Superyacht captain faces manslaughter investigation after tragic sinking off Sicily – CGWALL USA News

Bayesian yacht sinking in Sicily: Italian prosecutors have opened a multiple manslaughter investigation into James Cutfield, captain of the $40 million superyacht Bayesian that sank off the coast of Sicily during a violent storm, killing six people, including British technology magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of August 19, sparked an intensive investigation into the circumstances that led to the luxury vessel's disastrous end.

Cutfield, a 51-year-old New Zealander, is also being investigated on charges of causing a shipwreck, according to his lawyer Giovanni Rizzuti. The investigation comes as Sicilian authorities try to determine whether any of Cutfield's behavior or decisions contributed to the disaster. While the fact that he is under investigation does not mean guilt or guarantee formal charges, it is a crucial step in the process of finding out what went wrong.

The Bayesian, a 180-foot luxury yacht built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, was known for its nearly 250-foot-tall aluminum sailing mast – the tallest of its kind in the world. The British-registered yacht was designed to accommodate 12 guests and a crew of up to 10. On that fateful morning, the vessel was anchored off Porticello, a small fishing port in northern Sicily, when it was hit by what Italian authorities described as a “tremendous storm.”

Of the 22 people on board, 15 survived the sinking, including Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who owned the yacht through a company linked to her name. The bodies of Lynch, his daughter and four others were subsequently recovered. Among the dead were prominent figures such as Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International and the British insurance company Hiscox, his wife Judy, and the well-known New York criminal defense attorney Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda. The body of the yacht's cook Recaldo Thomas was the first to be recovered shortly after the ship sank.

Lynch, often referred to as the “Bill Gates of Britain,” was recently acquitted of fraud charges related to the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011 for $11 billion. The Mediterranean sailing trip was intended as a holiday getaway for Lynch and those who had supported him during his legal battle in the United States.

At a press conference on Saturday, prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio announced the manslaughter investigation, raising the possibility that the sinking could have been the result of “inappropriate behavior.” Cutfield is expected to be questioned again by prosecutors, who are carefully examining every aspect of the incident, including the actions of the crew and the design and safety features of the yacht itself.

As investigations continue, the maritime community is grappling with the tragic loss and unanswered questions surrounding the disaster. The sinking of the Bayesian has not only devastated those who lost loved ones, but has also raised broader concerns about the responsibility and risks involved in operating such valuable vessels in unpredictable and potentially dangerous environments.

As the legal proceedings continue, the victims' families and surviving crew members await clarity on the events that led to this devastating incident. The outcome of the investigation will likely have far-reaching implications for the shipping industry, particularly how safety protocols are enforced and the responsibility of those at the helm of these luxurious vessels is determined.