Mike Lynch’s superyacht seen on the surface for the first time since it sank
21 June 2025, 09:04 | Updated: 21 June 2025, 10:05
Water is being pumped from Mike Lynch’s superyacht as it was seen upright on the surface for the first time since it sank off the coast of Sicily.
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Tech tycoon Mike Lynch's sunken superyacht was raised from the seabed off the coast of Sicily on Friday.
The full word “Bayesian” can now seen on the stern of the yacht. Salvage workers say there was 18,000 litres of fuel on board.
The 56-metre (184ft) Bayesian is now being pumped of water and can be seen upright on the surface for the first time since it sank in August 2024, killing billionaire Mr Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, as well as seven others.
The boat was lifted to the surface near the fishing town of Porticello on Friday.
A project insider said balloon-like kit will be used to lift the Bayesian’s mast.
Read More: First pieces of tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht emerge from seabed after sinking tragedy
He told the PA news agency: “Lifting bags will be used on the mast, but this will not start until Tuesday or Wednesday.
“In the interim, the salvors on-site not accompanying Bayesian to port will be conducting a full sweep of the seabed site for any potential debris.”
Meanwhile, Michele Maltese, of the Italian Coastguard, told reporters on Saturday that thermal cameras are being used to check for any potential fuel leaks.
A local law investigator is also at the scene, he said.
A crowd of onlookers gathered on the shore at the fishing village of Porticello on Friday as the white top and blue hull of the vessel rose from the depths.
Investigators in the UK and Italy say raising the vessel is crucial to fully understanding what happened.
It is believed the wreck will be taken to nearby Termini Imerese on Monday - where Italian prosecutors investigating the sinking are based.
Last week, salvage teams expected the boat to be raised later in June, but thanks to "accelerated progress", the timeline was brought forward.
Marcus Cave of British firm TMC Marine, which is overseeing the salvage efforts, said: "The complex work to safely recover the Bayesian has been progressed quickly in the past week by the contractors' personnel.
"Over the coming days, all going well, the vessel's final recovery will take place this weekend and lead to her ultimate safe delivery to the authorities in Termini Imerese."
Inquest proceedings in the UK are looking at the deaths of Mr Lynch and his daughter, as well as Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71, who were all British nationals.
Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) investigators said in an interim report that the Bayesian was knocked over by "extreme wind".
The yacht had a vulnerability to winds but the owner and crew would not have known, the report said.
The others who died in the sinking were US lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo, and Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel.Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued.
Mr Lynch and his daughter were said to have lived in the vicinity of London and the Bloomers lived in Sevenoaks in Kent.
The tycoon founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was cleared in June last year of carrying out a massive fraud over the sale of the firm to Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.
The boat trip was a celebration of his acquittal in the case in the US.
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