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Bill Gates Yacht: Everything You Want To Know

In 2020 the yachting world was abuzz with news that Bill Gates had bought as stunning and advanced yacht known as Project Aqua. The massive, 370-foot concept yacht was revealed in 2019 at the Monaco Yacht Show and news soon followed that billionaire Bill Gates, once the richest man in the world and the founder of Microsoft, had commissioned the construction of his own hydrogen-powered Aqua. But that never actually happened and, in fact, as near as anyone can tell for real, Bill Gates doesn’t own a yacht at all. 

So where did the story come from? What’s the deal with the Aqua? And hasn’t Bill Gates been pictured on a yacht before? Let’s get some answers.

How Much Did the Aqua Yacht Cost at the Monaco Yacht Show?

According to the stories online, Bill Gates paid $600 million for the hydrogen powered yacht. But that’s not true at all. According to the yacht makers, the Dutch company Sinot, the price tag is $645 million but no one bought it after it was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show, and that includes Bill Gates. It’s expensive but definitely not the most expensive in the world.

How Fast is the Aqua Yacht?

Aqua is a unique yacht in the yachting world which is why it garnered so much attention in the first place. It’s the first mega yacht that runs on a fully operational liquid hydrogen and fuel cell system that features two hydrogen engines that can produce 1,341 horsepower. The top speed is 17 knots and  the Aqua has a cruising speed of 12 knots. The total range is 3,750 nautical miles. The liquid hydrogen is stored in two 28-ton vacuum sealed tanks where it can be held at -253 degrees C. The only exhaust is water.

What Does the Interior of  the Aqua Yacht Look Like?

The Aqua has 7 suites meant to house up to 14 guests at any given time. Two of those suites are larger VIP cabins. The ceilings throughout are 9 feet and stretch as high as 12.5 feet elsewhere thanks to the luxury Sinot yacht architecture. The vessel has room for a crew of 31 as well. The beach deck lounge aboard the boat alone looks like a luxury hotel space.

The Aqua features a bow observation room which is surrounded by windows to give a panoramic view of the ocean which has been described as the “ultimate superyacht owners lounge.” In addition, there’s a movie theater on the upper deck. It also includes a wellness center with a hydro massage room. You can also do some yoga in a workout space. There’s a fully equipped gym, a beauty salon, and even a hairdresser.

Up on the main deck there’s a luxury swimming pool that even includes a waterfall. One of the yacht’s defining features is the spiral staircase that covers all five decks and is covered by a skylight. On the way up it also offers a view of the interior of the hydrogen fuel tanks so you can see just what 56 tons of ultra cold liquid hydrogen looks like as you move between decks. 

The tender garage has an array of toys such as jet skis while the main deck features a beach club with a dining area designed for all 14 guests and a lounge that converts into the cinema space.

What Yacht Has Bill Gates Actually Been On?

Bill Gates does seem to like yachts, just not enough to spend his money owning one, and that’s fair. Yachts cost millions to maintain every year. No one got rich spending millions to maintain a boat.

That said, Bill Gates has not only vacationed on yachts – he spent his 66th birthday on one – he also got married on a yacht.

In 2021, Gates made the news when he celebrated his 66th on board a luxury yacht called the Lana alongside Jeff Bezos. He spent $2 million to charter the yacht for a week and flew 50 guests out to celebrate with him. 

The Lana is a 351 foot yacht with room for 12 guests and a cruising speed of 12 knots with a max speed of 18 knots. The master suite is 1,184 square feet. The room features his and hers walk-in dressing rooms and a private terrace.

Elsewhere on board you’ll find a piano in the lounge area as well as a full gym for working out. There’s both a sauna and a well-appointed spa as well. On deck you can head to the beach club or take a dip in the pool. 

There are three tenders in the garage alongside a bunch of toys including various jetskis, a seabob, wakeboards, WindSurfers, fishing equipment, scuba diving equipment and more. 

Back in 2014, Gates rented an even more expensive yacht, the $5 million per week Serene, to go on a vacation with his family. The Serene, once owned by  Russian vodka magnate Yuri Shelfer before being purchased by the crown prince of Saudi Arabia, clocked in at a massive 450 feet making it one of the world’s biggest and even had its own on board submarine

The Serene features 7 decks, a saltwater pool, a climbing wall, a surprisingly large library, health spa, outdoor cinema and a nightclub. This is all spread across 48,000 square feet.

It’s also been confirmed that Gates met his wife Melinda on a yacht owned by Paul Allen, the co-founder of Microsoft, all the way back in 1994. 

Why Do People Think Bill Gates Owns the Aqua?

It’s easy to see why people may have thought Gates owned the Aqua when you consider a handful of factors. First, as mentioned, we have lots of evidence that Bill Gates really does enjoy luxury yachts. The extremely high price tag was something that only a few people in the world are going to be able to afford and Gates, who doesn’t own a yacht, seems like a likely candidate for those reasons. 

In addition, Gates has spent several years now as a climate activist and has supported a number of green technologies. A yacht that runs on hydrogen seems like something he would support as well. So, with no real evidence, the circumstantial evidence was enough to easily convince people. Once it’s presented as fact on the internet, and it was in many articles and videos, few people had reason to question it. 

The Bottom Line

The mega yacht known as the Aqua has a price tag of $645 million and it runs on clan burning hydrogen fuel. The only byproduct of its operation is water, making it a very environmentally friendly yacht. It made waves, so to speak, when it debuted at the Monaco Yacht Show in 2019. Rumors soon began to spread that billionaire and known climate activist Bill Gates had ordered one for $600 million. However, despite many videos and articles that refer to him as the owner, the truth is no one bought the Aqua at the yacht show and, as of 2023, Bill Gates does not own a yacht at all. He is know to charter extremely luxurious yachts for vacations and parties, such as the Lana and the Serene, but he does not own any just now.

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The World's First Hydrogen-Powered Superyacht Has a $644 Million Price Tag

Superyachts seemed to be among the last modes of (luxe) transportation to bend toward the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly engine designs. But if news from last week’s Monaco Yacht Show served as a bellwether, the industry meant to cater to the wealthiest among us made a progressive splash with the unveiling of Aqua, the world's first hydrogen-powered superyacht.

Designed by the Dutch firm Sinot Yacht & Architecture Design, Aqua is a nearly 400-foot-long vessel that's run entirely by a renewable energy source. "Water is the eternal fuel of life, the life-sustaining force that makes planet Earth habitable," says Sander Sinot, founder of the firm that bears his name. "Water is soft, yet at the same time it cuts through hard rocks." It was this appreciation of water that helped the firm find balance between the natural world and the technological. The propulsion system is made up of two 28-ton vacuumed tanks that each contain liquified hydrogen which are stored at -423 degrees Fahrenheit. Along with being eco-friendly, hydrogen-based energy means for a quieter experience aboard the ship in comparison to traditional engines. That said, there will be backup diesel generators handy should the captain ever need them.

The infinity pool aboard AQUA. 

There was much confusion on Monday if there was already a buyer who had paid the hefty $644 million price tag. Reports spread throughout the internet that billionaire Bill Gates had purchased the superyacht, rumors that proved to be false. Yet readers couldn't be blamed for believing such reports, as images show Aqua to include its own infinity pool, helipad, spa, and gym—amenities meant to attract billionaires such as Gates.

An aerial view of the superyacht shows how close passengers can get to the water, as well as the cascading design of the infinity pool.

Sinot and his team designed the vessel to safely bring passengers as close to the water as possible. "Water is relaxation; it makes us calmer and more creative," Sinot comments. "We wanted to provide those on board with the closest possible proximity to the water. The aft deck features an innovative series of platforms cascading down towards the sea, while a large swim platform allows all passengers to enjoy the optimal experience of accessing the water at sea level."

One of the bedrooms inside of Aqua shows a minimalist aesthetic. 

Aqua can reach speeds of up to 19.5 mph and features enough room for 14 guests and 31 crew members. The firm plans to complete the vessel by 2024.

Inside world’s first ever $1 billion hydrogen superyacht – and it’s linked to Bill Gates

The world’s first hydrogen fuel-cell superyacht has been unveiled in Amsterdam. It has taken Feadship 5 years to deliver Project 821, reportedly commissioned by Bill Gates.

Project 821 features 12 guest staterooms, two staff cabins, accommodation for 44 crew members, a hospital, library, elevator, cinema, pool with a moveable glass bottom, multiple hot tubs, steam room, a gym, separate owners deck with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two offices, and fourteen slide-out balconies.

What makes the Project 821 Feadship superyacht truly exceptional, however, is it is hydrogen-powered.

Jamie Edmiston, the CEO of yacht brokerage company Edmiston, represents the owner and is brokering the sale for a reported $1-billion. Edmiston says no expense was spared to build the groundbreaking vessel.

“The brief was to build the greenest and most environmentally advanced yacht ever built, without compromise,” says Edmiston. “It was a huge challenge, but one that the team has embraced and delivered on. The yacht we see today, designed by RWD and built by Feadship is without doubt the best yacht ever built. I am proud to have been involved since the inception of this idea.”

Neither Edmiston nor Feadship have revealed who commissioned the superyacht. eSysman Superyachts reported in April that it belongs to Bill Gates.

Jan-Bart Verkuyl, the CEO of Feadship Royal Van Lent shipyard, says pushing green superyacht technology as far as it could go was the mandate to develop of the vessel.

 “The aim has been to develop a new, clean technology not just for this project, but for the world,” Verkuyl says. Feadship has pledged to develop ‘net-zero’ yachts by 2030 and has an R&D team researching hydrogen and other fossil-fuel-free alternatives.

“The size of the proposed yacht – 100-metres-plus – made it a good candidate to explore pure green hydrogen as the fuel-cell source,” a Feadship statement reads.

“Even a yacht the size of  Project 821  cannot carry enough liquid hydrogen to power a crossing, but Feadship could impact a yacht’s carbon footprint where it is largest — generating electricity to serve the hotel load,” according to Feadship.

A yacht’s hotel load represents 70-78 per cent of a yacht’s annual total energy and heating and air conditioning make the largest demands, Feadship states. Air conditioning is a significant energy consumer on yachts, according to research from a maritime industry body .

“Supplying that electrical power via non-polluting hydrogen fuel cells has a swift and significant impact,” according to Feadship.

“Although there are hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars, and fuel cells have been used as the primary source of electrical power on human spaceflight for more than six decades, nothing existed in the maritime sector. There were no regulations for hydrogen storage and fuel-cell systems at class, flag-state or even the International Maritime Organisation level,” Feadship states.

Feadship, Edmiston and Lloyd’s Register developed new equipment, protocols and regulations for hydrogen to be used in the maritime industry. Feadship states that hydrogen fuel cells have water as their only exhaust, and are a combustion-free way to generate electricity.

“Project 821 features the most efficient waste heat recovery system yet developed, a system heating everything from the pool, Jacuzzi and steam room to the ambient air temperature and towel bars and floors in the guest bathrooms. Further savings in the hotel load will come from a Smart AC system linking sensors to an energy management system that automatically reduces air conditioning or heating in unoccupied guest spaces,” Feadship states.

When pure hydrogen is not available, electricity is generated by MTU generators combusting a biofuel said to reduce emissions by 90 per cent.

The work that has been done to deliver the no-expense-spared Project 821 superyacht is now being used for other vessels.

“The value of the research as well the development of class and flag safety regulations for an entirely new type of energy generation is an advancement we are proud to have made available to all,” says Verkuyl.

In 2025, two Norwegian ferries will operate using the system developed for Project 821.

Look back on the week that was with hand-picked articles from Australia and around the world.  Sign up to the Forbes Australia newsletter here   or  become a member here.

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Lana: On board the 107m Benetti for charter from €1.8m a week

At 107 metres, Lana is one of the biggest superyachts ever to be launched by Italian shipyard Benetti and is currently hitting the headlines as the charter yacht of choice of Bill Gates and party guest Jeff Bezos. Take a glimpse on board...

At 107 metres, you’d think the most noteworthy features of Lana might be her sweeping dimensions or the warren of spa facilities in her belly. But actually, it’s the minutiae – because every chair, door, nut, bolt and widget of this vast yacht represents a careful judgement by a fastidious and deeply involved owner.

“This is the first build Imperial has ever done where the owner was climbing around the bilges, checking the spaces – his idea of quality went down absolutely to the nth degree,” says Julia Stewart, director of Imperial, which oversaw the build for the owner. Fittingly for such a mindset, Imperial has a microscopic approvals process that means “hundreds and hundreds” of samples are sent to the principal, and then on to the yard for reference: “Every fabric, every little hinge, every door handle, every piece of carpet – everything,” says Stewart. While potentially onerous for a builder, she believes this way of working ultimately benefits everyone, because when a subcontractor asks, “Is this OK?” the builder can point to the sample and say, “No, this is the standard.” And that, says Stewart, was a fundamental plank of the brief – vertiginously high quality.

The yard in this case was Benetti, the Tuscan builder who launched three 100-metre-plus yachts in just 100 days between 2018 and 2019 – all three were on site together at one point. Lana , the second, was arguably the “most Benetti” of the three, penned inside and out by the yard’s own design teams. In the last decade, Benetti had built a 90-metre ( Lionheart ) and a few boats around  the 70-metre mark, but it is better known for its  50- to 65-metre superyachts. 

Constructing three “gigayachts” at the same time, therefore, involved a serious change of gear. To this end, the yard  built three 130-metre-long sheds and took over a Livorno dry dock that could take 80,000 tonnes, for launching and recovering the yachts. They also moved staff to an office closer to the dry dock when the boat was there, so they could keep an eye on her. The on-site manpower required was enormous: whereas a “standard” build would involve 100 workers, Lana required 300 people on the yacht every working day for four years – and that ramps up to 1,800 if you count those working on the project off-board. To manage the build – and all the extra staff – Benetti’s usual managerial team of five per yacht grew to 20 for Lana .

And then there was Covid-19. “It was close to being finished but about six months before delivery, it hit,” says Stewart. “Obviously a lot of contractors were affected by it. Tuscany wasn’t affected as much as further north but all the contractors’ facilities are up there.” There were also issues with getting flag surveyors to the boat, although having 18 crew on board added a helpful flexibility for such visits. The yard, meanwhile, kept the project moving and did not close.

Leading the charge for Benetti was Elisabetta Maria Di Noto, who joined as project manager in 2018, fresh from the build of Lionheart , Benetti’s flagship before the 100-metre-plus hat-trick. “The giga client is very different from, say, the ‘normal’ client,” she says, describing the approach of Lana ’s owner. “He’s a very powerful person, a very precise person, firm and confident – the highest-demand client I’ve ever met.” The yacht was to be a reflection of those qualities, and to that end, “he followed every single phase of the construction, every single design, every line.”

During ideas meetings, more and more horizontal elements were removed from the exterior design until only long, low lines were left, with mild undulations for balconies and wing stations. “The extreme horizontal lines give it a very robust, masculine persona,” says Benetti exterior designer Michele Guerrieri, “while the three-dimensional elements add fluidity and elegance to that.” Despite this sleek appearance, the 2.7-metre head-heights are described by all involved as the most astounding aspect of the interior – a magic trick you can only pull off in a boat this big. “It’s almost cathedral-like,” says Stewart. “It’s a very airy, light boat.”

This frame is flattered, says Di Noto, by “soft colour palettes that offer a feeling of tranquillity.” The idea was a relaxing interior that was neutral enough that you would not get bored after a few cruises. The natural materials that run through the decor – largely leather, ayous wood and marble – have been worked by Italian artisans, whose skill is a point of pride for Benetti. “I don’t like fussy objects and endless detail,” says Benetti interior designer Mauro Izzo. “There needs to be a balance – not too much, not too little, but everything has  to be special.”

The main saloon is suitably grand, with pale grey sofas by the Luxury Living Group arranged around a white leather, marble and stainless-steel coffee table, which was designed by Izzo and built by Viareggio furniture-maker Sealine. Forward, the dining saloon is flooded with light via huge sliding glass doors that entirely open up the space on both sides. The dining table is made of wood, leather and stainless steel, inset with an engraved brass panel, while each chair is “inset with a hand-carved crystal lion.”

The combination of airy dimensions and decorative mastery is also on show in the bridge deck master suite. Full beam, on a yacht with a 14.4-metre beam, is something to behold. In the cabin there’s space enough for seating areas both to port and starboard, while full-width sliding doors on to broad balconies open up the space even more. The suite’s study features a custom-made desk with Bentley armchairs and bespoke lamps decorated with tiger’s eye gemstones to complement the suite’s cream carved carpets and milk chocolate-toned ayous wood. The bathroom forward is lined with cool crema marfil marble that was selected in Valencia and worked to a polish in Sicily. “It’s luxurious without being aggressive; it’s opulent but accessible,” says Izzo.

The area also showcases a more pragmatic aim of the project – privacy – in both the spatial sense and in terms of sound transfer. To the first point, the master suite is self-contained, with its own pantries. It’s also positioned on the bridge deck, between two non-social spaces – the bridge zone, with the captain and first officer’s cabins, and the stairwell. If the suite were in an aft deck position, there might be a deck space connected to the lower decks via stairs, or at least a view of those decks. Here, the master cabin benefits from two broad but very private balconies: “we have ceramic heating outside here,” notes Stewart. Throughout the boat, the intersection between guest and crew areas has also been carefully routed and planned.

And sound? Well, the boat has been strategically and amply insulated to keep auditory separation between spaces. In the 80-square-metre bridge deck piano lounge you’ll hear the tinkling ivories, rather than the state-of-the-art Sonus Faber Olympica sound system of the saloon-cum-cinema just forward (which is connected but can be closed off via highly insulated sliding doors).

Top-quality, reliable tech was another facet  of the brief, and it’s everywhere, down to the sophisticated LED lighting system that produces little heat and therefore saves energy by sparing the air conditioning. The seven (yes, seven) VIP cabins, with an average size of 32 to 33 square metres, on the main deck all feature 65-inch 4K OLED televisions and the sundeck features every bit of party tech imaginable: a California Audio Technology system with 10 speakers and two subwoofers; a space prepped for two club-standard speakers with two built-in K-array subwoofers; and a set-up for DJ decks. Not to mention the four 55-inch 4K SunBrite outdoor televisions. With plenty to look after, Imperial made sure the AV/IT guy got his own mini-office.

But this isn’t the only impressive technology on board. Lana is powered by eight diesel generators, controlled by a highly responsive power management system that means the minimum energy is used to satisfy power requirements. There are also two high-tech side-launching Benetti-built tenders stored on the lower deck –  a 14-metre limo tender designed by Giorgio Cassetta , and a nine-metre open tender for watersports and diving, which was penned in-house. Then there’s the treasure trove of toys, an ample dive store and even golf clubs with biodegradable balls. These can be put to good use on the fold-down balconies of the 120-square- metre beach club – where the atmosphere is anything but “outdoorsy.”

“The furniture features handles made of ammonite fossils, and then we have niches made of turquoise turtle, hosting corals,” says Di Noto. There’s a huge central seating area, off which lie a gym, hammam with mosaics and RGB “stars” and a massage room.

Throughout the boat, the finish in deck areas is taken as seriously as it is indoors. “Outside, the ceilings are made of natural oiled teak, so they  give a more precious feeling in the exterior areas,” says Di Noto. “All the external tables are made of  teak, stainless steel and glass – a very complicated design – and the exterior sofas are made in wood and stainless steel, and in some areas they are underlit.” The dining tables on the main and bridge decks aft, for example, feature backlit onyx, stainless steel and high-gloss teak. And the exterior aft deck tables can be converted into bioethanol firepits.

The sundeck’s eight-metre pool, vast sunbathing areas and shaded dining table with a backlit honey onyx base (this al fresco dining area measures 100 square metres) will likely be the daytime hub, as well as party central at night. The top deck, meanwhile, is more intimate and feels like a spot for a quiet coffee or maybe cocktails.

Imperial is rightly proud of its achievements in Lana , and for Benetti she’s part of a new chapter in the yard’s story. “This,” says Di Noto, “will,  I think, remain in Benetti not only as a physical investment in terms of sheds and materials, but also as know-how and experience that everybody can apply to other projects in the future.”

Closer look: Lana's 3D-printed chandelier

The chandelier-cum-sculpture in the centre of Lana ’s lobby both highlights the grand scale of the space it sits in and demonstrates the perfectionism that went into every detail of the yacht. “We went through 10 different renderings before settling on the one the client wanted,” recalls Benetti interior designer Mauro Izzo. The piece was commissioned from Italian lightmaker Luce5. “It was quite challenging for them because to actually show the owner of the boat how it was going to look, they had to build it in a 3D printer,” says Julia Stewart, director of Imperial.

Once the real thing was moulded in mirror-polished stainless steel, installation offered its own difficulties: “At six metres in length, it’s not so much a lighting feature as an architectural element of the boat,” notes Izzo. From a structural point of view, it sits above a glass table and marble floor, intersections that were carefully managed. “A lot of vibration testing was done and it’s got steadying bars for heavy weather,” says Stewart. Within the thin strip of metal lies a track of lights that had to be changed four or five times to get each spot and glint in the exact position the owner wanted. The end result? A freely looping, pirouetting ribbon of light that belies the hard work beneath its surface.

This feature is taken from the January 2021 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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Palermo yacht sinking updates as 4 Brits missing including 'UK's Bill Gates' after tornado

A luxury yacht with 22 people on board has sunk off Palermo during a tornado - four of the seven people missing are believed to be British citizens, while a body has reportedly been found

• Mike Lynch's co-defendant dies after being hit by car 20:28
• Mike Lynch's daughter named as second missing Brit 17:45
• Recovered body is ship's cook, coastguard confirms 17:43
• Pictured: Survivors of yacht disaster leaving Coast Guard Headquarters 15:58
• Mike Lynch confirmed among missing 14:58
• Updated 02:32, 20 Aug 2024

An urgent search has been launched after a luxury yacht carrying 22 people sunk off the coast of Palermo, southern Italy.

The vessel, named the Bajesian, got into trouble at around 5am after it was hit by a tornado while sailing near Porticello, a fishing village in Sicily. Four Brits, a Canadian and two Americans are said to be among those missing. The body of one man - believed to be a kitchen crew member - has been retrieved from the water, local media has reported.

Six people remain missing, one of whom is Brit tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , it has been reported. The mogul, who's family is said to own the superyacht, reportedly vanished following the disaster this morning. His wife, Angela Bacares, is among the survivors who have been brought to shore.

Emergency services have rescued 15 people, including a one-year-old baby and its mother, but coast guard patrols are continuing the desperate search for the others on board the vessel that got into difficulty around 5am this morning.

It is understood that the boat sank during bad weather as a tornado hit Sicily. Divers have already reached the hull, 49 meters deep, about half a mile from the coast. Survivors have been taken to Porticciolo.

Follow our live blog below...

Who is still missing?

As search efforts remain ongoing with cave divers now involved in the rescue effort, six passengers are still unaccounted for on the sunken super-yacht

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59 and his 18 year old daughter Hannah, as well as Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife are still missing.

The two others that are still unaccounted for are Mr.Lynch’s attorney Christopher Morvillo and his wife Nada.

In total 22 passengers were on board when a sudden tornado sunk the luxury vessel, with 15 having been safely rescued in the aftermath of the disaster.

Tragically, one person has so far been confirmed dead, the boat’s chef Canadian Ricardo Thomas.

Doctor shares what happened inside superyacht as it began to sink

Charlotte Golunski, a heroic mother who managed to save the life of her one-year-old child by holding her above her head after the Bayesian sank, has shared her experience while recovering in hospital.

Dr Domenico Cipolla, A&E chief at the Giovanni di Cristina paediatric hospital in Palermo, described Charlotte's experience, and told reporters: "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 coastguard.”

Morgan Stanley chairman reportedly among missing

Reports in the Times and local Italian media indicate that one of those still missing after the yacht capsized is the Chairman of Morgan Stanley International.

Sicilian authorities have confirmed that the banking executive Jonathan Bloomer and his wife are among those still missing after the Bayesian sank. The search operation off the coast of Messina is continuing through the night.

Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are also among the six people still unaccounted for after the yacht sank below the waves, after 4am on Monday. Sadly, the body of the yacht's chef, Ricardo Thomas, is reported to have been recovered.

Horror of Mediterranean yacht tragedy deepens as divers glimpse 'though the portholes'

Six people remain missing after a luxury superyacht belonging to UK tech magnate Mike Lynch capsized in the Mediterranean, just off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning. The horrifying aftermath of the tragedy left cushions and deck chairs floating in the water, as well as 15 people who had survived, clinging to a life raft.

A tornado struck the £14m vessel while it was anchored at port, causing the mast to snap and the yacht to capsize in a matter of minutes. Many of the 22 guests and crew on board the 'Bayesian' were in their cabins when the storm struck. 59-year-old Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah, 18, are among those missing, though his wife Angela managed to escape the stricken vessel.

Italian rescuers who dived around 50 metres to the capsized vessel reportedly told Salvo Cocina, head of Sicily's civil protection agency, that they had spotted a grim sight "through the portholes" of the 183-foot superyacht. The divers are alleged to have seen bodies inside the vessel, according to Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera. One body has been recovered of the seven that were initially reported missing, that of the boat's chef, Ricardo Thomas.

For the full story click here

Locals continue to watch search efforts while praying for good news

Locals in the quaint fishing village of Porticello have gathered overnight to watch the ongoing search efforts, as two giant floodlights illuminate the ocean while the rescue mission is underway.

Three fire and rescue trucks and a big white tent can be seen according to witnesses at the scene, while a coastguard vessel with blue flashing lights circles the water with cave divers on board around 100 meters away.

The expert divers are combing the area where the yacht stood just hours ago, but with minimal light and more storms on the way, the process is slow and gruelling work.

Oceanographer offer fresh hope to search

As the search remains ongoing overnight, an oceanographer has revealed that the weather window for searching this evening is closing as more storms are forecast to hit in the hours head.

Despite no more survivors being found since this morning, Dr Simon Boxall, from Southampton University told Sky News that, it's important to continue the search for now.

"There are stories of people getting caught in air bubbles, so it's worth looking in the vessel, but time will tell," he said.

Dr Boxall said current warm sea temperatures, 4C above the 20-year average, likely played a role as they can fuel storms and increase the chance of waterspouts.

In his opinion, the experienced crew would have already known about low pressure and bad weather in the area, but were most likely “just caught unawares” by a sudden flare up in wind.

This could easily have “destabilised the vessel” if the storm snapped or damaged the ship’s 75 meter mast.

Rescue effort continues throughout the night

Experienced cave divers for deep sea recoveries continue the rescue operation for missing people who were on board a yacht that sank off Porticello, near Palermo, Sicily, Italy, on Monday morning.

At least one person has died, six remain missing and 15 passengers were rescued, after a 56-meter-long luxury sailboat, the Bayesian, with 22 people on board, sank at dawn during a tornado.

View from Bayesian's 'tallest mast in the world'

A photo taken from the top of the Bayesian's mast, which reportedly split in half as the yacht sunk this morning, shows the sheer scale of the vessel.

Andy has been working with the tallest aluminuim mast in the world; belonging to S/Y Bayesian. We have been working with this yacht for many years meaning we have records & reports throughout the history of the rig, enabling us to tune, test & troubleshoot easily and effectively. pic.twitter.com/7UtJEkGuKa — RSB Rigging (@RSBRigging) October 19, 2021

Mike Lynch was living 'second life' after being freed

The ' British Bill Gates' missing after his luxury superyacht sunk off the coast of Palermo was living a "second life" after being freed from a prolonged 13-year legal battle.

58-year-old Mike Lynch , who was acquitted in June following a US fraud trial, was among the six people who remain unaccounted for after their chartered sailboat sank when a tornado over the water known as a waterspout struck the area overnight.

Mr Lynch's disappearance comes just months after cleared of charges alleging he orchestrated a fraud and conspiracy leading up to an $11 billion deal (£8billion) that turned into a costly albatross for Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett Packard. The not-guilty verdicts reached in June this year by a federal court jury in San Francisco followed an 11-week criminal trial that delved into the history of HP’s 2011 acquisition of Autonomy, a business software that Lynch founded and then oversaw as CEO in Britain.

Read more: Brit entrepreneur missing after superyacht sinks was living 'second life' after being freed

Search continues for six people missing

Six people remain missing after a superyacht capsized in Sicily, Italy, in the early hours of the morning.

22 people were on board the vessel when it capsized and sank. One man has tragically died and specialist rescue teams are likely to continue searching overnight to trace the other six.

Canadian foreign office in talks with Italian authorities

Canada's foreign ministry is in contact with local authorities in Sicily following reports that there were Canadian citizens onboard the Bayesian when it sunk, BBC News reports.

A spokesperson said they are "aware of reports that a Canadian citizen has died".

Mike Lynch's co-defendant who tragically died is pictured

Stephen Chamberlain, who stood trial alongside Mike Lynch in a high-profile fraud case, was put on life support after he was critically injured in a car crash in Cambridgeshire at the weekend.

He has since tragically died of his injuries, his lawyer confirmed on Monday.

Mr Chamberlain was reportedly hit by a car in Saturday morning's incident and rushed to hospital.

Tragedy to be probed by Marine Accident investigators

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo on Monday to probe what happened.

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

Crew are 'well known and liked across the industry'

Missing crew members on the Bayesian are "well known and liked across the industry", a yachtsman has told Sky News.

He said the vessel was a "well respected boat and well known in the industry, especially on the Mediterranean and Caribbean circuits", adding: "The weather around Sicily can be slightly unpredictable but this does seem to have been an unusually large freak storm.

“The missing crew members are well known and liked across the industry. We have been nervously waiting for updates since this morning. My thoughts are with all involved during this awful moment."

Bayesian was 'in the wrong place at the wrong time'

Salvo Cocina from Sicily's civil protection agency says the Bayesian yacht was "in the wrong place at the wrong time".

Another superyacht nearby, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, wasn't as badly damaged and helped rescue some of the 15 survivors. The aggressive storm has been put down to a "waterspout" which can form on the base of thunder clouds.

Much like tornadoes, waterspouts bring powerful winds, causing a water mist around the column of rotating air.

Mum saved one-year-old baby by holding her 'above head'

A fearless British mum saved her one-year-old baby from drowning after they were caught in the Sicily superyacht disaster.

Charlotte Golunski has been named as the mother who bravely rescued her daughter in the tragedy early on Monday morning when the £14 million vessel was struck by a tornado off the coast of Porticello. The boat, named the Bajesian, sunk in the weather , launching an urgent mission for six missing people.

Ms Golunski, 35, was on board the yacht at the weekend and was woken by the floods of water. She claims she grabbed her daughter before being forced into the water, using all her efforts to keep her afloat.

Read more: Brit mother saved baby from drowning on Palermo superyacht by 'holding her above head'

Mike Lynch's co-defendant dies after being hit by car

Billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch's co-defendant in his US fraud trial has died in hospital after being hit by a car on Saturday - just days before the Lynch tragically went missing after his superyacht capsized and sank off the coast of Sicily.

Inside the luxury Bayesian superyacht

The Bayesian superyacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate 12 passengers in four double cabins, a triple and the master suite, plus crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters. It had an initial asking price of £30million.

The vessel, which previously was named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag, featured a sleek, minimalist interior of light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions and photos on the charter sites.

Read more: Inside the luxury Bayesian superyacht as Brits missing from boat sunk after tornado

Mike Lynch's co-defendant on life support in UK

A man who stood trial alongside Mike Lynch , the Brit tech tycoon missing after the superyacht sinking in Palermo, in a US fraud case is on life support following a car crash.

Stephen Chamberlain is fighting for his life after he was critically injured in a collision in Cambridgeshire at the weekend. Mr Chamberlain was reportedly hit by a car in Saturday morning's incident and rushed to hospital.

It's understood he was put on life support on Sunday. Mr Chamberlain had stood trial in the US after being accused of the same fraud and conspiracy charges as his former boss, British tech tycoon Mike Lynch.

Those missing 'could still be in yacht'

The seven missing passengers could still be inside the yacht, which is more than 50 metres underwater, authorities say.

Francesco Venuto, the spokesperson for Sicily's civil protection agency, tells the BBC that they "think [the corpses] 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 this conditions we should have found something by now," Venuto adds.

Everything we know as search operation continues

• A superyacht carrying 22 people capsized in Italy during an aggressive storm, leaving one man dead
• 15 people were rescued and 7 remain missing, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah
• Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, has survived the disaster
• British passenger Charlotte Golunski, who also survived, says she rescued her one-year-old daughter by holding her up in the water until they managed to get on a lifeboat
• The Italian coastguard has launched a search and rescue operation using specialist divers, helicopters and patrol boats
• The search is expected to continue overnight

No investigation launched at this stage

The Marine Accident Investigation Branch said four of its inspectors were being deployed to Palermo following the sinking of the Bayesian yacht.

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

Where did the yacht sink?

The vessel had been anchored around a half-mile off Porticello, about 12 miles east of the Sicilian capital, Palermo.

More photos of the search operation

Images show coastguard rescue teams continuing to scour the area where a superyacht capsized in Italy this morning.

Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, says the rescue operation will continue overnight - as emergency workers will be joined by a specialist caving search and rescue diving team from Rome.

Hero mum who saved baby in yacht tragedy

A British mum today told how she dramatically saved the life of her baby in a yachting accident which has left seven people feared dead.

The mum who desperately held onto her one-year-old daughter says she managed to clamber onboard a lifeboat with 10 other people as their boat capsized.

Charlotte Golunski, 36, 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."

Read more: Hero mum who saved baby in super yacht tragedy that left Mike Lynch and daughter missing

Local fisherman 'saw T-shirts floating in water'

Giuseppe, a local fisherman, has told reporters that he "saw mats and T-shirts floating in the sea" while onboard the nearby motorboat 'Francesca’, adding that he saw people being rescued in an inflatable boat.

Six passengers remain missing and the coastguard is continuing the search and rescue operation "incessantly".

Rescue operation to continue overnight

They are hoping to "achieve results" either during the night or by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Lynch feared he would die and said bye before tragedy

British tech mogul Mike Lynch , who remains missing after a yacht capsized off the coast of Sicily, shared a chilling premonition of death just a month before the harrowing incident.

Mr Lynch was among those plunged into stormy seas when the yacht, named the Bayesian, overturned on Monday morning. 22 people were believed to have been on board the vessel which sunk off Palermo during a tornado.

Speaking to the NY Post last month, the entrepreneur raised concerns that he could perish in jail before proving his innocence in a high-stakes fraud case over the sale of his software company. But he was later exonerated of all accusations related to the staggering $9 billion (£6.9 billion) transaction with a leading US tech enterprise.

Read more: Mike Lynch feared he would die and said goodbye to family before going missing after yacht sank

What we know about the 184ft-luxury Bayesian yacht

Bayesian, the yacht which capsized in Italy believed to be carrying British passengers, is 56 metres long, according to ship tracking website VesselFinder.

She was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi. Her registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd.

There is little publicly-available online information about the company, which appears to be based on the Isle of Man.

Bayesian completed a number of sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily.

Mike Lynch's daughter named as second missing Brit

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah has been named as the second British person missing out of a total of six missing after the superyacht they were on sunk.

Hannah was on board when the boat sank off the coast of Sicily during bad weather early this morning.

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Bill Gates Enjoys Sardinia Charter on board Superyacht SERENE

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By Editorial Team   8 August 2014

The 133m/436ft superyacht SERENE has welcomed aboard the world’s wealthiest man, Bill Gates and his family for a charter vacation in the beautiful cruising grounds of Sardinia .

The Microsoft founder and philanthropist along with his wife and three children have been enjoying the Mediterranean summer in style this week during their annual vacation off the coast of Porto Cervo. As one of the largest superyachts in the world and equipped with every conceivable amenity in addition to an in impressive crew of 52, the 2011 Fincantieri-built motor yacht SERENE was the perfect choice for this ultra-luxurious vacation.

According to reports in the Daily Mail, the on board helipad was put to good use with trips to the mainland for some tennis lessons followed by an afternoon out on the jet-skis to entertain the kids. If that wasn’t enough, there is also a submarine, snowroom, cinema, playroom, multiple pools, a climbing wall and a trans-deck waterslide on offer to keep them entertained for hours. 

In between running his Microsoft Empire and extensive charity commitments, luxury charter vacations have provided the perfect platform for him and his family to enjoy time together in comfort and privacy.

The grown-ups aren’t left out of the fun however during a charter on the award-winning SERENE, with an exhaustive array of facilities. For total relaxation, the private beach club features a sauna and secluded sunbathing area, there is also a sundeck dance floor, two Jacuzzi’s and numerous al fresco dining areas to choose from. For entertaining meanwhile, SERENE provides luxurious interior living spaces to include a chic piano lounge with cocktail bar while outside a wet bar, barbeque, pizza oven and Teppanyaki grill ensure fantastic Mediterranean soirees. 

She is one of a handful of yachts able to charter with more than 12 guests, boasting 12 stunning staterooms to accommodate up to 24 guests, comprising a master suite, VIP, seven doubles and three twin cabins. With design from Espen Oeino and interior styling by Reymond Langton, SERENE has been meticulously design to offer charter vacations of the highest calibre while ensuring stylish, comfortable and versatile living spaces. 

In an interview earlier this year, Mr Gates said he doesn't plan to stay at the office for days at a time as he did in his younger days when he had 'energy and naiveté' on his side. In between running his Microsoft Empire and extensive charity commitments, luxury charter vacations have provided the perfect platform for him and his family to enjoy time together in comfort and privacy.  Since its founding, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has raised and donated billions towards research and development to tackle problems throughout the world to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. 

Whether it’s a classic sailing yacht or magnificent luxury vessel such as SERENE, charter yacht vacations offer the world’s most high profile names the freedom to experience private time with loved ones away from the spotlight. Charter rates for SERENE start at €1,600,000 per week to €2,800,000 plus expenses, for further information contact your yacht charter broker . Alternatively take a look at the full selection of motor yachts available for charter . 

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134m Fincantieri 2011

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/after-luxury-superyacht-sinks-off-sicily-british-tech-magnate-mike-lynch-among-those-missing

After luxury superyacht sinks off Sicily, British tech magnate Mike Lynch among those missing

ROME (AP) — British tech magnate Mike Lynch and five other people were missing after their luxury superyacht sank during a freak storm off Sicily early Monday, Italy’s civil protection and authorities said. Lynch’s wife and 14 other people survived.

Lynch, who was acquitted in June in a big U.S. fraud trial, was among the six people who remain unaccounted for after their chartered sailboat sank off Porticello, when 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, rescue authorities said.

It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, the Italian coast guard said. A sudden fierce storm had battered the area overnight, and struck the place precisely where the 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged Bayesian had been moored.

“They were in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Cocina, noting that another superyacht nearby wasn’t as badly damaged and was able to help rescue some of the 15 survivors, who included Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares.

The Bayesian was notable for its single 75-meter (246-feet) mast, one of the world’s tallest made of aluminum and which was lit up at night, just hours before it sank. Online charter sites list it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

READ MORE: Activists accuses Italy of slow response that led to migrant deaths at sea

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Emsley, said she had momentarily lost hold of her 1-year-old daughter Sofia in the water, but then managed to hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were both pulled to safety, Italian news agency ANSA reported, quoting the mother. The father, James Emsley, also survived, said Cocina.

Eight of the 15 people rescued and taken ashore at Porticello were hospitalized while the others were taken to a hotel. One body believed to be the cook was found near the wreck, but six others were unaccounted for and believed inside the hull, said Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the Italian fire rescue service.

Rescue crews located the vessel and deep-water police divers were trying to access the hull, Cari said. The operations, which were visible from shore, involved helicopters and rescue boats from the coast guard, fire rescue and civil protection service.

Fisherman Francesco Cefalu’ said he had seen a flare from shore at around 4:30 a.m. and immediately set out to the site but by the time he got there, the Bayesian had already sunk, with only cushions, wood and other items from the superyacht floating in the water.

“But for the rest, we didn’t find anyone,” he said from the port hours later. He said that he immediately alerted the coast guard and stayed on site for three hours, but didn’t find any survivors. “I think they are inside, all the missing people.”

He said he had been up early to check the weather to see if he could go fishing, and surmised that a sudden waterspout had struck the yacht. “It could be that the mast broke, or the anchor at the prow pulled it, I don’t know,” he said.

Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries: In addition to Britain and the United States, passengers and crew were from Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain, he said.

WATCH MORE: Group of orcas attack and sink vessels off Iberian Peninsula

Dutch foreign ministry spokesperson Casper Soetekouw said the lone Dutch citizen on board, a man, had been rescued and was not in a life-threatening condition.

Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was cleared in June of fraud and conspiracy charges related to Hewlett Packard’s $11 billion takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp.

The not-guilty verdicts followed an 11-week criminal trial in San Francisco that delved into the history of HP’s 2011 acquisition of Autonomy, a business software firm founded by Lynch.

The fraud accusations represented a dramatic turn in the fortunes of an entrepreneur once described as the Bill Gates of Britain — a title he seemed to live up to when he netted an $800 million from the Autonomy sale.

The acquittal vindicated Lynch, who had vehemently denied wrong doing and portrayed HP as a technological train wreck.

“I’m looking forward to returning the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field,” Lynch said in a statement released after the verdict.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate 12 passengers in four double cabins, a triple and the master suite, plus crew accommodations, according to Charter World and Yacht Charters.

The vessel, which previously was named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag, featured a sleek, minimalist interior of light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions and photos on the charter sites.

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Tech tycoon Mike Lynch - dubbed Britain's Bill Gates - missing as luxury super-yacht sinks

British businessman Mike Lynch is missing after the yacht he was on capsized in Sicil y leaving at least one person dead.

Angela Bacares, Mr Lynch's wife, was among those rescued after the incident.

Mr Lynch is the co-founder of software company Autonomy Corporation and the founder of Invoke Capital.

• Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's $500m superyacht boasts cinema and bar
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The body of one missing passenger was recovered close to the wreck at a depth of 164 ft a few hours into the search mission.

Before the recovery of the victim, believed to be a man, the Italian coast guard said: "There are currently seven missing, one crew member and six passengers, of British, American and Canadian nationality."

The captain of the Sir Robert, one of the first ships to intervene to rescue the passengers, said the Bayesian "tilted to one side and within minutes the boat sank, it all happened in a very short time."

One of the passengers described the harrowing experience as she spoke of her efforts to keep her young daughter, Sophie, safe after the sinking.

The woman, named locally as Charlotte, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica: "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."

The sailboat had overturned sometime before 5 a.m. off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, where it was anchored. It had a crew of 10 people and 12 passengers, including British, American and Canadian nationalities, the Italian coast guard said.

Local media said a sudden fierce storm, including tornados over water known as waterspouts, had battered the area overnight but skies were clear and seas calm by Monday morning.

The 184-foot British-flagged Bayesian was known for its single 246-foot mast, one of the world's tallest made of aluminium and which was lit up at night, just hours before it sank. Online charter sites list it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $215,000) a week.

It comes just two months after Lynch was cleared of charges alleging he orchestrated a fraud and conspiracy leading up to an $11 billion deal that turned into a costly albatross for Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett Packard.

The not-guilty verdicts reached Thursday by a federal court jury in San Francisco followed an 11-week criminal trial that delved into the history of HP's 2011 acquisition of Autonomy, a business software that Lynch founded and then oversaw as CEO in Britain. HP at first celebrated the purchase as a huge coup that would propel the Palo Alto, California, company down a promising new path, but then quickly came to regret under its then-CEO Meg Whitman.

The jury acquitted Lynch on all 15 felony counts facing him. Toward the end of the trial, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer threw out a count of securities fraud included in the U.S. Justice Department case against him in an indictment dating back to 2018. It took years to extradite Lynch from the U.K. and then more legal wrangling before the trial finally began in mid-March.

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Tech Tycoon Mike Lynch and Daughter Among Missing After Luxury Yacht Sinks Off Sicilian Coast

Dubbed the 'British Bill Gates,' Lynch, 59, was recently cleared of over a dozen fraud and conspiracy charges

Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty

Mike Lynch, a British tech entrepreneur, and his daughter Hannah are among the missing after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily in the wake of a major storm earlier this week, local officials confirm to PEOPLE.

Speaking with the BBC , Salvatore Cocina, the director general of Sicily's civil protection agency, said Hannah is believed to be 18.

Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was among those rescued, local sources say.

The Italian coast guard said in a statement obtained by PEOPLE that Bayesian , a 56-meter yacht flying the U.K. flag, sank near Poritcello around 5 a.m., local time on Monday, Aug. 19, after the "violent storm."

Fifteen people were subsequently saved (and eight were taken to area hospitals) while six — including two Americans and four British citizens — remain missing, the coast guard and local sources said.

Lynch is one of the six people from the Bayesian who disappeared, local sources tell PEOPLE. The news was previously reported by the Associated Press , The Wall Street Journal and Reuters , among other outlets. 

At the time of the sinking, the coast guard said there were 12 passengers on board as well as a crew of 10, per the AP. 

One person was found dead near the yacht. They were identified as a cook from the boat, according to local outlet Palermo Today and the BBC.

Sicily's civil protection agency did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

The incident took place months after Lynch, the founder of the U.K.-based tech company Autonomy, was acquitted on all charges that alleged he inflated his company's earnings ahead of an $11 billion deal with Hewlett-Packard, per TechCrunch and the AP .

Via a statement shared with the outlets at the time, Lynch said he was "looking forward to returning to the U.K. and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

In an interview with Britain’s Sunday Times published on July 27, Lynch, 59, who was described as “Britain’s Bill Gates ,” said that had he been convicted, he might have died while serving his prison sentence because of his age and a major lung infection.

“I have various medical things that would have made it difficult to survive,” Lynch, a father of two children, told the paper. 

According to Sky News , local newspaper Giornale di Sicilia reported that witnesses to Monday's incident said the yacht was anchored in front of the Porticello port when the storm hit.

"That boat was all lit up," a man in Porticello told Giornale di Sicilia . "At about 4:30 in the morning it was gone. A beautiful boat where there had been a party. A normal day of vacation spent happily at sea turned into a tragedy.”

A spokesperson for Sicily's civil protection agency, Francesco Venuto, previously told the BBC that authorities believed the bodies of the missing must be in the yacht. 

"We've been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we've found nothing,” said Venuto. “That wouldn't make sense, in this conditions we should have found something by now.”

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Mike Lynch, the Autonomy founder finally cleared of fraud after more than decade

The tech tycoon rose to become one of britain’s most successful entrepreneurs, before a massive lawsuit threatened his reputation., article bookmarked.

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British technology tycoon Mike Lynch – reportedly one of six tourists missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Italy – 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 seemed to live up to the moniker when he negotiated an 11 billion US dollar (£8.64 billion) sale of Autonomy to Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett Packard (HP), 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.

Being accused of a massive fraud represented a dramatic turn in fortunes for Mr Lynch.

In a 2015 radio interview, Mike Lynch said he was born in Ilford in east London.

He was brought up in Essex but has Irish heritage as the son of a nurse from Co Tipperary and a fireman from Co Cork and talked in the same interview of spending childhood summers in Carrick-On-Shannon and Tipperary where he has family.

He went to Cambridge University, and started his first business while he was studying for a PhD in signal processing and communications research.

The company, Lynett Systems, produced audio products for the music industry, including electronic synthesisers and samplers.

By 1991, he had started his second firm, Cambridge Neurodynamics, which specialised in fingerprint recognition.

Autonomy grew out of that company – but its success vastly overshadowed the previous two. The firm was a pioneer of business data analysis, using machine learning and what Mr Lynch called “adaptive pattern recognition”.

By 1998, it had floated in Brussels, and rode the technology boom around the turn of the millennium. In 2000 it gained listings on both the US Nasdaq exchange and later the London Stock Exchange.

When the tech bubble burst, Autonomy struggled, dropping out of the FTSE 100. But the company was already profitable, unlike many other tech firms at the time, and rode the storm.

Over the next decade, it continued to grow and served vast swathes of the businesses world, with clients reportedly including Shell, BMW, the UK Parliament and several US government departments.

Mr 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 (AI) and the government’s role in the regulation of these technologies”.

It took more than a decade for Mr Lynch to clear his name, but the acquittal vindicated the 59-year-old father-of-two, who spent years fiercely denying he did anything wrong while painting HP as a technological train wreck.

In his first interview after being cleared, he told The Times newspaper: “I’d had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didn’t know if I’d ever be coming back.”

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.

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