Bayesian superyacht sinking was caused by 'crew's incompetence': Italian investigators say design flaws were not to blame for the disaster that killed 7 including billionaire Mike Lynch

The sinking of Mike Lynch's Bayesian superyacht was caused by the crew's 'incompetence', Italian investigators said as they ruled out design flaws.The violent gusts of wind hit the yacht from the side, causing it to tilt too far.But the keel had not been fully extended and because of its unusually tall 75-metre mast the ship could no longer keep itself up. The £30million vessel capsized off the coast of Sicily in August 2024, killing seven including the British tech billionaire and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Fifteen people, including Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued. The 184ft yacht is said to have sunk due to a number of mishandlings and human errors, according to Italian press. 'The retractable keel was not extended to its maximum depth,' prosecutors concluded, according to Il Fatto Quotidiano newspaper.SuperyachtNews reported in June that 'the keel appears to have been raised when the vessel sank, which actively worsened the boat's vulnerabilities'. Seven people including tech billionaire Mike Lynch (right) and his daughter Hannah (left) died when the Bayesian sank in a freak storm in 2024The superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily on August 19, 2024. It's seen being pulled to the surface Last year, British investigators found that the crew on the superyacht were 'unaware' of its 'vulnerabilities' to strong winds, which caused it to knock over and sink.Andy King, a naval architect, told the outlet: 'The position of the keel would have been absolutely fundamental to the Bayesian.'Three crew members are suspected of being responsible; The skipper, New Zealander James Cutfield, the British chief engineer Tim Parker Eaton and sailor Matthew Griffiths, who was on night watch. The experts appointed by Italian prosecutors concluded the Bayesian sank because the crew failed to handle the yacht properly, rather than because of problems with its design or construction.The Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said the yacht was doomed after it was hit by 80.6mph winds causing it to tilt violently on its side and it was unable to straighten as the freak storm hit.In its report the MAIB said the captain and crew would have had no idea of the yacht's vulnerabilities as they were not laid out in the stability information booklet onboard.The Italian experts previously looked into whether a freak weather event – described by witnesses as a 'tornado' – was responsible for the tragedy.However, the report found it amounted to 'little more than a squall, a sudden increase in wind speed that precedes thunderstorms and downpours', which the crew should have been able to manage.According to the preliminary findings, the 184ft yacht therefore capsized and sank due to the improper actions of the crew, their underestimation of the weather and a number of safety devices not being activated properly.The probe is exploring the possibility of alleged crimes including negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter for the yacht's captain and two of its crew members.The yacht's owner, Italian Sea Group (TISG), has blamed the crew for the sinking and sued Mr Lynch's widow for £400million, claiming the company lost sales after the disaster.TISG's majority owner, Giovanni Costantino, an Italian yachting millionaire, claimed that the crew's incompetence and negligence led to the tragedy on August 19, 2024 – insisting that the yacht was 'unsinkable'.He alleged doors and portholes were not secured and weather warnings were ignored despite being widely publicised.Mr Costantino also said the fact that the yacht took 16 minutes to sink meant there was ample time for the passengers and crew to be saved.His company has now filed a lawsuit in the town of Termini Imerese on the northern coast of Sicily, claiming that the company has lost millions by being blamed for the disaster. The other victims onboard were the Bayesian's chef, Recaldo Thomas; Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; and Mr Lynch's lawyer, Chris Morvillo, and his wife, Neda Morvillo.READ MORE: What REALLY happened to the ‘unsinkable’ Bayesian superyacht