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Vava II: What makes the UK’s largest yacht an all-time great

• Superyachts

The largest yacht ever built at a British yard, Vava II features beautiful exterior styling that makes her look sleek and elegant despite her length...

Despite her status as the largest superyacht ever built at a British yard, Vava II’s owner-inspired exterior styling by Redman Whiteley Dixon is not only beautiful but makes the yacht look balanced and sleek.

She’s mainly a yacht of straight lines – the plumb bow, the angle of the superstructure and transom aft to the water, the vertical windows forward – but the sudden kinks of the top deck are a devilish touch.

The interior is by Rémi Tessier. The yacht, refitted at Amels in 2015, has been a regular in cruising hotspots around the world – and she spent the summer of 2016 cruising the Mediterranean.

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“Conceived as a ‘world travelling yacht’, Vava II has exceeded expectations in her extended travels to remote locations and such geographically diverse places as the Indian Ocean islands, Indonesia, Alaska, Polynesia, Patagonia and Antarctica, travelling more than 100,000 nautical miles in a little over four years since delivery,” says Captain Richard Bridge.

“The helicopter deck has been used extensively for the embarked Eurocopter AS350B3 for a mix of transfers, sightseeing, heli-skiing and fishing trips, as well as numerous scientific missions. It will shortly be strengthened to be able to operate the larger twin-engined EC 145 T2.

“The main-deck salon with its glass sliding wall opening to become a part of the main-deck aft pool area has proved extremely popular and gives an option of opening the whole indoor/outdoor area for events and parties.

“Another area that has been used extensively is the expansive beach club – adding a large additional deck space, as well as a platform from which to operate the selection of tenders on board.

“The tender garages themselves have doubled as logistics platforms when operating in remote areas such as the Antarctic peninsula and during scientific missions in the Indian Ocean.”

Where is she now? Cruising privately.

VAVA II specifications

Yard: Devonport/Pendennis Year: 2012 LOA: 96.0m Designer: Redman Whiteley Dixon

First published in 2016 as part of Super Yacht World’s Hall of Fame.

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The 8 Best New British Yachts on the Water, From Sunseeker to Fairline

Quality among the top u.k. builders is always a given. it's the range of yacht designs that may surprise you..

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As an island, boats have always been the lifeblood of Great Britain. And many British yacht builders continue to uphold the country’s proud naval and maritime traditions. While there are a handful of superyacht builders, the UK isn’t known for eye-wateringly huge megayachts or avant-garde design—though that has changed as its largest international brands compete with the style-obsessed Ferretti Group and Azimut brands.

But what you do find with the Brits is well engineered vessels with a high level of attention to detail in both the interior and exterior design. From semi-custom motoryacht builders like Princess and Sunseeker to the rarefied realm of a highly sought-after Pascoe limousine, there’s something here for nearly every yachtsman.

And thanks to enduring popularity, there is nearly always a British-built sailboat from the Oyster yard, somewhere just over the horizon. In fact, whether you’re cruising the waters of the Caribbean, New England, or the South of France, you’ll find U.K. brands along with the highest luxury offerings from Italy and Northern Europe.

Here are seven of Britain’s finest, newest, and most noteworthy vessels on the water.

Project Fox, Pendennis Shipyard

This 114-foot explorer yacht, overseen by project manager Burgess and in build at the Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, was designed around the owner’s wishes. It has a rugged exterior that will be paired with a bright, contemporary interior by QLondon Design. The owner told Robb Report that he plans to cruise off-grid to remote areas like Norway for heli-skiing with his family and friends (thus necessitating five large staterooms). But he also wanted family-friendly features like a sun terrace, wine lobby, open-air barbecue, and DJ station. Of course, the real breakthrough here: The open stern, measuring more than 1,100 square feet can carry a large complement of toys and tenders, but also scientific equipment (the interior has space for a modular lab) for when the yacht is hosting research scientists. “Flexible cabins and connectivity are key,” said the owner.

The ubiquitous model of the Pearl lineup, the 72 received a creative new interior design earlier this year with the addition of a stateroom that gives it two master suites. The U.K. yard has always been high on haute design, offering different palettes by British interior designer Kelly Hoppen, but this double-master suite idea is a first for this size of motoryacht. The yard has recently won awards for the naval architecture of its 95, which approaches superyacht status, and it will be launching a new 85-foot flybridge next year.

Fairline Targa 40

Fairline is also among England’s internationally renowned yacht brands, famous for seaworthy hulls and top-tier creature comforts. It hasn’t built yachts as large as competitors Princess and Sunseeker but has been equally creative with the design. The new Targa 40’s cockpit is a case in point. It has an enticing exterior layout, with the cockpit featuring a foldout terrace to starboard and a U-shaped dining settee to port facing the rest of the deck, not to mention the two sun lounges on the stern. The 40 is effectively a dayboat, but with two staterooms, it also works as a family weekender. There’s a master in the forepeak and guest cabin amidships which is best suited for children. The galley below decks is also very functional. Top speed for the Targa is 36 knots with the optional Volvo Penta D6-380 upgrades.

Princess Y80

Along with Sunseeker, Princess Yachts is the other heavyweight of British yacht building. These cruisers and motoryachts have proven to be perennial favorites on both sides of the Atlantic. The Y80 debuting at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival looks to continue the tradition. The Y80 brings to the table an “infinity cockpit” with a glass transom and modular furniture for multiple setups. It also has a flybridge that spans about two-thirds of the yacht’s nearly 84-foot length, effectively creating a legitimate third deck. The Y80’s owner’s stateroom is amidships and full beam, while it has a VIP in the forepeak. Two other guest cabins are to port and starboard. The Y80 has an impressive top speed of 30 knots, but at 10 knots the range is an even more impressive 1,000 nautical miles.

Cockwells Duchy Sport

The 37-foot Duchy Sport from the Cockwells’ yard in Cornwall, famous internationally for its custom tenders, is designed for watersports enthusiasts. This Sport offers multiple towing points for waterskiing, wakeboarding, wakesurfing and tubing, with interior space for nine guests. Bow and cockpit sunpads will be popular spots for tanning, while a Bimini covers the amidships. Standout features include a wetbar, retractable swim ladder, bowthruster with joystick control, and of course ample water-toy stowage. The Duchy Sport comes with twin 370 hp Yanmar 8LVs which can get it up to a top speed of 42 knots—a speed befitting of this model’s name. Cockwells is also building a new Duchy 60, a stylized motoryacht that should rival Downeast offerings from U.S. builders Hinckley and Malaysian builder Grand Banks.

The Oyster 495 is a 52-foot, 8-inch sailing yacht that entered the U.S. market earlier this year. A new design from the keel up, the U.K. builder was thinking global circumnavigation, or at least serious offshore cruising, from the onset. The yacht is also meant to be able to be singlehanded by a capable sailor. The plumb bow and teak decks imbue the 495 with a definite saltiness with performance and aesthetics. The cabin is noteworthy for being both ergonomic and well-lit. Reported top speeds for the 495 crest the 10-knot mark under sail, while a 100 hp Yanmar diesel pushes it along happily at 9.5 knots.

Sunseeker Superhawk 55

Sunseeker is one of England’s brands that has a global following. For good reason. The Poole builder has a range of vessels that extend from 38 to 161 feet. Sunseeker is known for good oceangoing performance and creative design. The Superhawk 55 is a reimagining of the Superhawks that enjoyed popularity with performance enthusiasts in the 1990s and Aughts before being discontinued in 2009. Sunseeker introduced the Superhawk 38 in 2020, which had echoes of its go-fast past. This 55, however, is more of a performance cruiser than a day boat. With twin Volvo Penta IPS950s the new Superhawk has a very respectable top end of 38 knots and a feature even Miami Vice hot-boat aficionados will appreciate—slow-speed maneuverability offered by pod propulsion. An aggressively raked profile complemented by stiletto-sharp hullside windows augment the Superhawk’s sporty vibe.

Pascoe E-Limousine Electric Tender

Pascoe tenders reside in the garages of some of the world’s biggest and most glamorous superyachts, thanks to the yard’s dedication to customization. The E-Limousine is the builder’s first fully electric vessel, the result of six years of R&D. Top speed is reported to be an impressive 40 knots, with a range of 60 nautical miles at a fast cruise of 20 knots. The builder says not only is this boat greener than a traditional tender but will also offer a smoother, quieter ride thanks to the construction used to mitigate vibration.

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News | Politics

Border Security Command ‘gearing up’ as small boat Channel crossings top 19,000

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Yvette Cooper has signalled she will press ahead with the previous government’s plan to reopen two immigration centres in a bid to achieve the highest rate of removals since Theresa May’s premiership.

The Home Secretary announced the Border Security Command “is gearing up” after the number of migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats topped 19,000 this year so far.

In addition to new beds at immigration removals centres near Oxford and Portsmouth, Ms Cooper will front plans to boost staffing at the National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK-wide body which has around 70 active investigations into people smuggling and trafficking groups.

Conservative shadow home secretary James Cleverly accused new ministers of failing to “get a grip” on cross-Channel migration between France and England’s South Coast over the weekend.

A Labour source said Mr Cleverly’s comments were “laughable” and said their party is “replacing Tory gimmick with real grip”.

Ms Cooper said: “Our new Border Security Command is already gearing up, with new staff being urgently recruited and additional staff already stationed across Europe.”

The unit is designed to draw together work of different intelligence agencies, police, Immigration Enforcement and Border Force.

Ms Cooper said new officials would “work with European enforcement agencies to find every route in to smashing the criminal smuggling gangs organising dangerous boat crossings which undermine our border security and put lives at risk”.

The Home Secretary also said: “By increasing enforcement capabilities and returns, we will establish a system that is better controlled and managed, in place of the chaos that has blighted the system for far too long.”

The Labour Government has pledged “290 added immigration removals” beds at Campsfield House in Kidlington, Oxfordshire and Haslar in Gosport, Hampshire – centres which had previously closed down in 2019 and 2015.

Documents lodged with Cherwell District Council during the Conservative administration, which ended in July, proposed Campsfield House would reopen with an increased capacity of 400 detainees, up from 160, while Gosport Borough Council greenlit demolition work at Haslar ahead of refurbishment earlier this year.

Staff would be redeployed to help drive an increase in returns.

According to the Home Office , ministers have set their sights on achieving over the next six months “the highest rate of removals of those with no right to be here, including failed asylum seekers” since 2018.

The previous Conservative government spent around £700 million on its flagship Rwanda scheme before the General Election earlier this year, according to Labour ministers’ figures unveiled in July.

The programme, to remove some people who had arrived in England by small boat to east Africa, agreed in a treaty between London and Kigali, was intended as a deterrent.

Just four volunteers arrived in Rwanda and Sir Keir Starmer declared the scheme “dead and buried” within two days after he became Prime Minister.

The Home Office further pledged intelligence-led business targeting as part of the package, to crack down on firms which employ people who do not have the right to work in the UK.

Up to 100 new specialists could help work on around 70 NCA investigations into smuggling and trafficking networks.

NCA director general of operations Rob Jones said: “Tackling organised immigration crime remains a key priority for the NCA and we are dedicating more effort and resource than ever before.

“These extra officers will play a key role in that, with the NCA currently leading around 70 investigations into the highest harm people smuggling and trafficking groups.

“Taking on these dangerous and exploitative gangs requires international co-operation and we continue to further enhance our already strong relationship with Europol and other law enforcement partners.

“We are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle these networks, whether they are operating in the UK or overseas.”

Home Office figures showed 206 migrants crossed the English Channel in three boats on Monday, which has taken the 2024 provisional total crossings to 19,294.

This is a 10% increase on the figure recorded last year, which was 17,620.

But the latest figure is 10% down on 2022, when 21,344 crossings were recorded in the same period.

“This new Government must urgently take action to get a grip on these ever rising crossing numbers,” Mr Cleverly said on the weekend.

“When Labour ditched our deterrent (the Rwanda plan) they sent a dangerous signal to the people smugglers that they were not willing to take the tough action necessary to control our borders, and the smugglers are reaping the benefits.”

A Labour source hit back: “For the former home secretary to be urging us to ‘get a grip’ given the chaotic inheritance they left is laughable.

“He oversaw waste and failure on a mammoth scale, not to mention the record-high number of crossings in the first six months of the year.

“We are replacing Tory gimmick with real grip and a serious plan to fix the chaos.”

The government's proposal to hold even more people in detention in the UK is a disappointing step away from a fairer and more humane immigration system

James Wilson, Detention Action

Care4Calais chief executive Steve Smith said: “The new Government continuing to invest in border security rather than workable solutions is repeating the mistakes of the last government.

“The evidence shows that these so-called deterrents don’t work. They do nothing to reduce Channel crossings, they just force people to take greater risks to do so.

“The only way to stop crossings, and to save lives, is to create safe routes for people to claim asylum in the UK. That’s what the new Government should be focusing on.”

James Wilson, director of Detention Action, said: “The government’s proposal to hold even more people in detention in the UK is a disappointing step away from a fairer and more humane immigration system.

“Especially following recent events, it is vital that government policy and language recognises the dignity and humanity of migrants.

“Immigration detention centres are a hidden space where people are locked in small cells for up to 12 hours a day and frequently denied legal support and appropriate medical care. The use of immigration detention is inherently damaging to people’s mental health, especially because people are detained without a fixed time limit.”

He continued: “Immigration detention is also a fundamentally inefficient way to resolve people’s immigration cases. From 2023 to 2024, 60% of people leaving detention were released on immigration bail or granted permission to remain in the UK.

“Given the immense cost of immigration detention to both the welfare of people detained and the public purse, we urge the government to reconsider their proposal.”

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UK tycoon's daughter is seventh, final victim of Sicily yacht sinking

Divers searching a sunken superyacht off Sicily recovered the body of the teenage daughter of UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch Friday, the seventh and final victim of a tragedy in which the businessman also perished.

Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah had been among six passengers reported missing after the "Bayesian" went down off the north coast of the Italian island in a storm early on Monday morning.

After Hannah's body was brought ashore on Friday, her family issued a statement describing their "unspeakable grief".

"The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends," it said.

Search teams had recovered the bodies of four of Lynch's friends on Wednesday, and that of the entrepreneur himself on Thursday.

The body of a man believed to be the yacht's chef had been found a few hours after the sailing ship sank.

Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the sailing boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a massive US fraud case.

But the 56-metre (185-foot) British-flagged yacht was struck by a waterspout -- akin to a mini-tornado -- before dawn on Monday as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo.

It sank at around 04:30 am local time, according to management company Camper and Nicolsons, and now lies on the sea bed some 50 metres down.

- 'Heartbroken' -

Hannah had just finished her end-of-school exams and had a place to study English literature at Oxford University.

Friends described her as warm, loving and "charming and ferociously intelligent", according to one of the tributes issued by the family.

Lynch, once dubbed the British "Bill Gates", was "the most brilliant mind and (most) caring person I have ever known", said another.

The businessman had been acquitted on all charges in a San Francisco court in June after he was accused of an $11 billion fraud linked to the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard.

US lawyer Chris Morvillo, a partner at top law firm Clifford Chance who worked on the trial, also died in the sinking, along with his wife Neda.

Morvillo's firm Clifford Chance paid tribute to the couple, saying all were "heartbroken at the tragic passing... and still coming to terms with this terrible loss".

Italy's fire service said 27 divers had gone down to the submerged yacht each day, performing 123 dives overall in a search that also saw helicopters scour the area.

The bodies of Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy, were also found.

The Bloomer family said they were suffering "unimaginable grief" for a couple who had been together for five decades.

"Our only comfort is that they are still together now," the family said.

- 'Uncovering the truth' -

Many questions remain about why the yacht sank, and so quickly, when other boats nearby were unaffected.

Italian prosecutors have opened a probe and will hold a press conference on Saturday.

On Thursday the head of the company which built the boat said the tragedy could have been avoided.

"Everything that was done reveals a very long summation of errors," said Giovanni Costantino, head of the Italian Sea Group, which includes the Perini Navi company that built Bayesian in 2008.

But Nautilus International, a maritime trade union, called for a "thorough, unbiased investigation".

General secretary Mark Dickinson warned questioning the crew's conduct "without the full facts" would be "not only unfair but also harmful to the process of uncovering the truth".

The Bayesian, owned by Lynch's family, boasted a 75-metre mast, the tallest aluminium sailing mast in the world, according to the Charter World website.

Raising the wreck would likely cost some 15 million euros and take "six to eight weeks", according to the salvage engineer who led the operation to recover the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which sank off Italy in 2012.

To recover the yacht, the mast could be removed on the seabed but the boat would be lifted up whole using a giant crane and a team of 40 specialist divers, South African engineer Nick Sloane told the Repubblica daily.

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Mike Lynch and daughter among missing after yacht sinks: What we know about disaster - and 'alarming' potential cause

The British-flagged luxury vessel named Bayesian was carrying 22 people when it got into difficulty off the coast of Sicily. Seven bodies have now been recovered from the wreckage.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Friday 23 August 2024 12:24, UK

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Seven bodies have been found after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel named Bayesian when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday, with 15 people rescued.

Here's what we know about the sinking of the luxury vessel so far.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

What might have caused the sinking?

The British-flagged luxury vessel, named Bayesian, capsized at around 4.30am local time on Monday morning off Palermo, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic.

It sank in as little as 60 seconds with 22 people on board, 12 passengers and a crew of 10, according to the Italian coastguard.

Waterspouts, essentially tornados that form over water, were seen as powerful winds battered the area overnight, local media said.

The yacht may have sunk faster with all the doors open due to the hot weather, Sailing Today magazine editor Sam Jefferson has said.

"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," he said.

Official pictures show air conditioning units in several of the rooms, however, which could counter the suggestion open windows caused the vessel to sink faster.

The huge mast is also likely to have played a role, he added.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts typically occur during thunderstorms and can develop very rapidly, within minutes.

Their spin generally reaches wind speeds between 75-200mph, but can reach as high as 300mph.

They can travel at about 10-20mph typically but can reach greater speeds, making them difficult to avoid - especially in something as slow-moving as a yacht.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, called the reports of a tornado or waterspout "rare" and "quite alarming".

"The vessel was at anchor in a recognised anchorage," Mr Schanck said.

"Depending on wind direction and the state of the sea, this informs the captain whether it is a safe area to anchor or not. There was nothing that was too concerning, for my eye. All in all, the captain used the information they had to make a safe call."

Who owns the yacht?

The yacht belonged to the family of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch. He was confirmed to have died after rescuers found his body on Thursday. Mr Lynch was on holiday with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who is still missing, and his wife Angela Bacares, who was rescued.

Mr Lynch, 59, was known as the " British Bill Gates " and has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges, which were related to the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP). The yacht trip is believed to have been a celebration of the end of Mr Lynch's legal troubles.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American tech giant.

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US to face trial in May last year and spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco as he awaited trial on 17 charges of conspiracy and wire fraud brought by the US Department of Justice - which were later reduced to 15 charges. He always denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted.

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht sinking

Who was on board when the boat sank?

The passengers were largely British and American, with crew members were from New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada.

Charlotte Golunski was among the Britons rescued. Her LinkedIn profile says she is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm Invoke Capital and has worked there since 2012.

Speaking after the ordeal, Ms Golunski told Italian media that she lost her daughter Sofia for "two seconds" amid the "fury" of the sea but was able to retrieve her. She said she held the infant above the waves until the lifeboat was ready.

"Many people screamed. Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us were able to get on board," she told ANSA.

The girl's father James Emsley also survived, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

Also on board were Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley, his wife Judy Bloomer, a top US lawyer Chris Morvillo, who worked on Mr Lynch's criminal case, and his wife Neda Morvillo. Divers confirmed on Thursday that their bodies had been recovered.

The yacht's captain James Cutfield survived, along with South African crew members Leah Randall and Katja Chicken.

Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who was working on the boat, was the first to be found dead, the Italian Coastguard confirmed to Sky News.

During rescue efforts, divers saw "corpses through the portholes" of the wreck as they recovered the body of a man at a depth of 50m (164ft), according to Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily.

What do we know about the vessel?

The Bayesian is owned by a company controlled by Mr Lynch's wife.

It was known for its unusual 72.3m (246ft) single mast - one of the world's tallest made of aluminium - and shared its name with the statistical method Mr Lynch's Autonomy software was based on.

It was built by Italian company Perini Navi in 2008 and last refitted in 2020.

It was listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week, according to online charter sites.

The luxury vessel , which was managed by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, could accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

It won a string of awards for its design, according to online specialist yacht sites.

Mr Schanck, of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said the vessel would have been equipped with "high standard" life-saving appliances and radio communications.

He added the yacht would have met all international standards and UK Maritime Coastguard Agency regulations before its voyage.

It was previously named Salute, or "health" in Italian, when it flew under a Dutch flag. Its minimalist interior featured light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions on charter sites.

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What were its last movements?

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking site VesselFinder.

The Bayesian previously travelled to other parts of Sicily before its last sighting off the coast of the port of Porticello.

On Sunday, the boat was seen off the coast of Cefalu before it travelled towards Porticello, MarineTraffic data shows.

In the days before, the yacht travelled around four of the Aeolian islands, just north of Sicily.

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Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the sinking.

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• Superyacht sinking

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The 10 biggest superyachts currently listed for sale

Related articles, superyacht directory.

Want to know how much boat you can buy for your buck? BOAT takes a look at the biggest yachts currently for sale, starting with the iconic 114.5-metre superyacht Pelorus ...

Pelorus | 114.5m

Year: 2003 Builder: Lürssen

Pelorus was commissioned by a Saudi businessman who enjoyed one long, glorious cruise aboard his new superyacht before tycoon Roman Abramovich made him an offer too good to refuse. Easily the largest yacht to be built by Lürssen at the time, her Tim Heywood exterior features a top deck "lido" with two swimming pools, two helicopter pads and a vast, sea-level platform revealed by opening the transom. Interiors were carried out by Terence Disdale , who opted to use natural materials wherever possible to maintain a "casual" atmosphere – in the hopes it would offset the yacht’s imposing frame.

Pelorus is asking €185,000,000 with Burgess .

Moonlight II | 91.4m

Year: 2005 Builder: Neorion

The brainchild of the late Andreas Liveras, Moonchild II was originally commissioned as the 85.3-metre Alysia alongside sistership Annaliesse (now Queen Miri ). Her transformative 2015 refit added the extra 6.1 metres alongside a brand new beach club made complete with a well-stocked bar, sunbathing areas and shell doors that reveal far-flung ocean views. Other highlights include a touch-and-go helipad and a full-beam spa with massage room, beauty salon, steam shower and gym.

Moonlight II is asking €68,000,000 with Fraser .

Phoenix II | 90.1m

Year: 2010 Builder: Lürssen

Phoenix II  takes a page (or two) from The Great Gatsby with her cherry velvet flooring and gilded details. The owner commissioned Winch Design to create her intricate "Art Deco meets the New York skyline" design concept, including a 5.7-metre phoenix figurehead modelled after the Chrysler building's mounted eagles. Roaring highlights include a sommelier room, three swimming pools, a plush cinema room and a custom Steinway for some musical accompaniment at mealtimes.

Phoenix II is asking €124,950,000 with   Cecil Wright and Burgess .

Lady Lara | 91m

Year: 2015 Builder: Lürssen

Debuting on the brokerage market in September 2023, Lady Lara has eluded the public eye for eight years – with BOAT International only recently stepping on board . She was designed inside and out by Reymond Langton and features two standout swimming pools . The first transforms into a dance floor with surround-sound while the second is fitted with a swim-up bar, large day bed and sunlounger. Lady Lara 's recently-completed winter works were valued at a staggering €15,000,000.

Lady Lara is asking €230,000,000 with Y.CO and Merle Wood & Associates .

Year: 2009 Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen

Another Reymond Langton entry, B2 remains the second-largest launch by the German shipyard (beaten out by the 118.2-metre Livao ). Her recent four-million-euro refit saw the hull extended by seven metres – allowing room for a spacious beach club, with a glass-bottom infinity pool acting as its rippling, refracted ceiling. The beach club is also outfitted with lounge chairs, a drinks bar and flatscreen television.

B2 is asking €79,000,000 with Moravia Yachting .

Chakra | 86m

Year: 1963 Builder: Van Der Werf

Delivered first as a commercial vessel, Chakra was converted into a full-fledged superyacht in 1998 by Devonport Yachts . The change saw her five decks rearranged with a dedicated yoga area, spa pool, beauty parlor, massage room and gym. This unconventional yacht also boasts a globe-trotting range (in exces of 10,000 nautical miles) and a spacious tender garage housing Yamaha Wave Runners, two RIBs and a 12-metre Sessa dayboat.

Chakra is listed for sale with Merle Wood & Associates, with POA.

O'Ptasia | 84.7m

Year: 2018 Builder: Golden Yachts

Superseded by 95-metre sistership O'Pari in 2020, Golden Yachts' former flagship is still one of the largest yachts on the market today. Her most attention-pulling feature is the beach club spa, fitted with a steam room, dry Finnish sauna, Hammam and massage room. Continuing the theme of wellness, a touch-and-go helipad on the foredeck can double as a yoga studio (with a view like no other) while her waterfall Jacuzzi is also a rejuvenating spot.

O'Ptasia is asking €89,999,000.00 with Burgess.

Elements | 80m

Year: 2019 Builder: Yachtley

The newest delivery on the list, Elements is Alpha Marine -made and "one of the world’s few purpose-built SOLAS yachts" according to her broker. Worthy of note is the master cabin, complete with its own oval lobby that doubles as a walk-in closet and a private deck with helipad, swimming pool, Jacuzzi and small private dining table. Her opulent Cristiano Gatto interiors see unconventional features (think Grecian-style pillars and etched-mirrored glass) incorporated alongside gold, silver and mother of pearl inlays.

Elements is asking €112,000,000 with Camper & Nicholsons .

Amaryllis | 78.4m

Year: 2011 Builder: Abeking & Rasmussen

Inspired by the Belle Époque, Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods, it's no wonder Amaryllis'   interiors (owed to Reymond Langton) always dazzle those who step aboard. Leisure highlights include a piano lounge, cinema suite and five-metre pool with colourful underwater lighting for night-time swims. Her waterside set-up also impresses, with a beach club that features a fully-equipped (and perfectly paired) gym and spa.

Amaryllis is asking €89,000,000 with Moravia Yachting.

Yersin | 76.6m

Year: 2015 Builder: Piriou

Designed by Pierre-Jacques Kubis in the same scientific spirit as her namesake , Yersin is equipped with a barge, seaplane and enough provisions to keep 18 people fed for 50 days. But this military-style explorer is built not just for getting to extraordinary places, but also for making the most of them once there. Guests have free reign over a 30-square-metre spa, cinema and a pool deck complete with a teppanyaki galley, sushi bar and a large swimming pool. Other highlights include a library and an elevator accessing all decks.

Yersin is asking €59,000,000 with Fraser.

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Body of last missing person, tech billionaire's daughter, retrieved from yacht wreck

Reuters Staff

PORTICELLO, ITALY -- Italian divers have retrieved the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, who was the last person still unaccounted for after the family's luxury yacht sank this week off Sicily.

Seven people, including Lynch himself, died when the 56-metre-long (184-foot) sailboat, the Bayesian, capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm on Monday off Porticello, near Palermo. Fifteen people survived, including Lynch's wife and the yacht's captain.

Lynch's family is devastated and in shock, a spokesperson for the family said on Friday, in their first public comments since the yacht sank.

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"Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue," the statement said.

"Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief."

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese are looking into possible human error that might have led to the disaster. As of yet, nobody has been placed under formal investigation and none of the survivors have commented publicly.

Hannah Lynch's body was discovered on Friday by specialist divers who have been scouring the submerged vessel for the past five days, a senior official with knowledge of the rescue operation said, declining to be named.

The five other dead passengers were recovered on Wednesday and Thursday. The body of the only crew member who died, onboard chef Recaldo Thomas, was found near the wreck on Monday.

Official identification of the corpses and autopsies will take place in Palermo.

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and should not, in any case, have sunk as quickly as it did.

The yacht's captain James Cutfield, his eight surviving crew members and passengers have been questioned by the coast guard on behalf of prosecutors. Investigators are due to hold a news conference on Saturday.

Complex salvage operation

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of The Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, told Reuters the shipwreck was the result of a string of "indescribable, unreasonable errors" made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.

The Bayesian is lying on its side, apparently intact at a depth of 50 metres (164 ft). Pulling it out of the sea may help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly.

Nick Sloane, a South African engineer who led the operation to salvage the Costa Concordia cruise liner that sank in 2012, said in Italian media interviews on Friday that the operation would cost up to 15 million euros (US$16.7 million).

He told daily La Repubblica that salvaging the yacht would take six to eight weeks, including preparation work, and would have to be completed by mid-October, without specifying the reasons for the timing.

Bringing the yacht to the surface will have to be done "very, very slowly," and might take a couple of days, he said.

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Lynch, 59, was one of the U.K.'s best-known tech entrepreneurs and had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in June in a U.S. fraud trial.

Among those who died in the wreck were Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo and Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley banker who had appeared as a character witness in the case on his behalf.

Lynch's wife Angela Bacares headed the company that owned the boat.

(Giselda Vagnoni reported for this story from Rome, Additional reporting by Giulia Segreti; Writing by Crispian Balmer and Alvise Armellini; Editing by Sharon Singleton)

Italian firefighter divers work at the site of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, southern Italy, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

Italian Coast Guard officials bring ashore in a bag the body of one of the victims of the UK flag vessel Bayesian, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

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Tragic reason divers took so long to find body of Mike Lynch's daughter on sunken Bayesian yacht

The final body of the six missing people from the sunken Bayesian yacht - believed to be Mike Lynch's daughter Hannah - has been found by the Italian coastguard

• 12:19, 23 Aug 2024
• Updated 13:29, 23 Aug 2024

Expert divers have now found the sixth missing body onboard the sunken Bayesian yacht , believed to be British billionaire Mike Lynch's teenage daughter Hannah.

The 56-metre luxury superyacht was carrying 22 people when it sank off the coast of Italy during a violent storm in the early hours of Monday morning. Fifteen people were initially rescued, with chef Recaldo Thomas tragically pronounced dead. Six people remained missing until five bodies were pulled from the water on Wednesday.

Technology tycoon Mr Lynch, who owned the £30million yacht, was confirmed one of them, alongside Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo. On Friday morning, the Italian coastguard retrieved the final body after a "difficult" five days of searching among the debris.

The sunken vessel currently sits fully intact on its starboard side around 165ft underwater on the seabed. Due to its location, experienced divers have only been able to explore the wreckage for around 12 minutes at a time.

The rescue team previously explained that the search had been made especially difficult by the amount of debris blocking accessibility to all areas of the yacht. It is therefore understood that the body believed to be that of Hannah Lynch had been trapped behind objects this whole time.

It is also believed that Mr Lynch's wife Angela survived and the father didn't because he potentially went to look for Hannah, who would have been sleeping away from the master cabin, giving his wife some comfort that he tried to go back to save her, according to reports.

Luca Cari, a spokesman for the fire rescue service, told Sky News: "It's very difficult to move inside the wreckage. Moving just one metre can take up to 24 hours." The national head of the fire brigade, Carlo Dall'Oppio, told the Mirror on Thursday that operations were also taking time because they had to protect the safety of the divers. He explained: "These operations are proceeding slowly because we must first of all preserve the health of our operators," adding: "It is a difficult job - there are about 40 divers used, 28 of whom come from outside Sicily".

Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily previously said earlier this week that entering the yacht was so difficult because the hull is titled at a 90-degree angle. Member of the diving team Marco Tilotta said "there is a world of objects" obstructing the stairs that lead to the cabins, the BBC reports.

Hannah, 18, had this month received her A-level results and had secured a place to study English at the University of Oxford. She had attended the prestigious Latymer Upper School in Hammersmith, west London. Her mother, Angela Bacares, was onboard the yacht and survived.

The trip appeared to be a celebration after Mr Lynch's acquittal of fraud and conspiracy charges in a US federal trial related to Hewlett Packard's $11 billion (£8.4 billion) takeover of his company, Autonomy Corp. Other guests on the yacht included people who had stood by him throughout the ordeal - such as his US lawyer, Christopher Morvillo and his wife.

Mr Lynch, a father of two, spoke to The Times in July of this year about his charges and how he may not have lived to see freedom had he been found guilty. He said: "If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of my life as I have known it in any sense. It's bizarre, but now you have a second life - the question is, what do you want to do with it?"

Mr Lynch candidly shared: "I'd had to say goodbye to everything and everyone, because I didn't know if I'd ever be coming back." If the businessman had been convicted of conspiracy and wire fraud, he would have faced up to 25 years in a US prison - and given his serious lung condition, it is unlikely he would have made it out alive.

He remained confident that he would be acquitted, but it didn't make it any less emotional when he finally heard those words. "When you hear that answer, you jump universes," he recalled to the newspaper. "If this had gone the wrong way, it would have been the end of life as I have known it in any sense."

Mr Lynch was finally reunited with his family - including his other daughter, 21, and his six dogs - after spending 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco while awaiting trial. Of his return to the UK, he said tearfully: "It's a very strange situation to now be in a different mindset where you're back."

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UK tycoon's daughter is seventh, final victim of Sicily yacht sinking

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Divers searching a sunken superyacht off Sicily recovered the body of the teenage daughter of UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch Friday, the seventh and final victim of a tragedy in which the businessman also perished.

Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah had been among six passengers reported missing after the "Bayesian" went down off the north coast of the Italian island in a storm early on Monday morning.

After Hannah's body was brought ashore on Friday, her family issued a statement describing their "unspeakable grief".

"The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends," it said.

Search teams had recovered the bodies of four of Lynch's friends on Wednesday, and that of the entrepreneur himself on Thursday.

The body of a man believed to be the yacht's chef had been found a few hours after the sailing ship sank.

Lynch, 59, had invited friends and family onto the sailing boat to celebrate his recent acquittal in a massive US fraud case. 

But the 56-metre (185-foot) British-flagged yacht was struck by a waterspout -- akin to a mini-tornado -- before dawn on Monday as it was anchored off Porticello, near Palermo.

It sank at around 04:30 am local time, according to management company Camper and Nicolsons, and now lies on the sea bed some 50 metres down.

- 'Heartbroken' -

Hannah had just finished her end-of-school exams and had a place to study English literature at Oxford University.

Friends described her as warm, loving and "charming and ferociously intelligent", according to one of the tributes issued by the family.

Lynch, once dubbed the British "Bill Gates", was "the most brilliant mind and (most) caring person I have ever known", said another.

The businessman had been acquitted on all charges in a San Francisco court in June after he was accused of an $11 billion fraud linked to the sale of his software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard.

US lawyer Chris Morvillo, a partner at top law firm Clifford Chance who worked on the trial, also died in the sinking, along with his wife Neda.

Morvillo's firm Clifford Chance paid tribute to the couple, saying all were "heartbroken at the tragic passing... and still coming to terms with this terrible loss".

Italy's fire service said 27 divers had gone down to the submerged yacht each day, performing 123 dives overall in a search that also saw helicopters scour the area.

The bodies of Jonathan Bloomer, the chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife Judy, were also found.

The Bloomer family said they were suffering "unimaginable grief" for a couple who had been together for five decades.

"Our only comfort is that they are still together now," the family said.

- 'Uncovering the truth' -

Many questions remain about why the yacht sank, and so quickly, when other boats nearby were unaffected.

Italian prosecutors have opened a probe and will hold a press conference on Saturday.

On Thursday the head of the company which built the boat said the tragedy could have been avoided.

"Everything that was done reveals a very long summation of errors," said Giovanni Costantino, head of the Italian Sea Group, which includes the Perini Navi company that built Bayesian in 2008. 

But Nautilus International, a maritime trade union, called for a "thorough, unbiased investigation".

General secretary Mark Dickinson warned questioning the crew's conduct "without the full facts" would be "not only unfair but also harmful to the process of uncovering the truth".

The Bayesian, owned by Lynch's family, boasted a 75-metre mast, the tallest aluminium sailing mast in the world, according to the Charter World website.

Raising the wreck would likely cost some 15 million euros and take "six to eight weeks", according to the salvage engineer who led the operation to recover the Costa Concordia cruise ship, which sank off Italy in 2012.

To recover the yacht, the mast could be removed on the seabed but the boat would be lifted up whole using a giant crane and a team of 40 specialist divers, South African engineer Nick Sloane told the Repubblica daily.

Emergency services rushed to a shopping centre after reports of a car catching on fire in an underground carpark.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued several severe weather warnings for much of Australia.

Body of British Tech Magnate Mike Lynch Is Among Those Recovered From Yacht Wreckage, Officials Say

The Italian coast guard says the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable

Salvatore Cavalli

Italian firefighter divers bring ashore in a plastic bag the body of one of the victims of a shipwreck, in Porticello, Sicily, southern Italy, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024. Divers searching the wreck of the superyacht Bayesian that sank off Sicily on Monday recovered a fifth body on Thursday and continued to search for one more as investigators sought to learn why the vessel sank so quickly. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)

PORTICELLO, Sicily (AP) — The Italian coast guard said Thursday the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch is among those recovered off the coast of Sicily from the wreckage of a superyacht whose builders had called unsinkable.

One woman remains missing. She has not been identified, but Hannah Lynch, Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, is reportedly unaccounted for . The family had been celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges with the people who defended him at trial in the United States.

Five others were recovered by rescue crews following Monday's tragedy.

The Bayesian, a 56-meter (184-foot) British-flagged yacht, went down in a storm early Monday as it was moored about a kilometer (half a mile) offshore. Civil protection officials said they believe the ship was struck by a tornado over the water, known as a waterspout , and sank quickly.

Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office investigators were collecting evidence for a criminal investigation, which they opened immediately after the tragedy despite no formal suspects having been publicly identified.

The chief executive of The Italian Sea Group, which owns the Bayesian's manufacturer, told the AP in an interview on Thursday that superyachts like these are “designed to be unsinkable."

“And it is unsinkable not only because it is designed in this way, but also because it is a sailing ship and sailing ships are the safest ever,” CEO Giovanni Costantino said.

Costantino added that “obviously they must not hit the rocks violently, discarding the hull, and they must not take in water,” suggesting the second possibility was the most likely in this case.

Costantino also noted that sailing ships require “a greater competence” to be guided compared with motor boats.

Investigators are now looking at why the Bayesian, built in 2008 by Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed . Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived by escaping in a lifeboat, including a mother who reported holding her 1-year-old baby over the waves to save her. They were rescued by the sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell.

The sailboat's captain, Karsten Borner, said his craft sustained minimal damage — the frame of a sun awning broke — even with winds that he estimated had reached 12 on the Beaufort wind scale, the highest hurricane-strength force on the scale.

He said he had remained anchored with his engines running to try to maintain the ship’s position as the forecast storm rolled in.

“Another possibility is to heave anchor before the storm and to run downwind at open sea,” Borner said in a text message. But he said that might not have been possible for the Bayesian, given its 75-meter (246-foot) tall mast.

“If there was a stability problem, caused by the extremely tall mast, it would not have been better at open sea,” he said.

Yachts like the Bayesian are required to have watertight compartments that are specifically designed to prevent a rapid, catastrophic sinking even when some parts fill with water.

Lynch is the only person confirmed dead; the other bodies have not been formally identified by the Italian coast guard.

Besides Hannah Lynch, those missing are Christopher Morvillo, one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers, and his wife, Neda; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley’s London-based investment banking subsidiary, and his wife, Judy.

The body of chef Recaldo Thomas was the first to be recovered , on Monday. His death was confirmed by his family.

Friends of Thomas, best known as “Rick,” paid tribute to him on Thursday at a favorite bar in the Caribbean Island of Antigua. Cooking for Lynch was supposed to be one of Thomas' last jobs before retiring, his cousin, David Isaac, told the AP.

Divers have struggled to find the bodies in the yacht’s hull on the seabed 50 meters (164 feet) underwater.

“We would need a crystal ball to know when we'll be able to find the next body," said Luca Cari, spokesperson for the fire rescue service.

“It's very difficult to move inside the wreckage. Moving just one meter can take up to 24 hours,” Cari said.

Copyright 2024 The  Associated Press . All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch among five bodies confirmed in Sicily yacht disaster

By: Maria Ward-Brennan

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Five bodies have been found including UK tech mogul Mike Lynch, after four days of searching following the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily.

The Bayesian yacht was carrying 22 people when it sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of Monday morning . In the hours following, 15 people were rescued, including Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares.

A body of a man, later confirmed to be boat’s chef Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday morning.

Since then, six people were uncounted for, mogul  Lynch , his 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch, Morgan Stanley International Bank chair  Jonathan Bloomer , his wife Judy and and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda.

After three days of searching, the Italian Coast Guard and Italian Fire and Rescue Services have since found five bodies inside the wreck

Two were found around 2:30pm (UK time), with a further two found about two hours later and the final body was discovered around 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday.

All five bodies were brought onshore, and identified.

On Thursday at 9am (UK time), it was revealed by Sky News that Lynch is among the dead, along with Bloomer, his wife, Morvillo and his wife Neda.

The final missing people is Lynch’s daughter, Hannah, as also reported by PA news agency.

No formal identification of the bodies has been announced by the Italian authorities.

The Italian Fire and Rescue (Vigili del Fuoco) tweeted on X on Thursday morning that the “dives into the sea had begun in the early hours of the morning and are continuing for the search and recovery of the last missing person” [Translated from Italian].

A statement from the Bloomer family on Thursday afternoon said: “We are grieving for our loved ones and all of those affected by the tragedy. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the emergency services and everyone who helped tirelessly in this rescue operation.”

“Our parents were incredible people and an inspiration to many, but first and foremost they were focused on and loved their family and spending time with their new grandchildren. Together for five decades, our only comfort is that they are still together now.”

“This is an unimaginable grief to shoulder. Our only ask is that our family’s privacy is respected at this time.”

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Chilling final moments Bayesian superyacht went down revealed as cops probe disaster

The new information is part of a probe into how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data.

• 16:33, 23 AUG 2024

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Tragic details of the chilling final 16 minutes onboard the Bayesian yacht have been released as the boat's black-box data has been analysed by cops investigating the disaster . Information from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) reveals the exact details of how the superyacht sank in a terrifying 16-minute window.

The new details have been shared as divers recovered the body of the final missing passenger from the wreck - UK teen and daughter of tycoon Mike Lynch, Hannah Lynch. An AIS tracking system sends information from onboard boats to coastal stations, alerting officials to movement and distress, reports the Mirror.

The new information is part of a probe into how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data. It shows at 3.50am on Monday, the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet Corriere reports.

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold". After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had begun to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating the waves had reached its generator or even engine room. At 4.05am the Bayesian fully disappeared underneath the waves.

An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them the vessel had sunk. Survivors and witnesses from a small nearby boat - along with official reports - initially helped piece together an account of how the disaster unfolded on Monday morning.

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People reported seeing a "tornado" - later clarified as a swirling cloud of air known as a waterspout - hit the 246ft tall mast. Officials confirmed this is what toppled the boat, causing it to capsize and take on water before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily. The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am. Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

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More details about the disaster surfaced yesterday as emergency workers revealed how the passengers tried to flee the water as it gushed onboard. Divers said the guests pulled from the wreckage fled their cabins on the right - or starboard - side of the boat and tried to "climb" to safety by heading for the left - port side - where they were found.

A source working in the investigation told the Italian outlet Corriere: "We found them all on that side. We had maps with the layout of the cabins and the positions of the guests, and that's not where we recovered them."

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