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YACHT CREW RECRUITMENT AGENCY

Your yachting career begins here, looking for work, looking for crew, building high-performing teams   , years of expertly matching yacht crew with the right opportunities and assisting clients in building their yacht teams., the leading global yacht crew recruitment agency.

Established in 2002, YPI CREW has been connecting people with their dream careers on board superyachts for over two decades. Our purpose is to allow new generations to discover yachting, whilst also helping seasoned crew to advance their career and develop their talents.

Our recruiters are solution driven; they have a voice, an opinion, and champion their candidates for the right jobs on the best yachts. 

From our home in the yachting capital of Antibes on the French Côte d'Azur, we source and recruit the best yacht crew worldwide. Our recruitment experts connect the best talent, from deckhands to captains, engineers, chefs and interior crew with every yacht we work with.

We build united, high-performing crew able to deliver the ultimate guest experience on board yachts all over the world and, simultaneously, allow the fostering of new life experiences.

YPI CREW are proud to be part of the esteemed  Schulte Group , a global ship owning and management company with over 135 years of expertise in the commercial maritime industry.

YPI CREW TEAM

Meet your yacht recruitment team.

Customized Care, Every Step of the Way

YPI CREW is a bespoke recruitment agency with a team of expert recruiters who hand pick the best suited candidates for each yacht.

Operating Under the Values of Partnership & Trust

Partnership and Trust are the core values that guide us in our relationships with each other, our candidates and our clients.

MLC Registered and Compliant

We are MLC 2006 compliant and to illustrate best practice, YPI CREW is independently audited by Lloyds Register.

What makes YPI CREW stand out?

Our recruiters are our strength; they are the absolute experts in their field. Each recruiter is a specialist in their particular department and has years of experience through which they have built strong networks making them the preeminent authority in the business.

ASSISTING YACHT CREW IN FINDING THEIR IDEAL JOB

We champion our candidates and guide them throughout their yachting career.

FINDING QUALIFIED CREW FOR LUXURY YACHTS

We select and present the best candidates to join your team.

I have worked with YPI CREW for almost 20 years now, both on a personal level finding work and placing me on yachts, as well as finding new crew for the various vessels I have worked on. Jacqui and her Engineering Team assisted in crewing a 90m motor yacht from build in which we kept the same 8x rotational engineers for 5+ years. That’s a true sign of finding the right individuals for the correct yacht & existing crew.

Chief Engineer Daniel Greer

FEATURED ARTICLES

News from the yachting community.

Olympic Grit and Resilience: What Yacht Crew Can Learn from Elite Athletes

YPI CREW Announces its 2024 Superyacht Recruitment Market Report

Mind the Gaps: How to Explain Employment Breaks on Your Yacht Crew CV

YACHT CREW GUIDES

Learn about different positions on board a yacht.

FIND CREW FOR YOUR YACHT

Yachting organisations, ypi crew is an active member of the following associations.

Let’s get started. Call us on +33 (0)4 92 90 46 10 or email us.

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Opportunities don't happen, you create them

Looking for work, need household staff, current openings.

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Founded in 2007, Marinescence had been carefully gaining experience and became one of the leading players in yacht crew recruitment . Operating on a worldwide platform we collected extensive database of candidates which allows us to comply with any specific request of our valued customers fast. Our recruitment process is based on trust and knowledge. We have helped thousands of people to find their dream job and to make career on board. Our yachting background allowed us to expand our scope and to offer recruitment of domestic staff to our clients anywhere in the world.

The Marinescence Method

A general overview of our recruitment process.

All the recruiters of our agency are permanently on watch on the whole yachting market and it main areas of influence.

We understand well the needs of our clients and adapt fast to the changing requirements.

We give advices in order to specify requirements for the desired profile.

We stay in touch with our clients not only during recruitment process but also throughout all the contract period.

Success based on trust and reliance

Since 2007 Marinescence offers recruitment and HR services in yacht industry. Every year more and more customers all over the world trust in us.

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Our office is open from Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm

AHOY! Crew Agency

Ahoy! International is a leading yacht recruitment agency, providing crew for luxury yachts worldwide. 

There are dozens of crew placement agencies around the world so why Ahoy?

At Ahoy Crew, we pride ourselves on being a trusted and reputable agency in the maritime industry.

We see our core strengths in bespoke, tailored approach to recruiting, headhunting and placement on behalf of our clients.

Our extensive database of contacts and industry connections is our competitive advantage allowing us to connect the right person with the right superyacht.

Once Ahoy, always Ahoy!

Our Top Vacancies

Being extremely well integrated into the industry means to receive requests for candidates on a daily basis. Our list of vacancies varies from new builds and refits to vessels with intense cruising and racing schedules as well as to the requests for proper gardienage. Here are just the top three of this week

Tatiana K. Lüders

Managing Director

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +49 17667267031

Maya Vinograd

E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +34 655 927 783

Yacht Crew Job Board

With Bluewater's expertise in crew training and yacht crew recruitment, finding your ideal yacht crew vacancy is simple. We offer yacht management services to a variety of exclusive superyachts. Our team excels in sourcing top-notch yacht crew positions, spanning from 25-meter private yachts in the Bahamas to 50-metre charter yachts in the Mediterranean to luxurious 100+ metre superyachts navigating the globe extensively.

48 yacht crew jobs available now.

Yacht Crew Training

Alongside sourcing the latest yacht crew jobs worldwide, Bluewater offers a range of specialised yacht crew training courses. Whether you're new to the superyacht industry seeking entry-level qualifications, an experienced deckhand or engineer aiming to advance your career, or a dedicated crew member looking to enhance your resume with certifications like HELM (Human Element Leadership and Management), Yachtmaster, or OOW (Officer of the Watch), explore our comprehensive yacht crew training options.

Working on a Luxury Yacht

Working as a crew member on a superyacht is undeniably one of the most rewarding yet demanding professions, calling for hard work, dedication, and professional training. The opportunities within the yachting industry are vast, and at Bluewater, we are committed to helping every crew member discover their ideal yacht crew position. Our recruitment division focuses on finding the perfect yacht for crew members and provides unparalleled professional support. Our recruitment experts guide crew members through every step of their yachting career journey, ensuring they receive the best possible assistance.

Manage Your Yacht Career

Whether you're seeking a yacht crew position as a deckhand, engineer, onboard masseuse, stewardess, chef, chief stewardess, purser, first officer, or captain, take control of your yacht career. Create a profile and join one of the world's largest yachting communities for free.

48 JOBS FOUND

• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, Food Hygiene Level 2
• Experience: 3 Years +
• Salary: 4500EUR
• Qualifications: Master 200gt
• Experience: 5 years as Captain/Engineer
• Salary: Attractive salary (doe)
• Rotational 2:2
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1, FHL2
• Experience: 18 months as chief stew
• Salary: $7000
• Experience: 2 Seasons +
• Salary: 2500 euros
• Qualifications: STCW, ENG1
• Experience: 1 Season +
• Salary: DOE
• Experience: Open
• Salary: 4500€
• Qualifications: Yachtmaster Offshore
• Experience: 2 Years +
• Temporary (5 Days)
• Qualifications: Y2
• Qualifications: OOW 3000GT
• Experience: in a similar position
• Salary: 5000 EUR

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Yacht Crew International – A Premier Yachting Agency

At YCI, we are dedicated to connecting talented individuals with exciting opportunities in the yachting industry. As a premier employment agency, we pride ourselves on our extensive network, industry expertise, and personalized approach to helping both employers and job seekers achieve their goals.

Our experienced team works tirelessly to understand the unique needs of our clients, whether they are seeking qualified crew members or searching for the perfect job. We leverage our deep industry knowledge and strong relationships to facilitate seamless placements, ensuring a mutually beneficial outcome for all parties involved.

With a focus on professionalism and integrity, YCI has built a reputation for excellence within the yachting community. We are committed to providing exceptional service and tailored solutions to meet the evolving needs of our clients.

Our extensive database of skilled and experienced candidates, combined with our rigorous screening process, enables us to identify the best-fit individuals for each role. We take pride in our ability to connect the right people with the right opportunities, fostering long-lasting and successful partnerships.

Renew Your Certificate

Recreational courses, superyacht courses, choose your location.

There is an IYT school on six continents. Begin training in the Mediterranean and finish in the Caribbean. Wherever you choose to be! IYT’s unique modular approach to yacht training has allowed the successful establishment of global partner schools offering a broad range of recreational and professional courses.

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QUALITY RECRUITMENT, MADE SIMPLE

International yachting recruitment, i need crew, i want a job.

The Bester Crew is an International Yacht crew recruitment team based in Barcelona, that pride themselves in efficiently delivering quality crew who will become valuable and long lasting members of your vessel.

What’s extraordinary about us is that our recruiters are experienced yachties who have made it to HODs , that take time off to daywork on multiple vessels not only constantly meeting crew and their work ethics , but keeping our network alive and up to date. So at the end of the day, we make sure we are introducing top of the tier not only professionals but genuine people who will be joining your family. This highly reduces the risks and costs of having to search for someone again.

NEW AVAILABLE POSITIONS

Second stewardess.

Vessel: 75m Private / Charter MY. Itinerary: Dual season. Start date: 30th August. Salary: 4500€....

Vessel: 80m Private MY. Itinerary: Dual season Start date: 10th September. Salary: 9000€. | 2:2 r...

CHIEF OFFICER

Vessel: 70m MY Private. Itinerary: Crossing to Florida. Start date: 5th of September. Salary: 750...

Vessel: 60m MY Private / Charter. Itinerary: Dual season. Start date: 10th of September. Salary: ...

Experienced Deckhand

Vessel: 55m MY Private/ Charter. Itinerary: Crossing to Florida. Start date: 29th of August. Sala...

Vessel: 30m Private MY. Itinerary: Ibiza, Monaco, Italy, Turkey. Start date: ASAP. Salary: 4000€....

Vessel: 60m Private / Charter. Itinerary: Off the beaten track. Start date: 15th August Salary: 7...

Engineering

CHIEF ENGINEER

Vessel: 45m Private / Charter. Itinerary: TBC. Start date: 15th August Salary: DOE. Skills: Y3. V...

TEMP SENIOR SERVICE STEW - POSITION FILLED

Vessel: 100m Private. Itinerary: Dual season. Start date: 2nd August - 6th September. Salary: 500...

TESTIMONIALS

Kenneth clark.

Junior Deckhand 60m Private, Charter MY Jaguar

Judith offered me an outstanding support in my journey into the industry. I will be forever thankful! Highly personalised treatment, would 100% recommend. I'm 19 and on a boat now!

Charlie White

Bosun 55 m Private, Charter MY

I got my first bosun gig through The Bester Crew two years ago. I am still on this vessel and getting promoted to second officer on completion of my OOW. They have always checked in with me and supported my journey to...

Fernanda Aguirre

The Bester Crew event I attended was a night full of vibes! Perfect to hang out with your crew or meet new yachties. There were lots of options for delicious food, a variety of good-looking merchandise and we were all...

Luke Romaine

Lead Deckhand 50m MY

​We needed 6 dayworkers to help with a large varnish stripping job. The Bester crew provided us with trustworthy, hardworking guys that got the job done in no time. They helped the dayworkers with a WhatsApp group and...

The Bester Crew x Yachties Run Wild Run & Brunch Event.

UNTOLD YACHTING RULES

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE ONBOARD

"REMEMBER THAT GUY THAT GAVE UP?

- neither does anyone else"..

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How to hire the perfect superyacht crew

Related articles.

Fed up with a revolving door of crew? BOAT shares the industry secrets for finding the right people for the right job...

"Think of how much effort you put into hiring a CEO to run your company. You’d do a pretty good job of finding out who the right person was, right?” asks Jenny Matthews, founder of yachting diversity taskforce She of the Sea, and holder of a Chief Mate 3000GT licence. “Hiring someone to look after your multi-million-pound yacht is the same – but for some reason, people don’t think about it in the same way.”

Whether that’s true or not, it’s certainly the case that many owners have their frustrations when it comes to staff. From all across the industry, there have been tales of questionable stewardess skills, overbearing captains, love triangles on board... the list goes on.

Fortunately, stories like this are the exception, rather than the rule. Many owners, in fact, find that their enthusiastic, hard-working and good-humoured crew makes a large part of their yachting experience. But of course, there is always the odd disappointment – a new recruit that mysteriously doesn’t seem to gel with the rest of the team or those who stay for just a season before moving on.

A well-balanced, happy crew on board, meanwhile, sets the tone for the whole yacht, and it pays to get it right financially, too. Aside from the comfort that comes with being around those who know you well, “about a third of the running cost of owning a yacht every year is avoidable damage”, states Matthews, so trusting your expensive pride and joy to those who know what they are doing can cut down on maintenance costs significantly.

The peace of mind from having a competent, slick crew shouldn’t be ignored, either. “All you have to do is read the accident reports and you’ll find that people drown, they get concussed, boats burn down,” notes Matthews. “Behind this glossy veneer, a yacht is an extremely hazardous environment.” Add to this the fact that each time you replace a crew member on board, you’ll spend around £4,000 on new uniforms, crew agency fees, training and more, and you will start to see why investing a little time and energy into getting it right the first time makes a lot of sense.

So without further ado then, here’s our 101 guide to hiring the right crew...

Should owners hire their own crew?

It’s fairly rare for owners to get directly involved in the recruitment process, with good reason. Roles on board are often highly specialised and need someone who knows the job intimately to act as a recruiter. If you’re a captain-turned-owner or have run your own vessel previously, you might want to try going it alone, but a better bet is to take a double-pronged approach using your captain and a large and well-established recruitment agency.

That doesn’t mean you can’t have a say throughout the process. “Think about what kind of experience you want on board,” advises Matthews. “Do you want family-style dining or silver service? Are you going to be at beach clubs 90 per cent of the time or going exploring? You need to really define what you want because that feeling when you’re on board is going to be incredibly important.”

If you’ve got a captain that’s been with you for some time, “they’re going to know you intimately – probably better than you think they do,” says Matthews, so take their guidance seriously.

How do I choose a crew agency?

Choosing the right crew agency is half the battle won, and you only have to look at the recent red tape brought about by the global Covid-19 pandemic to see how using one can pay off. “Last year, recruitment was impossible,” says Lucy Medd, fleet crew manager and partner at Burgess, who has worked in the field for more than 30 years. “Getting crew from A to B involved a huge amount of work for many people, involving travel agents, embassies…” The issues remain in play today, with many Australian and New Zealander crew members returning home and choosing to stay there, leaving a gap in the yachting workforce that no other nationality has moved in to fill. Others who were laid off last year when owners scaled back to a skeleton crew have “found new jobs onshore and haven’t returned”, says Medd, so it’s certainly a challenging landscape in which to find good people.

With so many agencies around, it can be tempting to send the same job out to 20 or more companies, in the belief that the more feelers you have out there, the better chance you have of finding true talent. It’s a mistake, says Matthews. “When you do that the quality is going to go right down. People are just going to start firing CVs at you because they know 20 other agents are going for that one commission.” Daniel Küpfer, operations director at Ocean Independence and a former captain, agrees. “It’s turned into a first-come, first-served industry, where it’s obviously imperative to defeat the competition,” he says about the speed in which some agencies send through candidates. “It’s not a good development.”

One-person operations or newer agencies, which can be competitive in offering lower fees, can also seem like a preferable option, but in most cases, a long-standing organisation with multiple offices around the world is the better bet. Often, they’ll have staff who’ll have worked in the industry over decades, and a big black book of contacts that means they’re able to dig deep when it comes to checking out references.

“If they are the dedicated crewing division of an established brokerage or yacht management company, this should guarantee a level of professionalism,” advises Louise Caïlbourdin of The Crew Network in Antibes, which has three global office managers with more than 60 years of maritime experience between them. “For a further guarantee, check that a crewing agency follows maritime industry standards, that it is currently MLC 2006-compliant and has been externally audited by a serious entity such as DNV-GL.”

“My top three are Quay Crew in Antibes and Poole, YPI, and Erica Lay from El Crew Co,” advises Matthews. “These guys value competency over any other factors, and they’re the straight shooters.”

Job postings often receive thousands of applications, and they can’t all be taken at face value. “Do people lie on their CVs? Absolutely!” she laughs. “I once interviewed someone who claimed to have worked with a former colleague of mine. I said I’d get in touch with them and the interviewee looked panicked and suddenly said ‘Oh you can’t… he’s dead!’ Of course, I knew perfectly well that wasn’t the case.”

How else can I find good crew?

You shouldn’t be sceptical of dockwalkers, especially if they’re very young “green” crew. “We’re finding many green crew are getting their first jobs this way,” says Caïlbourdin, and Matthews agrees. “I think people will keep doing it until it becomes illegal; it’s a great opportunity,” she says. “What has changed is that 25 years or so ago, it was basically just backpackers turning up to get some more money. Now people are well dressed and ready to hit the ground running.”

Social media too might be a mixed blessing in terms of the volume of applications, but crew know that “they can get a job through a social media network, through someone else working on that boat, before the job even gets advertised on the market”, says Küpfer. And as for LinkedIn and other platforms? “Why not?” he asks. “It’s quantity but that doesn’t mean it’s not quality.  We also use a platform called Yotspot, which you shouldn’t ignore. Captains and crew members have direct access [to it], it’s easy to upload a vacancy and the fees are reasonable.”

What are some red flags when hiring crew?

While agencies should take on the initial admin of filtering through applications, checking references and running background checks on experience and qualifications, it’s not unreasonable for owners to want to get involved around the final interview stage. Aside from the obvious – turning up late, being sloppily dressed, rude or ill-prepared – there are plenty of potential warning signs when it comes to meeting candidates.

“If I ever interview a captain and he says he’s never had any crew issues, that’s absolutely not true,” says Medd. Bad-mouthing former superiors, yachts or owners is something that Caïlbourdin watches out for, while you should be wary of applicants that seem up for anything. “At the end of the interview, if someone says please put me forward if you have any other positions, that’s not really a good sign,” notes Esther Delamare, senior recruitment manager at Hill Robinson.

It can be hard to filter out candidates at entry-level with little experience, something that Matthews does via simple knowledge tests. “I ask them, ‘Can you do me a bowline?’ Or, ‘What are the ingredients for an old-fashioned?’” she says. “If they haven’t worked on yachts before I’d look at if they’ve had waiting jobs, shop jobs, jobs in pubs… things that are hard work where you’re on your feet all day,” adds Medd.

Basic levels of training might seem unimportant, but it’s useful to differentiate between those who have been inspired by Instagram and reality-TV shows like Below Deck, and those who are serious about a career – not least because these certificates show a significant financial commitment on their part.

Moving from yacht to yacht is more common today than 10 years ago, when a minimum three-year stint was normal, so multiple boats on a CV isn’t necessarily a bad sign. “I see CVs and I’m shocked – it’s very different to when I was working on yachts. But it’s just the way it is,” says Küpfer.

“The thoughts on longevity have changed a lot; people leave boats for very different reasons,” agrees Matthews. “Now a red flag is more likely to be someone who has stayed on a yacht for a number of years at the same level. If I see someone who’s been an entry-level deckhand for six years, I want to know why they haven’t progressed.”

A cursory look at any applicant’s social media accounts is also a wise check, and can help gauge maturity and whether they’re likely to be a good fit for the rest of the boat. Should owners these days accept that their crew are likely to post on social media about the yacht and the destinations that you travel to? “No – owner’s boat, owner’s rules,” says Matthews.

How long does it take to hire a crew?

It’s possible to put together a whole yacht crew from scratch in a very short amount of time, but it’s far from ideal. You might be lucky and find good people who have left yachts that have been sold, or the stars might align and their contracts happen to be coming to an end as the seasons change, but in general “very high-level crew often have very good jobs with proper notice periods in place”, says Matthews. “If you want to essentially poach them, you should be wary about the ethics of asking them to leave a post before they can – when I’ve been in that position, it’s made me uncomfortable; it’s not the best start to a new role.”

On the flipside, good crew know their worth, and aren’t likely to be on the market for long. “If you see someone who fits the culture, has the right qualifications and gave a good interview, make them an offer and make it good,” says Matthews. “They’re not going to be hanging around.”

Which crew members are hardest to hire?

“Really good chefs are always hard to come by,” says Medd. “They’re quite flighty by nature.” On charters, certainly, chefs can get a rough ride,  and of course whether a chef is good or not can often come down to your own personal taste.

Engineers, too, are in short supply, but as a general rule of thumb they move around far less. “Engineers never leave – once they fall in love with a boat that’s it and they’re there forever,” laughs Medd. Female engineers and captains are also rarer, while the number of experienced female interior crew out there means that candidates can afford to be picky about the jobs they take. “Often it’s a case of, do they [crew] really want the job?” says Delamare, rather than the other way round.

Interior staff in particular often work for no more than a few years in the industry, but if you’re keen on a really long-term crew, looking at those who’ve previously worked on commercial boats can be productive. “Especially engineers or people who’ve worked in oil and gas – there are  a lot of them coming into the industry,” says Delamare, “and unlike green 19-year-olds, they’ve got plenty of experience.”

When it comes to finding a charter captain, “charisma and a repeat client base” is the secret ingredient, according to Caïlbourdin.

How can I keep crew happy?

In a nutshell: pay them fairly, treat them with respect and offer them competitive leave and time off for training. In general, owners tend to place more emphasis on salary than perhaps they should. Of course, “money is still right up there”, says Medd, and “if someone’s been on your boat for three years and they’ve not got a pay rise, they’re going to be looking around”, observes Matthews. Experienced, motivated staff, however, are more likely to be impressed by a calm, supportive working environment and the opportunity to move up the career ladder than an extra £1,000. “Very high salaries can actually be counterproductive,” says Küpfer. “We had a boat recently where people were overpaid and it meant they were staying put on a yacht that they didn’t like, rather than moving on. It wasn’t the best atmosphere.”

Allowing staff a healthy amount of shore leave prevents burnout. “There’s only so much time people can spend on board before they actually have to leave,” notes Matthews, while time off for training is all too often neglected. “Every single good crew member I know has had to leave a vessel because they weren’t even allowed a week off to do a course to further their career.”

This is why, when hiring department heads, someone who can act as a mentor and encourage crew development is key – if talent don’t feel supported and can’t rise up through the ranks, they’ll often leave to pursue opportunities elsewhere.

Should I psychometrically test my crew?

It might sound sinister, but psychometric testing is becoming more and more common, “especially on the larger boats”, reveals Matthews. Many who’ve engaged with it seem to find it yields erratic results. “I tested one captain once, and I said, ‘I’m never doing this again,’” says Medd. “The results were absolutely crazy. I think there’s got to be a lot more input to get the right output.” Nevertheless, it’s likely something that will be relied on more heavily in years to come, as tests become more sophisticated.

What if a member of crew just isn’t working out?

Sometimes, no matter how much effort you put into finding the right person, things still don’t seem to click. “It’s very easy to just hoof someone off,” says Medd, “but you need to find out what the problems are and if you can train people up or improve the situation somehow.” On larger boats, even good captains and managers can be far removed from problems happening further down the chain. Replacing crew members is costly, and can often be avoided with the right approach. Nevertheless, sometimes things don’t work out for reasons beyond your control, “in which case, both parties just have to walk away”, says Medd.

“The crew atmosphere is contagious and bringing happy, fulfilled and passionate energy to everything from cocktail parties to beach barbecues is a surefire way to ensure that owners can experience their vessel at its full potential,” says Matthews. “At the end of the day, it’s people that can make or break the experience.”

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Mike Lynch yacht latest: Two more crew under investigation as Bayesian captain refuses to answer questions

Italian prosecutors are investigating captain james cutfield over deaths of british tech tycoon mike lynch and six others, article bookmarked.

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Two more crew members from the Bayesian are under investigation for manslaughter after seven people died when the superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

It comes as the captain of the boat has “exercised his right to remain silent” as he faced further questioning from Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking of billionaire Mike Lynch’s superyacht , according to his lawyer.

James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, is under investigation for possible manslaughter and culpable shipwreck charges and was questioned for the third time by the Termini Imerese prosecutors on Tuesday.

“The captain exercised his right to remain silent for two fundamental reasons,” lawyer Giovanni Rizzuti told reporters. “First, he’s very worn out. Second, we were appointed only on Monday and for a thorough and correct defence case we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don’t have.”

Being placed under investigation does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow. It is still unclear whether other individuals will also be placed under investigation.

It comes amid tributes for the owner of the British-flagged vessel Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch, Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer , his wife Judith Bloomer , Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, who all died in the disaster.

Ex-court appointed guard says Mike Lynch ‘became more like a family’

A court-appointed armed guard, tasked with ensuring Mike Lynch did not abscond while facing fraud charges, has paid tribute to the tech mogul, saying the security team “became less of a detail and more like a family”.

Rolo Igno also described “the memory of a beautiful soul” in Mr Lynch’s daughter Hannah.

Mr Igno said he had the “privilege” of spending “almost every waking moment” with Mr Lynch while he was in custody in San Francisco, describing the detail as unlike any other he had ever worked and one that was “life changing”.

“As an executive protection agent, the number one rule is simple, don’t ever get close to the principal,” he said.

“They aren’t your friends, they’re a client and the relationship is strictly professional. But with Mike, that didn’t fly with him and for me that rule quickly dissolved.”

Watch: Captain details Bayesian sinking 'within two minutes' after rescuing survivors

In focus | how the world of yachts got supersized.

The sinking of the 56-metre yacht  Bayesian  and the tragic deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his guests and boat staff have given the public a glimpse into the rarefied world of superyachts, writes  Boat Internationa l’s  Lucy Dunn .

There are currently 12,626 superyachts on the water around the world with 1,166 superyachts in build or on order. If you have been to a Greek island this year, or maybe the Amalfi coast, you may have glimpsed them coming in and out of harbours and wondered who owns a yacht like that. Or who can afford to charter a yacht like that – which have an average price of around £180,000 a week.

While you may think of glossy influencers and A-listers, the superyachting fraternity is where millionaires are sorted from the billionaires from the centi-billionaires; the 0.001 per centers. Rarely will you find a celebrity with the financial clout to afford a yacht owned by Lynch, these are generally under-the-radar industry titans who don’t have household names.

So, what exactly makes a superyacht super? According to Boat International, where I work, it can be applied to any boat, motor or sailing yacht which is over 24 metres in length. Size, in the superyacht world, is everything – and yachts are getting bigger all the time.

Giant masts, moon pools and explorer pods: How the world of yachts got supersized

The sinking of Mike Lynch’s ‘unsinkable’ sailing vessel was not only a heartbreaking tragedy, but also gave us a rare glimpse into the superyachting fraternity. Here, Boat International’s Lucy Dunn looks at a group that is both secretive and innovative, and asks how such a high-spec sailing yacht could have sunk at all...

Who is being investigated?

Three people are being investigated by the Italian authorities for manslaughter after the sinking of the Bayesian yacht off the coast of Sicily.

On Monday, the boats 51-year-old captain James Cutfield, from New Zealand, was put under investigation. He declined to respond to prosecutors during questioning on Tuesday

Two British crew members are now also being investigated. Ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton and sailor Matthew Griffith are being investigated over the same crimes.

A source told Reuters that Parker Eaton is suspected of having failed to protect the yacht’s engine room and operating systems.

Being investigated does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will follow.

Friend pays tribute to Bayesian chef Recaldo Thomas

Recaldo Thomas was the superyacht’s chef and the first person whose death was confirmed.

The Canadian-Antiguan national was found by the Italian coastguard near the sunken boat. A friend of Mr Thomas, who asked to remain anonymous, said the yachting community has been saddened by his death.

She told  The Independent:  “He was a one-of-a-kind special human being. Incredibly talented, contagious smile and laugh, an incredible voice with a deep love of the ocean and the moon. I spoke to him nearly every day. He loved his life his friends and his job.”

Why was Mike Lynch’s yacht named the Bayesian?

Autonomy, the software firm which Mike Lynch sold in a £8.64bn deal in 2011, was a pioneer of business data analysis, using machine learning and what Mr Lynch called “adaptive pattern recognition”.

It used a statistical method called “Bayesian inference” at the heart of its software, devised by the 18th-century mathematician Thomas Bayes.

The yacht’s name,  Bayesian , harks to the same model that was at the heart of Autonomy’s – and Mr Lynch’s – success.

Hannah Lynch was ‘one of the best English students in the country’, teacher says

Hannah Lynch had just completed her A-levels and secured a place to study English at Oxford University.

Her former English teacher Jon Mitropoulos-Monk said she was “one of the best English students in the country” having scored 100% in her English Literature GCSE.

Patrick Jacob, a family friend, paid tribute to her on Friday, saying: “Hannah was charming and ferociously intelligent with an insatiable thirst for life and knowledge. She was also warm, loving and deeply considerate; remarkably for her age.

“I am 50 years older than her and in my life I have never met anybody like Hannah. We have lost one of our brightest stars whose future held so much promise. Her loss is unbearable.”

Bayesian captain insisted ‘we didn’t see storm coming’

The captain of the Bayesian insisted he did not see the storm that sank the Bayesian last week.

Speaking of the storm, James Catfield, 51, said on Tuesday: “We didn’t see it coming.”

A judicial official, who asked not to be named, confirmed to Reuters on Monday the earlier reports in Italian media that the New Zealander was being investigated by Italian prosecutors after the superyacht capsized in a tornado off the coast of Sicily last Monday.

Mike Lynch net worth: How the billionaire made his money

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was among seven people  who died  after the luxury superyacht Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily.

The 59-year-old is known for founding Invoke Capital and Autonomy Corporation and had been in the headlines after  he was cleared of charges in a high-profile fraud case.

Once dubbed the “British Bill Gates”, Mr Lynch and his wife Angela Bacares were valued at £852m in 2023 by the Sunday Times Rich List.

Born in Ilford, east London to his Irish mother  a nurse from County Tipperary and his father a firefighter from County Cork,  he won a scholarship to the independent Bancroft’s school in Woodford Green at the age of 11.

He then went to Cambridge University and started his first business while studying for a PhD in signal processing and communications research.

Read the full story here:

Mike Lynch was frequently described as the Bill Gates of Britain for founding Autonomy – one of the biggest software firms on the planet

Pictured: British crew member being investigated after yacht tragedy

Ship engineer Tim Parker Eaton, is one of the two British crew members now also being investigated.

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Captain and two crew under investigation over Sicily yacht sinking

ROME, Italy (AFP)— The investigation into the deadly sinking of a UK tech tycoon’s superyacht off Sicily has widened to include two more crew members in addition to the captain, media reports said Wednesday.

Prosecutors on the Italian island are probing potential manslaughter offences over the sinking of the Bayesian yacht in a pre-dawn storm on August 19, which killed entrepreneur Mike Lynch, his daughter and five others.

Captain James Cutfield, a New Zealand citizen who was one of 15 people who survived the tragedy, has been placed under investigation, his lawyer Aldo Mordiglia confirmed to AFP following media reports.

Engineer Tim Parker Eaton, who was in charge of the engine room that night, and a crewman on look-out named as Matthew Griffith have now also been placed under formal investigation, reports said.

Prosecutors on Saturday said their probe remained at an early stage, but have since declined to formally comment. Nobody has yet been charged.

Italian media said Parker Eaton — who is British — is accused of not having properly checked that the yacht’s windows were closed and watertight compartments activated.

Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a massive US fraud case.

But the 56-metre (185-foot) yacht was struck by something akin to a mini-tornado as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, and sank within minutes.

The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found shortly afterwards, and six people were reported missing.

Following a major search operation, divers pulled up the bodies of four of Lynch’s friends from the wreck — US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy.

Lynch’s body was recovered the day afterwards and the following day, that of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Lynch’s wife survived.

The yacht, which had a 75-metre mast, currently lies on its side on the seabed, some 50 metres down.

The Sicilian coastguard said Tuesday it was carrying out checks on the site for potential pollution, but said so far there was no indication of fuel leaks.

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The Captain of the Sunken Italian Yacht is Under Investigation. Is He Responsible for the Tragedy? (Exclusive)

James Cutfield is under investigation in connection with the yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily, claiming seven lives

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The captain of a sunken Italian yacht is under investigation after the accident off the coast of Sicily last week that killed seven people and left 15 survivors . 

New Zealand-born James Cutfield, 50, was chief officer of the British-flagged yacht Bayesian , which sank during a storm in the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Sicilian port of Porticello on Monday, Aug. 19. 

He has been questioned several times by Italian authorities, a source close to the investigation previously told PEOPLE. Police have opened manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigations in connection with the sinking, per Ambrogio Cartosio, the Chief Prosecutor of Termini Imerese.

Despite investigators’ focus on him, his actual culpability for the tragedy remains uncertain, as Italian attorney and legal expert Praxilla Trabattoni explains in this Q & A. (Trabattoni is also a contributing writer for PEOPLE). 

What does the interrogation of Cutfield mean?

Cutfield’s questioning does not immediately imply that he will be tried, Trabattoni says, given that this kind of investigation is commonplace for such incidents. 

This and similar cases require a preliminary investigation in which authorities notify parties involved so that they can appoint their own forensic experts and legal teams to participate in investigations, including, in this case, the autopsies of the victims. 

Is Cutfield under arrest?

While Cutfield is being investigated for negligent shipwreck and manslaughter , he is not under arrest. For a pre-trial arrest — as happened in the 2007 Amanda Knox case — there are certain criterion the prosecutors have to meet.

“First, the crime should foresee a sentencing of no less than five years,” Trabattoni says. “Secondly, there needs to be a serious indication of guilt.”

Third, she says, prosecutors would have to have concerns that the purported defendant is at risk of tampering with evidence or is a flight risk or could commit a similar crime. 

HANDOUT/Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty

Is there a precedent for a case like this?

This kind of investigation is not entirely unchartered territory.

Trabattoni notes similarities with the 2012 capsizing of Costa Concordia off the Tuscan island of Giglio, which killed 32 and left 4,200 survivors , as previously reported by the Associated Press and BBC.

Francesco Schettino, the captain of that ship, was later sentenced to 16 years in prison on charges similar to the ones Cutfield is possibly facing, per the outles. The search and rescue of the Bayesian is being conducted by the same crew that assisted with the Costa Concordia disaster, she says.

But there's a long way to go before Cutfield could meet a similar fate - including a bulletproof case from prosecutors.

How could authorities prove the captain's guilt?

Prosecutors have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the actions or omissions of the captain caused or contributed to the tragedy, Trabattoni says. They can do so by examining the boat and seeing if survivor and witness accounts are consistent with the physical evidence they find. 

For example, if the captain had heard that there was a weather alert and he failed to deploy the stabilizer, or if he decided not to go into a port that would have been provided a safe haven, or if he didn’t ensure that all the doors were shut during the night. These constitute behavior that would have contributed to the tragedy, Trabattoni says.

Prosecutors also have a legal obligation not only to look for evidence against the party, but also in favor of the defendant, requiring a diligent investigation of the case, she says.

FABIO LA BIANCA/BAIA Santa Nicolicchia/AFP via Getty

What Could Cutfield Argue in His Defense?

The captain has to prove that he behaved and maintained his duties and obligations both during the tragedy and after, says Trabattoni. There's also the question, Was there anything he could've done to save lives?

He could also claim that it was an unforeseeable and unpredictable weather phenomenon and there was nothing he could've done to avoid a disaster, she says. He could also claim that there was design or manufacturer flaw in the vessel.

Are other surviving crew members culpable?

Several crew members are now expected to be placed under investigation, local news outlets  Rai ,  Adnkronos  and  Sky Italia  report. One of them is the  first mate of the yacht, Tijs Koopman , who has been asked to not leave the Sicilian city of Palermo so that he can be questioned, per  Corriere della Sera  and TV channel TG La7.

“What often happens, and what happened in the Costa Concordia case, is that those further down the pecking order will cut deals and explain everything that happened,” Trabattoni says. This usually implies the captain would get most of the blame and, in turn, a harsher sentencing, she adds. 

“Maritime law dictates that the captain is in charge and responsible for the boat, crew and all the people sailing with him so the ultimate responsibility and liability lies with him,” she says. 

The accident claimed the lives of several high-profile individuals. They have been identified by authorities as British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch; the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas; prominent New York attorney   Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda , and Morgan Stanley International chairman  Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy .

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE's  free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

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Home » Bayesian yacht tragedy: Captain and two crew under investigation

Bayesian yacht tragedy: Captain and two crew under investigation

The investigation into the sinking of a UK tech tycoon’s yacht off Sicily has widened to include two crew members in addition to the captain.

The investigation into the deadly sinking of a UK tech tycoon’s superyacht off Sicily has widened to include two more crew members in addition to the captain , media reports said on Wednesday.

Prosecutors on the Italian island are probing potential manslaughter offences over the sinking of the Bayesian yacht in a pre-dawn storm on August 19, which killed entrepreneur Mike Lynch , his daughter and five others.

15 people survived the tragedy

Captain James Cutfield , a New Zealand citizen who was one of 15 people who survived the tragedy, has been placed under investigation, his lawyer Aldo Mordiglia confirmed to AFP following media reports.

Engineer Tim Parker Eaton , who was in charge of the engine room that night, and a crewman on look-out named as Matthew Griffith have now also been placed under formal investigation, reports said.

Prosecutors on Saturday said their probe remained at an early stage, but have since declined to formally comment.

Nobody has yet been charged.

Italian media said Parker Eaton – who is British – is accused of not having properly checked that the yacht’s windows were closed and watertight compartments activated.

Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a massive US fraud case.

But the 56-metre (185-foot) yacht was struck by something akin to a mini-tornado as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo, and sank within minutes.

The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found shortly afterwards, and six people were reported missing.

The yacht had a 75-metre mast

Following a major search operation, divers pulled up the bodies of four of Lynch’s friends from the wreck – US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, and Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy.

Lynch’s body was recovered the day afterwards and the following day, that of his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Lynch’s wife survived.

The yacht, which had a 75-metre mast, currently lies on its side on the seabed, some 50 metres down.

The Sicilian coastguard said on Tuesday it was carrying out checks on the site for potential pollution, but said so far there was no indication of fuel leaks.

By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

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Bayesian superyacht crew face police quiz after captain placed under manslaughter investigation as pics & vids analysed

• James Halpin
• Published : 9:49, 27 Aug 2024
• Updated : 14:42, 27 Aug 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THE crew of the Bayesian superyacht are set to face a police grilling as the captain has come under a manslaughter investigation.

Officials are rifling through pictures and video of the tragedy that killed British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , his daughter, and five others.

Surviving passengers left Sicily in a private jet on Sunday, with most of the crew now set to leave following interviews with cops.

But two key members running the boat will stay behind as the prosecutor's office looks to solve the capsize riddle.

CCTV footage and photos taken by locals of the night of the storm is being collected and analysed by the prosecutor's office as they probe whether to charge them.

Captain James Cutfield , 51, from New Zealand, is one of those still in Palermo and is being  investigated for manslaughter  and shipwreck.

Read more on world news

Captain of Bayesian superyacht 'under official investigation for manslaughter'

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The investigation doesn't necessarily mean charges are likely, but he has already been questioned twice by prosecutors.

It comes as...

• Brit teen  Hannah Lynch was found on the sunken boat  on Friday as her family paid tribute
• Five bodies were recovered from the yacht wreck  on Wednesday and Thursday including Brit tycoon Mike Lynch
• The CEO of the firm that produced the Bayesian said the boat is  'unsinkable' and pointed to human error
• Captain James Cutfield was quizzed for two hours  by cops and remains at the  centre of a probe
• Experts believe the yacht's 'tallest mast in the world' may have contributed to the disaster after a  freak ‘Black Swan’ weather event struck
• Pictures showed the  tiny raft that saved up to 15 people
• Frantic text messages  from the survivors revealed the chaos

Giovanni Rizzuti, lawyer for Cutfield, told The Guardian the captain was facing more questioning today.

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He said: “Our client is deeply affected by this ordeal... We are currently assessing, with other legal representatives, the defence strategy and examining the technical aspects of the case.”

But Cutfield isn't the only person under the microscope, with a second crew member set to be investigated.

First officer Tijs Koopman has also been kept behind in Palermo, reports Giornale Di Sicilia .

The interviews have been conducted in English, creating a difficult task for prosecutors as they now need to translate it all into Italian.

A tornado and sudden storm caught the crew by surprise, with investigators now checking whether they made any errors.

The 184ft Bayesian  was carrying 22 people and sank in 60 seconds of being hit by the storm.

Locals say that on August 18 lightening and thunder had already started at 9.30pm, hours before the ship sank at 5am.

Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch and four others were found dead in the first cabin of the luxury yacht’s left side.

Prosecutors said  the victims  had attempted to scramble to one side of the doomed £30million, 184ft vessel in a desperate battle to reach air pockets.

Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah,  was found in the third cabin after it sank stern-first before rolling on to its right on the seabed.

The yacht’s chef also died, with his body being found at the beginning of the search.

Fifteen of the 22 on board, including Mr Lynch’s wife  Angela Bacares , 57, escaped on a life raft.

Chief Prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said at a press conference on Saturday that some "behaviours" by crew may not have fit their "responsibilities".

He said: “There could be in fact the question of homicide. But this is the beginning of the inquiry, we cannot exclude anything at all.”

He vowed to “discover how much they (the crew) knew and to what extent all the people (passengers) were warned.”

“We will establish each element’s (crew) responsibility. For me, it is probable that offences were committed — that it could be a case of manslaughter.”

He said Captain Cutfield had been “extremely cooperative” during questioning and will be quizzed further.

Lead prosecutor Raffaele Cammarano said Italy’s Air Force found the boat was sunk by a downburst that descended from a thunderstorm.

He said there were forecasts of strong winds and a storm alert but good visibility and no suggestion of a tornado.

He added: “Given the conditions were such, there wasn’t anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation.

“There are vessels that can monitor these events and one would have thought the captain had taken precautions.”

He said one person was on watch in the cockpit at the time of the accident.

Maritime law gives a captain full responsibility for the ship and the crew, as well as the safety of all aboard.

Causing a shipwreck is a separate offence in Italy and those found guilty of provoking or causing a shipwreck could face up to 12 years in prison.

Bayesian mystery: the unanswered questions

PROSECUTORS have launched a major probe into whether the Bayesian crew follow the right procedures before it tragically sank.

With the investigation underway now that bodies have been recovered, these are the key points that remain shrouded in mystery.

Why did it sink while other boats withstood the storm?

Survivors were saved by crew of Dutch boat Sir Robert Baden Powell, which was moored right near the Bayesian.

The 42-metre boat remained anchored after its skipper turned on the engine, also avoiding a collision with the doomed British-flagged vessel.

Rescuer Karsten Borner said the Bayesian crew were likely "surprised" by the storm's prowess.

Were proper safety precautions followed?

In light of the weather warning issued by the coast guard, questions have been raised over whether yacht guests were woken up and given life jackets.

On Saturday, prosecutors said those who died were likely asleep when the storm hit.

This meant they couldn't escape as the boat rapidly sank, investigators believe.

Was the Bayesian properly anchored?

The anchor being lowered to 50 metres has sparked questions over whether the yacht should have been secured in shallower water.

Retired Royal Navy Commander Tom Sharpe also said the Bayesian is designed for a huge sail - and without the sail raised, the fierce gusts would've rocked the boat's aluminium pole.

He told CBC News: "My kind of working assumption is that she was probably a bit further in at anchor, and it’s very likely, in these sort of conditions, that her anchor dragged."

Were hatches left open?

It access hatches were left open before the storm struck, it's believed the yacht would've quickly filled with water once it tipped, causing the swift sinking.

An expert at the scene told Reuters that one of the earliest aims for investigators was to establish whether the crew did not close access hatches before disaster struck.

With temperatures above 33 degrees, they may have been left open for air circulation.

Sam Jefferson said: "I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that."

How long will the investigation take?

Sicilian prosecutors wouldn't be drawn on giving a timeline for the investigation on Saturday.

With the wreck at 50 metres below the sea surface, they warned it would take some time.

Autopsies are also yet to be done.

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Captain of Sunken Italian Yacht Questioned For 3rd Time as Other Crew Members Are Set to be Investigated: Source (Exclusive)

James Cutfield, 50, is under investigation for negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of negligent homicide, per prosecutors

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Authorities in Italy are zeroing in on several individuals as they expand their investigation into the sinking of a yacht off the coast of Sicily on Monday, Aug. 19, that killed seven people.

James Cutfield , 50, the captain of the British-flagged yacht Bayesian , which sank during a storm in the Tyrrhenian Sea near the Sicilian port of Porticello, was interrogated for the third time by prosecutors in the resort town of Zagarella Domina, where survivors of the incident were taken, on Aug. 17, a source close to the criminal investigation confirms to People . Cutfield, a New Zealand native, reportedly exercised his right to remain silent, invoking a principle in Italian law akin the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. "I can tell you that the captain has exercised his right to remain silent for two reasons: he is understandably very distressed, and the defense attorneys were only appointed yesterday and need to get their heads around data and information which they have not had time to do, and as such have not yet been able to draw up a defense strategy," says the source. On Aug. 24, Ambrogio Cartosio, the Chief Prosecutor of Termini Imerese, announced that authorities were launching manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigations in connection with the sinking, which 15 others aboard survived , including nine crew members.

Cutfield was last questioned on Sunday, Aug. 25 , the Italian news agency Ansa previously reported. He faced questions about the position of the keel , whether the hatch was open and when an alarm was raised amid the worsening weather conditions, per Ansa.

Several other crew members are also expected to be placed under investigation, Italian news outlets Rai , Adnkronos and Sky Italia reported on Aug. 27. The first mate of the yacht, Tijs Koopman , is likely to be interrogated and authorities have asked him to not leave Palermo so that he can be questioned, per Corriere della Sera and TV channel TG La7.

Related: Everything We Know About the Final Moments of the Passengers Who Died in the Sicily Yacht Tragedy

The victims aboard the luxury yacht Bayesian have been identified by Chief Prosecutor Cartosio as British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah Lynch; the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas; and passengers Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda , and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy .

Passengers aboard were celebrating a recent legal victory in which Lynch, 59, was  acquitted of fraud and conspiracy charges  just two months prior, a source close to the survivors told People .

Related: Prominent New York Attorney Christopher Morvillo and Wife Neda's Bodies Recovered from Sunken Yacht in Sicily

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for  PEOPLE's  free True Crime newsletter  for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Cutfield’s legal team was not immediately available for comment.

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Read the original article on People .

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How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead

The Bayesian was a world-class yacht.

The 19th largest yacht designed by luxury Italian manufacturer Perini , it boasted a sleek interior design by French designer Remi Tessier, a double engine, and one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world. It won multiple awards, including for "best sailing yacht" the year after its release.

But, almost two weeks ago on Aug. 19, the luxurious vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Sicily in an internationally-followed disaster, dumping 22 people aboard into the water and leaving seven dead , including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah .

"The impossible happened on that boat," Giovanni Costantino, the yacht manufacturer's CEO, told Reuters.

In the wake of the disaster, an ongoing investigation into possible criminal errors committed by the Bayesian's crew and lingering questions surrounding its design underscore the need for proper yacht safety measures and practical ship designs, according to experts.

Italian prosecutors from a nearby town have now widened their investigation into possible criminal actions by the ship's captain in the lead-up to the shipwreck to include two additional crew members, a judicial source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffith are now under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, days after news broke that investigators are probing whether Captain James Cutfield committed the same crimes.

Authorities are looking into whether Parker Eaton, a ship engineer, failed to protect the ship's engine room and operating systems. Griffith, a sailor on the ship, was on watch duty on the morning the ship sank.

Cutfield "exercised his right to remain silent" when investigators interrogated him on Tuesday, Giovanni Rizzuti, his lawyer, told Reuters.

"First, he's very worn out," Rizzuti said. "Second, we were appointed only on Monday, and for a thorough and correct defense case, we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don't have."

Rizzuti did not immediately respond to a request for comment emailed to him by USA TODAY.

Rescuers found the bodies of Chris Morvillo, an American citizen and lawyer for Clifford Chance, his wife, Neda Morvillo, Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, inside the ship two days after the wreck. Recaldo Thomas, the ship's cook who also went by Ricardo, was the first person pronounced dead in the disaster – his body was recovered on the day of the sinking.

Captains must follow safety procedures before storms

Costantino chalked up the boat's fate to a "series of indescribable, unreasonable errors" committed by the crew. The ship's crew made an "incredible mistake" in not preparing adequately for the storm, he said.

Costantino said the crew should have summoned passengers from their rooms earlier, as the storm picked up. The keel, a heavy weight under the ship to counterbalance the ship's large mast, should have been lowered, and portholes should have been closed – both factors that could influence whether the captain is found culpable, according to experts .

Captains should always check weather forecasts and look into local weather patterns, Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, told USA TODAY . When in stormy weather, captains should also weigh anchor, so that a ship can float over unstable waters, he added.

"The general standard of care in this situation is to monitor the weather, exercise caution, have a night watch, have the engine going, ready to maneuver," he said.

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Wealthy clients push for impractical designs, expert says

Costantino said the ship's design and construction was error-free. But one yacht design expert disagrees.

"There's so many other factors, and this huge, complex boat is part of it," said Tad Roberts, a British Columbia-based yacht designer who has worked in the industry for nearly 40 years.

The Bayesian's giant mast is part of a trend of bigger and bigger yachts, according to Roberts. He worked on the design of the Asolare, formerly the Scheherazade – at 154 feet long, the largest cold-molded sailing yacht in the world when it was released in 2003, according to its manufacturer, Hodgdon Yacht Services. "It's small today," Roberts added.

Roberts said problems emerge when yacht designers can't say no to wealthy clients' demands for more and more extravagant and overgrown designs.

"The clients are wealthy people. They are very used to getting whatever it is they want," he said.

But owners' requests can compromise security, he said.

"Owners are not naval architects," he said. "They don't understand the issues involved, and trying to explain to them may or may not work, but there are compromises being made all the time."

Yacht buyers are more likely to get a better boat than they would 50 years ago, since yachts are exported and built towards international standards, he said. Still, the worsening effects of climate change and extreme weather are growing risks to anyone sailing the high seas, he added.

"Be aware. That's the biggest part of it," he said. "There's a possibility that things could go bad, that there is risk involved."

More: Investigators seek answers to why luxury superyacht Bayesian sank in storm

Yacht owners install million-dollar, AI-powered security systems

Piracy on yachts is even rarer than sudden storms – only two cases were reported between 2019 and 2023, according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre . Still, superyacht owners are investing in James Bond-esque technology in an effort to protect their vessels.

"There's definitely increased concern," said Frederik Giepmans, managing director of safety and security at MARSS, a technology company that offers high-tech surveillance and security systems for superyachts with a price tag "from the hundreds of thousands into millions," he said.

NiDAR, a software program manufactured by MARSS to provide protection for superyachts, can pick up on objects approaching a yacht from the air or water "while underway, at anchor and in port," according to the company's website.

The surveillance system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle data from sensors monitoring all sides of a vessel. The AI system provides "constant, long range monitoring of the air, of the surface, of the underwater, to try and give the crew as much response time as possible," said Giepmans.

That way, yacht owners can pick up on any manner of approaching objects, from "small, fast craft approaching on the surface" to divers and submarines under the water.

But if a threat is detected, a yacht owner's "options to respond are limited," Giepmans said. "You can get out of the way. You can bring people to safety. But, for instance, a more military response is not available to you."

Giepmans pointed to a recent increase in attacks on commercial ships, like attacks carried out by Houthi rebels on ships cruising through the Red Sea. "There's a gap there in terms of security," he said. "Because there isn't really, right now, a way for commercial or private clients, to respond, perhaps, in an appropriate way to these threats."

Luxury yacht owners cruising off the coast of Monaco, for instance, shouldn't be as concerned about a direct threat to their security, as compared with boats sailing through other locations, he said. "It really depends on that, as to what extent they will go to protect their ship."

The greater danger could come from adverse weather events, as the planet warms every year.

Meteorologists have pointed to a water spout, a tornado that spun up over the water amid the storm that hit the Bayesian, as a possible factor in its wreck.

Water temperatures in the area were more than three degrees higher than average that day, the perfect conditions for the spout to form and the likely result of climate change, Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist and former member of the Navy, previously told USA TODAY.

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

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.