super yacht full tour

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3697
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

EXPERIENCE RARE EXOTIC LOCATIONS

What's new for 2024

2024 Hotspots

Our complete guide to the Mediterranean

3,697  Crewed Luxury Yachts for Charter

The Luxury Yacht Charter Marketplace

Find and book your dream yacht through YachtCharterFleet, the world's leading luxury yacht charter comparison site. View ALL superyachts available to rent, get expert advice from our comprehensive destination guides and be inspired by our bespoke superyacht itineraries. Let us connect you with a knowledgeable local charter broker to help you plan and book your fully-crewed private yachting vacation today.

Hotspots Summer 2024

Take a look at all the yachts available in a selection of our favorite summer charter destinations.

• Mediterranean
• South of France
• The Balearics

from $12,000 p/week

170+ yachts

Amalfi Coast

910+ yachts

400+ yachts

690+ yachts

from $9,000 p/week

1070+ yachts

from $17,500 p/week

370+ yachts

from $10,000 p/week

1000+ yachts

Hotspots Winter 2024/2025

Take a look at all the yachts available in a selection of our favorite winter charter destinations.

• South East Asia
• Indian Ocean
• Central America
• Northern Europe

British Virgin Islands

from $11,900 p/week

580+ yachts

from $25,000 p/week

380+ yachts

from $21,000 p/week

from $31,000 p/week

from $322,000 p/week

from $18,000 p/week

Search By Yacht Type

Know what you're looking for? Browse our extensive selection of charter yachts from around the world.

Motor Yacht

Over 1,800 yachts

Sailing Yacht

Over 500 yachts

Classic Yacht

Over 160 yachts

Over 100 yachts

Insider Secrets

Vacation Inspiration

If you’re seeking inspiration for your next yachting vacation, our destination features offer first-hand advice, expert travel tips, and hand-picked activities and attractions to see and do.

Explore Popular Itineraries

Got a destination in mind but not sure where to go? Let our itinerary suggestions inspire your own bespoke charter.

Latest Charter News

Hand-picked charter news to help plan your next yachting vacation from our experienced editorial team & leading charter experts from around the world.

Featured Yacht Review

12 Guests | 7 Cabins  from $390,000 p/week ♦︎

Read Review   View Yacht

Charter Smarter

Why Book With Us

At YachtCharterFleet, our goal is to show you the whole market. When we launched, we were the first independent charter comparison site and we continue to put our clients at the forefront of everything we do.

Largest Choice of Yachts

YachtCharterFleet allows you to browse the entire market in one place and receive impartial, independent information about booking. Our industry connections and intelligence data gives us access to off-market yachts, so you can be sure you’re viewing the widest selection.

Unbiased Global Network

Booking through YachtCharterFleet gives you access to an international network of local, independent brokers. We’ll connect you with a yachting expert in your timezone, who speaks your language and has experience and expertise chartering yachts in your desired location.

Tailor-Made Vacations

Our network of approved charter brokers have access to the entire market and possess the specialist knowledge required to book yachts. They have an unrivaled understanding of the yachts and their crew, and their mission is to create travel experiences specifically catered to you.

Trending Featured Yachts

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

• Inspiration

Yacht Charter Locations

Mediterranean Yacht Charter

ANIMA MARIS | From EUR€ 90,250/wk Special

Late summer special offer on board 72m ...

Charterworld - the luxury yacht charter specialist, charterworld is a private yacht specialist with access the entire world's yacht fleet, at the best price, so get in touch..

Find out more about the CharterWorld company here or read recent client recommendations . We have every crewed luxury superyacht charter in the world, from large motor yachts to sailing yachts and crewed catamaran. For best value private yacht vacations start your holiday of a lifetime here with the company you can trust.

Summer Hot Spots 2024:

The mediterranean ...         south of france    |   italy     |   sardinia    |   spain   |   croatia   |   greece, mykonos | greece, st tropez | france, amalfi coast | italy, dubrovnik | croatia, browse yachts by type, browse all charter yachts, motor yachts, sailing yachts, on sale: yacht specials, mediterranean specials, popular yachts, new latest yachts, feature yachts, mar | from eur€ 1,800,000/wk.

TATIANA | From EUR€ 775,000/wk

MALTESE FALCON | From EUR€ 490,000/wk

Where To Charter A Yacht?

Matching the right location for you is paramount. There are immensely interesting and diverse places all over the world to charter a crewed superyacht, but the most popular spots are:

A Mediterranean yacht charter which makes for the ultimate vacation with it’s fine culture, finer boats and beautiful azure waterways. The Med’ is an extremely varied location with many beautiful countries to visit, such as France, Italy, Sardinia, Monaco, Greece, Croatia and more.

Caribbean yacht charters are all about exotic natural islands, beautiful tropical beaches and of course luxury charter yachts. St Barts, St Martin, The Virgin Islands and Antigua draw some superb mega yachts to the Caribbean for your vacation. You can see the full list of destinations here .

We offer all the mega yachts and superyacht charters worldwide , as well as in the Mediterranean including Italy , France , Greece , Spain, Croatia , & Turkey.  Additionally, we have great discounted luxury yachts , sailing and motor yachts in the Caribbean , including the Bahamas , British & US Virgin Islands, St Lucia, St Barts, Grenadines, Antigua, as well as the Pacific Northwest, the South Pacific , Asia and Australia & New Zealand and elsewhere.

Currently Popular Itineraries

CROATIA & MONTENEGRO - 14 Days

SPAIN & BALEARICS - 7 Day Itinerary

SARDINIA & CORSICA - 7 Day Itinerary

IONIAN ISLANDS & CORFU - 8 Days

All the luxury sailing and motor yacht charter boats worldwide:.

Go here to discover all the worldwide charter locations...  including the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Indian Ocean, North and South America, Pacific Northwest.

Apart from The Mediterranean & Caribbean their are many other hot spots - go here for the full list.

WHISPER | From EUR€ 1,200,000/wk

95 meter CUSTOM | From EUR€ 1,200,000/wk

Luxury Yacht Builders and Designers

The world has a fantastic array of very interesting luxury yacht builders and superyacht designers . At CharterWorld we have the definitive information on the ever evolving yacht builders and designers, as well as the latest superyacht news relating to the latest new yacht designs and new build yacht launches.

Luxury Yachts: Luxury crewed superyacht charters, both power motor and sailing boats, in all the areas of the world from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, Asia to the South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand to the Indian Ocean.

Sailing charters & vacations: CharterWorld provides full charter yacht rental sailing vacations & holidays including flights, accommodation and sightseeing. Sailing charters and sail boats from luxury catamarans to crewed boats, classic yachts as well as new ones.

Power/Motor boats: Luxury power & motor boat charter yachts are available either as crewed yachts, classic or new. They include performance open style motor yachts, right through to expedition (explorer) yachts.

For your reference, CharterWorld provides a  charter and superyacht news section as well as a  superyacht directory for easy access to the complete world of interesting yachts , not just luxury charter yachts. This comprehensive list is organised by the yachts naval architect designer , by year and by the country the builder launched them in.

Why CharterWorld? - The complete list of charter boats worldwide, at the most competitive prices. - Free, independent and professional advice. - Access to the latest specials and discounts in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. - CharterWorld saves time and money on any luxury yacht vacation.

New to Yachting or Superyacht Charter Vacations? If you haven’t enjoyed the advantages of this type of luxury holiday, then this section has plenty of articles about how it all works and what to expect. Of course you can also just contact us and an experienced broker will personally guide you through and explain everything. Additionally, the yachting news section keeps you abreast of developments in the industry.

Latest Luxury Yacht Charter & Superyacht News

The International SeaKeepers Society ...

Special offer for remaining weeks of ...

A luxury charter yacht is the perfect ...

Latest yachts added to the database, samira | from eur€ 46,000/wk.

OCULUS | From US$ 180,000/wk

BANDOLERO | From EUR€ 25,000/wk

AKULA | From US$ 295,000/wk

Touring a $3,250,000 SuperYacht | 110′ Hatteras Super Yacht Walkthrough

This yacht was listed for sale by Worth Avenue Yachts but it is now sold! https://www.worthavenueyachts.com/

SPECS: Length: 110′ (33.53m) Beam: 24′ (7.32m) Draft: 7′ (2.13m) Year: 1997 Refit: 2022 Builder: Hatteras Gross Tonnage: 197 Engines: 2x Caterpillar Model: 3508B (1600hp each) Cruising speed: 17 Knots Max speed: 20 Knots Staterooms: 4 Guests: 8 Total Crew: 5 Price: $3,250,000 USD

Please leave a like if you enjoyed the yacht tour! Thanks for watching!

Subscribe for more Yacht Tours! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9Yh6NHgXprYf0GerPABPOg?sub_confirmation=1

About Yacht Addiction: Hey, I’m Tony. Thanks for checking out Yacht Addiction on Youtube! If you love yachts, this is the place for you! New yacht tours go live every Wednesday.

I don’t work in the yacht industry and I don’t have a boating background. I’m just a guy that’s obsessed with yachts. Join me on this journey as I explore as many boats as I can. Cruisers, trawlers, superyachts, sport fishing, and sailboats.. I want to tour them all!

My Preferred Boat Shoes – https://amzn.to/3oYDE3t My Camera Gear: Camera – https://amzn.to/3COk7b0 Microphone – https://amzn.to/3HQEDvm Backup Mic – https://amzn.to/3CRqb2l Gimbal – https://amzn.to/311BibW SD Card – https://amzn.to/3DKKTCh

Some links in the description may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product with the links that I provide I may receive a small commission. There is no additional charge to you! This helps me keep the Yacht Addiction channel going with new tours each week!

#SuperYacht #SuperYachtTour #YachtTour

Related Posts

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Superyacht videos

Charter with Burgess

Chapter 3 - pre-contract development and negotiation, behind the scenes on a superyacht shoot.

• Length: 80m (262.5ft)
• 14 guests in 7 cabins
• Built: 2019, Abeking & Rasmussen, Germany

Step aboard APMONIA

• Length: 37m (121.4ft)
• 8 guests in 4 cabins
• Built: 2008 (refitted 2021), Couach Yachts, France

MALTESE FALCON - The Refit

• Length: 88m (288.6ft)
• 12 guests in 6 cabins
• Built: 2006 (refitted 2023), Perini Navi, Italy
• Length: 65.7m (215.5ft)
• Built: 2023, Rossinavi, Italy

CRYSTAL LADY Video

• Length: 35m (114.8ft)
• Built: 2002 (refitted 2023), Warren Yachts, Australia

Superyacht AIFER

• Length: 60m (196.9ft)
• 13 guests in 7 cabins
• Built: 2011 (refitted 2019), CRN Ancona, Italy

FLY BOYS video

• Length: 29m (95ft)
• 10 guests in 4 cabins
• Built: 2002, Hargrave, United States Of America

Take a tour on board GALMA

• Length: 28.6m (93.8ft)
• 8 guests in 3 cabins
• Built: 2003 (refitted 2008), Wally Yachts, Italy

Discover DEJA TOO

• Length: 52m (170.6ft)
• Built: 2003 (refitted 2022), Amels, The Netherlands

Life on board a superyacht

Latest stories.

Upcoming events

Sign up to our newsletter

Stay in the loop.

Subscribe to our newsletter to keep updated with all things Burgess.

What would you like emails about?

• Chartering a yacht
• Buying or selling a yacht
• General superyacht news

In order to understand how we use and protect your personal information, please read our privacy policy .

• Mediterranean
• French Riviera
• Corsica & Sardinia
• The Balearics
• Croatia & Montenegro
• The Bahamas
• Caribbean - Leeward Islands
• Caribbean - Windward Islands
• British Virgin Islands
• US Virgin Islands
• New England
• Indian Ocean
• The Red Sea
• South East Asia
• New Zealand
• French Polynesia
• Motor yachts for charter
• Sailing yachts for charter
• Latest offers
• Destinations
• New to charter
• Meet the Charter team
• 360° yacht tours
• Corporate & event charters
• Inspiring charter ideas
• Charter FAQs
• Every day different

Charter in the Med

Last availability for the summer 19 August - 6 September and from 25 September onwards

NORFOLK STAR

Charter in the West Med or Spain

Remaining availability until 29 August

• Motor yachts for sale
• Sailing yachts for sale
• Yachts for sale over 200 feet
• Yachts for sale from 150 to 200 feet
• Yachts for sale under 150 feet
• Tenders and chase boats for sale
• Yachts under construction
• Meet the Brokerage team
• Berths for sale
• Sold yachts
• Yacht marketing
• New Build Sales
• Refit a yacht
• Delivered yachts
• Yacht designers
• Meet the Technical Services team
• Meet the Yacht Management team
• Crew vacancies
• Meet the Crew Services team
• Procurement Services
• Charter Management
• Sales Management
• Yacht Marketing
• Meet the Insurance team
• 360 degree yacht tours
• Boat shows and events
• Office vacancies
• Talent pool
• Office locations
• Burgess in Asia
• Burgess Blue Oceans
• Strategic partners
• Press centre
• Company Operations
• Crew Services
• New Business
• Technical Services
• Yacht Management
• Burgess Impact Report 2023

Filter your results

• Yachts for charter
• Yachts for sale

• Subscribe Now
• Digital Editions

Alia 60m superyacht tour: The biggest Aquaholic tour to date

• Superyachts
• yacht tours

It’s not often you get invited on board a 60m superyacht, less often still that you’re allowed to take a camera on board. Nick shows us inside the 60m Alia superyacht Samurai…

By some margin, Samurai is the largest and most spectacular superyacht that Nick has ever been lucky enough to film.

In this video, shot at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show, he takes us into every corner of this magnificent Turkish-built vessel, and quite frankly he does well not to get lost!

The sheer scale of the yacht takes some getting used to, but the Japanese-themed interior offsets that and adds a sense of calm and class.

Article continues below…

Delta Marine 38M superyacht tour: Inside a round-the-world adventure ship

Wally WHY200 yacht tour: Inside the most extraordinary superyacht of the year

Many yachts give the owner’s accommodation the prime position towards the bow of the main deck, but on Samurai , all 5 guest cabins enjoy this elevated position.

That’s not to say that the owner’s suite is any less special, with its own separate lounge and study areas, plus a walk-in wardrobe and a supersized shower.

Moving up to the bridge deck and the helm station is a sight to behold, with seven huge screens displaying all the information a captain could ever want to see, plus a separate seating area for any guests who want to enjoy the view underway.

Enjoy the tour…

Samurai specifications

LOA: 197’6” / 60.20m Beam: 34’9” / 10.60m Draft: 9’10” / 3m Engines: Twin 3,860hp MTU 16V 4000M73Ls Cruising range: 4,250 nm Design: Omega Architects / Redman Whitley Dixon Price: €46,000,000

WATCH: Parker Sorrento sea trial: 50-knot cruiser with a killer aft cabin

Bluegame bgm75 sea trial: the €6.8m powercat that thinks its a monohull, cormate chase 32 tour: fast, stylish and practical weekender, latest videos, watch: virtue v10 sea trial: €272k weekender, how to mark your anchor chain: 6 top tips from our expert, watch: galeon 560 fly sea trial – the best galeon flybridge you can buy.

Find anything you save across the site in your account

Tour the World’s Biggest Superyacht

If you’ve seen one superyacht, you’ve seen them all. At least that’s how it can feel when so many of the world’s largest privately owned seafaring vessels play it safe, offering little more than slight tweaks on the same cookie-cutter look. Hoping to break from those stale conventions, one ambitious designer has introduced a strikingly innovative concept for what would not only be the biggest luxury superyacht in the world but also undeniably the boldest as well.

It’s called Valkyrie , and its purpose is to shatter preconceived notions about the size, shape, and fundamental purpose of superyachts. The long-gestating project of Chulhun Park, chief designer for Riga, Latvia–based Latitude Yachts, the Valkyrie project aims to be a 751-foot floating entertainment hub, unlike anything the world has ever seen. If completed, it would shatter the superyacht length record of 591 feet currently held by Azzam , a boat that's believed to be owned by Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the United Arab Emirates.

The 751-foot-long Valkyrie would far surpass the length of the 591 foot-long yacht, Azzam , which currently holds the record for the world's biggest superyacht.

At first glance, Valkyrie seems to take its aesthetic cues from science fiction rather than existent superyacht design tropes. Its sleek yet surprising shape was inspired by deconstructivism, a postmodernist architectural movement that eschews harmony and symmetry in favor of warped unconventionality. Park says his interest in the work of deconstructivists, like that of the late Zaha Hadid, predates his career in yacht design, which might explain why he was able to effortlessly integrate its aesthetic hallmarks into the shape of Valkyrie . “Having seen too many conventional white yachts, which were vertically stacked like wedding cakes, I was determined to design a visually unique yacht which would stand out from a fleet,” Park says. “I was interested in manipulating a structure’s surface to create non-rectilinear shapes, which appear to distort and dislocate elements of shape.”

Valkyrie ’s exceptional design is made possible by cutting-edge tech that grants Park additional freedom and flexibility to play around with the yacht’s shape without sacrificing performance. If created, Valkyrie will incorporate a steel or aluminum Trimaran hull (in other words, a multihull vessel) first engineered by Palmer Johnson Yachts (where Park previously worked as a senior exterior designer) for use in its super sport series. This unique below-the-waterline construction minimizes drag during high-speed travel and boosts fuel efficiency by up to 50 percent, all while creating up to 30 percent of additional interior and exterior space. Additionally, the extensive use of Palmer Johnson’s carbon construction technology throughout Valkyrie reduces weight and allows for better sight lines from inside the boat.

Chulhun Park, chief designer for Latitude Yachts, holds a model of the Valkyrie superyacht.

Valkyrie would serve as a multifaceted space where guests can come aboard to explore things like a casino, theater, gallery, restaurants, and convention space. Park’s design will also incorporate elements such as “large windows and open areas” that offer the chance to experience the beauty and luxury of nature in addition to the onboard amenities. This concept achieves the dual purposes, which will be good news for anyone ready to spend the estimated $800 million price tag for owning the vessel.

Though Valkyrie is still in its conceptual stage, Park emphasizes that there is “genuine interest” in the project. And with ongoing advancements in design and technology, the largest, most distinctive superyacht might be ready to welcome you on board sooner than you’d think.

4 bodies found inside the Bayesian, Mike Lynch family yacht, amid search

Four bodies were recovered inside the Bayesian superyacht on Wednesday, more than two days after it sank off the coast of Italy , setting off an exhaustive search for six missing people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch .

Two of the bodies discovered earlier on Wednesday were brought to shore. One body recovered was a heavily built man, Reuters reported.

Six of the ship's 22 passengers, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, went missing after the yacht plunged under the water just before 5 a.m. on Monday as a storm swept across the area. Americans are among the missing, officials have said.

The U.K.-registered yacht belonged to Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was also on board and was rescued. The tech tycoon was recently acquitted on fraud charges after a year under house arrest.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook, was found dead on Monday, according to the coast guard.

The rescue mission saw a diving team, helicopters and multiple coast guard ships deployed to search the water. Fifteen people were pulled from the water on Monday, and eight were hospitalized in stable condition.

A 'black swan event'? Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank

An investigation opened by local prosecutors into the cause of the disaster is ongoing. Experts have pointed to a water spout, a tornado over the water that can travel up to 120 mph, that formed during the storm, as well as the heavy weight of ship's mast, one of the largest in the world.

The 184-feet-long ship was made by Italian ship manufacturer Perini in 2008.

Lynch set off on the cruise late last month to celebrate his acquittal on fraud charges in the U.S. that marked a decade of legal challenges, the Associated Press reported .

One of his lawyers and a character witness for Lynch during the trial were also on board and vanished when the boat went down. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the four people found.

Here are the passengers who were declared missing.

Mike Lynch and Hannah Lynch

Mike Lynch, 59, is co-founder of Britain’s largest enterprise software, Autonomy, which was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2011, and founder of venture capital fund Invoke Capital. 

Sometimes known as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” Lynch was slapped with charges after HP said it had uncovered deceit and a major accounting scandal within the firm. He spent a year on house arrest after being extradited from the UK.

In early June, at the end of a 12-week trial, a San Francisco jury acquitted Lynch of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also cleared on a charge of securities fraud later that month.

Lynch and Bacares have two daughters and six dogs, all named after engineering parts, according to the U.K.’s Sunday Times in a profile of Lynch from last month.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was also among the missing. She was preparing to study English literature at Oxford University, according to the Sunday Times. 

Hannah is the younger of Mike Lynch’s two daughters, the Times reported . Mike Lynch told the outlet that his daughters had grown up with their father being publicly accused of fraud. 

Jonathan Bloomer and Judy Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer is the non-executive chairman of both Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox, among other companies. Bloomer acted as a character witness on Lynch’s behalf during his fraud trial. 

Hiscox Chief Executive Aki Hussain told Reuters in a statement that the firm was deeply shocked and saddened and their thoughts were with all those affected. 

Bloomer’s twin brother, Jeremy, told BBC that he is processing the news and the family is waiting to hear updates.

“He was my elder by half an hour, so, it means a lot when you lose a twin brother,” Jeremy Bloomer told BBC. “We’ll still wait and see, so it’s fingers crossed.”

Jonathan Bloomer’s wife, Judy, is a psychotherapist of nearly three decades and former teacher. She specializes in anxiety and stress. She studied English language and literature at Homerton College in Cambridge.

Christopher Morvillo and Neda Morvillo

A lawyer with Clifford Chance, Chris Morvillo was among the team that represented Mike Lynch during his trial. Morvillo is an American citizen. 

He was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1999 to 2005, and he worked on the criminal investigation stemming from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

Morvillo was a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Villanova University. 

Neda Morvillo, his wife, owns a hand-crafted jewelry company under her maiden name, Neda Nassiri. The company’s website said she has been designing and making jewelry for over 20 years.

In a post on LinkedIn after the conclusion of Lynch’s trial, Chris Morvillo acknowledged his family for their support during the case. 

“And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.  None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. 

And they all lived happily ever after…."

Contributing: Reuters

Voyager Superyacht

Luxury Superyacht Charter

Events & Experiences

Multi-Day to Multi-Week

San Juan Islands, Canada, Desolation,  &   SE Alaska

Whether  you want a private yacht charter to the  San Juan Islands or you want to go farther north to Victoria, Vancouver, Desolation Sound, British Columbia, or SE Alaska, the Voyager will take you there in style . Your luxury yacht charter experience may include shopping in artistic hamlets; hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding on remote islands; whale watching; visiting an epic glacier up close; sea plane excursions; meeting   with the expert on Southern Resident Killer Whales; and wine tasting. Multi-day to multi-week. Up to 6 people.

Seattle & Puget Sound

Cruise to some of Puget Sound's most desired inlets, anchorages, sites, and quaint towns on a custom itinerary, with options for excursions ranging sea plane tours of the Olympic Mountains to spa treatments. Destinations may include Gig Harbor, Poulsbo, Port Townsend, Tacoma, Seattle, or some of our other favorite spots south of the San Juan Islands. And with some luck, we'll see some of our famous killer whales. Up to 6 people.

The Seafair Air and Sea Show is the ultimate thrill-seeker's dream come true! Rated the #1 air and sea show in America, you'll have the ultimate experience, with heart-stopping, gravity-defying, and adrenaline-pumping aerial performances from the awe-inspiring U.S. Navy Blue Angels to the world-renowned U.S. Army Golden Knights with the roar of the jet-engine unlimited hydroplanes racing at speeds over 220 mph on the other. Whether hanging out with your family or friends or going for a special occasion such as a bachelor party, this is the ultimate Seattle luxury superyacht charter experience. Up to 13 people

Leaving from Lake Union, your exclusive Seattle and Puget Sound yacht charter experience takes you through the historic Ballard Locks and tours Seattle's Elliott Bay and Pike Place Market, finishing up with sunset views of Seattle. Up to 13 people.

Half-Full Day

Spa on the Seas

For those seeking the  ultimate  luxurious  experience, this is for you. In our Spa on the Seas package, you can choose from several packages for a dreamy onboard experience, from couples massages to facials, all on board your lux superyacht charter. We'll tailor it to your preferences. Up to 13 people.

Party at the Dock

Looking for a unique location for a wedding reception, holiday party, exec offsite, or special event?  With  the party at the dock, you'll be able to host an upscale event while watching the yachts and float planes on Seattle's Lake Union, all while guest can arrive and depart on their schedule . Up to 13 people.

Seattle Sunset Cruise

Your Seattle private yacht charter will take you through  Seattle's Montlake Cut, pass the University of Washington stadium, view one-of-a-kind homes on Lake Washington (at least 10 billionaires) and finish up with an amazing sunset view of Seattle from Lake Union. Up to 13 people.

Champagne Brunch

What better way to start the day than with  an Aperol Spritz toast on your Seattle luxury  super yacht cruise ? You'll enjoy a  scrumptious  breakfast or brunch menu  all  while taking in the views of Seattle's waterways, homes, and skyscrapers.  Up to 13 people.

Dinner Extravaganza

Enjoy an exquisite dining experience from an award winning, world-renowned chef,  paired  beautifully w ith  the  finest  wines and spirits, all  while enjoying the beautiful sites while cruising Seattle's waters.  Up to 13 people.

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

The super-fast 77m superyacht Silver Fast

SilverYachts ’ distinctive range of fast, slender superyachts reaches further levels of refinement with the arrow-like 77 metre, Silver Fast .

Silver Fast 's origins

It seems to be an unwritten rule in superyachting that bigger is better as yachts get taller and fatter, packed to the gunwales and beyond with vast acres of deck and floor space at every level. Well, rules, unwritten or otherwise, are there to be broken and Guido Krass, owner of SilverYachts, has a big enough hammer to do it.

A German industrialist, Krass is clearly no follower of convention. His philosophy from the start was to build slender, lightweight yachts that would travel very economically at high speeds through challenging conditions, requiring a higher length-to-beam ratio than is commonly accepted. The intention was to create craft with exceptional performance, tremendous range and very capable seakeeping.

Knowing what a hard sell that might be on paper, he took the unusual step of creating a shipyard and building the yacht first, before seeking a buyer. It gave him other advantages too, removing deadlines and freeing budget constraints. “We wanted to build something of outstanding quality,” he says.

Espen Øino was the naval architect charged with turning that dream into a reality. What he came up with was a semi-displacement shallow draught design that espoused the lightweight slender concept. “There is actually nothing revolutionary about the design,” Øino says. “Fifty years ago before the kind of ultra-high output (and consumption) diesels that we’re used to today, high length:beam ratio was the route to high speed. And an easily driven hull has many other benefits, chiefly great efficiency and excellent seakeeping.”

Silver Fast ’s build

As if a maverick approach to design and marketing wasn’t enough, the commissioning of such a craft was equally free thinking. European yards struggled with the concept so Krass looked to Australia, a country with huge experience in fast aluminium ferries and high speed commercial and military craft.

“They build boats that operate consistently and reliably in all weathers and at high speed – they have a huge amount of know-how in this field,” says Krass. What the Australians lack is experience of custom yacht building, so he brought in experienced shipwrights from Europe to ensure a standard of finish that matched his requirements.

The build process was kept simple – conventional shaftdrive, well-designed systems and large technical spaces. “Our philosophy throughout the whole project was KISS: keep it stupidly simple,” says Krass. “A lot of commercial expertise went into creating a craft designed with the operator and owner in mind, not simply the easiest way for the yard to put it together.”

It’s a brave and free-thinking approach and one that appears to be working for him: the yacht you see here is the fourth in a decade from the yard based in Henderson, near Perth, Western Australia.

SilverYachts’ narrow, fast design

The concept remains constant across the quartet: rather than padding out the beam and extending the height, Silver yachts are shapely low-profile darts. Subtle is not often a word associated with €80 million, 77 metre yachts but it applies here. Silver Fast , which is currently for sale , stands out among a sea of bright white superyachts by being low, narrow and very sleek.

There is more than a nod to executive jet aircraft design here, with a rounded raked fuselage-like superstructure. The all-aluminium construction is unsullied by stripes or other cosmetic adornments – there is a purity to the aesthetic that is rare in craft of this calibre. Although almost identical in profile to 2012 sistership Smeralda , the simple step of finishing the yacht in a single dark shade of metallic silver rather than the previous twin tone colours makes a massive difference, suggesting quiet confidence and allowing the design rather than the colour scheme to hold sway.

But it isn’t just the look that lends itself to aircraft comparisons; this yacht fulfils the lightweight brief too. The gross tonnage of under 1,000GT is half that of some yachts of comparable length. Partly, of course, that’s because the pared-back beam and height mean there is physically less yacht. But a large part of the weight saving is thanks to the aluminium honeycomb construction of much of the interior.

Silver Fast ’s layout

The layout, bar a couple of changes, is essentially the same as Smeralda . A sundeck tops the yacht with its horseshoe of sofa around two tables, complemented by a central bar area and a spa pool aft. Loose Paola Lenti furniture adds a little flexibility and colour, while a three-stack mast above sees all the navigation scanners, domes and antennae colour coded a uniform black.

The next deck down is given over wholly to the owner. The master cabin is vast and offers expansive views through the forward windows.

A quirky indoor sunpad, accessed up a few steps, sits forward of the berth, offering a very private place to read or watch the yacht entering or leaving port. To the rear of the deck is the owner’s lounge, with sliding doors opening onto a private terrace. A sweeping staircase links to the VIP guest accommodation on the main deck, comprised of three spacious doubles.

The well-lit saloon truncates in a cosy media lounge at the rear of this level, featuring well stocked shelves behind a deep comfortable sofa and flatscreen TV. You pass through this area on your way to the “winter garden”. Dividing the accommodation from the large aft cockpit, it’s so named because the floor-to-ceiling glass panels that surround it ensure a clement climate regardless of the cool night outside. It’s equally useful in the 40-degree heat of an Abu Dhabi afternoon. Two large circular tables infill to create a massive dining area for 20.

And in more temperate climes every glass panel retracts to finish up stacked and hidden from view.

A large tender garage fills the lower deck beneath the touch and go helicopter pad on the foredeck, with space for two 7.7 metre tenders (custom built by SilverYachts in matching metallic silver) to be launched via gullwing doors. Eight crew cabins are found on the lower deck, along with the rest of the guest accommodation: four large en suites. Two further crew cabins sit aft of this lower-deck guest space – perfect for nannies or security.

The beach club has benefited from the tenders being mounted forward, as well as the length stretch from 73 to 77 metres between hulls two and three. A steam room, sauna, massage area and hairdressing station surround space for exercise, complete with a recess in the floor to take a running machine. The sloping aft wall is actually the transom of the yacht – itself a mere button-press away from lifting to gain access to the “beach” – the large teak-laid swim platform complete with more Paola Lenti furniture.

The interior design of Silver Fast

While the layout is very close to that of Smeralda, the execution is quite different. Designed by the same company – Vain Interiors of Germany – the most obvious variation is in the finish. Where bulkheads of the former boat were high-gloss walnut, Silver Fast is finished in a more self-effacing open-grain teak. The rather formal full-length saloon sofas have been usurped by more intimate areas formed of four smaller sofas complemented by comfortable club chairs around a pair of low marble-topped tables, giving greater versatility. Greys and browns predominate, lending a gently masculine aura set off perfectly by white framed monochrome prints. Staircases are clad in stitched mid-grey leather matched by the handrails, and carpets are of grey silk.

It’s a timeless décor that feels cosy without being cloying, confident without ever being brash.

Sea trialing Silver Fast

But all this form is nothing without function and a 3am start (timed around customs clearance and to avoid disturbing crew leave) for an 80-mile run to Dubai represents an ideal test at sea. We slip out of Abu Dhabi and head north west into the darkness. The bridge is a haven of order and, above all, quietness. The engineering on this new hull has been tweaked to incorporate extended shaft-lines, a new propeller design and tuned engine mounts, which combine to give the sensation of being pulled along by an invisible thread from a ship just over the horizon. Only the tachometers in the headlining give any clue that the two MTU 16V 4000 engines are running at 1,400rpm for a log reading of 18 knots. Some 112,000 litres of diesel give us about 4,500 nautical miles at this speed. Despite the semi-displacement hull there is zero sensation of bow lift, as the slender entry slices effectively through the rolling swell. The reality matches the concept perfectly: the experience completely embodies Krass’s concept and Øino’s execution.

With a top end of nearly 30 knots this is a fast boat – fast flat-out, fast at cruise. The benefit is clear: a cruise of 18 knots gives a 50 per cent increase in range compared to conventional yachts that typically cruise long distance at 12.

“To put that in perspective, we gain 150 miles over a conventional yacht for every 24 hours at sea,” the captain says.

Silver Fast’s potential owner

SIlver Fast is currently for sale , but what kind of owner is SilverYachts going after with this new breed of yacht?

“We’re appealing to a new breed of buyers with this yacht,” says Krass. “Every buyer so far has been under 40. People buy these yachts because they fulfil a niche for covering ground which extends the range of a week’s charter considerably or allows an owner to travel further within a specific time-frame. Shallow draught means that when they get there, they can get into bays or harbours that other 80 metre yachts can’t get near. So they have a boat that will allow them to do what they want when and where they want to do it.”

SilverYachts’ Middle East agent Hisham Abushakra sums it up perfectly: “You buy a Range Rover because it does everything well. It will operate as well in the Arctic as it will in the desert. You can drive it at 100mph on the freeway, park it outside Raffles Hotel and it will fit in. This yacht is like that. What do you want to do with your yacht this week? Cover distance, cruise slowly, explore off the beaten track, sail into Monaco, entertain friends and family, charter? Whatever you want, this yacht will do it.”

More stories

Most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

How did the superyacht Bayesian sink? Experts say weather was just one factor

Divers searching for 6 missing people locate 5 bodies inside wrecked yacht's hull.

Social Sharing

A complicated search effort is underway deep beneath the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Italy, where a superyacht sank early Monday during a fierce storm. 

Dive crews are attempting to enter the wreck of the Bayesian, a 56-metre long British-flagged luxury vessel, which is sitting in some 50 metres of water near the Sicilian fishing village of Porticello.

Fifteen of the 22 passengers and crew members on board were rescued. Divers searching for six people considered missing, including British businessman Mike Lynch, located five bodies inside the yacht's hull on Wednesday, and retrieved four of them from the water.

Searchers previously recovered the body of Recaldo Thomas, the ship's Canadian-Antiguan cook, in the water not far from where the Bayesian sank.  

• Diving team finds 5 bodies in Sicily yacht search
• Canadian dead, several others missing after superyacht capsizes off Sicilian coast

Questions have emerged about why a boat designed to handle severe weather sank so rapidly and whether or not some of its features could've been a factor in its demise. Maritime experts say investigations may, in time, reveal what led to the disaster.

"There needs to be an investigation as to why this happened, what went wrong and, you know, how to prevent it in the future cases," said Simon Boxall, an oceanographer and senior lecturer at the University of Southampton in England.

Canadian dead, others missing after superyacht sinks near Sicily

How did the bayesian sink so quickly.

Grainy footage from closed-circuit cameras on the shore broadcast on the website of the Giornale di Sicilia newspaper showed the Bayesian's majestic mast just before it disappeared. 

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

"A moment later, she was gone," he said.

The survivors told the rescuers they went flat on the water "and were sunk in two minutes."

Boxall said vessels rely on being able to steer and navigate stormy seas, but the Bayesian was anchored and stationary, which likely made it more vulnerable to the storm and, potentially, a waterspout , or mini tornado that creates a whirlwind over the surface of the sea. 

He said it was also dark, meaning "you wouldn't see this sort of very unique event coming towards you."

CCTV footage shows yacht Bayesian as deadly storm strikes

"It's a freak of nature," Boxall said. "I think the fact that so many have survived, so far, is probably a miracle."

Tom Sharpe, a retired Royal Navy commander and defence commentator, told CBC News the weather was likely not the only issue.

He says it's rare that a weather event like this takes down a boat. 

"There's nearly always a sequence [of events]," he said in an interview from Guildford, England, explaining that everything from safety protocols to the culture on board the vessel needs to be taken into account. 

Was the boat's design part of the problem?

The Bayesian was built in 2008 by Italian luxury yacht maker Perini Navi.

Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic, told Reuters that a boat the size of the Bayesian could only sink so rapidly by taking on a huge amount of water. 

He suggested that one or more portholes, windows or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the waterspout, letting in water. There has also been media speculation that a major hatch might have been inadvertently left open.

Reports have also highlighted that the Bayesian featured a 72-metre mast — one of the tallest in the world. 

Ratti said an unusually tall mast is not by itself an element of vulnerability in a storm. 

A second expert, structural engineer Filippo Mattioni, was also skeptical about the suggestion the boat may have sunk due to a broken mast, which likely would have caused major damage smashing against the hull.

Fire department diver Marco Tilotta told the newspaper Il Messaggero that the wreck was "apparently intact," with "no gashes, no signs of impact." However, only half of the hull is visible to divers.

The Bayesian also had a retractable keel — the fin-like structure under the hull that helps stabilize boats and acts as a counterweight to the mast. 

Both Ratti and Mattioni wondered if the yacht had been anchored with the keel up, reducing the vessel's depth under water and making it less stable. Ratti said strong winds might have caused the boat to start oscillating wildly, "like a pendulum," putting exceptional strain on the mast.

Sharpe pointed out that a mast the size of the Bayesian's is designed for a massive sail, and without that sail raised and catching the wind, the gusts likely would've had a negligible impact on the aluminum pole.

• What we know about the capsized superyacht off the Sicilian coast

He instead suggested the anchor may have played a pivotal role.

"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," he said. 

In such a situation, he said, a crew is better off steering toward the anchor to stabilize the vessel or raising the anchor and heading out to sea to ride out the storm.

"They might have got caught in that middle ground where they're not on a particularly good anchorage, but the anchor is now controlling the bow of the ship."

Sicily superyacht rescue: What divers are up against | About That

What caused the extreme weather.

Although Sharpe says the weather is unlikely the sole cause of the sinking, he notes the Mediterranean isn't the calm sea often pictured in travel brochures. 

"It can get pretty nasty," he said.

The type of storm that struck Monday is fuelled by warm water and the Mediterranean is warmer than ever, said Boxall, noting there's been about a three and a half degree increase in the 20-year average temperature.

'The ship behind us was gone,' says captain who rescued yacht passengers

Climatologists say global warming is making such violent and unexpected tempests more frequent. 

Luca Mercalli, president of Italy's meteorological society, said the sea surface temperature around Sicily in the days leading up to the shipwreck was about 30 C. 

"This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," he told Reuters.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Senior Writer

Nick Logan is a senior writer with CBC based in Vancouver. He is a multi-platform reporter and producer, with a particular focus on international news. You can reach out to him at [email protected].

With files from The Associated Press and Reuters

Related Stories

• 5 bodies found by divers in Sicily yacht search, 1 person still unaccounted for
• Exclusive Canada was 'highly confident' it heard man-made noises during search for Titan submersible, documents show
• Explorer's family could have difficulty winning their lawsuit against Titan sub owner, experts say

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

The Top 100

A comprehensive and accurate list of the largest luxury yachts set to launch in 2024.

A live list of the Top 100 largest superyachts in the world as it currently stands.

The Top 100 luxury yachts launched in 2023 who defined the last year in large yachting.

Has your yacht ever been in the Top 100? Search any yacht to view its ranking.

Select any year since 1906 to view the ranks of the Top 100 largest yachts at the time.

A selection of the Top 100 largest yachts, available for charter on Superyachts.com.

View a selection of brokerage yachts in the Top 100 on Superyachts.com.

Superyacht sinks latest: Investigators looking into possible manslaughter - Italian media

Divers have recovered the body of the final missing person after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily. The family of Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah have released a statement - with tributes also pouring in for the pair.

Friday 23 August 2024 22:57, UK

• Superyacht sinking

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Seven bodies recovered after five-day search of superyacht wreckage off Sicily
• Prosecutors investigating shipwreck and manslaughter - reports
• Divers discover body of final missing person
• 'Unspeakable grief': Lynch family releases statement
• Hannah Lynch's sister pays tribute to 'my little angel'
• Friend pays tribute to 'brilliant mind' Mike Lynch
• Explained: Inside the superyacht | What challenges have faced divers?
• Eyewitness:  Sombre scenes greet rescue teams as final body is brought ashore

We're pausing our coverage for tonight but here is a recap of what we know:

• The final body was found and recovered from the wreckage of the sunken Bayesian;
• Hannah Lynch, 18-year-old daughter of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was the only person still unaccounted for;
• Tributes have flooded in for the teenager, including from her older sister Esme Lynch; 
• Oxford University, where Hannah was set to start studying English next month, also sent condolences;
• Authorities will now switch to a methodical and meticulous  "investigation mode", marine investigator James Wilkes told Sky News;
• He also said it was "unfair" to start blaming the crew of the Bayesian for its sinking before facts could be established;
• Italian authorities are expected to reveal further information about their investigation tomorrow morning in a news conference.

Italian authorities are expected to reveal further information about their investigation tomorrow in a news conference.

Prosecutors in the town of Termini Imerese, near where the Bayesian superyacht went down, will begin the news conference at 9am UK time.

Search and rescue teams finished their task of searching for those uncounted for from the Bayesian's sinking today.

Divers have spent all week searching the shipwreck, looking for six people missing after the vessel foundered on Monday morning.

Of those six, all but one had been found by this morning. At around 11am UK time, the final body, believed to be that of 18-year-old Hannah Lynch, was discovered.

It was brought to shore shortly after, signalling an end to five days of intense search operations.

Below, we have a look at some images from the operation today as it unfolded:

The speed at which the Bayesian sunk is "puzzling" and testimony from the crew will be "absolutely fundamental" in understanding how it happened, says the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Sailing Technology.

Dr Jean-Baptise Souppez, an expert in mechanical, biomedical and design engineering, told Sky News a vessel like the Bayesian "shouldn't sink that fast".

"For a ship that size to go down in a matter of minutes is particularly puzzling," he said.

"I think it's important to remember that all these vessels are built to very strong rules and regulations. And one of the reasons this is so puzzling is because those rules should ensure that this doesn't happen."

Investigations into the ship's foundering are already beginning to get underway, where the evidence supplied by survivors will be crucial, according to Dr Souppez.

"A lot of the job will be to try to establish a timeline of what happened prior to the events, in terms of the storm warning and what measures were taken on the vessel," he adds. 

"What happened during the crucial minute? From the moment the ship started to lean on its side up until it sank. For this, the accounts from the survivors and the crew will be absolutely fundamental.

"But it will also be a lot of physical evidence from the wreck that the divers have been able to collect, and more that they will be able to observe in the future."

A maritime investigator says the first priority of the Bayesian's crew would likely have been to prepare the ship for the oncoming storm, rather than wake all sleeping passengers.

James Wilkes said the watchkeeper on the yacht "might have considered" waking captain James Cutfield, who he "imagines would have been asleep" at the time.

"He would go down, wake him up, explain what he's got," Mr Wilkes told Sky News. 

"The master then would take over. He would make the decisions about raising the rest of the crew, if they're going to lift the anchor and start the engines, motor the vessel out pointed into the weather, that would require all the crew. 

"And I should imagine they would have also briefed some or all of the passengers. But their first priority would have been to get the vessel ready to take on the weather that was approaching."

Mr Wilkes added that those steps were likely taken but "by the sounds of it", the Bayesian was overwhelmed by the weather incredibly quickly.

British technology tycoon Mike Lynch was among the people who died following the sinking of the Bayesian superyacht on Monday morning.

The vessel had arrived off the coast of Sicily on Sunday, remaining at anchor 500m from the port of Porticello overnight.

At around 3.50am local time, a violent storm sent chairs and tables into the wind on the shore, while a mini-tornado known as a waterspout is believed to have ripped through the Bayesian.

Fifteen passengers and crew members made it onto a life raft and were picked up by a nearby boat, with seven people unaccounted for from the initial 22 on the ship's manifest.

All seven were found and recovered over the following days. They are believed to be:

Divers confirmed the entrepreneur's body had been recovered yesterday.

Dubbed the "British Bill Gates", Mr Lynch has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case related to the £8.64bn sale of his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American technology firm. Mr Lynch denied any wrongdoing. In June, a US jury  cleared him of all charges .

Hannah Lynch

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter was also on board. A body believed to be that of the teenager was found and recovered from the wreckage today.

She had been on holiday with her parents, having secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford.

Her older sister, Esme Lynch, said her younger sibling was "endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me".

Chris Morvillo

US lawyer Chris Morvillo was among those found dead by divers yesterday.

The father-of-two worked on Mr Lynch's US fraud trial and was a partner of law firm Clifford Chance's US branch.

He was also assistant attorney for the Southern District of New York between 1995 and 2005 and worked on the terrorist investigation into the 9/11 attacks.

Neda Morvillo

Mr Morvillo's wife Neda died in the disaster alongside her husband.

The 57-year-old had a luxury jewellery brand, which she ran under her maiden name Neda Nassiri.

Recaldo Thomas

The yacht's on-board chef Recaldo Thomas died in the sinking. He was Canadian-Antiguan and part of the crew of the Bayesian.

His body was the first to be recovered from the wreckage.

Jonathan Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley International, was confirmed dead yesterday.

According to the Financial Times, Mr Bloomer appeared as a defence witness for Mr Lynch during his US criminal trial, and the pair were good friends. He also chaired Autonomy's audit committee.

The 70-year-old was the chief executive of UK-Hong Kong insurer Prudential until he was ousted by the board in 2005.

He was also chairman of the insurance provider Hiscox.

Judy Bloomer

Mr Bloomer's wife Judy was on the yacht trip with her husband. Divers confirmed they found her body yesterday.

Mrs Bloomer was a former board member at The Eve Appeal charity, which focuses on gynaecological cancers.

The charity described her as a "brilliant champion for women's health and medical research... an incredible supporter, committee member, and trustee of our charity for over 20 years".

More tributes have come in now for Mike Lynch, whose body was recovered from the Bayesian yesterday.

Close friend of the Lynch family Albert Read called him "warm, funny, brilliant, loyal and exceptionally brave".

"I've never met anyone like Mike - a searing intellect, a steel that would transform the world around him, an instinct for family and friends - organising children's treasure hunts, big gatherings of neighbours in Suffolk. 

"And, with Angela, a determination to light up the worlds of art and science for his two beloved daughters.

"Warm, funny, brilliant, loyal and exceptionally brave, with a heart as big as his brain."

The final body has now been retrieved from the wreckage of the Bayesian, leaving every person accounted for who was on the ship at the time of its foundering.

The captain of the yacht, 51-year-old James Cutfield, has reportedly already been questioned by Italian authorities for two hours.

He managed to survive the sinking along with 14 other passengers and crew members - including Mike Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares.

Mr Cutfield previously told Italian media "we didn't see it coming" when asked about the extreme weather that sunk the vessel.

His brother Mark said he was a "well respected" mariner who had captained luxury yachts for eight years and previously worked for a Turkish billionaire.

He told the New Zealand Herald he'd been involved in building yachts for 30 years and also raced dinghies competitively in his youth.

A maritime investigator says it is "unfair" to start blaming the crew of the Bayesian for its sinking.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns a firm which makes and sells vessels like Mike Lynch's sunken superyacht, told Sky News they "are absolutely safe", suggesting human error was behind the boat going down.

He said the "event" that capsized the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on Monday "could have been managed with an average amount of attention".

No official cause has been given for why the boat sank and James Wilkes, a marine investigator, says it's "premature" to start casting blame around before the facts are established.

"It's not uncommon to blame seafarers and the crew when a vessel has suffered a casualty of this magnitude," he tells Sky News.

"There were a lot of people who are understandably upset about this incident. And of course, the builders of this vessel potentially have their reputations on the line, their brand on the line. 

"You can imagine why they would be so forceful in their assertions and speculation at the moment. 

"But no, I don't think it's fair right now to jump to the conclusion that the crew must have done something wrong, because we simply do not know that as a matter of fact."

He added: "None of us were there at the time when it happened, it was only those 15 survivors on board who can tell us what happened.

"They were undoubtedly doing what they possibly could to keep that ship and the passengers safe. 

"So, I think at the moment we should wait to find out what the statements of the witnesses are, and then we can draw conclusions from that point forward. 

"It is definitely premature to start casting blame and spreading  aspersions around like that."

Hannah Lynch's older sister, Esme Lynch, has paid tribute to her late sibling after her body was recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian.

The 18-year-old, who was due to start studying English at Oxford University next month, was the last person rescue divers were searching for in the wreckage.

Esme's statement says: "Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

"Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice. No matter what, she brought boundless love to me. 

"She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me. 

"And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals. 

"She is my little angel, my star."

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Advertisement

Supported by

Lynch Yacht Sinking Off Sicily Proves as Baffling as It Is Tragic

As bodies were recovered, the authorities and experts wondered how a $40 million, stable and secure vessel could have sunk so quickly.

• Share full article

By Emma Bubola and Michael J. de la Merced

Emma Bubola reported from Porticello, Italy, and Michael J. de la Merced from London.

Two months after being cleared in a bruising legal battle over fraud charges, the British tech mogul Mike Lynch celebrated his freedom with a cruise. He invited his family, friends and part of his legal team on board his luxury sailing yacht, a majestic 180-foot vessel named Bayesian after the mathematical theorem around which he had built his empire.

On Sunday night, after a tour of the Gulf of Naples, including Capri, and volcanic islands in the Eolian archipelago, the boat anchored half a mile off the Sicilian coast in Porticello, Italy. It chose a stretch of water favored by the Phoenicians thousands of years ago for its protection from the mistral wind and, in more recent times, by the yachts of tech billionaires. The boat was lit “like a Christmas tree,” local residents said, standing out against the full moon.

But about 4 a.m., calamity unfolded. A violent and fast storm hit the area with some of the strongest winds locals said they had ever felt. Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman, said he saw a flare pierce the darkness shortly after 4.

Minutes later, the yacht was underwater. Only dozens of cushions from the boat’s deck and a gigantic radar from its mast floated on the surface of the sea, fishermen said.

In all, 22 people were on board, 15 of whom were rescued. Six bodies — five passengers and the ship’s cook — had been recovered by Thursday afternoon, including that of Mr. Lynch, an Italian government official said, adding that the search was continuing for his daughter.

It was a tragic and mystifying turn of events for Mr. Lynch, 59, who had spent years seeking to clear his name and was finally inaugurating a new chapter in his life. Experts wondered how a $40 million yacht, so robust and stable could have been sunk by a storm near a port within minutes.

“It drives me insane,” said Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company, Perini, that made the Bayesian. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

The aura of misfortune only deepened when it emerged that Stephen Chamberlain, 52, a former vice president of finance for Mr. Lynch’s former company and a co-defendant in the fraud case, was killed two days earlier, when he was hit by a car while jogging near his house in England.

Since June, the two men had been in a jubilant mood. A jury in San Francisco had acquitted both on fraud charges that could have sent them to prison for two decades. There were hugs and tears, and they and their legal teams went for a celebratory dinner party at a restaurant in the city, said Gary S. Lincenberg, a lawyer for Mr. Chamberlain.

The sea excursion was meant as a thank-you by Mr. Lynch to those who had helped him in his legal travails. Among the guests was Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a scion of a prominent New York family of lawyers who had represented Mr. Lynch for 12 years. He and his wife, Neda, 57, were among the missing.

So, too, was Jonathan Bloomer, 70, a veteran British insurance executive who chaired Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox.

The body of the ship’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered. All the other crew members survived. Among them was Leo Eppel, 19, of South Africa, who was on his first yacht voyage working as a deck steward, said a friend, who asked not to be identified.

Since the sinking, the recovery effort and investigation have turned the tiny port town of Porticello, a quiet enclave where older men sit bare-chested on balconies, into what feels like the set of a movie.

Helicopters have flown overhead. Ambulances have sped by with the sirens blaring. The Coast Guard has patrolled the waters off shore, within sight of a cordoned-off dock that had been turned into an emergency headquarters.

On Wednesday afternoon, a church bell tolled after the first body bag was loaded into an ambulance, a crowd watching in silence.

The survivors were sheltering in a sprawling resort near Porticello, with a view of the shipwreck spot, and had so far declined to comment.

Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said that the yacht had most likely been hit by a fierce “down burst” — when air generated within a thunderstorm descends rapidly — or by a waterspout , similar to a tornado over water.

He added that his agency had put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about storms and strong winds. Locals said the winds “felt like an earthquake.”

Mr. Costantino, the boat executive, said the yacht had been specifically designed for having a tall mast — the second-tallest aluminum mast in the world. He said the Bayesian was an extremely safe and secure boat that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing.

But he said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, is to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

The New York Times attempted to reach the captain, James Cutfield, who had survived, for comment through social media, his brother and the management company of the yacht (which did not hire the crew), but did not make contact.

So far none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened that night.

Fabio Genco, the director of Palermo’s emergency services, who treated some of the survivors, said that the victims had recounted feeling as if the boat was being lifted, then suddenly dropped, with objects from the cabins falling on them.

The Italian Coast Guard said it had deployed a remotely operated vehicle that can prowl underwater for up to seven hours at a depth of more than 980 feet and record videos and images that they hoped would help them reconstruct the dynamics of the sinking. Such devices were used during the search and rescue operations of the Titan vessel that is believed to have imploded last summer near the wreckage of the Titanic.

After rescuers broke inside the yacht, they struggled to navigate the ropes and many pieces of furniture cluttering the vessel, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for Italy’s national firefighter corps.

Finally, as of Thursday morning, they had managed to retrieve all but one of the missing bodies, and hopes of finding the missing person alive were thin. “Can a human being be underwater for two days?” Mr. Cari asked.

What was certain was that Mr. Lynch’s death was yet another cruel twist of fate for a man who had spent years seeking to clear his name.

He earned a fortune in technology and was nicknamed Britain’s Bill Gates. But for more than a decade, he had been treated as anything but a respected tech leader.

He was accused by Hewlett-Packard, the American technological pioneer that had bought his software company, Autonomy, for $11 billion, of misleading it about his company’s worth. (Hewlett-Packard wrote down the value of the transaction by about $8.8 billion, and critics called it one of the worst deals of all time .) He had been increasingly shunned by the British establishment that he sought to break into after growing up working-class outside London.

He was extradited to San Francisco to face criminal charges, and confined to house arrest and 24-hour surveillance on his dime. In a townhouse in the Pacific Heights neighborhood — with security people he jokingly told associates were his “roommates” — he spent his mornings talking with researchers whom he funded personally on new applications for artificial intelligence. Afterward, he devoted hours to discussing legal strategy with his team.

Despite his persistent claims of innocence, even those close to Mr. Lynch had believed his odds of victory were slim. Autonomy’s chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted in 2018 of similar fraud charges and spent five years in prison.

During Mr. Lynch’s house arrest, his brother and mother died. His wife, Angela Bacares, frequently flew over from England, and she became a constant presence in the San Francisco courtroom during the trial.

After he was finally acquitted, Mr. Lynch had his eye on the future. “I am looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” he said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting from Pallanza, Italy.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in Rome. More about Emma Bubola

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