In a devastating incident off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, the Bayesian superyacht sank rapidly during a violent storm on Monday. Eyewitnesses, including local fishers, assert that the vessel was in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, Italian prosecutors are focusing their investigation on whether the captain and crew took all the necessary safety measures to prevent the tragedy.

The captain of the yacht, James Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealand national, was questioned by prosecutors from the nearby town of Termini Imerese for over two hours on Tuesday. As divers scour the wreck, the bodies of five missing persons, including UK tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy, as well as lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, are reported to have been found. The yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found deceased shortly after the vessel sank.

Describing the horrifying turn of events, Karsten Borner, the captain of a nearby sailboat who was the first to offer assistance, said, "I have never seen a vessel of this size go down so quickly. Within a few minutes, there was nothing left." Rescue teams are operating under the assumption that the yacht sank swiftly after being struck by a tornadic waterspout. The fact that nearby vessels, like Borner's sailboat, remained afloat points to the localized nature of the event.

According to reports, divers inspecting the boat have noted that the hatch was open, although this has not been officially confirmed. If this is proven true, it is possible that a significant amount of water entered through the gap, potentially destabilizing the vessel. Sailor Gabriele Bruni emphasized, "An open hatch on a large ship like the Bayesian can withstand the entry of small amounts of water, but in the case of strong storms, it wouldn't prevent the entry of large amounts of water." This raises questions about whether water ingress played a role in the yacht's rapid sinking.

Other sources have suggested that the yacht's mobile keel may have been partially raised. Data from the Perini Navi shipyard, which constructed the Bayesian, indicates that the vessel was equipped with a system capable of lowering the keel to a depth of up to 10 meters. The lowering of the keel could have provided additional stability during strong winds. However, it is important to note that vessels like the Bayesian often cannot fully lower the keel, especially when in proximity to a port, as it may risk becoming wedged among rocks on the seabed.

Eyewitness accounts provide further insights into the tragic incident. Fisher Francesco Lo Coco captured a poignant moment when he witnessed an emergency rocket being launched from the yacht's life raft just before it sank. Investigators are now focused on understanding why most of the crew survived while six guests and the chef tragically lost their lives.

Transport and tourism law expert Nicola Romana asserts that maritime accidents often involve human error, and catastrophic events can compound the risks. He emphasizes the importance of preparedness for captains and crew, stating, "The captains and crew of a vessel like the Bayesian are not chosen at random. We are talking about the best professionals in the world. If there's a storm, the captain must first call the crew to try to right the vessel and take all necessary measures to avoid a shipwreck."

As investigations continue to uncover the causes of this devastating incident, the maritime community mourns the loss of lives aboard the Bayesian. The tragic sinking serves as a reminder of the inherent risks faced by even the most experienced sailors in treacherous weather conditions.