he sold his company to tech firm Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion.

In June, he was acquitted of fraud by a jury in San Francisco, after prosecutors accused him of trying to inflate Autonomy’s revenue in the latest chapter of the legal saga.

He turned ground-breaking research at Cambridge University into the foundation of Autonomy, which became Britain’s biggest software company and a member of the blue-chip FTSE 100 index.

Lynch was lauded by academics and scientists and asked to advise the British government on technology and innovation.

Ownership records held by maritime information service Equasis show that the yacht is owned by the Isle of Man-registered Revtom Limited company. Revtom Limited’s latest annual return from April lists Bacares as its owner.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

CNN’s Catherine Nicholls, Benjamin Brown and Eve Brennan contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

Rescue workers near Palermo, Italy, close to the scene of the incident. - Igor Petyx/Reuters

Luxury yacht that sank off Sicily was carrying people celebrating tech magnate’s acquittal

Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her

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Police divers resumed searching Tuesday for six people believed trapped in the hull of a superyacht that sank in deep seas off Sicily, including a British tech magnate who was celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who had defended him at trial.

Luxury yacht that sank off Sicily was carrying people celebrating tech magnate’s acquittal Back to video

The resting place of their sailboat is some 50 meters (164 feet) underwater off Porticello — a depth that requires special precautions: Rescue crews said they were working in 12-minute shifts, a measure that slowed down their efforts to reach the cramped inside of the wreck.

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  • Global Affairs says Canadian reported dead after yacht capsized off Sicily

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, was moored about a kilometer (a half-mile) offshore when a storm rolled in before 4 a.m. Monday. Civil protection officials said they believed the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her. One body has been recovered, identified by officials as the on-board chef.

Fire rescue officials have said the other six on board will be considered missing until they are located in the wreckage. They include the tycoon Mike Lynch, who was once hailed as Britain’s king of technology and was cleared in June of fraud and conspiracy charges in a U.S. federal trial related to Hewlett Packard’s $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp.

Also unaccounted for are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynch’s lawyers, and Jonathan Bloomer, a chairman at Morgan Stanley International and the former head of the Autonomy audit committee who testified in Lynch’s defense.

Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.

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Karsten Borner, the captain of the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which rescued the survivors who managed to get into a lifeboat, said he was close enough to be able to see the Bayesian as the storm came in.

“A moment later, she was gone,” he said. “They said they went flat on the water and were sunk in two minutes,” Borner added, quoting the survivors.

The rotating search teams, each made up of two specialized cave divers, worked Tuesday to open up access points to get inside the wreck, which lies at a depth far beyond what most recreational divers are certified to reach.

The divers have not yet been able to access the below-deck cabins because they were blocked by furniture that had shifted during the violent storm. Rescue crews said they assume the missing six are in those cabins because the storm struck when most would be sleeping, but the teams haven’t verified their presence there through portholes.

Luca Cari, a spokesman for the rescue teams, said the search was proceeding much more slowly than another big shipwreck in Italy, the 2012 Costa Concordia cruise ship that flipped on its side off Tuscany’s coast, because of the depth of the wreck and the space divers have to maneuver.

“That was much simpler. Here everything is more tight,” he said.

The outing was intended at least in part as a celebration of Lynch’s acquittal and a “looking forward to what was coming next,” said Reid Weingarten, a Washington attorney and a member of Lynch’s defense team who was not on the yacht.

“A lot of people went, a lot of people were planning to go and then of course this happened,” Weingarten said.

Some of the people who stood by Lynch throughout the ordeal were on board, including Morvillo, the lawyer, who Weingarten worked with and said “was like a brother.”

Morvillo’s wife is also missing, according to his law firm Clifford Chance.

Aki Hussain, CEO of international insurer Hiscox Group, where Bloomer, the witness, was chairman, said the company was “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, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation,” he added.

Charlotte Golunski, who survived the disaster, said she momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported.

The father, identified by ANSA as James Emslie, also survived, as did Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. Hannah Lynch, reportedly the couple’s 18-year-old daughter, is among the missing.

The yacht’s registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd., according to online maritime database Equasis. Bacares is listed as Revtom’s sole owner, according to corporate registration documents from the Isle of Man.

Its name, Bayesian, may be a reference to “Bayesian Inference,” one of the two main approaches to statistical machine learning and the one that was used by Lynch’s company.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, was carrying 12 passengers and 10 crew. According to online charter companies, it had been available for charter for 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week and was notable for its massive 75-meter-tall (246-foot-tall) aluminum mast, one of the tallest in the world.

In an unrelated event, Lynch’s co-defendant in the Autonomy trial who was also cleared, Stephen Chamberlain, was killed Sunday when he was hit by a car while running in Cambridgeshire, England, said Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg.

— Winfield reported from Rome. Associated Press writers Eric Tucker in Washington, and Danica Kirka and Kelvin Chan in London, contributed.

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High powered attorney missing in superyacht tragedy with designer wife wrote eerie post before disappearance

New york city lawyer christopher morvillo and his jewelry designer wife neda are among six lost at sea..

Christina Coulter

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A top New York City lawyer and his jewelry designer wife are among the six still unaccounted for after the Bayesian superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily on Monday morning. 

Of the 22 people aboard the 184-foot luxury British vessel , the Bayesian, fifteen were rescued after it overturned amid bad weather conditions - one body was found, and lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo are among the six passengers still unaccounted for.

The Italian coast guard said the sailboat overturned sometime after 5 a.m. off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, where it was anchored. Ten crew members and 12 passengers, including British, American and Canadian nationalities were onboard. 

Before becoming a partner at prestigious law firm Clifford Chance in New York City, 59-year-old Fordham graduate Morvillo was a former federal prosecutor who worked on the investigation of the terror attacks on September 11, 2001, according to his online bio. Currently, he specializes in cases involving insider trading and corporate fraud. 

BRITISH TECH ENTREPRENEUR, AMERICANS AMONG MISSING AFTER YACHT SINKS OFF ITALIAN COAST, KILLING AT LEAST 1

Christopher and Neda Morvillo

Neda Morvillo and Chris Morvillo attend Summer Birthday Cocktails For Lawrence Kaplan at Tower 270 - Rooftop on June 21, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)

Morvillo most recently represented British tech tycoon billionaire Mike Lynch, the owner of the capsized Bayesian who is still missing along with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, in a fraud trial. Lynch was accused of fraud related to Hewlett Packard's acquisition of his company, Autonomy. 

Morvillo, who owns residences in New York City and South Kent, celebrated Lynch's June 6 acquittal on LinkedIn in one of his final social media posts before the luxury boat accident, eerily writing that his family would live "happily ever after." 

"A huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant and beautiful daughters, Sabrino Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo," he wrote after thanking the legal team that helped in Lynch's legal success.

YACHT EXPERT BREAKS DOWN LUXURY SUPERYACHT TRAGEDY AFTER BOAT CAPSIZES IN FREAK STORM: 'ALWAYS LIMITS'

Bayesian before sinking

This picture taken at around 20.00gmt on Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, shows the UK's vessel Bayesian, left, and the Duch sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell at anchor off the Sicilian village of Porticello near Palermo, in southern Italy.  (Fabio La Bianca/Baia Santa Nicolicchia via AP)

Criminal defense lawyer and podcast host David Oscar Markus interviewed Morvillo last week, describing him as a "superstar lawyer" in a blog post. 

"Chris dedicated over a decade of his career to obtaining justice for Mike Lynch," Markus wrote. "He got it and then for this to happen.... it's tough to find the right words."

Lynch's acquittal "end[ed] a 13-year legal battle, regarded as one of Silicon Valley's biggest-ever fraud cases," Clifford Chance wrote in a press release. 

"The verdict closes the book on a relentless 13-year effort to pin HP's well-documented ineptitude on Dr. Lynch," the firm wrote. "Thankfully, the truth has finally prevailed. We thank Dr. Lynch for his trust throughout this ordeal and hope that he can now return home to England to resume his life and continue innovating." 

At the end of the statement, Lynch hauntingly said that he was "looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field." 

MORGAN STANLEY INTERNATIONAL CHAIRMAN, WIFE AND 4 OTHERS STILL MISSING AFTER LUXURY YACHT SINKS OFF SICILY

Emergency services carry a body bag

Emergency services carry a body bag after a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday, off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Igor Petyx)

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Clifford Chance wrote that they were "in shock" and "deeply saddened by the tragic incident," and that their thoughts are with the Morvillo couple and their families. 

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helicopter and boat off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy

Emergency and rescue services work near the scene where a sailboat sank in the early hours of Monday off the coast of Porticello, near the Sicilian city of Palermo, Italy, August 19, 2024. (REUTERS/Igor Petyx)

"Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner, thankfully survived the incident," the firm's communication head Kane Dowsett wrote. "Our thoughts extend to the other passengers and crew and all those affected. We have no further comment at this time. We, and the families, ask that their request for privacy is honored during this period."

Morvillo's wife, Neda, owns a luxury jewelry line under her maiden name, Neda Nassiri. She has been designing and hand-crafting jewelry in New York for over two decades, per her website.

Fox News Digital's Pilar Arias contributed to this report.

Christina Coulter is a U.S. and World reporter for Fox News Digital. Email story tips to [email protected] .

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Who Owns Which Superyacht? (A Complete Guide)

nachtwind yacht owner

Have you ever wondered who owns the most luxurious, extravagant, and expensive superyachts? Or how much these lavish vessels are worth? In this complete guide, we’ll explore who owns these magnificent vessels, what amenities they hold, and the cost of these incredible yachts.

We’ll also take a look at some of the most expensive superyachts in the world and the notable people behind them.

Get ready to explore the world of superyachts and the people who own them!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

The ownership of superyachts is generally private, so the exact answer to who owns which superyacht is not always publicly available.

However, there are some notable superyacht owners that are known.

For example, Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle, owns the Rising Sun, which is the 11th largest superyacht in the world.

Other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

Overview of Superyachts

The term superyacht refers to a large, expensive recreational boat that is typically owned by the worlds wealthy elite.

These vessels are designed for luxury cruising and typically range in size from 24 meters to over 150 meters, with some even larger.

Superyachts usually feature extensive amenities and creature comforts, such as swimming pools, outdoor bars, movie theaters, helipads, and spas.

Superyachts can range in price from $30 million to an astonishingly high $400 million.

Like most luxury items, the ownership of a superyacht is a status symbol for those who can afford it.

The list of superyacht owners reads like a whos who of billionaires, with names like Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

While some superyacht owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extravagant amenities.

Some of the most famous superyachts feature swimming pools, private beaches, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and luxurious spas.

In conclusion, owning a superyacht is an exclusive status symbol for the world’s wealthy elite.

These vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million, and feature some of the most luxurious amenities imaginable.

Notable owners include the Emir of Qatar, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Who are the Owners of Superyachts?

nachtwind yacht owner

From Hollywood celebrities to tech billionaires, superyacht owners come from all walks of life.

Many of the most well-known owners are billionaires, including Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

Other notable owners include Hollywood stars such as Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp.

However, not all superyacht owners are wealthy.

Many are everyday people who have worked hard and saved up to purchase their dream vessel.

Other notable billionaire owners include Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, and former US President Donald Trump.

These luxurious vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from $30 million to over $400 million.

For many superyacht owners, their vessels serve as a status symbol of wealth and luxury.

Some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, while others have made headlines with their extensive amenities – from swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas.

Many of these yachts are designed to the owner’s exact specifications, ensuring that each one is totally unique and reflects the owner’s individual tastes and personality.

Owning a superyacht is an exclusive club, reserved for those with the means and the desire to experience the ultimate in luxury.

Whether they are billionaires or everyday people, superyacht owners are all united in their love of the sea and their appreciation for the finer things in life.

The Most Expensive Superyacht in the World

When it comes to superyachts, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, certainly knows how to make a statement.

His luxury vessel, the 463-foot Al Mirqab, holds the title of the world’s most expensive superyacht.

Built in 2008 by German shipbuilder Peters Werft, this impressive yacht is complete with 10 luxurious cabins, a conference room, cinema, and all the amenities one would expect from a vessel of this magnitude.

In addition, the Al Mirqab features a helipad, swimming pool, and even an outdoor Jacuzzi.

With a price tag of over $400 million, the Al Mirqab is one of the most expensive yachts in the world.

In addition to the Emir of Qatar, there are several other notable owners of superyachts.

Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos all own luxurious vessels.

Bezos yacht, the aptly named The Flying Fox, is one of the longest superyachts in the world at a staggering 414 feet in length.

The Flying Fox also comes with a host of amenities, such as a helipad, swimming pool, spa, and multiple outdoor entertaining areas.

Bezos also reportedly spent over $400 million on the vessel.

Other notable owners of superyachts include Saudi Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who owns the $200 million Kingdom 5KR, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison, who owns the $200 million Rising Sun.

There are also many lesser-known owners, such as hedge-fund manager Ken Griffin, who owns the $150 million Aviva, and investor Sir Philip Green, who owns the $100 million Lionheart.

No matter who owns them, superyachts are sure to turn heads.

With their impressive size, luxurious amenities, and hefty price tags, these vessels have become a symbol of wealth and prestige.

Whether its the Emir of Qatar or a lesser-known owner, the worlds superyacht owners are sure to make a statement.

Notable Superyacht Owners

nachtwind yacht owner

When it comes to the wealthiest and most luxurious owners of superyachts, the list reads like a whos who of the worlds billionaires.

At the top of the list is the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who holds the distinction of owning the most expensive superyacht in the world.

Aside from the Emir, other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

All of these owners have made headlines with their extravagant vessels, which are typically priced between $30 million and $400 million.

The amenities that come with these vessels vary greatly from owner to owner, but they almost always include luxurious swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, and spas.

Some owners opt for more extravagant features, such as submarines, personal submarines, and even their own personal submarines! Other owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye, but for those who prefer a more showy approach, they can certainly make a statement with a superyacht.

No matter who owns the vessel, it’s no surprise that these superyachts are a status symbol among the world’s wealthiest.

Whether you’re trying to impress your peers or just looking to enjoy a luxurious outing, owning a superyacht is the ultimate way to show off your wealth.

What Amenities are Included on Superyachts?

Owning a superyacht is a sign of wealth and prestige, and many of the worlds most prominent billionaires have their own vessels.

The most expensive superyacht in the world is owned by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while other notable owners include Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.

The cost of a superyacht can range from $30 million to over $400 million, but the price tag doesnt quite capture the sheer extravagance and amenities of these vessels.

Superyachts come with all the comforts of home, and then some.

Many owners will equip their vessels with swimming pools, helicopter pads, on-board cinemas, spas, and other luxury amenities.

The interior of a superyacht can be custom-designed to the owners specifications.

Some owners opt for modern, sleek designs, while others prefer a more traditional look.

Many of the most luxurious yachts feature marble floors, walk-in closets, and custom-made furniture.

Some vessels even come with a full-service gym, complete with exercise equipment and trained professionals.

Other amenities may include a library, casino, media room, and private bar.

When it comes to outdoor amenities, superyachts have some of the most impressive features in the world.

Many yachts come with outdoor entertainment areas, complete with full kitchens, dining rooms, and lounge areas.

Some owners even opt for hot tubs or jacuzzis for relaxing afternoons in the sun.

And, of course, there are the jet skis, water slides, and other exciting water activities that come with many of these vessels.

No matter what amenities a superyacht has, it is sure to be an experience like no other.

From the sleek interiors to the luxurious outdoor features, these vessels provide a unique, luxurious experience that is unrivaled on land.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing escape or an exciting adventure, a superyacht is sure to provide.

How Much Do Superyachts Cost?

nachtwind yacht owner

When it comes to superyachts, the sky is the limit when it comes to cost.

These luxury vessels come with hefty price tags that can range from anywhere between $30 million to over $400 million.

So, if youre in the market for a superyacht, youre looking at an investment that could easily break the bank.

The cost of a superyacht is driven by a variety of factors, including size, amenities, and customization.

Generally, the larger the yacht, the more expensive it will be.

Superyachts typically range in size from 100 feet to over 200 feet, and they can be as wide as 40 feet.

The bigger the yacht, the more luxurious features and amenities it will have.

Amenities also play a significant role in the cost of a superyacht.

While some owners prefer to keep their yachts out of the public eye, others have made headlines with their extensive amenities.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, the sky is the limit when it comes to customizing a superyacht.

The more amenities a superyacht has, the more expensive it will be.

Finally, customization is another major factor that will drive up the cost of a superyacht.

Many luxury vessels have custom-designed interiors that are tailored to the owners tastes.

From custom furniture and artwork to lighting and audio systems, the cost of a superyacht can quickly escalate depending on the level of customization.

In short, the cost of a superyacht can vary widely depending on its size, amenities, and customization.

While some may be able to get away with spending a few million dollars, others may end up spending hundreds of millions of dollars on their dream yacht.

No matter what your budget is, its important to do your research and find out exactly what youre getting for your money before signing on the dotted line.

Keeping Superyachts Out of the Public Eye

When it comes to owning a superyacht, some owners prefer to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

Understandably, these individuals are concerned with privacy and discretion, and therefore tend to take measures to ensure their yachts are not visible to outsiders.

For instance, some superyacht owners opt to keep their vessels in private marinas, away from the public areas of larger ports.

Additionally, some yacht owners may choose to hire security guards to patrol and protect their vessels while they are moored or sailing.

In addition to physical security, some superyacht owners also use technology to keep their vessels out of the public eye.

For example, a yacht owner may choose to install a satellite-based communications system that allows them to keep their vessel completely off-radar.

This system works by bouncing signals off satellites rather than transmitting them, making it virtually impossible for anyone to track the yachts movements.

Finally, some superyacht owners also choose to limit the number of people who have access to their vessels.

For instance, the owner may only allow family members and close friends to board the yacht.

Additionally, the owner may choose to employ a limited number of staff to help maintain the vessel and keep it running smoothly.

These individuals may be required to sign non-disclosure agreements to ensure they do not disclose any information about the yacht or its owner.

Overall, while some superyacht owners may choose to keep their vessels out of the public eye, there are still plenty of other ways to show off the opulence associated with owning a superyacht.

From swimming pools and helicopter pads to on-board cinemas and spas, there are many luxurious amenities that can make a superyacht the envy of any jet setter.

Final Thoughts

Superyachts are a symbol of luxury and status, and the list of yacht owners reads like a who’s who of billionaires.

From the Emir of Qatar’s world-record breaking $400 million yacht to Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s vessel with a helicopter pad and on-board spa, the amenities of these luxury vessels are truly stunning.

With prices ranging from $30 million to over $400 million, owning a superyacht is an expensive endeavor.

Whether you’re looking to purchase one or just curious to learn more about the owners and their amenities, this guide will provide you with all the information you need to stay up to date with the superyacht scene.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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On board with Bob and Amy Book, owners of 47m superyacht Book Ends

Having gone two years without a yacht, superyacht owners Bob and Amy Book are making up for lost time. They have crossed the Atlantic to explore the Med – and meet new friends along the way, as they explain to Risa Merl...

“Yachting defies common sense. It's really irrational when you think about it; a deep-rooted love,” says Bob Book, owner of 47 metre Heesen Book Ends , his 17th yacht of that name.

It was in the middle of their honeymoon more than 40 years ago in Acapulco, Mexico, that Book and his wife Amy discovered their passion for boating. The newly-weds went out on a little five metre boat along the coast, and Book was instantly smitten. “I went back every day until I got sun poisoning. I’m on my honeymoon in this very romantic place, and I couldn’t do anything! Good introduction to boating, right?” Book says with a laugh. Back home in New York, Book wasted no time and bought his first boat.

“It was a 25ft single screw. It had a mustard hull and yellow seats. Amy named it Book Ends , which has stuck all these years,” says Book. “I was the captain and she was my first mate. And we had no idea what we were doing.

”Since that time, the Books have become seasoned sailors, owning ever-larger Book Ends , including a Westport 112 and a 40 metre before their new Heesen. The maiden voyage of the first little yellow Book Ends was a short mosey down the Hudson River and around the Statue of Liberty. For second-generation Americans, whose grandparents arrived at Ellis Island as immigrants escaping troubles in Europe, seeing Lady Liberty from this perspective brought tears to Bob and Amy’s eyes. “Our grandparents arrived in steerage, and here we were in our own boat, living the American Dream,” says Book.

Truth be told, Bob Book is the American Dream incarnate. Born the son of a rabbi and raised on New York’s Lower East Side, Book’s idea of boating as a child was riding the Staten Island Ferry, which cost five cents. But a little ingenuity propelled him from immigrant’s son to serial entrepreneur before he even graduated from college.

“My first business was an accident,” Book says. He was attending NYU in 1970 and discovered there were 21 colleges and universities within the five boroughs of New York City and all were suffering from student housing shortages. The city was also at the height of its financial crisis and hotels were “in the doghouse”, as Book puts it, reporting less than 50 per cent occupancy. He saw an opportunity, and at only 19 he started his first business, a student housing company that worked with hotels to rent unused rooms to students. This expanded to offer rooms to young professionals as well, with its reach soon growing across the country and the world.

Book’s next business was a natural evolution. “I had thousands of students in lots of different hotels, and half of them couldn’t pay the rent each month,” he says. “So I started a temp service to find them jobs.” One of the students who was constantly broke was particularly good at making sandwiches, so Book came up with an angle. “Around 11 o’clock every night, I’d send him to all the rooms in hotels – just about the time when the kids would start getting the munchies because they were smoking grass – and he’d sell out his sandwiches every night!”

By the time Book graduated, the temp service was going strong, so he and a business partner started an employment agency. This was just the beginning of a long list of successful businesses that he has helmed over the years. A decade ago, he acquired what’s currently his biggest company, Jet Support Services, Inc (JSSI), the world’s top independent provider of aircraft maintenance programmes. Book is the chairman and one of his two sons, Neil, serves as CEO. JSSI has headquarters in Europe, Asia and Chicago, where Neil keeps his own boat on Lake Michigan.

“That’s his third boat in three years, so he’s following in my footsteps,” Book says, beaming with pride. “The first two boats were Sea Rays. Next year I think he’ll move into a 22.8 metre Viking ; and my grandson Sidney, who’s six, loves it!”

Being able to pass down the love of yachting to their children and grandchildren is part of the joy of yacht ownership for the Books. “Yachting is also a great way to keep your family together,” says Amy. “You know, ‘if you build it, they will come’? Well, if you have a boat, your family comes and spends time with you! It’s the best.”

Spending time on board with family and friends – and meeting new friends along the way – is a big part of the attraction for the Books. Every summer for seven years, they would rendezvous with their good friends, the owners of the 61 metre Hakvoort Just J’s . Before the summer of 2017, Book received a call from the owner of Just J’s saying he was planning to move the boat from Newport to the Med for the summer. “He asked me, ‘are you sure you’re going to have a boat by this summer?’” Book recalls.

The Books had found themselves in a rather unusual place – without a superyacht. Their previous Book Ends , a 40 metre Westport, had sold surprisingly swiftly, and they were in the middle of a two-year shopping trip to find the perfect yacht, one that would have the range and space they desired to go further afield than their usual cruising grounds of the Eastern Seaboard and Bahamas.

“I was in every shipyard in Europe for two years and spent almost $2 million shopping for a boat,” Book says, explaining he had marine surveyor Ian Kerr check out any boat he was serious about. “If you do it right, that’s a couple hundred thousand bucks. I would frankly never buy or build a boat without Ian overseeing it.”

When the owner of Just J’s called again to ask if he’d have a boat in time, Book responded positively, thinking he was about to close a deal. “But that deal blew up over lunch, and that’s when Thom Conboy [of Heesen Yachts] called me,” says Book. “I had just stepped out of the lunch and Thom said, ‘what’s it going to take to get you in this 47 metre?’” Book had been to Heesen on his yacht shopping tour, but because they were originally after a 55 metre, the 47 metre in build at the Dutch yard hadn’t caught their attention. “It was like divine intervention – we agreed on a price and 48 hours later I was in the shed.” In less than a month, they took delivery, just in time to join Just J’s in the Med.

The new Book Ends ticked a lot of the boxes – steel hull, long range, good storage – but it didn’t exactly match their preferred interior style. The Books like to have a simple base to personalise, and since taking delivery they’ve worked to tone down some aspects of the original design, adding simpler joinery, more white carpets and removing superfluous furnishings, all the while adding their signature bright orange hue and bold artwork, much collected on their travels.

In Portofino they bought pieces from a local artist, who they invited over for breakfast the next day. “He said no one had ever invited him on board before,” Book says. “And now I’m trying to arrange an exhibition for him in the States.”

Meeting new people, whether it’s the couple on the yacht next door in La Spezia or locals in the Med or Bahamas, is what keeps the Books interested. They prefer this over “seeing and being seen”. “Our favourite places might be places that not everyone likes,” says Amy. “Capri is beautiful, but it was not what we wanted. Because we were there in the summer, it was like Times Square on New Year’s Eve. We like places where we can walk around, where we can really talk to people. We’ve made so many friends because of the boat.”

During their six weeks in the Med, the Books particularly fell for Italy, and among their favourite spots were Elba and Forte dei Marmi. The latter is the home of their good friend Andrea Bocelli , who helped the couple find a new captain, and one of their favourite restaurants, Santa Monica, is nearby in Viareggio.

Though the Books value the friendships they’ve made, the yachting life is also filled with a healthy dose of competition. They own a Viking 62 sportfisher and are about to take delivery of a Viking 72. The Vikings, named Book Ends Team Hookers, are put to work in fishing tournaments along the US East Coast and in the Bahamas. Book says fishing itself is boring – it’s the tournament atmosphere and meeting people from all walks of life that he enjoys. “I love the competition,” he says. “I have a great team whoall want to win. There’s an old expression, ‘show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser’. So the fishing is always competitive, and it’s a lot of fun.” Book heads to Bahamas-based tournaments with a fleet – Book Ends serving as the mothership while the Viking and his Scout 42 head out to the fishing grounds.

Bob and Amy plan to spend even more time on board this summer. Book relishes the fact that he can work from his on board office. “Nobody knows where I am! We could have a board meeting and they just assume I’m in the office – no one knows I’m really in Italy.”

It’s not all been unalloyed good times, but the Books are experienced enough to know that peaks always follow troughs. “So many times I’ve said I’m getting out, it’s just not worth it; it’s so much stress, it’s so expensive and so many things can go wrong – and they usually do in boating,” Book says. “But then you have a summer like we had, six weeks cruising all over the Med and discovering places. You know if you leave it, you wouldn’t be sitting here, you’d be sitting on a couch somewhere watching a football game.”

Amy adds: “And we would never have gone to some of these places without the boat. Even if people do go by land, there’s no comparison to seeing these places from the water and having your home with you.”

Images: Shutterstock; Jeff Brown/Breed Media; Adam Pass; Tiziano Canu; Andrea Pisapia; Charlie Clark

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Comings and goings in halifax harbour.

Halifax Shipping News.ca

The Mega Yacht Night Howl Moved out into the harbour to land a Helicopter this afternoon. Not something you see every day.

The AS-50 Helicopter departed Danbury Connecticut on Saturday, Arriving at YHZ on Sunday morning, before making a 10 minute flight to the yacht just after 3pm.

nachtwind yacht owner

Night Howl is owned by Rich Handler, who is CEO of the investment firm Jefferies. he purchased the yacht earlier this year for 65million, selling stock in the firm to fund the purchase. The yacht was reportedly previously owned by Tilman Fertitta, who’s worth $11.8 billion, is best known for operating the Golden Nugget casinos and owning the Houston Rockets

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Big Frog 104

Billionaire’s $180 Million Yacht Making Waves in Upstate New York

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Now that's a boat!

It's actually the DreAMBoat and it's been making waves all summer as it sails the St Lawrence River.

The massive yacht is worth $180 million and is one of the biggest privately owned boats seen in the Thousand Islands

The DreAMBoat is owned by the billionaire entrepreneur, Arthur Blank, who is the  founder of Home Depot and the owner of the NFL team Atlanta Falcons.

READ MORE: St Lawrence Barge Yacht Takes Living on Water to Next Level

The beauty was built in the Netherlands and set sail for the first time in 2019. It's big enough for 23 guests in 11 cabins. There are 16 additional rooms for the 33 crew members working onboard.

The yacht features a custom interior with a swimming pool and a jacuzzi on the sun deck.

Costly to Run

The Dre AMB oat is was named to include Arthur Blank's initials. It costs $16 million to run every year but when you have a net worth of $6.2 billion, what's 16 million right?!

READ MORE: MLB Owner's Majestic $70 Million Super Yacht Sails Through St Lawrence River

Thousand island yachts.

This isn't the first time a beautiful yacht has been seen sailing through Central and Upstate New York. The New Secret, a $24 million boat was also seen in the Thousand Islands and the Andiamo sails through Sylvan Beach every summer on its way to Michigan.

Big Frog 104 logo

Inside Staggering $24 Million New Secret Yacht Seen in Thousand Islands

Gallery Credit: Credit - Polly McAdams

16 Million Dollar Yacht In Sylvan Beach

Gallery Credit: Cindy McMullen

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Chilly August in New York? Whiteface Feels Like Winter’s Already Here!

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