As the sun rose over the coast of Palermo, Sicily, on Monday, a superyacht, the Bayesian, met its fate, claiming one life and leaving six others missing. The vessel’s massive 72-meter mast, one of the largest among sailing yachts, played a significant role in the disaster, acting like a sail, pushing the boat hard over on its side due to the wind pressure. According to editor Sam Jefferson of Sailing Today, the combination of this factor, along with the open hatches and doors, which were likely left ajar overnight due to the sweltering temperatures the day before, allowed water to flood the ship quickly.
The Superyacht’s Tragic Convergence of Events Led to Disaster (Image via Getty)
The decision to leave the hatches and doors open may have been a critical error, as it gave the waterspout, which struck the vessel, an opportunity to wreak havoc. A tornado-like waterspout is a rare and unpredictable phenomenon, and its impact was devastating. Captain Karsten Borner of a nearby yacht witnessed the Bayesian go “flat on the water, and then down” after the waterspout hit. Salvo Cocina, of Sicily’s civil protection agency, described the incident as a result of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The exact cause of the sinking may never be fully known, but it is likely that the combination of factors led to a catastrophic series of events. The Bayesian was in the wrong place, with the wrong conditions, and the consequences were deadly. The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictability of the sea and the importance of being prepared for any eventuality.
