A tragic incident occurred off the coast of Sicily early this morning, where a 180-foot luxury yacht capsized during a freak storm, leaving one person confirmed
dead and six others, including British and American tourists, still missing. The yacht, named the Bayesian, was struck by a tornado near Porticello, close to Palermo, around 5 a.m.
Out of the 22 people on board, 15, including a one-year-old baby and its mother, were rescued by a nearby vessel. The passengers were mostly British, with others from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, the U.S., and two dual British-French nationals. The missing individuals are feared to have been trapped inside their cabins when the yacht capsized.
The Bayesian, a luxury yacht sailing under the British flag and boasting the second tallest mast in the world, was anchored off the coast when the storm hit. Witnesses reported that the tornado broke the yacht's mast, causing it to lose balance and overturn. The Italian Coastguard confirmed that a nearby ship, the Sir Robert BP, managed to rescue the 15 survivors before emergency services arrived.
A search operation is currently underway, involving helicopters, coastguard vessels, and expert divers. The divers have reached the wreck, located 49 meters underwater, about half a mile from the coast. Nautical maps indicate that the Bayesian's last known position was at anchor just after 2 a.m. local time, shortly before the storm struck.
The yacht had reportedly anchored near Porticello after stopping in Milazzo, approximately 100 miles up the coast toward the Italian mainland. Witnesses described the storm as sudden and severe, leaving little time for the crew to raise the anchor and seek shelter.
Among the missing is a crew member, believed to be the yacht's cook, as well as four British, two American, and one Canadian citizen. The nationality of the deceased individual has not yet been disclosed. The rescued survivors, including the yacht's captain and the one-year-old baby, are receiving treatment at hospitals in Palermo and Bagheria. Most are in stable condition, and authorities are interviewing them to determine what happened.
The Bayesian, managed by Camper and Nicholsons International, is a 180-foot yacht built by Perini Navi Viareggio shipyard in 2008 and refitted in 2020. It has a gross tonnage of 473 tons, with a deck area of 436 square meters and six cabins covering 143 square meters. The yacht's aluminum hull is powered by two large engines, allowing it to cruise at 12 knots and reach a maximum speed of 15 knots.
The storm that struck the yacht is part of a broader weather warning for wind in Sicily, with video footage showing strong gusts battering the coast. Search and rescue teams continue to scour the area for the missing individuals, while the Foreign Office has stated they are in contact with local authorities and are ready to provide consular support to the affected British nationals.
Shadow Foreign Minister for Europe, Alicia Kearns, expressed her condolences, stating, "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." Photo by Ji-Elle, Wikimedia commons.