sailboat in uk

• Boats for Sale

United Kingdom

Boats for Sale in United Kingdom

Receive new listings in your email

Manufacturer

Showing 1 - 28 of 6,233 results

Cranchi Atlantique 50

Torquay (United Kingdom)

OFFERED BY:

RPA Boat Sales

Absolutely immaculately presented December 2007 Built 2008 Model Cranchi Atlantique 50 Flybridge fitted with twin Volvo Penta D9 (575hp) inboard diesel engines ( recently servi...

Princess 42 Flybridge

Ardrossan, (United Kingdom)

Sunbird International

Description Years of design evolution have contributed to making the Princess 42 the definitive choice for short distance or genuine long range cruising at this size. Space is...

Sealine C335

Chertsey (United Kingdom)

C335 # 211 Library Photos - Colours and Layouts may vary On board the Sealine C335, one magnificent moment follows another. Intense, sporty driving experiences are genera...

Vancouver 38 Pilot House

Description 1998 Vancouver 38 Pilot House Construction and Mechanical Mast Rigging and Sails, Accommodation Inventory, Service history

Waterspoor 808 Open

Experience for yourself the luxury and quality you have never experienced before with this beautiful Waterspoor 808 Open. More details coming soon. Available for viewing! ...

XO Boats EXPLR 9

Hamble southampton (United Kingdom)

2024 Stock Boat Now Available. Introducing another great boat to our range of outstanding boats, the EXPLR 9 With its accommodation capacities and weatherproof cover, EXPLR ...

Beneteau Swift Trawler 44

Pwllheli (United Kingdom)

An exceptional Swift Trawler 44 having a huge amount of equipment included within the sale and only had very light use with just 223 hours. This boat has been meticulously maintained being ser...

Beneteau Antares 8

Hampshire (United Kingdom)

Waypoint Yacht Brokers

"Bluey" is probably the best kept Antares 8 on the market today. You would be forgiven to think she is 10 years younger than her HIN number suggests. Bluey was built in 2009 an...

Fountaine Pajot Mahe 36

Wales (United Kingdom)

This sensibly spec’d Trio (3 cabin, 1 head) Version Mahe 36 has been well maintained and cared for with engines serviced regularly (last service May 2024), sail drive seals rep...

Pogo Structures Pogo 30

Oban (United Kingdom)

Mark Cameron Yachts

Owned by a former winner of the Mini Transat class, Pogo Structures, formed in 1987, started building half-tonner racing yachts in the 1980’s. The company has stayed at the for...

Aqualine Boats 60' Semi Trad Narrowboat

Pyrford (United Kingdom)

Tingdene Boat Sales Limited

Weyward Lady a Aqualine 60' Semi Trad Narrowboat built in 2005.A great example of the popular Aqualine Narrowboat range, designed in a forward layout and offers a masters...

Ribeye A811

Hamble-le-Rice (United Kingdom)

Parker Adams Boat Sales

We are pleased to bring you this stunning Ribeye A811. This rib exudes luxury from the quality of build to the finishing touches. She has a “no expense spared “spec with suspension bucket seats...

Rhea Timonier 850

Hythe (United Kingdom)

A lovely example of the stunning rear 850 from the Atlantic Coast of France. A well loved family boat serviced annually, maintained and looked after. Just relaunched after winter work, looks gr...

Norstar 28+

Southampton (United Kingdom)

Parker Adams is pleased to bring you this immaculate Nordstar 28+. This is another truly all-season boat ideal for weekends away with the family and extended cruising. She boasts an excellen...

Jeanneau Merry Fisher 895 Sport Offshore

This is the highly sought after offshore model which is fitted with a host of options from new that include extended fuel tankage, camper covers at the rear and the largest engine options for v...

Cornish Crabbers Crabber 22

Salcombe (United Kingdom)

Devon Boat Sales

Cornish Crabber 22for sale lying Salcombe, Devon. The Cornish Crabber 22has been described as "a handsome little yacht, which will get attention wherever she sails, and its fa...

Princess Y72

Swanwick (United Kingdom)

Princess Motor Yacht Sales

NEW PRINCESS Y72 MOTOR YACHT FOR SALE - AVAILABLE NOW OPEN TO PART EXCHANGE • PRINCESS TECHNICAL ORIENTATION INCLUDED Twin MAN Vx 1650hp each) diesel engines • White hull • ...

Haines 36 Offshore

Val Wyatt Marine

A highly specified example of the Haines 36 Offshore from the renowned Norfolk Boat Builders, Haines Marine, fitted with a single Nanni 370hp on shaft drive. This is a two-owne...

Gillingham (United Kingdom)

Network Yacht Brokers

Remarks : 1982 Moody 29 for sale in Kent The Moody 29 is a deservedly popular family cruising yacht, with more modern lines than the earlier Moody 30, or the Westerly Konsort alternative. The...

Remarks : Accommodation : Saloon Layout: Large saloon with U-shaped seating to starboard and dining table Nav Station: Dedicated chart table to port Finish: Cherry...

Sealegs Boats 7.5. Rib Electrosol

Poole (United Kingdom)

Salterns Brokerage

Ex-Demo Sealegs 7.5 Electrosol RIB Experience the pinnacle of amphibious boating with the Sealegs 7.5 Electrosol RIB, powered by a Yamaha 200Hp Fly-by-Wire control outboard. T...

Aquafibre boats Ernest Collins 37

Tollesbury Marina (United Kingdom)

David Morris Ltd

Ernest Collins 37, "Fides" - GRP hull by Aquafibre with wooden decks and wheelhouse, GRP sheathed. 2 x 60hp Nanni diesels with low hours, 4 berths, large heads and galley, ideal live aboard cru...

Nimbus Nova 29

East Cowes (United Kingdom)

Marketing Description The Nimbus Nova 29 is a cleverly designed and exceptionally well built boat from the renowned Swedish builders. This stylish 2005 model was commissioned in 2007 and is ...

Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 323

Hamble (United Kingdom)

Marketing Description A superb example of this very popular family cruiser which in the brokers opinion is presented in "turn-key" condition and represents a perfect opportunity for the disc...

Newcastle Upon Tyne (United Kingdom)

Marketing Description 'Sweet Georgia' is a large comfortable cruiser built by Moody Yachts to an Angus Primrose design in 1981. She was one pf the last Mark 1 models built and has been in he...

Hillyard 8 Ton

Chichester (United Kingdom)

1967 Hillyard 8 tonner, bilge keel, sloop rig with Newage/BMC 4 cylinder diesel engine. 'Amahai' has been in the same family ownership since new, and has cruised the South Coast, North West Fra...

Interboat 25 Cabin

Henley-on-Thames (United Kingdom)

A rare opportunity to purchase a well-loved Interboat 25 cabin, imported to the UK in 2014 with Full EU Vat Paid status. This stunning vessel offers ample space for entertainin...

Moody 36 CC

Portavadie (United Kingdom)

Miles Stratton Marine Sales Ltd

The Moody 36 Center Cockpit delivers everything you need in a competent cruising yacht. 7 berths including owners en-suite aft cabin. A deep, safe, spacious central cockpit, st...

* Price displayed is based on today's currency conversion rate of the listed sales price.

SEARCH BY MAKE IN UNITED KINGDOM

Search by category in united kingdom.

Alternatively,

• Register with Facebook
• Register with Google

Why Boatshed?

View all of your boats statistics in real time

Create a virtual "watch" on boats you're interested in

Refer a boat and earn up to 20% of the brokers commission

Language & Currency

Search our catalog, go direct, enter a boat reference, sail boats for sale search by keyword, my selections, refine search.

• Coastal Cruiser 335
• Offshore/Blue Water Cruiser 212
• Cruiser/Racer 144
• Classic/Traditional 95
• Day Sailer 80
• Motorsailer 47
• Catamaran 28
• Performance Sail 27
• Trailer Sailer 25
• Ex-charter 17
• Commercial 11
• Sailing Dinghy 7
• United Kingdom 283
• United States 27
• Saint Lucia 20
• Gibraltar 12
• Virgin Islands (British) 9
• South Africa 7
• Trinidad And Tobago 4
• Antigua And Barbuda 1
• Netherlands Antilles 1
• Saint Vincent And The Grenadines 1
• 5 - 7 Meters 29
• 7 - 9 Meters 109
• 9 - 11 Meters 130
• 11 - 13 Meters 84
• 13 - 15 Meters 58
• Over 15 Meters 42
• £10,000 - £20,000 99
• £20,000 - £30,000 46
• £30,000 - £50,000 47
• £50,000 - £100,000 81
• £100,000 - £200,000 53
• > £200,000 45
• Long Keel 78
• Fin and Bulb 58
• Lifting Keel 30
• Multihull 30
• Wing Keel 13
• Shallow Long Keel 8
• Full-Displacement 6
• Shallow Long with Bilge keel 6
• Semi-Displacement 1
• 5 - 10 years 36
• 10 - 20 years 55
• 20 - 30 years 77
• > 30 years 288
• Aluminium 7
• Composite 6
• Wood Laminate 5
• Ferro Cement 3
• Foam Core 2
• Wood Strip Plank 1
• Beneteau 39
• Jeanneau 29
• Westerly 19
• Bruce Roberts 5
• Elizabethan 4
• Sparkman & Stephens 4
• Hallberg Rassy 3
• Parker Lift-Keel Yachts 3
• Southerly 3
• Character Boats 2
• Colvic Watson 2
• Cornish Crabber 2
• Cornish Shrimper 2
• Dragonfly 2
• Finnsailer 2
• Fountaine Pajot 2
• Gasoline 34
• Gas 2 stroke 5
• Aft Cabin 76
• Live-aboard 72
• Center Cockpit 38
• Aft Deck 24
• Pilot House 19
• Deck Saloon 14
• Walkaround 6
• Flybridge 4
• Wheelhouse 4
• Cruiser Stern 2
• Trad stern 1
• Boatshed Wales 42
• Boatshed Essex 31
• Boatshed Cornwall 29
• Boatshed Suffolk 25
• Boatshed Portsmouth 24
• Boatshed Scotland 21
• Boatshed IOW 20
• Boatshed St Lucia 20
• Boatshed Greece 19
• Boatshed Gibraltar 13
• Boatshed Plymouth 13
• Boatshed Eastbourne 12
• Boatshed Port Townsend 12
• Boatshed 11
• Boatshed BVI 11
• Boatshed Riviera 11
• Boatshed Grenada 10
• Boatshed Hamble 10
• Boatshed Lancashire 10
• Boatshed Brighton 9
• Boatshed Southampton 8
• Boatshed Costa Brava 7
• Boatshed Norfolk 7
• Boatshed Seattle 7
• Boatshed Sud Med 7
• Boatshed Texas 7
• Boatshed Yorkshire 7
• Boatshed Barcelona 6
• Boatshed New Build Boats 6
• Boatshed La Rapita 4
• Boatshed Phuket 4
• Boatshed Poole 4
• Boatshed Torbay 4
• Boatshed Trinidad 4
• Boatshed Colombia 3
• Boatshed Kent 3
• Boatshed Midi Canals 2
• Boatshed Antigua 1
• Boatshed Florida Keys 1
• Boatshed London 1
• Sold / Unavailable Boats
• Boats with 360° Photos
• Boats with Videos

Boatshed Archive

View our full archive of over 20,000 previously listed boats.

Your filtered results: Reset

St francis 50, nereids custom built yacht 27 metre aluminium nereids hull, st francis 46, royal huisman custom, lagoon 46 flybridge, maxi dolphin 65, maverick catamarans 440 cruise ready custom, pilot house ketch - luxurious houseboat/blue water cruiser, lagoon 450 catamaran.

Results 1 - 15 of 453

Create Alert

Please enter a name for your alert

Sailboat Rental in UK

• Yacht rental
• Sailboat Rental with Scansail
• United Kingdom

Beneteau - First 40.7 | 3 cabins  (2000)

From €493 per day.

Oyster - 825 | 4 cabins  (2014)

From €5,429 per day.

Jeanneau - 42I | 3 cabins  (2007)

From €550 per day.

Hanse - 540 | 4 cabins  (2011)

From €643 per day.

Westerly - Centaur | 2 cabins  (1975)

From €71 per day.

Bavaria - Cruiser 42 | 3 cabins  (2006)

From €443 per day.

Bavaria - Cruiser 32 | 2 cabins  (2003)

From €286 per day.

Bavaria - 38 | 3 cabins  (2003)

Najad Aphrodite - Aphrodite 36 | 2 cabins  (1998)

From €693 per day.

Jeanneau - Sun Odyssey 54DS |

Jeanneau - Sun Odyssey 49 | 4 cabins  (2009)

Bavaria - Cruiser 56 | 5 cabins  (2014)

Elan - 45 | 4 cabins  (2020)

From €626 per day.

Jeanneau - 42I PERFORMANCE | 3 cabins  (2010)

Jeanneau - Sun Odyssey 45 | 3 cabins  (2009)

BENETEAU - FIRST 40.7 | 3 cabins  (2008)

From €371 per day.

Jeanneau - 49 | 4 cabins  (2007)

From €1,786 per day.

Poncin Yachts - Harmony 52 | 5 cabins  (2007)

From €745 per day, charter a sailboat in the united kingdom with scansail.

A sailboat charter in the United Kingdom (UK) is a great way to explore the coastline and enjoy the country's beautiful scenery. Get away from it all with a boating holiday. You can enjoy a trip that is as peaceful or exciting as you desire.

How much does it cost to rent a sailboat in the UK?

The cost of renting a sailboat in the UK varies depending on the size and type of vessel, as well as the length of time you wish to rent it for. Generally speaking, the price for a sailboat charter in UK is made up of the charter fee, which covers the cost of the vessel and its crew, the seasonality, the number of people on board and any additional expenses such as fuel, mooring fees, and food and drink. In general, a sailboat rental in the UK for 12 people costs around €5,216 per week.

Where can you dock your sailboat in the UK?

Whether you're setting sail from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, you'll find plenty of options for where to dock your yacht. In England, popular charter bases include Southampton, Poole and Falmouth. In Scotland, Oban and Mallaig are popular starting points for yacht charters. And in Wales, Cardiff is a popular base for those looking to explore the country's stunning coastline.

Should I rent a sailboat with or without a skipper?

When you're looking to rent a sailboat in the UK, there are a few things you need to consider. One of the most important factors is whether or not you want to rent with or without a skipper. Renting a boat with a skipper has a number of advantages. First and foremost, it means that you don't need a license to operate the vessel. This can be a huge relief if you're not confident in your ability to captain a boat or if you simply want to relax and enjoy the ride. Another benefit of renting with a skipper is that they're usually very knowledgeable about the local area. This means they can take you to all the best spots and help you make the most of your time on the water. They'll also be able to handle any difficult situations that may arise, so you can just sit back and relax.

What is the best time to visit the UK?

The climate in the UK is mild and temperate, making it a great destination for a boating holiday at any time of year. In general, the best time to visit the UK is during the spring and summer months, when the weather is warm and dry. However, if you're looking to avoid the crowds, autumn and winter can also be lovely times to explore the country by boat.

What are the sailing conditions like in the UK?

With a temperate climate and a variety of coastlines to explore, the UK is a great place to sail all year round. However, conditions can vary depending on where you are sailing and what time of year it is.

Wind conditions

The wind is one of the most important factors to consider when sailing in the UK. The prevailing wind direction is from the southwest, which means that the south and west coasts are typically windier than the north and east coasts.

Water temperature

The water temperature in the UK varies depending on location and season. In general, the water is at its warmest in the summer and coolest in the winter. The southern and western coasts tend to be warmer than the north and east coasts.

The currents in the UK can be strong and variable depending on location. In general, there are two main types of currents in the UK; tidal currents and non-tidal (or geostrophic) currents. Tidal currents are caused by tides and can be very strong in some areas, so it is important to check tide tables before setting sail. Non-tidal currents are caused by wind and weather patterns and can be less predictable.

Special features

There are a number of special features to consider when sailing in the UK. These include sandbanks, reefs, and shipping lanes. Sandbanks can be a hazard for boats, so it is important to navigate them carefully. Reefs can also be a hazard, but they can also provide some interesting sailing opportunities. Shipping lanes are well-marked and should be avoided unless you have specific permission to sail in them.

What to do in the UK

The UK is full of beautiful sailing spots, and there's plenty to see and do whether you're a seasoned sailor or a beginner. From the stunning coastline to the picturesque countryside, there's so much to explore. Here are some of our top suggestions for what to do with your sailboat rental in the UK:

• Sail around the Isle of Wight. With its dramatic cliffs, sheltered bays and sandy beaches, it's a paradise for sailors of all levels. And with plenty of sheltered anchorages, it's perfect for overnight stays too.
• Explore the Scottish Highlands for breathtaking scenery and wildlife. This is one of the most stunning parts of the UK, and sailing is a great way to see it all. Keep your camera handy for snaps of dolphins, seals and eagles – you might even spot a whale!
• Visit the Isles of Scilly, a group of small islands off the coast of Cornwall in southwestern England. With their sandy beaches and beautiful cliffs, they feel like a world away from the rest of the UK. And with no cars allowed on any of the islands, they're perfect for a relaxing break.
• Discover Northern Ireland by sea. From towering cliffs to sheltered coves, there's something for everyone – and don't forget to enjoy some traditional Irish hospitality along the way!
• Take a trip down the River Thames. For a taste of urban sailing, head down England's most famous river – the Thames. You'll sail past some of London's most iconic landmarks, including Tower Bridge, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

Rent another yacht type in United Kingdom

Are you interested in chartering other yachts besides sailboats in United Kingdom? Discover other yachts to charter on our website

15 of the Most Fun Sailing Towns in the UK (and why)

The UK has a huge number of fun sailing towns that range from rocky and scenic to stylish destinations known to visitors from around the world. The UK coastline is some of the most beautiful in Europe if you’re lucky enough to catch it on a summer’s day. You can’t beat the rugged cliffs and lush green landscape and if you head to the right town, you can also find plenty of nice restaurants and cafes to refuel after a hectic day on the water.

From the South Coast to Scotland, there is a whole range of sailing destinations to choose from. Of course, bear in mind that you may need to take into account your sailing experience for some destinations where there are more challenging conditions.

At the same time, convenience may factor into your decision: if you’ve only got a weekend to spare, you’ll probably want to head somewhere with good transport links that’s easily accessible. If you have longer, you can search out those hidden, harder to reach spots where you can have the most fun away from the crowds.

Check out our list of all the sailing towns in the UK where you can have fun and explore somewhere new.

On this page:

Milford haven.

I may be a bit biased here but Padstow tops my list for sailing towns in the UK every time. It’s the place I’ve been going to for the longest time and it has an old-school seaside charm that makes it really enjoyable for the whole family, both on and off the water. Thanks to its location on the Camel Estuary, Padstow is blessed with beautiful scenery, large flocks of wading birds and dramatic cliffs that are perfect for walking.

Padstow owes part of its popularity to the chef Rick Stein who owns quite a few eateries in the small town centre. This is ideal if you’re looking for a sailing holiday that also includes excellent food, giving you plenty of locations to indulge on local seafood in the evenings. You can also make the short journey across the estuary to neighbouring Rock or Polzeath where there’s even more restaurants, surfing and generally fewer crowds.

Another Cornish favourite, Falmouth is a perfect destination for sailing beginners as it boasts a deep, sheltered harbour and the calm waters of the river Fal. At the same time, there is easy access to the sea allowing you to choose your sailing location based on the conditions you want. Falmouth is now known as one of the most famous sailing spots in the UK. There is never a quiet moment thanks to its popularity, making it one of the most fun destinations for those who thrive on a buzzing atmosphere, surrounded by fellow sailing enthusiasts.

If you want to follow in the footsteps of one of the world’s sailing greats, you can start by sailing in Restronguet Creek, close to Falmouth. This was where Ben Ainslie first learnt to sale before going on to become the most successful Olympic sailor of all time, with 4 Olympic Gold medals and 1 Olympic Silver medal. Alternatively, at high tides you can sail all the way to Truro.

This picturesque coastal town is a top location for sailing on the South Coast, perfectly blending the best elements of a holiday on the water - good conditions, charming scenery and a range of fun activities for when you’re off the water. The town balances on the cliffs surrounding St Austell Bay, forming a picture-postcard setting that’s so far unclouded by modern development. It is an ideal family destination with lots of things for the whole family to get involved in and a number of family-friendly hotels too.

Thanks to its location, Fowey is a popular stopping place for cruising yachters making their way West towards Falmouth and the Isles of Scilly. Otherwise, if you’re based in Plymouth, you can sail to Fowey in just 3/4 hours. The harbour scenery and the Fowey River, going into the Lerryn River, both make for some impressive sailing and if you fancy a break from the water, the town has some lovely boutique shops and independent art galleries to visit.

Located on the Isle of Wight, Cowes is undoubtedly one of the best-known sailing destinations in the UK. Thanks to Cowes Week, an annual regatta that takes place for eight days every August, Cowes is one of the most vibrant and busy sailing destinations you can ever hope to visit. Cowes Week tops the list as one of the longest-running sporting events in the UK, first beginning in 1826. Now over 800 boats take part.

It is a really fun location for anyone wanting to explore some new sailing in the South whilst still being convenient enough to get to from London. Even outside of its most famous event, Cowes is an energetic town with a big sailing community. There are lots of things to do in Cowes and elsewhere on the Island and visiting is a nice excuse to explore the Isle of Wight if you haven’t been there already.

The beauty of Milford Haven is its estuary location and incredible natural harbour. Milford Haven Waterway is known for its variety; there’s plenty of sheltered water for beginners but there’s also more challenging conditions at the mouth of the waterway. It is a unique landscape in Wales and is a European Marine Special Area of Conservation.

Encompassed in this one location are actually three different sailing areas:

• Milford Haven Waterway
• Daugleddau estuary
• The Pembrokeshire cliffs

Flooded at the end of the Ice Age, Milford Haven Waterway was once a valley before becoming one of the deepest natural harbours in the world. It is also the largest estuary in Wales, becoming the Daugleddau estuary upstream from the Cleddau Bridge. Once you leave the confines of the waterway and estuary, you can sail around the stunning Pembrokeshire cliffs which is also home to the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

This list can’t be made without including the Isles of Scilly and with Hugh Town as the main hub amongst all the islands, that’s where we’ll start. Home to some of the most incredible scenery in the UK, the Isles of Scilly forms a unique centre for wildlife and plants, whilst being a favourite among sailors in-the-know. The beauty of this location is that the islands are conveniently located just off the coast of Cornwall despite the fact that they feel like another world. Thanks to the incredible white sandy beaches and blue seas, the Isles of Scilly is definitely one of the most fun sailing destinations in the UK.

You can choose from over 140 islands but only 5 are actually inhabited. The most heavily populated (speaking in relative terms here!) is St Mary’s which is also the largest island in the cluster. This island is home to a rich community of artists as well as Bronze Age monuments and stunning coastal scenery. Alternatively, visit Tresco, the only privately owned island in the group where you can find a garden of over 20,000 exotic plants. Interestingly, the subtropical climate makes the Isles of Scilly one of the only places where it’s possible to grow these plants in the UK.

One of the most convenient destinations on this list, Swansea and the Gower Peninsula are a great choice for those looking for a sailing holiday with minimal fuss. What it lacks in awe-inspiring scenery, Swansea makes up for in practicality. Mixed groups can benefit from the range of sailing options on offer as Swansea Bay provides beginners with sheltered waters whilst more experienced visitors can get out and explore the Gower Coast and Bristol Channel.

On top of that, as a fairly large city Swansea also has far livelier nightlife than anywhere else on this list. This makes it an ideal destination if your definition of fun also involves some good music and dancing. The weekends are especially busy so that’s the best time to go for a buzzing night out.

Whilst technically just a village, Balmaha is one direct route for getting to Loch Lomond and Loch Lomond is an ideal place for an amazing sailing trip in the UK! Despite being inland, this stretch of water in Scotland is known throughout the world as a watersports destination. The loch is the largest stretch of inland water in the UK and has conditions that make it ideal for sailing.

Loch Lomond benefits from varied conditions, from inlets and islands to open water, especially on the east side close to Milarrochny Bay. The sheer variety of activities to be found in this loch makes it a super appealing destination. Whether you want to race along the wider stretches or spend time exploring the islands, there is something for everyone. Similarly, the addition of speed restrictions in some areas means that you can also find some areas of calm and quiet if that’s more your style.

It used to be said that ‘the only road to Whitby is the sea’ before the road network was built across the North York Moors. The town’s maritime history prevails and the changes made to the harbour over time are testament to how the area has developed through its relationship with the North Sea. For sailors, Whitby appeals thanks to its opportunities for off-shore sailing. You may even be lucky enough to see dolphins and seals when you’re out adventuring!

Onshore, Whitby is a classic British seaside destination in many ways, known for fish and chips and colourful fishing boats. However, its harbour has a long and industrial history that sets it apart from other destinations. It is an interesting UK destination where you can have plenty of fun sailing around this historic area. You can even watch the sun rise and set over the sea in the summer - perfect for the romantic types!

Home of the Olympic Sailing squads, Weymouth is one of the best-known sailing destinations in the UK. Partly in thanks to the 2012 London Olympics and the Paralympic Games, where Weymouth was a key venue, this patch of the Dorset coast has enjoyed a boom in visitors in recent years.

If you venture there outside of the summer months and the school holidays, you can usually find a lower number of visitors. The waters are ideal for sailing and other watersports, making it a fun and varied destination for a holiday. Known for its long sandy beach and the white cliffs of the Jurassic Coastline, Weymouth also makes an impressive backdrop when you’re out on the water. The small town has all the basics you need and there is a wealth of holiday cottages and accommodation for during your stay. You’re also sure to find lots of like-minded sailing enthusiasts milling around at any given moment!

Arguably Devon’s prettiest coastal town, Dartmouth is a lovely spot for sailing. Situated on the west bank of the river Dart, it is positioned opposite Kingswear, a smaller settlement, and there are several shuttles between the towns every hour. Both benefit from their position on one of the busiest and best private sailing rivers in the UK.

For other activity options beyond fantastic sailing, the Dart Valley Trail offers gorgeous coastal walking opportunities. Dartmouth is also host to a sailing regatta and many other festivals including music, food and theatre. Unfortunately, Dartmouth is not a super convenient choice as a result of poor rail links and slow roads. Its popularity in spite of these drawbacks is testament to just how beautiful it is! The remoteness of the town is one of its main selling points. If you have the patience, it is definitely worth a visit.

A small town on Scotland’s west coast, Oban is a hugely popular destination in Scotland. Whilst this can mean that it also suffers from crowds, it ensures that there is a long list of things to do whilst you’re visiting. Highlights include castles, museums, the 13th century fortress of Dunstaffnage and more! This makes it an ideal choice for history buffs but is best enjoyed in the spring and summer months when the weather is more hospitable on the water.

Heading out from Oban, you can sail to the Inner Hebrides, including the Isle of Mull, the fourth-largest island in the UK. Oban is the ferry hub for the Hebrides so the waterways between the islands are well travelled. In addition, the island of Islay is a lovely stop where you can explore the town and even visit the Laphroaig Whisky Distillery. You can even sail all the way to Northern Ireland! Oban is reachable from Edinburgh in 2 hours.

This port town situated in the New Forest is known for its appealing Georgian architecture and cobbled streets. It is easily situated within reach of London, with direct rail links to London Waterloo, making it an ideal location to take a break from the city. This has led to it becoming a popular destination for families looking to move out of London, which has added to the sailing scene in this small town.

Lymington’s reputation has grown over the years to become known worldwide for yachting. The town has benefitted from this influx of tourism and it now has some nice cafes, shops and hotels as well as two large marinas. Keyhaven Nature Reserve should not be missed with over 500 acres of lagoons, reed beds and salt marshes that make it a fun location for walking as well as sailing.

The market town of Acle is your gateway to the Norfolk Broads. The Norfolk Broads offer a different kind of sailing experience from others on this list. This destination has over 200 square kilometres of navigable waterways wide enough for sailing, making it a more unique choice for sailing in the UK.

Thanks to its inland location, the waters are as calm as can be. Sailing is one of the best way to see the Broads, moving serenely through the wetland scenery and seeking out silent places all to yourself. Alternatively, you can head to the more dynamic Norfolk coastline and villages like Blakeney and Brancaster Staithe for more challenging sailing conditions.

Truth be told, Swanage was where my relationship with sailing began. It is because of this that it will always hold a special place in my heart. Luckily for the child version of me, it is a great place for beginners, offering plenty of sheltered waters in the Bay for getting to grips with the sport. Swanage isn’t going to blow you away with its scenery and style but for a gentle introduction to the joys of sailing, you can’t do any better.

These are just some ideas for awesome sailing towns in the UK, there is so much variety and so much beauty that you’re sure to find one that’s right for you!

Leave a comment

You may also like, 14 beautiful places to sail on the u.s. east coast.

The East Coast of the United States has some of the more delightful and varied sailing grounds in the world. Whether you're looking for the secluded quiet of a …

Average Canal Lock Size: UK, the Netherlands, France

22 Beautiful Sailing Destinations for This Winter

41 Sailboat Cruising Essentials for Long Trips

Boats For Sale UK

UK's Mike Lynch missing after yacht sinks off Sicily, source says

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Paul Sandle and Sachin Ravikumar; Editing by Kate Holton

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

U.S. clinical trials in China questioned by U.S. lawmakers

A bipartisan group of lawmakers on Tuesday called on the Biden administration to ramp up scrutiny of U.S. clinical trials conducted in China, citing the risk of intellectual property theft and the possibility of forced participation of Uyghurs.

One person dead and six missing after superyacht with 22 on board is sunk by tornado off coast of Italy

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch is among those unaccounted for after the ship was battered by a tornado off the coast of Palermo in the early hours of Monday morning.

Tuesday 20 August 2024 16:20, UK

A man has died and six people are missing after a UK-flagged superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily in a tornado - with a prominent British businessman among those unaccounted for.

Technology tycoon Mike Lynch owned the 56-metre vessel (183ft), named Bayesian.

Mr Lynch, known as the "British Bill Gates", has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case.

In June, he was cleared of all charges by a US jury related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah is among those missing after his yacht sank, local media reports.

Follow live updates: People missing after superyacht sinks

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is confirmed to be among the 15 people who were rescued after the British-flagged yacht capsized at around 4.30am local time (3.30am UK time) on Monday.

One body has also been recovered, after being found close to the vessel, according to local media.

Read more: Everything we know so far about luxury vessel sunk by tornado Lynch's co-defendant dies after being hit by car days before yacht sinking

The boat was hit by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout, that struck where the yacht had been anchored during the storm.

Police divers have been trying to reach the hull of the ship, which is resting at a depth of 50 metres (163 feet) off Porticello, near Palermo.

During the rescue effort, divers saw "corpses through the portholes" of the wreck, Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily, said.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” he added.

The incident comes days after Stephen Chamberlain, Mr Lynch's co-accused in the fraud trial, died in a car collision in Stretham, Cambridgeshire.

Mr Chamberlain's lawyer said he was out running on Saturday when he was hit by a car.

Most on board yacht thought to be British

The boat had 12 passengers and a crew of 10 people. Four of the missing passengers are British and two are American, Italian news website la Reppublica reports.

Most of those on board were reported to be from Britain - including a mother and one-year-old daughter who are among those rescued.

Speaking to the Giornale Di Sicilia newspaper, Charlotte Golunski said: "For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amid the fury of the waves.

"I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy. Many were screaming. Luckily, the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on board."

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ms Golunski was reportedly given stitches for a chest injury following the ordeal. The father of the child also survived, Mr Cocina said.

Eight of the 15 people rescued and taken ashore at Porticello were taken to hospital, while the others were taken to a hotel.

The Italian coast guard said the boat had passengers from Britain, the US, and Canada.

Meanwhile, multiple Italian news outlets reported that people on the boat were from Britain, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, and Ireland.

British-French citizens were also among those on the superyacht, according to reports.

'I saw it sinking with my own eyes'

Pietro Asciutto, a fisherman from Porticello who witnessed the storm, told local media: "I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very big. I saw it suddenly sink."

He added: "I think the whirlwind came from Porticello... shortly afterwards I went down to Santa Nicolicchia Bay to get a better look at what was happening.

"The boat was still floating, then all of a sudden it disappeared. I saw it sinking with my own eyes."

Fabio Cefalu, another local fisherman, called rescue services after spotting the wrecked boat off Porticello.

He said: "Around 3.55am we witnessed the whirlwind. After a quarter of an hour, we saw a flare 500 metres away from the dock.

"Around 4:35am we went out to sea for the rescue, however, we only saw the remains of the boat floating. There were no men in the sea. So we immediately called the harbour master's office."

A spokesman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said: "We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily, and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected."

Camper and Nicholsons, which provided yacht management services for the Bayesian, has confirmed the vessel sank at around 4.30am local time.

The company said in a statement: "The Italian coast guard is leading search and rescue operations, and has safely recovered 15 individuals. Efforts to locate the seven missing persons continue.

"Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew."

Online charter sites listed the Bayesian as available for rent for up to €195,000 (about £166,339) a week.

Related Topics

• Superyacht sinking

Morgan Stanley International chairman among missing from sunken yacht, reports say

Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, was on Monday night reported to be among the missing from the sunken yacht Bayesian.

He was confirmed missing by Italian authorities, according to The Times.

Mr Bloomer is a close friend of Mike Lynch, the owner of the yacht, who is also missing alongside his 18-year-old daughter Hannah.

Salvatore Cocina, head of the Civil Protection in Sicily, said Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, was also missing.

The vessel is thought to have been hit by a tornado while anchored off Sicily. 

Four of the missing passengers are British and two are American, Italian newspaper la Repubblica stated. Italian media said the man who died was the yacht’s onboard chef.

Mr Lynch’s US fraud trial, which ended two months ago with him being cleared by a San Francisco jury, saw Mr Bloomer take the stand as he had led the audit committee at Mr Lynch’s firm Autonomy.

It was alleged that he had overseen fraudulent accounting at Autonomy that wildly inflated the former FTSE 100 company’s value before it was sold to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion (£8.7 billion) in 2011.

Mr Bloomer claimed that Mr Lynch had largely ignored Autonomy’s accounting, in evidence which was critical to his defence.

Mr Bloomer claimed: “Mike was mostly interested in the strategy, new products, new areas to look at, potential acquisitions.

“For example, he didn’t come to the audit committee and wasn’t particularly interested in the finance side.”

According to his Linkedin profile, Mr Bloomer is currently the chairman of insurance provider Hiscox and was the chief executive of Prudential before being ousted in a boardroom coup in 2005 following the dotcom crash.

Live Reporting

Related stories, lawyer and chairman among those missing.

Salvatore Cocina, head of the Civil Protection in Sicily, said Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance and Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, were also among the missing people.

Meanwhile, Italian media said the man who died was the yacht’s onboard chef.

Did Bayesian superyacht’s 237ft mast cause it to sink?

Bayesian’s 237ft metal mast may have played a part in the sinking of the superyacht off the coast of Sicily, experts have suggested.

The yacht, seemingly named after the mathematical theory which Mike Lynch used to make his millions in the tech industry, foundered in the small hours of Monday morning.

Key among potential reasons for the loss of the vessel will be its most striking feature – the aluminium mast.

Read our latest here

British inspectors deploy to Sicily

Britain’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo.

A basic assessment of the scene will be made by the team with no investigation launched at this stage, the PA news agency understands.

Lynch’s co-defendant in fraud trial died in car crash on weekend

Mike Lynch’s co-defendant in his US fraud trial died in a road accident on Saturday days before the tycoon went missing off the coast of Sicily.

Stephen Chamberlain was hit by a car during the accident over the weekend in Cambridgeshire.

Chamberlain faced the same charges of fraud and conspiracy as his former boss Lynch for allegedly scheming to inflate the value of his company Autonomy before it was sold to Hewlett Packard.

A source told The Telegraph: “Our dear client and friend Steve Chamberlain was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out running.

“He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity, and we deeply miss him. He fought successfully to clear his good name, which lives on through his wonderful family.”

Pictured: Search mission continues

‘A holiday day at sea turned into a tragedy’

“At around 4:30 in the morning it was gone. A beautiful vessel where there had been a party. A normal holiday day spent happily at sea turned into a tragedy,” a witness told Italian news agency ANSA. 

He continued: “The vessel was not far from the port. It would have taken very little to raise the anchor and head for the port. Evidently they were surprised by the storm that suddenly hit and they were unable to avoid the sinking.”

Rescue operation will continue overnight

The rescue operation for the missing six passengers will continue overnight, Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency has said.

A specialist caving search and rescue diving team has also arrived and hoped to “achieve results” overnight or early tomorrow morning, the BBC reported. 

Pictured: Survivors leave the Porticello Coast Guard headquarters

Superyacht guests were celebrating Mike Lynch’s acquittal when disaster struck

Guests were celebrating the acquittal of Mike Lynch, the British tech entrepreneur, on the superyacht Bayesian when the vessel sank off the coast of Italy.

Mr Lynch had gathered guests from Clifford Chance, the legal firm, and Invoke Capital, his own company, after being cleared in June of fraud over the multi-billion-dollar sale of Autonomy.

He was found not guilty on all counts of an accusation of inflating the value of the company, which he sold to the US tech giant Hewlett-Packard for £8.6 billion in 2011.

Read the full story here

‘We should have found something by now’

Francesco Venuto, the spokesman for Sicily’s civil protection agency, has told the BBC that they “think [the missing people] must be there [in the boat]”.

“We’ve been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we’ve found nothing. That wouldn’t make sense, in these conditions we should have found something by now,” he added.

Lynch’s wife in wheelchair following incident

According to La Repubblica, Bacares is in a wheelchair, with abrasions on her feet that prevent her from walking and bandages on other parts of her body.

The newspaper said that she told doctors that at 4am the boat tilted and she and her husband woke up.

At first, they were not worried but then there was a scene of confusion as glass shattered and everything slipped.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter also missing

Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah is among those missing in the superyacht sinking, The Telegraph understands.

Italian media early reported that Angela Bacares, Mr Lynch’s wife, told doctors that her husband and daughter were missing.

Pictured: Previous waterspouts and tornados in Italy

A downburst reported near Sicily in 2018

A tornado reported at Licata, Sicily, in 2021

A waterspout in Apulia, Italy, in 2024

‘In the wrong place at the wrong time’

The boat sank after a tornado over the water known as a waterspout struck the area overnight, said Salvo Cocina of Sicily’s civil protection agency. One body has been recovered, and police divers were trying to reach the hull of the ship, which was resting at a depth of 50 meters (163 feet) off Porticello, near Palermo, where it had been anchored.

The Italian coast guard said the yacht had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers.

A sudden fierce storm had battered the area overnight, and struck where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian had been moored. “They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Cocina said, noting that another superyacht nearby wasn’t as badly damaged and was able to rescue some of the 15 survivors.

Who is Mike Lynch? Britain’s ‘Bill Gates’ who was acquitted of £8bn fraud just two months ago

Just weeks ago, Mike Lynch was walking out of a San Francisco courtroom a free man with tears in his eyes.

The technology tycoon known as “Britain’s Bill Gates” had improbably beaten the odds in a bitter US legal dispute with technology giant HP, convincing a jury that he was not guilty of claims of massive fraud.

Cleared after a 13-year legal fight, the entrepreneur vowed to fight to reform Britain’s extradition laws after he was flown to San Francisco to face trial and kept under house arrest.

Read the full profile here

Pictured: Rescue teams search the water

Pictured: A diver leaps into the sea during search for victims

‘I held her afloat with all my strength’: British mother describes rescuing her baby from drowning

Among the 15 survivors is a one-year-old British baby called Sofia who was saved by her mother, Charlotte Golunski.

Ms Golunski, an Oxford graduate and senior associate at Invoke, had fought to prevent her child from drowning. While all around her she could hear the screams of the terrified passengers and crew, she kept her grip on her baby to stop her from slipping beneath the waves.

The child’s mother told Republicca, the Italian newspaper: “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 

“It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.”

Mike Lynch was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise

Mike Lynch was made an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006. 

That same year, he was appointed to the board of the BBC, and was later elected to then-prime minister David Cameron’s council for science and technology in 2011.

He advised Mr Cameron on subjects including “the opportunities and risks of the development of artificial intelligence and the government’s role in the regulation of these technologies”.

Mr Lynch is among six tourists missing after the luxury yacht sank in bad weather off the coast of Sicily, sources said.

Four of the missing passengers are British and two are American, Italian news website la Repubblica stated.

UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch sending team

The UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch is sending a team of four inspectors to conduct a “preliminary assessment” into the sinking of the Bayesian, a government spokesman said.

The Bayesian was registered in London and flew the Red Ensign, meaning UK authorities will be involved in the investigation into why she foundered.

Specialist divers are being flown to Sicily from the Italian mainland

Specialist cave divers are being flown to Sicily from the Italian mainland to assist in the search for survivors of the superyacht as hopes fade of finding any of the six alive.

Luca Cari, spokesman for the firefighting service, told The Telegraph firefighter divers from Palermo and the Sardinian towns of Cagliari and Sassari had been working tirelessly at a depth of 50 metres since the early hours of Monday morning when the alarm was sounded.

But Mr Cari said the spaces inside the luxury yacht were so small that specially trained cave divers and their equipment were required to access the cabins.

“We are working non-stop with our divers and our helicopter.  But we are talking about very small confined spaces inside the yacht so we need the specialist cave divers and their equipment,” he said.

He declined to say whether divers had identified bodies through the portholes of the sunken yacht but said as time went on it was increasingly unlikely that the firefighters would find any more survivors.

Divers search for bodies after superyacht sinks in Sicily

Divers involved in the rescue operation for the missing passengers of the Bayesian have been captured entering the water as part of the search effort. 

Three divers in orange wetsuits are seen in the water off the coast of Sicily before they commence an underwater search for those that are missing. 

Mike Lynch has been called the ‘British Bill Gates’

Mike Lynch, the British technology tycoon, is one of six tourists missing in a superyacht sinking. 

Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, and made his name as one of Britain’s most influential entrepreneurs through the company.

He has been described at points as the Bill Gates of Britain, for founding the company which became one of the biggest enterprise software firms on the planet.

He negotiated an 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale of Autonomy to Hewlett Packard, which generated a more than 800 million US dollar windfall for him.

But the sale also kicked off a 13-year legal saga. It was only in June this year that Mr Lynch was cleared of charges alleging he orchestrated a fraud and conspiracy leading up to the deal, which turned into a costly albatross for HP.

He faced more than 20 years in US prison if convicted of the fraud and conspiracy allegations, and the Times reported that he spent 13 months under house arrest awaiting the trial that ended in June.

Bayesian superyacht specs

The Bayesian is 56 metres long (183ft) and has a 75m (246ft) long mast.

The vessel was in front of the port of Porticello, in the province of Palermo, when the severe weather struck. 

Its anchor was down and the strong gust would have caused the vessel to lose balance which is believed to have led to the shipwreck.

Who is Mike Lynch?

Mr Lynch, 59, founded the software company Autonomy in 1996 and became one of Britain’s most high-profile businessmen when he sold it to Hewlett Packard for £7bn in 2011.

He spent more than a decade seeking to clear his name after HP accused Autonomy executives of illegal accounting practices in 2012.

Mr Lynch was charged with fraud in the US in 2018 and was found not guilty in June in a stunning legal victory. He had only recently returned to the United Kingdom and had planned to defend wrongfully convicted Britons.

Ms Bacares holds much of his fortune. The couple have had two daughters, who are 21 and 18.

Survivor leaves coast guard headquarters after sailboat sank off Sicily

A survivor leaves the coast guard headquarters after a superyacht sank at around 5am in front of Porticello in the province of Palermo on Monday.

The 50-metre vessel reportedly had mostly British nationals on board and 15 people were saved by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters, including a one-year-old child.

Earlier today the coast guard issued a statement saying it had rescued 15 people from the yacht that had 22 people onboard. 

The term Bayesian explained

The term Bayesian refers to a branch of statistics pioneered by Thomas Bayes, an 18th century mathematician and vicar.

Much of modern artificial intelligence and computer analysis is underpinned by Bayesian inference, which involves updating the probabilities of various scenarios based on ongoing evidence.

The statistical model was crucial to Autonomy’s technology, which searched through large amounts of corporate data to find information.

In 2021, Mike Lynch said that: “Bayes deserves far more historical credit for the place he occupies among the forefathers of information theory”

Mr Lynch has often used playful naming conventions. Conference rooms at Autonomy were named after James Bond villains, another interest of his, while his dogs have named after engineering terms such as Valve, Tappet and Switch.

Doctor describes mother’s ordeal

Dr Domenico Cipolla, head of emergency room at the Giovanni di Cristina paediatric hospital in Palermo, has described the experience of Charlotte, the British mother who was onboard the Bayesian when it sank. 

DrCipolla said: “She told me that while they were sleeping, at a certain point the yacht overturned due to the tornado, and they found themselves in the water. 

“Some of them immediately managed to get onto the lifeboat. And some, evidently, didn’t make it.

“She told me that she was in the water for no more than two, three seconds, and she managed to save the baby, to keep her arms up, and then, with the others, they were able to get on the lifeboat, and then, I think, they were rescued by the coast guard.

“They are all in good condition. We managed to get the parents to talk (to each other) on the phone, all the doctors and nurses were all very moved, also because the little girl is fine, the prognosis is good and we are carrying out tests just to be careful.”

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch missing in superyacht sinking

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch is missing after the sinking of a superyacht off the coast of Sicily, The Telegraph understands.

Watch: Captain who rescued passengers from yacht sinking interview

The captain who rescued passengers from the Bayesian has spoken to media about the ordeal.

Captain of another boat describes saving 15 Bayesian passengers

The captain of a nearby boat that rescued the 15 people has described the conditions in which the Bayesian sank last night.

Karsten Borner said his own vessel, the Sir Robert BP, was battered by very strong gusts in the early hours of the morning, managing to stabilise it while anchored by using the engine.

He said as they were doing this, they noticed the Bayesian nearby and manoeuvred to avoid hitting it.

“We managed to keep the ship in position, and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”

Details of the superyacht

The Bayesian is 56 metres long (183ft) according to ship tracking website VesselFinder.

The luxury super yacht is said to have a 75m (246ft) long mast.

She was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi with an initial asking price of 35 million euros (£30 million) according to Nautic Link. 

According to the leasing company Yacht Charter Fleet, the boat is furnished with a “Japanese-style” interior.

It has been designed to accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites, along with ten crew members.

The Bayesian was awarded the best exterior styling at the 2009 World Superyacht Awards.

Male body recovered, Vigili del Fuoco confirms

Vigili del Fuoco,  Italy’s fire and rescue service, has confirmed a male body has been recovered from the yacht.

In a post on X, it said the “lifeless body of a man recovered [has been] from the wreck by the divers.”

It posted the statement alongside a clip of the rescue effort with footage showing helicopters, boats and divers carrying out a search operation.

#Palermo , naufragio imbarcazione a Porticello: recuperato dai #sommozzatori dei #vigilidelfuoco il corpo senza vita di un uomo, all'esterno del relitto. Proseguono le operazioni di ricerca con il coordinamento in mare della @guardiacostiera [ #19agosto 11:30] pic.twitter.com/Y2m9o5ohCe — Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 19, 2024

Four Britons missing after yacht sinks off Sicily

One person has died and four British nationals are missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily, Italian media has reported.

The 50-metre boat, which is called the “Bayesian”, sank at around 5am in the stretch of sea in front of Porticello in the province of Palermo.

The vessel reportedly had mostly British nationals on board and 15 people were saved by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters, including a one-year-old child.

One-year-old survivor called Sofia, local media reports

The one-year-old English girl who was saved from the shipwreck has been named as Sofia, local media reports. 

Map: The superyacht’s journey before it sank

The Bayesian sank at around 5am in the stretch of sea in front of Porticello in the province of Palermo.

Below is a map of its journey before it went down. 

A mother saved her one-year-old from drowning, local media reports

A mother has told of how she kept her one-year-old daughter alive after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

Charlotte, a survivor of the incident said her child is now being treated in the Di Cristina hospital, in Palermo, following the ordeal in which the Bayesian sank due to severe winds. 

The mother, who is said to be a British tourist, told la Repubblica, a local news website: “I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning. 

“It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.” 

Charlotte said her husband James has been taken to Civico hospital in Palermo after suffering minor injuries. 

La Repubblica said that the father asked about his daughter’s health during a phone call with his wife.

According to the paper, he said: “How is the little girl? Is she there with you?”

His wife reassured him and they promised to hug each other again soon, the site reported. 

Shadow foreign minister pays tribute to those involved in incident

Alicia Kearns, shadow foreign minister for Europe, wrote on X: “Desperately sorry to hear of the capsizing of the Bayesian - a heartbreaking incident.

“My thoughts are with all the families of those lost at sea, and those recovering following the rescue operation, I’m sure the foreign office will be providing consular support to British Nationals and their families.”

Foreign Office statement

The Foreign Office said in a statement: “We are in contact with the local authorities following an incident in Sicily, and stand ready to provide consular support to British nationals affected.”

‘I saw it suddenly disappear’, says Porticello fisherman

Pietro Asciutto, a fisherman from Porticello who witnessed the sinking, told ANSA: “I was at home when the tornado hit. I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very large. I saw it sink suddenly.”

He added: “I think the tornado came from Porticello. Shortly after I went down to the Bay of Santa Nicolicchia to get a better look at what was happening. 

“The boat was still floating, then suddenly it disappeared. I saw it sink with my own eyes.”

Sinking of Bayesian ‘strange’, says former chief stewardess

A former chief stewardess of the Bayesian has described news of the yacht’s sinking as “strange” because the boat had withstood the choppiest of seas.

Monica Jensen, 48, told The Telegraph: “It seems a bit strange. We have been in bad weather with it, crossed the Atlantic.

“It’s been all over. These things definitely don’t happen very often.”

Ms Jensen worked on the 56m superyacht from November 2018 to October 2020 for a private owner and said the boat had since been sold. 

She accompanied the boat on two Caribbean seasons and cruised around Italy, Malta, Greece and the Balearics.

Ms Jensen said the crew would have been well-drilled on the evacuation process.

She said: “You can’t work on a boat without the right certificates, training and you do drills monthly.”

Pictured: Emergency services carrying bodybag following shipwreck

Emergency services are pictured carrying a bodybag to shore after local media reported a man’s body had been recovered from the shipwreck off the coast of Sicily. 

Coast guard statement

The Italian Coast Guard said in a statement: “This morning at about 5am, following a violent gale, a 56-metre yacht named Bayesian and flying the UK flag sank off Porticello.

“The first shipwrecked were rescued by a boat in the immediate vicinity and brought ashore by four coast guard vessels, which promptly responded to the scene from Porticello, Termini Imerese and Palermo.

“Initial information received from the yacht crew indicated that 22 people (10 crew members and 12 passengers) were onboard the yacht.

“There are currently 15 people rescued and seven missing (one crew member and six passengers), of British, American and Canadian nationality.

“Of the people recovered, eight were transported to local hospitals. The vessel is reported to have sunk on a seabed of about 50 metres.

“The search continues unabated with naval, air and underwater resources, including the Messina Coast Guard Diving Unit.”

Mayor makes statement about incident

Filippo Tripoli, the mayor of Bagheria in Sicily, said: “This morning, off the coast of Santa Flavia, a foreign boat sunk due to bad weather, 15 people recovered and seven missing.

“Already all the police forces and emergency services are operational and our Red Cross volunteers are present.”

‘Captain should not be blamed’, says local businessman

Bartolomeo Lo Coco, who owns the Tosto Chiosco cafe in Porticello, said it was common for rental yachts and boats to sail through the fishing village, adding that the captain should not be blamed for what had occurred because the weather had been so unpredictable.

“This was a terrible misfortune that no-one could have foreseen. It is nobody’s fault, the captain should not be blamed.”

Lo Coco said Carabinieri police, coast guard and firefighters were still searching the port. He stressed that the yacht was at a depth of 50 to 60 metres.

People in ‘mourning’, says local business owner

Bartolomeo Lo Coco, who owns the Tosto Chiosco cafe in Porticello, said those in the port were in “mourning” following the deeply shocking incident.

He said no one could have predicted the storm and the whirlwind that appeared to have caused the accident.

“We are in mourning here, all of us are in mourning,” he told The Telegraph. “We have never seen anything like this, ever. There is a very serious tragedy.”

His kiosk, which serves snacks and sandwiches, overlooks the water in Porticello.

He said the whirlwind, which occurred in the early hours of Monday, had not only caused the tragic accident but also widespread damage in the port.

He added: “This wasn’t a thunderstorm, this was a whirlwind. It happened all of a sudden. There is a lot of damage here. Boats were dislodged from their moorings and restaurant tables were broken within minutes and sent flying several metres.”

Body of man recovered in search, local media reports

The body of a man has been recovered from the seabed in the search for missing people following a shipwreck off the coast of Sicily, according to il Fatto Quotidiano.

The local news website said: “A body was found and recovered by rescuers on the seabed. Firefighters and the coast guard are looking for six other passengers, while fifteen have been rescued.”

Among the survivors is a one-year-old girl who is being treated in the Civico hospital with her mother, the site said.

According to witnesses, the vessel was in front of the port of Porticello when the severe weather struck. 

The anchor was down and the strong gust would have caused the vessel to lose balance which is believed to have led to the shipwreck.

Storm in Palermo

Footage shared by the BAIA Santa Nicolicchia restaurant shows the storm hit the port.

The violent weather causes damage outside the restaurant, knocking over chairs and plant pots.

Yacht designed for luxury travel

The Bayesian was designed for luxury travel, according to local media.

Tgcom24 described the yacht as an “elegant 56-metre sailing boat” weighing 473 tons. It was said to be flying a United Kingdom flag when it sank.

The online newspaper said it was built by the Perini Navi Viareggio shipyard in February 2008, before being refitted in 2020.

The boat had arrived in Porticello after a stop in Milazzo and a passage in front of Cefalù, Tgcom24 reported.

Watch: Search underway

Aerial footage of the search has been posted on social media by Vigili del Fuoco, Italy’s fire and rescue service.

The post on X, formerly Twitter, said: “A Palermo boat wreck off the coast of Porticello, 15 people saved, seven reported missing.

“Since dawn firefighters and divers have engaged in the search. The wreck has been identified 50 metres deep.”

Vessel ‘caught middle of a hurricane’

The BAIA Santa Nicolicchia restaurant in Porticello wrote on its Facebook page that the yacht sank at around 4am after being caught in a hurricane.

They called it an “unbelievable tragedy”, adding that they were “lost for words”.

The post read: “Last picture I took at 10pm. The yacht on the left sank at 4.05am, caught in the middle of the hurricane 300 metres from the port of Porticello, next to another sailboat that provided rescue.

“It looks like there are 22 on board but unfortunately seven missing, they’re still afraid inside the hull.

“Unbelievable tragedy tonight. I’m out of words.”

Pictured: Last photo of boat

The last photo thought to have been taken of the yacht at 10pm on Sunday in Porticello.

Four Britons missing

Four Britons are reported to be missing after a yacht sank in a stretch of sea in front of Porticello.

Seven people are missing in total, including four Britons, one Canadian, two Americans and the ship’s cook.

The vessel reportedly had mostly British nationals on board and 15 people were saved by coast guard patrol boats and firefighters, including a one-year-old child.

Welcome to our live coverage

Hello, we’re bringing you the latest news after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. 

• Mike Lynch and teenage daughter feared dead in superyacht sinking
• Did Bayesian superyacht's 237ft mast cause it to sink?
• The dangerous storms raging around Italy as 'tornado sinks superyacht'
• Superyachts
• Facebook Icon
• WhatsApp Icon

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

Mike lynch, a 59-year-old british technology entrepreneur, was among the six missing passengers who were aboard the bayesian, a yacht that sank in sicily, italy..

Six people remain missing after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Palermo in Sicily, Italy on Monday, including British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

Lynch, 59, was aboard the Bayesian, an 184-foot-long British-registered sailboat that sank into the water right before sunrise. While six individuals are missing — including American, British and Canadian nationals — one person has been confirmed deceased from the sinking that capsized the yacht's 22 passengers, Italy's coast guard said in a statement.

Of the 15 rescued passengers, eight were taken to a local hospital for treatment and were in stable condition, CNN reported. A 1-year-old was among those rescued. The large vessel sank after heavy rainfall from strong storms caused flooding and landslides in parts of Italy.

Prosecutors in a town near Palermo have since opened an investigation into the events leading up to the sinking, which may shed some light on why Lynch was aboard the superyacht. Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was one of the rescued passengers, the BBC reported.

Here is what we know about Lynch.

What companies did Mike Lynch found?

In 1996, Lynch co-founded the Autonomy Corporation, an enterprise software company now known as HP Autonomy. He also founded Invoke Capital , a venture capital fund.

Through Invoke Capital, Lynch became a co-founder of Darktrace, a British cyber security company established in 2013 and headquartered in Cambridge, England.

Why was Mike Lynch charged with fraud?

Soon after Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $11 billion in 2011, a sale in which he made around $800 million, he was hit with civil and criminal charges.

In November 2012, HP announced an $8.8 billion writedown of assets and claimed Autonomy artificially inflated its value by hiding "serious accounting improprieties, disclosure failures and outright misrepresentations," the Guardian reported.

Although the UK Serious Fraud Office ended its investigation of the sale due to insufficient evidence, Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, former vice president of finance at Autonomy, were indicted for fraud in the U.S. in November 2018. Sushovan Hussain , Autonomy's former finance chief officer, was found guilty of fraud in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of California .

HP won a civil action in the High Court in London in January 2022 against Lynch and Hussian, the BBC reported. Damages were to be decided later, with the judge saying the amount would be "significantly less" than the $5 billion claimed by HP, according to the outlet.

Was Mike Lynch found guilty?

Lynch was extradited to the US in May 2023 to face 16 counts of wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy. He and Chamberlain, who was charged with 15 counts of wire fraud and conspiracy, pleaded not guilty.

On June 6, 2024, the men were found not guilty of all charges.

Lynch told BBC Radio 4 in August that although he knew he was innocent at the onset of this 11-week trial, he felt his wealth allowed him to prove his case in U.S. court.

"You shouldn't need to have funds to protect yourself as a British citizen," he said.

Stephen Chamberlain on life support

On Saturday, two days before Lynch's disappearance, Chamberlain was seriously injured in a road accident, Reuters reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Chamberlain was struck by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning and was placed on life support, the person said, per Reuters.

Contributing: Reuters and Cybele Mayes-Osterman/ USA TODAY

• Israel-Gaza War
• War in Ukraine
• US Election
• US & Canada
• UK Politics
• N. Ireland Politics
• Scotland Politics
• Wales Politics
• Latin America
• Middle East
• In Pictures
• Executive Lounge
• Technology of Business
• Women at the Helm
• Future of Business
• Science & Health
• Artificial Intelligence
• AI v the Mind
• Film & TV
• Art & Design
• Entertainment News
• Destinations
• Australia and Pacific
• Caribbean & Bermuda
• Central America
• North America
• South America
• World’s Table
• Culture & Experiences
• The SpeciaList
• Natural Wonders
• Weather & Science
• Climate Solutions
• Sustainable Business
• Green Living

UK tech tycoon among six missing after yacht sinks

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are among the six people missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of the Italian island of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning.

The 56m (183ft) vessel was carrying 22 people including British, American and Canadian nationals. Fifteen people were rescued, including a one-year-old British girl, and authorities are continuing their search into the night.

Local media reported the yacht, named Bayesian, capsized at about 05:00 local time after encountering a heavy storm overnight that caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air, to appear over the sea.

Mr Lynch, known by some as "the British Bill Gates", co-founded software company Autonomy, which was later bought by tech giant Hewlett-Packard for $11bn (£8.6bn).

Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm struck, causing the mast to break and the ship to lose its balance and sink off the coast of village Porticello, near Sicilian capital Palermo.

A waterspout is similar to a tornado and can form over oceans, seas or large lakes.

Divers have identified a wreckage 50m below the water's surface and are searching for those missing.

The director general of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, told the BBC Mr Lynch, his daughter Hannah Lynch and the yacht's chef were among the missing.

He said the search, involving caving and rescue diving teams, would continue overnight.

The body of one man was found outside of the wreckage. His nationality has not been confirmed.

BBC Verify looked at corporate records and found the Bayesian's ownership is tied to Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares.

Sources close to the matter have confirmed to the BBC Ms Bacares has been rescued.

Fifteen people managed to get to safety after the storm hit.

Ansa news agency reported a 35-year-old mother held her one-year-old daughter in her arms in the sea .

The woman, named as locally as Charlotte Golunski, said: "For two seconds I lost the little girl in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves.

"I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy. Many were screaming.

"Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us managed to get on board."

The baby is fine and the mother was treated with stitches, the agency said.

She added she had been on the boat with her husband, who is also safe, and colleagues from a London company.

A doctor based at the Di Cristina Hospital in Palermo, where some of the survivors were taken, said they were "very tired" and "constantly asking about the missing people".

Dr Domenico Cipolla told Reuters news agency: "We have given the survivors this information, but they are talking and crying all the time because they have realised that there is little hope of finding their friends alive."

Survivors said the trip has been organised by Mr Lynch for his work colleagues.

In the initial aftermath, a nearby Dutch-flagged vessel rescued survivors from the waves, tending to them until emergency services arrived.

Captain Karsten Borner said after the storm had passed, the crew noticed that the yacht that had been behind them had disappeared.

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

That life raft was carrying 15 survivors, three of whom were "heavily injured", he said.

A local fisherman told Reuters news agency he had seen people being rescued by an inflatable boat dispatched from another yacht.

The captain of a local fishing trawler said he saw debris, including cushions from the deck, floating in the sea.

Footage from the wreckage site showed helicopters circling over several coastguard vessels as divers wearing bright orange descended into the water.

Eight of those rescued are receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

The western half of the Mediterranean has experienced severe storms since the middle of last week.

Through Sunday night and into Monday morning, a clutch of bad weather passed by the north coast of Sicily.

BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor said: "A waterspout is a tornado that has occurred over water rather than land.

"They can form during intense storms, on the base of cumulonimbus/thunder clouds.

"Turbulence, and the wind blowing in slightly different directions around the cloud, can cause rotation under the base of the cloud and the spout to form.

"Like tornadoes, they bring powerful winds, but instead of picking up dust and debris they cause a water mist around the column of rotating air."

The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily. Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also sending a team of inspectors to conduct a "preliminary assessment" into the sinking of the UK registered-boat.

The Bayesian's registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd. The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

The yacht's name is understood to be based on the Bayesian theory, which Mr Lynch's PhD thesis was based on.

Mr Lynch's wife Ms Bacares is named as the sole legal owner of Revtom registered in the Isle of Man.

A spokesperson for Camper and Nicholsons International, the firm that manages the 2008-built boat, told BBC Verify: "Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew."

Mr Lynch sold his company Autonomy to American computing giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011 for $11bn (£8.6bn).

But an intense legal battle following the high-profile acquisition loomed over Mr Lynch for over a decade. He was acquitted in the US in June on multiple fraud charges, for which he had been facing two decades in jail.

The sinking of the yacht came on the same day that Mr Lynch's co-defendant in the fraud case, Stephen Chamberlain, was confirmed by his lawyer as having died after being hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.

How sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily unfolded

Who is british tech tycoon mike lynch, 'for two seconds i lost my baby in the sea' - sicily yacht survivor.

Additional reporting by BBC Verify's Joshua Cheetham

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

Tributes paid to ‘kind, loved’ chef believed to have died in Bayesian yacht sinking

Share this with

Tributes have been paid to a chef whose body has been recovered near the site of the  Bayesian superyacht  sinking off the coast of Sicily.

Ricardo Thomas, a Canadian citizen with an Antiguan passport, died after a tornado over the ocean, known as a water spout, hit the luxury yacht owned by British tech tycoon Mike Lynch in the early hours of yesterday.

Mr Thomas has been named in local Antiguan media and on social media as Recaldo Thomas.

In a series of emotive posts online, friends described him as ‘kind’ and ‘a friend to everyone’.

Posting on Facebook, Jess Whiteley said: ‘Rest in Power big man. You always loved this pic of you.

‘I don’t know what else to say except I love you, and I always will. Too many memories to share all at once… and too many were supposed to be made.’

• 4h ago Tributes paid to ‘kind, loved’ chef after body recovered
• 6h ago Mike Lynch and five other passengers may be inside sunken yacht
• 8h ago Charlotte Golunski and her family pictured leaving hospital
• 11h ago Yacht captain breaks silence with just five-word sentence
• 11h ago Co-defendant of Mike Lynch fraud case was a ‘much-loved’ man, says family

Why did the superyacht Bayesian sink?

Hatches and doors left open overnight on the superyacht may have caused it to capsize, a sailing expert has said.

Sam Jefferson, editor of magazine Sailing Today, said that such incidents are ‘incredibly rare’, describing the chances of a vessel being hit by a waterspout as ‘minuscule’.

It is believed the vessel was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout.

Weather records show temperatures reached around 33C the day before the sinking, which may have led to the people on board to leave the doors open.

Mr Jefferson said: ‘I would have said that the boat got hit very hard by the wind, it was pinned over on its side.

‘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.

‘The reason it got pinned over so hard was because the mast is huge. It acted almost like a sail. (It) pushed the boat hard over on its side.

‘(The boat) filled with water before it could right. This is all speculation, but that’s the only logical explanation.’

In pictures: Divers facing rescue challenge in Sicily

Specialist divers continued their search for six people who remain missing in the water.

Divers ‘listening for timed banging noise, similar to Titan submarine’

Divers could be listening out for a ‘timed banging noise’ as they continue to scour the wreck of the superyacht off Sicily’s coast to find six missing people.

Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, who teaches mechanical, biomedical and design engineering at Aston University, said: ‘A sign the rescuers may be looking for is a banging noise at regular intervals.

‘This is common practice on submarines, and was one of the signs the search mission for the Titan submarine was looking for after it went missing last year.’

Whatever is left of Bayesian is currently 164ft underwater, posing a challenge to rescue teams.

There is still slim possibility that air pockets exist within the sunken sailboat, and the trapped passengers are still alive.

But Dr Souppez said such possibility was ‘simply impossible to predict’.

Former school of Mike Lynch’s daughter ‘shocked’ by tragedy

The former school of Hannah Lynch, Mike Lynch’s daughter, said its ‘thoughts are with their family and everyone involved’ as the pair remain missing at sea.

A spokesperson for Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, in west London, said: ‘We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident.

‘Our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.’

Crew survivor ‘spared by grace of God’

The mother of one of the rescued Bayesian crew members said she is ‘beyond relieved’ that her daughter’s life was spared.

Heidi Randall, the mother of Leah Randall, told Sky News: ‘I am beyond relieved that my daughter’s life was spared by the grace of God.

‘It does not make it any easier living with the heartache of those who have lost their lives or are missing.

‘My very deepest condolences to the chef’s family as they formed a great friendship.’

Haunting final Instagram post of chef before he died

This is Ricardo Thomas’ haunting post on Instagram – just 10 days before he died off the coast of Sicily after.

Mr Thomas had been working on the superyacht as a chef when the tornado struck. His body was recovered from the water near the site, more than 24 hours later.

His last picture on Instagram shows the sun setting over the sea near Santa Marina Salina, one of the main towns on Salina, one of the Aeolian Islands.

There is no caption accompanying the post, but since yesterday a number of people have commented, paying their tributes.

One wrote: ‘What a Last Photo Brotha RIP.’

https://www.instagram.com/p/C-ee0MLo42_/?hl=en

Another survivor named

The Italian Coastguard has confirmed the name of another crew member of Bayesian who survived.

Spokesperson Vincenzo Zagarola said Leo Eppel was on board the sailboat that sank in the early hours of Monday.

Tributes paid to ‘kind, loved’ chef after body recovered

Tributes have been paid to a chef whose body has been recovered near the site of the Bayesian superyacht sinking off the coast of Sicily.

Ricardo Thomas, a Canadian citizen with an Antiguan passport, died after a tornado over the ocean, known as a water spout, hit the luxury yacht yesterday.

Two more survivors named

Two more survivors of the Bayesian yacht disaster have been named as Leah Randall and Katja Chicken.

The two women are South African, Sky News reported, and they were members of the crew on the boat.

Captain of rescue ship says yacht sank in ‘two minutes’

Captain Karsten Borner, who brought survivors of the Bayesian disaster on board his own boat, has said he took precautions to save his own vessel in the storm.

Again speaking to news agency Reuters, he said he made an effort to keep his Dutch-flagged ship steady before noticing something was wrong with the yacht nearby.

He told the agency: ‘I don’t absolutely know what they did. I only know that they went flat with a mast on the water and that they sank in two minutes.’

Borner blamed unusually warm sea temperatures for the extreme weather on Monday morning, which he describes as ‘very violent, very intense, a lot of water and I think a turning system like a tornado’.

Hannah Lynch’s school releases statement

Hannah Lynch, the 18-year-old daughter of Mike Lynch, is one of the six missing passengers on the boat alongside her dad.

Her former school, Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London, has just released a statement.

It said: ‘We are all incredibly shocked by the news that Hannah and her father are among those missing in this tragic incident and our thoughts are with their family and everyone involved as we await further updates.’

Divers carry out searches in 10 minute segments

Emergency rescuers have just 10 minutes to search for those missing in the wreckage of the Bayesian, responders have told Giornale Di Sicilia.

The divers have faced challenges when searching for those onboard, with Marco Tilotta, who is coordinating the search and rescue, describing it as a ‘prohibitive’ search.

Emergency responder Luca Cari told Italian daily Giornale Di Sicilia: ‘They can stay underwater for a maximum of 12 minutes, two of which are needed to go up and down.

‘So the real time to be able to carry out the search is 10 minutes per dive.’

Law firm Clifford Chance ‘deeply saddened’ by sinking

A spokesperson for law firm Clifford Chance said it is ‘deeply saddened’ by the sinking of superyacht Bayesian off he coast of Sicily.

A spokesperson said: ‘We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident.

‘Our thoughts are with our partner, Christopher Morvillo, and his wife, Neda, who are among the missing.

‘Our utmost priority is providing support to the family as well as our colleague Ayla Ronald, who together with her partner thankfully survived the incident.

‘Our thoughts extend to the other passengers and crew and all those affected.

‘We have no further comment at this time.

‘We, and the families, ask that their request for privacy is honoured during this period.’

Mike Lynch and five other passengers may be inside sunken yacht

The Italian Coastguard believes Mike Lynch and five other missing people may still be inside the sunken yacht, a spokesman said.

Vincenzo Zagarola told the PA news agency this was the working theory of officials on Sicily because it is believed the boat sank quickly and search and rescue efforts by sea and air have so far delivered no results.

He said: ‘We think they are still inside the boat, that is our very hard idea.

‘Our search and rescue activity by sea and air has gone on for around 36 hours.

‘Of course, we do not exclude that they are not inside the boat, but we know the boat sank quickly.

‘We suppose that the six people missing may not have had time to get out of the boat.’

Bayesian ‘practically intact’ on seabed, diver says

The yacht which sank off the coast of Palermo yesterday morning remains largely undamaged at the bottom of the Mediterranean, a diver has said.

Speaking to Italian newspaper Il Messaggero , Marco Tilotta said the Bayesian was ‘practically intact’.

Mr Tilotta, who works for Palermo’s fire and rescue service, said: ‘It is resting on its side on the starboard side. It has no gashes, no signs of impact.’

Charlotte Golunski and her family pictured leaving hospital

Charlotte Golunski, who was one of the first Bayesian passengers to speak out after the sinking, has left hospital in Palermo.

She gave a memorable account of the terror she felt on Monday morning as a storm hit the boat in an interview with Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

Ms Golunski said: ‘It was all dark. In the water I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I screamed for help but all I could hear around me was the screams of others.’

She saved the life of her one-year-old daughter Sophia by holding her above the waves, and the pair ended up at Di Cristina paediatric hospital in Palermo together.

Her husband James Emslie also survived the sinking and was taken to a different hospital in the Sicilian city.

The family of three was pictured leaving Di Cristina hospital together.

Divers manage to crack open way into the Bayesian

Diving teams have managed to make a way to get inside the Bayesian, which has sunk some 50 metres.

Giornale De Sicilia , a Sicilian newspaper, says diverts from the fire department and port authority have opened a hole in the hull.

The rescue teams also now have a clearer idea of the condition of the Bayesian – including that the hull is still intact.

The yacht, La Repubblica reports, shows no sign of colliding with rocks or other ships. It has tilted 90° to the right and has sunk 50 metres.

The working theory is that the ship was flooded with water from the stern or bow in a short amount of time. Furniture and debris have swamped the cabins.

Divers are working in 35-minute ships, taking 12 minutes to go back up to the surface.

Missing Judy Bloomer ‘brilliant champion for women’s health’

Judy, the wife of Jonathan Bloomer, is among the six yacht passengers missing.

She’s been described by the CEO of Eve Appeal, a gynaecological cancer charity she was a trustee of, as a ‘brilliant champion for women’s health’.

Athena Lamniso was ‘deeply shocked to hear the news that our very dear friend and her husband Jonathan, are among those missing’, the BBC reported.

‘Our thoughts are with Judy and Jonathan’s family, as well as all those who are still waiting for news after this tragic event,’ she added.

Family of Steve Chamberlain to recreate his final route

The family of Steve Chamberlain are hoping to complete his final running route after he died while out running in his home town in Cambridgeshire.

Teddy, his son, posted on the social networking website Strava that Mr Chamberlain’s family will run the route, starting from the outside of the town of Stretham, to Ely, in memory of Steve after his death.

Cambridgeshire Police said 52-year-old Mr Chamberlain died in hospital after he was struck by a car on Saturday.

A statement from his lawyer said he was hit ‘while out running’.

Under his dad’s final Strava post, Teddy wrote: ‘We are planning to complete this run for Dad (after I train of course!).

‘If any of you would like to pay tribute and run it with us I will keep you updated. I’m sure we will make a post about the day and time at a later date. He was such an incredible man and the pain we feel in unimaginable.’

Mike Lynch’s co-defendant was a ‘strong supporter of local football’

A football team Stephen Chamberlain volunteered at has paid tribute.

‘Everyone at Cambridge United is saddened to hear of the death of Steve Chamberlain,’ the club said in a statement on its website.

‘Steve was the unpaid Finance Director at the Club from 2016 to 2018 and also a strong supporter of local football in Cambridgeshire. Our thoughts and condolences go to all his family and friends at this difficult time.’

Chamberlain, a co-defendant of missing Mike Lynch, died on Monday following a car accident in Stretham, Cambridgeshire, on Saturday morning.

MORE : ‘We’re not masking for fun – covid hasn’t gone away’

MORE : ‘Vampire psychopath’ accused of murdering dozens of women escapes from police

MORE : What is a waterspout and did it cause the Sicily yacht tragedy?

Sign Up for News Updates

Get your need-to-know latest news, feel-good stories, analysis and more.

Privacy Policy

Get us in your feed