sailing yacht news

• AROUND THE SAILING WORLD
• BOAT OF THE YEAR
• Email Newsletters
• America’s Cup
• St. Petersburg
• Caribbean Championship
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boat Giveaway

Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta Series

Embracing popular fleets at each location, the Regatta Series features many different boat types: dinghies, multihulls, and keelboats that race under established handicap systems.

Latest News

Sailing World ’s 2024 Boat of the Year Competition

Five Boat of the Year 2024 nominees have been chosen as the defining performance sailing designs for those seeking a new ride in the new year.

Cruising Cat Racing Franco Style

The marvelous ac75s on deck, the caribbean’s hot one-design fleet, cole brauer’s voyage of influence, new extremes on the horizon, the skimming superyacht, more stories, the rise of harbor 20s in annapolis, windmills plane and simple, melges expands into florida with watersports center, winners debrief: melges 15 winter champs.

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

The latest on sailing action, races and regattas – and our pick of interesting things reverent and irreverent….

Sinking of the Bayesian Superyacht: What we know as rescue efforts enter third day

• August 21, 2024

The tragic sinking of the Bayesian superyacht off the coast of Sicily has left the…

Breaking news: One dead, six missing after sailing superyacht sinks off Sicily

• August 19, 2024

Update Tuesday 20 August: Specialist divers have, this morning launched a fresh search for the…

Ben Ainslie: “We’re a bit of a dark horse” – America’s Cup countdown

• August 16, 2024

It’s one week to go until the first races of the 37th America’s Cup in…

Google Doodle Today: Celebrating Olympic Sailing on Day 7

• August 2, 2024

Google continues honouring the Paris 2024 Olympic games on its homepage by showcasing a sailing…

WATCH: Orca yacht sinking – Sailor shares details of two-hour orca encounter which sank his yacht off Spain

• July 30, 2024

Robert Powell and his crew were five miles off the Spanish coast in 40m of…

Best Prime Day boating deals: How to save big on sailing gear

• July 16, 2024

It’s here! Amazon’s big summer sale, Prime Day 2024 is running this week (Tuesday 15th…

Crew member killed in Man Overboard incident in Aegean 600 offshore race

• July 10, 2024

The fourth edition of the Aegean 600, a relatively new 605-mile offshore race around the…

Unprecedented early season Hurricane Beryl set to hit Windward Islands: yachts evacuate

• July 1, 2024

Cruisers and other sailing yachts have been evacuating Grenada and many Caribbean islands as Hurricane…

X-Yachts XR first look: An AI approach to racing yacht design

• June 25, 2024

This model is intended as a serious return to X-Yachts’ racing DNA, following an unprecedented…

British Vendée Globe hopeful Sam Goodchild dismasted in transat race

• June 6, 2024

Sam Goodchild, one of the leading contenders for this autumn’s Vendée Globe solo around the…

Oyster Yachts announce they are back in profit with World Rally proving popular

• May 14, 2024

Oyster returned to profit in January this year and expects to make an overall profit…

Breaking barriers: How UpWind by MerConcept is aiming to usher in an offshore racing transformation

• February 13, 2024

In a newly announced move, MerConcept, the offshore sailing and sustainable tech hub in Concarneau,…

Fifteen round Cape Horn in a week! Round the world racers stream out of Southern Ocean

• February 11, 2024

Armel Le Cléac’h’s 100ft foiling trimaran Maxi Banque Populaire XI became the 15th boat to…

Rolex Sydney Hobart Race winner decided by 51 seconds

• December 27, 2023

Law Connect has won the 2023 Rolex Sydney Hobart Race line honours, after the closest…

Whale ‘pingers’ trialled to deter orcas

• December 5, 2023

A new acoustic deterrent device is to be tested in the waters off Portugal to…

Amazing rescue: Ocean 50 trimaran sails home on one float

• November 29, 2023

Luke Berry and his co-skipper Antoine Joubert were competing in the Transat Jacques Vabre on…

Slingsby and Neuschäfer crowned Sailors of the Year 2023

• November 15, 2023

The 2023 Rolex World Sailor of the Year awards were presented to Tom Slingsby and…

Transat Jacques Vabre 2023: IMOCA 60s are final fleet to start

• November 7, 2023

The Transat Jacques Vabre 2023 officially started on Sunday 29 October, but with a particularly…

‘Boat breaking’ depression disrupts Transat Jacques Vabre start

• October 30, 2023

Yesterday’s scheduled start for the Transat Jacques Vabre – the double-handed race across the Atlantic…

Cruising couple hook an unexploded bomb while at anchor!

• September 15, 2023

A Dutch cruising couple were forced to abandon their brand new anchor and chain off…

Surprise Co-helm selection for Ben Ainslie’s America’s Cup race crew this weekend

Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta Opening Press Conference

RS 400 National Championships – Groves and Parkhurst new leaders

Alinghi Red Bull Racing suffers second mast failure just two days before Preliminary Regatta

Matt Sheahan talks with Ben Ainslie prior to the first AC75 racing in Barcelona

RS 400 National Championships – Calm before the storm

Preliminary Regatta – Ainslie looking forward to first race meeting with America’s Cup rivals

RS Aero Youth Worlds – 60 competitors from seven countries compete in Marstrand

Louis Vuitton Preliminary Regatta – The first meeting of the six AC37 America’s Cup teams in their latest AC75 designs.

GBR announce two Offshore Double Handed teams for World Championship

Two teams have been selected to represent Great Britain at World Sailing’s Offshore Double Handed World Championship 2024.

2024 Roschier Baltic Sea Race – Celebrating Success of second edition

Cowes Week day 5: Classic finale on the Royal Yacht Squadron line

If Mondayday was big, well Tuesday was undoubtably bigger, and three races for day 2 of the RS400 National Championships

INEOS Britannia, the Challenger of Record in the 37th America’s Cup, has announced its race crew for the 37th America’s Cup.

GP14 World Championship – Matt Mee and Chris Robinson comfortable winners

Matt Mee and Chris Robinson are the 2024 Allen GP14 World Champions despite Tom Gillard and Andy Thompson winning the two final races

Birrell and Brearey win Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships

Christian Birrell and Sam Brearey of Parkstone SC are winners of the 2024 Aspire Merlin Rocket National Championships

World Sailing Athletes’ Committee – Five international sailors have been elected as the athlete voice

Following the conclusion of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, five international sailors have been elected to the World Sailing Athletes’ Committee

2024 International WASZP Games – Overbeck emerged victorious with the title coming down to a single point

Danish sailor Magnus Overbeck emerged victorious, clinching the 2024 International WASZP Games title by two points ahead of Norway’s Markus Berthet

GP14 World Championship – Matt Mee and Chris Robinson lead at layday break

Matt Mee and Chris Robinson are leading the GP14 World Championship taking place at the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre

Paris 2024 Olympics – Paris medallists demonstrate sailing diversity

World Sailing is celebrating a diverse Paris 2024 with more nations winning medals per event than any other Olympics this century.

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

How to improve power management on a yacht

I confess, I’m not a marine electrician, and my understanding of boat electronics is at best rudimentary, but I’ve now been managing my boat’s power generation and consumption for three…

Maiden crew’s First Mate Rachel Burgess: ‘The girls showed how tough they were’

• July 9, 2024

Jeanneau has contacted Sun Odyssey 410, 440 and 490 owners amid safety concerns

• June 25, 2024

Sailing square riggers: ‘You’re more appreciative of what sailing used to be’

New rules to mean easier cruising to France from 1 June 2024

• June 3, 2024

Orcas ‘attack’ and sink a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar

• May 14, 2024

How to prepare for your Yachtmaster Offshore exam

How to avoid this collision in fog while sailing a yacht?

Sail more with J-Boats

A magical cruising ground just a stone’s throw from France

Golden globe race.

Jeremy Bagshaw on his 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

Michael Guggenberger on his 2022-223 Golden Globe Race

Abhilash Tomy on his 2022-23 Golden Globe Race

Visiting the D-Day Normandy Beaches by boat

‘We passed no living creature apart from three cows and a lone sheep’

10 hidden must-see destinations on the West Coast of Scotland

Cruising life.

Scandinavia’s largest regatta: ‘More like a cruising rally than a race’

Sailing across the Irish Sea: ‘We had never seen such evocative scenery’

CLOSING SOON: Coppercoat Brian Black Memorial Award 2024 with £4,000 up for grabs

A grudging feeling of gratitude to our awful water companies

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

• CLASSIFIEDS
• NEWSLETTERS
• SUBMIT NEWS

Boats for sale

Advertisement

Supported by

A Waterspout Was Seen When a Luxury Yacht Sank. What Is It?

Witnesses reported seeing the tornado-like phenomenon hit the Bayesian, a sailing yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

• Share full article

By Eve Sampson

What caused the sinking on Monday of a sailing yacht carrying the British billionaire Mike Lynch and 21 other people off the coast of Sicily is still unknown. But some attention has focused on observations by witnesses, who described seeing a small tornado-like column known as a waterspout forming over the water during an abrupt and violent storm as the vessel sank.

Fifteen passengers on the 180-foot yacht, the Bayesian, escaped on a raft before being rescued by a neighboring cruise ship. The body of the ship’s cook was recovered on Monday and six people remain unaccounted for , including Mr. Lynch and his daughter Hannah, according to officials with Sicily’s civil protection agency.

Prosecutors in the nearby city of Termini Imerese have opened an inquiry into the cause of the sinking.

Here is what to know about waterspouts, a surprisingly common weather phenomenon that may have helped sink the luxury yacht.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts are columns of spinning air and moisture — similar to tornadoes over water, according to the National Weather Service .

While some form in fair weather, and are aptly called fair weather waterspouts, another more dangerous variety called tornadic waterspouts develops downward from a thunderstorm. These tornadic waterspouts can either form as regular tornadoes over land and move out to sea, or form in a storm already over a large body of water, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association .

Fair weather waterspouts are weak, often dissipate quickly and do not cause major damage, according to the agencies, but tornadic waterspouts are more often associated with high winds, dangerous and frequent lightning, and hail. The Italian authorities recorded strong winds and intense lightning activity at the time the yacht went down.

How common are waterspouts?

Experts say waterspouts may be more common than tornadoes, but because oceans are so vast, they are more difficult to track — and as difficult to predict.

“The Mediterranean is possibly one of the places where waterspouts are most likely around the world due to the warm ocean surface and a climate that is very susceptible to thunderstorms throughout the summer and autumn,” according to a statement by Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Inness pointed to a 2022 study by scientists from University of Barcelona , which found that waterspouts occurred more frequently over warmer sea surfaces. The North Atlantic ocean has been unusually hot for over a year, repeatedly reaching record highs for the time of year , according to data from the oceanic association.

The International Centre for Waterspout Research on Monday said on X , the platform formerly known as Twitter, that it had confirmed 18 waterspouts near Italy in recent days, and several fishermen in the area of the accident told Italian media that they had witnessed a waterspout near the yacht.

What may have happened?

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby boat that rescued the 15 passengers, said in an interview that he saw the Bayesian about 490 feet away before the wind and lightning picked up.

While it was difficult to see what happened amid the storm, “my theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” he said.

Towering over 237 feet tall, the Bayesian mast was one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world and it also had a special keel that could be raised or lowered, according to its manufacturer, Perini Navi. A keel is the downward-extending centerline underneath a boat that can help stabilize the vessel.

“In this case, having a tall aluminum mast would not make it the safest port to be in case of a storm,” said Andrea Ratti, associate professor of nautical design and architecture technology the Politecnico di Milano.

He added that “a lot of questions will remain until we have other elements at our disposal.”

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting.

Eve Sampson is a reporter covering international news and a member of the 2024-25 Times Fellowship class, a program for journalists early in their careers. More about Eve Sampson

Watch CBS News

Luxury yacht sinks off Sicily, leaving U.K. tech magnate Mike Lynch, 2 Americans among those missing

By Anna Matranga

Updated on: August 20, 2024 / 7:47 PM EDT / CBS News

Rome  — Six people, including two U.S. nationals, a British technology entrepreneur and one of his daughters, were still missing Tuesday after a large luxury sailing yacht sank off the coast of the southern Italian island of Sicily during a violent storm. The 184-foot Bayesian had been anchored about half a mile off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, with 22 people on board — 10 crew members and 12 passengers.

The vessel sank at about 5 a.m. local time (11 p.m. Eastern, Sunday) after being hit by a possible waterspout spawned by the storm. Italian media said the winds snapped the boat's single mast, unbalancing the vessel and causing it to capsize.

Fifteen of those on board managed to escape the yacht and were rescued by a Dutch-flagged vessel that was anchored in the immediate vicinity. They were brought ashore by Italian Coast Guard and firefighters.

One body — an unidentified male — was recovered, but six people remained missing, including British software magnate Mike Lynch, once described as Britain's Bill Gates. 

Lynch was acquitted in June of fraud charges in the U.S. that could have landed him with a decades-long prison sentence. In an unusual twist, Lynch's co-defendant in that fraud case, who was also acquitted, died Saturday after being hit by a car while out jogging in England.

Lynch's teenage daughter Hannah was also among those missing, along with Lynch's American lawyer Chris Morvillo, a former assistant district attorney in New York, and his wife Neda. British banker Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, was also still missing Tuesday.

Among the survivors was a 1-year-old British girl who was being treated at a nearby hospital along with her parents. They were doing well, according to Italian media.

"For two seconds I lost my child to the sea, then I immediately was able to grab her again in the fury of the waves," the girl's mother, identified only as Charlotte, was quoted as saying by Italy's ANSA news agency. "I held on to her tightly in the stormy sea. Many were screaming. Luckily the life raft opened up and 11 of us managed to get aboard."

"It was terrible," she told ANSA. "In just a few minutes the boat was hit by a very strong wind, and sunk soon thereafter."

Karsten Borner, the captain of the Dutch vessel that came to the rescue, told ANSA he had been anchored near the Bayesian.

"When the storm was over we noticed that the ship behind us was gone, and then we saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position and we found this life raft drifting, and in the life raft was also a little baby and the wife of the owner."

Recovery efforts were back underway Tuesday, with speedboats, helicopters and divers continuing to search for the missing — as well as for answers, as to how a state-of-the-art superyacht could disappear in a flash. 

According to Italian media, Fire Brigade divers reached the boat and saw bodies trapped inside some of the cabins, but they had been unable to recover any of the victims from inside the vessel by Tuesday, due to obstructions. The Bayesian appeared to have sunk in an area with a depth of about 160 feet.

Witnesses said the boat sank quickly. 

"I was at home when the tornado hit," fisherman Pietro Asciutto told a local news outlet. "I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very large. I suddenly saw it sink... The boat was still floating, then suddenly it disappeared. I saw it sink with my own eyes."

The director-general of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, confirmed to CBS News partner BBC News  that three of the six people still missing Monday were British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, whose company Autonomy Corporation PLC was acquired in 2011 by HP ; one of his daughters, Hannah Lynch, who is believed to be 18; and the boat's chef, Ricardo Thomas.

CBS News has seen corporate documentation showing a company called Revtom, solely owned by Lynch's wife Angela Bacares, who was among those rescued from the accident, as the owner of the yacht that capsized off Sicily. 

While the yacht was a privately owned pleasure boat, the waters around the island have claimed many lives over the last decade.

Dozens of migrants have died attempting to reach Sicily and smaller Italian islands in the region. Sicily sits only about 100 miles from the east coast of Tunisia in north Africa, and the Mediterranean crossing has been a frequent site of both nautical rescues and disasters as smugglers routinely send small boats overloaded with desperate people into the sea.

CBS News' Chris Livesay in Rome and Joanne Stocker in London contributed to this report.

Joanne Stocker and Alex Sundby contributed to this report.

• Boat Accident

More from CBS News

What to know about Mike Lynch, the tycoon missing from sunken yacht

Russia says dozens of Ukrainian drones shot down in biggest attack yet

Bus carrying pilgrims crashes in Iran, killing at least 28 people

Volcano erupts in Russia after powerful magnitude-7.0 earthquake

Morgan Stanley Chief Jonathan Bloomer Also On Sunken Bayesian Yacht With Michael Lynch

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

The chairman of Morgan Stanley International was reportedly among the six missing people—including UK tech mogul Michael Lynch— after the 184-foot luxury sailing yacht Bayesian sank in rough seas near Sicily early Monday morning, according to new reports.

Italian emergency services headed out to sea towards the area off the Sicilian coast on Tuesday, ... [+] Aug. 20, 2024.

Lynch , a British tech entrepreneur and one-time billionaire, and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah Lynch are confirmed to be among those still missing after the ship sank (his wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued).

Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of the Morgan Stanley International bank and insurance company Hiscox, is also reportedly among the missing along with his wife, Judy.

Authorities on Monday told the BBC the missing people are presumed to still be inside the boat, and rescue operations resumed Tuesday morning.

The vessel had 22 people on board — 10 crew and 12 passengers — including people from the United States, Britain and Canada, when it overturned at around 5 a.m. Monday, according to the Italian coast guard.

Fifteen people were rescued from the vessel (including a 1-year-old girl), one person was found dead and six, including two Americans , remain missing, according to multiple reports.

Local media reported the person who died was a member of the crew, thought to be the yacht’s chef .

Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here : joinsubtext.com/forbes.

Who Are The Missing People Aboard The Bayesian Yacht?

Lynch, 59, and his daughter were the first to be reported as among the missing. Lynch's lawyer Chris Morvillo, a former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, has also not been found, nor has his wife and jewelry designer Neda Morvillo. Bloomer, 70, a close friend of Lynch's, is also missing along with his wife, Judy.

Key Background

The Bayesian was anchored near the port of Porticello overnight Sunday when a harsh storm hit the coast that included a " waterspout ," a tornado-like swirling column of air and water. The ship tipped over and quickly was drug underwater by its massive mast —it had the tallest aluminum mast in the world at 246 feet. Of the 15 people rescued in the aftermath, eight were treated at a local hospital.

Lynch was acquitted in a fraud trial in June after he was accused by Hewlett-Packard of artificially inflating the value of Autonomy before HP bought it for more than $11 billion in 2011. HP wrote off $8.8 million of Autonomy's value within a year of buying the company. Today, The Times estimates Lynch has a net worth of £500 million. He "had a lot of pride" in his yacht, a member of his staff told the U.K. paper, and business filings show the boat is legally owned by his wife, Bacares.

Surprising Fact: Lynch's Co-Defendant Stephen Chamberlain Died The Same Weekend

Stephen Chamberlain, who was acquitted in the same trial as Lynch in June, died hours after news broke of Lynch's disappearance. Chamberlain was hit by a car while jogging in England on Saturday morning and was put on life support before his death was announced late Monday, the Guardian reported . Lynch and Chamberlain were both indicted for conspiracy and wire fraud in the sale of Autonomy to HP before being acquitted.

What To Watch For

An ongoing search operation includes divers attempting to search the vessel, now sitting 160 feet below sea level, as well as rescue boats and helicopters, according to CNN .

$215,000. That's the cost to charter the Bayesian, a single-mast sailing vessel, for one week .

Crucial Quote

“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,” Dr. Domenico Cipolla, head of the emergency room at the pediatric hospital in Palermo, Italy, told The Times . “Some of them immediately managed to get onto the lifeboat. And some, evidently, didn’t make it.”

Further Reading

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

The biggest news stories that shaped the yachting industry in 2023

2023 was a busy year for the yachting sector, with new launches sailing out of the construction sheds and innovations in the path towards more sustainable yachting really taking shape this year. BOAT looks back at the top news stories you may have missed...

Oceanco completes first-of-its-kind rebuild of H3

Dutch shipyard Oceanco made waves with the never-before-seen rebuild of H3 . Formerly the 95-metre Indian Empress , the rebuild saw the yacht extended, restyled and completely transformed from the hull up. The yacht’s completely modern new look and the scope of the work involved was revealed for the first time in the November 2023 edition of BOAT International .

More about this yacht

Savannah hits the market.

Feadship 's 2015-built 83.5-metre Savannah , one of the most iconic yachts in the fleet, was officially announced for sale in September with Edmiston . The yacht is famous for her glossy metallic silhouette and long list of amenities, including a semi-submerged Neptune lounge and an intimate dance room in the bow. Her asking price is undisclosed. 

Yachts for charter

Lammouche and obsidian pioneer use of biofuel.

The 44-metre Sanlorenzo yacht Lammouche marked one of the first yachts to trial HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) in a high-profile experiment that saw the yacht take delivery of 15,000 litres of HVO. Later in the year, it was announced that the brand new 84.2-metre Feadship yacht Obsidian was also switching to biofuel in her generators, making her the first new yacht to trial the alternative fuel source.

US Justice Department seeks to take ownership of 106m Amadea

The saga of arrested Russian yachts continued with 106-metre Amadea this year, when the US Department of Justice filed a civil forfeiture complaint that would allow the yacht's ownership to be transferred to US authorities. It came after the yacht was arrested in Fiji and moved to US territory last year. She remains caught in a battle between her owner and the authorities, prompting questions over what will happen to other allegedly Russian-owned superyachts. 

The world’s first fuel-cell superyacht hits the water

German shipbuilding giant Lürssen marked a significant milestone in the path towards sustainable yachting with the launch of 114.2-metre Project Cosmos, the first superyacht fitted with fuel cell technology. Once complete, the yacht will be able to create electricity to power its propulsion through a chemical reaction instead of combustion. The yacht has a huge float-in tender well – similar to the one on Octopus – and her exterior design is by Australian industrialist designer Marc Newson , who also designed the Apple Watch.

Jeff Bezos takes delivery of two yachts

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos made international headlines when he took delivery of his superyacht earlier in 2023 (with no bridge dismantling). The 125.9-metre Koru (a word meaning new life, growth and peace in Māori culture) is now the largest sailing yacht in the world (excluding Sailing Yacht A ), as well as the flagship yacht of the Oceanco fleet. The classically-styled schooner was a radical departure from the modern, stealthy-looking superyacht that was expected from the billionaire, with Lateral Naval Architects and Dykstra Naval Architects taking care of her naval architecture and old-school look. Koru is shadowed by the 75-metre Abeona from Damen Yachting .  

93m Mayan Queen rescues migrants from sinking boat

When a migrant boat capsized off Greece's southern Peloponnese peninsula, the 93.5-metre Mayan Queen IV was quick to step in to rescue survivors from the water. Around 100 people were brought to shore and treated for their injuries, although authorities reported at least 78 people drowned in the incident.

€330M Ahpo becomes one of the biggest brokerage deals in history

The 115.1-metre Lürssen superyacht Ahpo changed hands just three months after coming to market. Moran Yacht & Ship represented both parties in the deal, which is believed to be the biggest sale in yachting history. Delivered in 2021, the yacht was asking €330,000,000 at the time of her sale, and was supremely private when she launched. Her new name, Lady Jorgia , was announced during the sale, but is yet to be implemented.

The OceanGate submersible implosion sparks commentary from the industry

The impact of the OceanGate submersible, which imploded in June on a descent to the Titanic killing all five passengers, was felt across the industry. Patrick Lahey, co-founder of Triton Submarines, said he tried to convince his long-time friend and Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who was killed in the incident, not to dive with OceanGate. "I tried to do everything I could to discourage him from going out there. I know many people that knew him did the same thing," he said. Rob McCallum, co-founder of EYOS Expeditions, agreed, recalling a dinner with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush when "I told him in no uncertain terms that he was doing the wrong thing."

Two arrested following vandalism of Kaos

Two people were arrested following the deliberate vandalism of 110-metre Kaos while she was docked in the Balearic islands. A video posted on social media shows two climate activists spray painting the yacht’s stern until port authorities intervened. Kaos sustained no lasting damage, but the incident sent shockwaves through the industry, along with concerns about incidents like these becoming more commonplace.

Abeking & Rasmussen crowns new flagship

One of the most exciting yachts to be delivered in 2023 was Liva O , Abeking ’s new flagship. At 118.2 metres, the inky black yacht underwent specialised laser welding to create her smooth, unbroken, high-gloss finish. Her designer described her as a “monolith” on the water.

Kismet finds new owner and is renamed Whisper

After changing central agencies, the 95-metre Kismet sold in just three months in a deal between Cecil Wright & Partners and Christie Yachts . She was asking €149,000,000 at the time of her sale and has now been renamed Whisper . She was famously built for Shahid Khan, a Pakistani-American businessman and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, and his new yacht, still known as Project Jag , is moving closer to completion.

Kalizma comes under fire

The 50.2-metre superyacht Kalizma came under heavy fire in the Gulf of Aden, with pictures shared with BOAT International showing heavy bullet damage to the interior and exterior of the yacht. The incident was described as a pirate attack by eyewitnesses on board the boat, but a statement by officials claimed the “pirates” were actually Yemeni Coastguard vessels.

Fraser gets new CEO

Anders Kurtén was appointed CEO of leading brokerage firm Fraser in August.  The former CEO of Finnish shipyard Baltic Yachts brings 25 years of experience to his new role.

Sponsored listings

Scramble to find survivors after Bayesian yacht sinks off Sicily coast

A rescue operation is ongoing for 6 missing people, including british entrepreneur mike lynch. an american was also among the missing..

One person died and six people were missing after a luxury yacht sank Monday in Italy off the coast of Palermo, the capital of Sicily, after a sudden storm hit the area, according to Italy's coast guard.

The Bayesian, a 184-feet-long, British-registered sailboat, went down just before sunrise, capsizing its 22 passengers and killing one man, the ship's cook, t he coast guard said in a statement. On Monday, rescue teams identified the body as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

Of the 15 passengers rescued, eight were taken to a local hospital for treatment and were in stable condition, local news reported. A 1-year-old was among those rescued.

"We are providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily and are in contact with the local authorities," the U.K Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in a statement emailed to USA TODAY.

The people missing were American, British, and Canadian nationals.

What caused the Bayesian to sink?

The ship sank after unexpectedly strong storms recently dumped heavy rainfall, causing flooding and landslides, in parts of the country. Among those missing are British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and his daughter, a person familiar with the rescue operation told Reuters.

Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance who represented Lynch in a  U.S. trial , were among the missing. The wives of both men were also unaccounted for, said Salvatore Cocina, head of civil protection in Sicily.

"The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel," he told Reuters.

The yacht was owned by Lynch's family and had 22 people on board when it sank just before sunrise. The captain of a nearby ship told Reuters his crew rescued some survivors from a life raft, including three seriously injured.

"We managed to keep the ship in position and after the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone," Karsten Borner said. The other boat "went flat on the water, and then down," he said.

"A little baby and the wife of the owner" were rescued, while the ship's owner and a child were missing, he said.

The boat was located 160 feet under the water and divers were deployed to inspect the wreck, according to the coast guard.

The search-and-rescue operation continued on Monday morning, a Reuters live feed showed . A helicopter and four coast guard ships were at the scene on Monday morning, according to the coast guard.

Bayesian had set sail off Amalfi Coast in July

Prosecutors in a nearby town have opened an investigation into the events leading up to the ship sinking.

The Bayesian set off for Palermo from Positano, a village on Italy's southern Amalfi Coast, on July 30, according to marinetraffic.com . It last docked in the town of Milazzo, in Messina, on Wednesday, according to VesselFinder.

The ship has the tallest aluminum mast in the world, according to Perini Navi , its manufacturer. It was built in 2008.

Contributing: Reuters

• Work & Careers
• Life & Arts

Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE

• Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE on x (opens in a new window)
• Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE on facebook (opens in a new window)
• Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE on linkedin (opens in a new window)
• Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko berths superyacht in UAE on whatsapp (opens in a new window)

Simeon Kerr in Ras al-Khaimah

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

Investigators around the world have been searching for sanctions-hit Russian oligarchs’ yachts. One has been hiding in plain sight.

Italian authorities in March impounded Russian coal and fertilisers magnate Andrey Melnichenko’s $600mn Sailing Yacht A after Russia invaded Ukraine. Another yacht, the $300mn Philippe Starck-designed Motor Yacht A, has been anchored for weeks in the port of Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates.

By placing his yacht in the UAE, Melnichenko has put it beyond the reach of western governments enforcing sanctions on those deemed supportive of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine.

Its presence is a symbolic reminder of the Gulf monarchy’s ambivalence towards western sanctions on Russia, allies of Putin and the wealthy businessmen who have often benefited from ties to the state.

While the UAE government is trying to enhance measures against money laundering to exit a global dirty-money watchdog’s watchlist, the economic foundation of cities such as Dubai has long been based on welcoming flows of assets and people.

“Given its non-enforcement of western sanctions, the dilemma for the UAE is how to sustain its place as an open destination for capital while also appearing to be a good global citizen,” said one compliance professional. “It’s a tricky balancing act.”

The government of the Isle of Man said it had in March deregistered Melnichenko’s yachts, including Motor Yacht A, because of western sanctions, saying, “we will continue to act with appropriate robustness should the situation warrant it”.

Marine locator services placed Motor Yacht A off the Maldives in March. The Financial Times then saw the yacht on April 18. On Saturday it remained moored opposite Ras al-Khaimah’s city-centre fish market.

Businessmen in the UAE say Melnichenko, who denies affiliations to the Kremlin, held meetings there in April, but the tycoon has since returned to Moscow. A representative of Melnichenko, who has been placed under sanctions by the EU and UK as well as Switzerland and Australia, referred questions on the yacht to a lawyer who declined to comment.

UAE authorities in Dubai, Ras al-Khaimah and Abu Dhabi declined to comment.

European officials say they have raised concerns with Emirati counterparts that the UAE could become a financial haven for Russians placed under western sanctions. “We don’t want our allies to become facilitators for the Putin regime,” said one.

The UAE government has said it is maintaining a neutral course through the war, calling for an end to hostilities and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Abu Dhabi, which has developed closer ties with Moscow in recent years, has also assured its allies that sanctions-hit entities will not be able to operate in the UAE. The Gulf monarchy, which has long argued that it is not compelled to enforce other nations’ sanctions, is keen to maintain its historical role as an apolitical territory focused on business.

Thousands of wealthy, non-sanctions-hit Russians have relocated to the UAE to escape economic uncertainty and political instability at home, even though they sometimes struggle to access the financial system. “Big banks are more cautious but smaller banks are offering help to those wishing to relocate. It’s just taking a lot of time,” said a Russian businessman.

Very wealthy Russians generally find financial institutions accommodating. Most of the wealthy elite have second passports from countries that sell nationality, such as Malta or Portugal, which facilitates the opening of new accounts with lenders that are warier of Russian passport holders.

Others have turned to alternative routes, such as cryptocurrencies and hawala, or informal money exchange services. The cost of this service has risen from 1 per cent of the transaction value to 5 per cent since the war broke out as demand surges, said one person aware of the trades.

Many in the UAE see a hypocrisy in western concern over the presence of the yacht and the Russians building new lives there. “So it was OK for London to take all the oligarch money but not for Dubai?” asked one lawyer.

Additional reporting by Nastassia Astrasheuskaya in Riga

Promoted Content

Follow the topics in this article.

• War in Ukraine Add to myFT
• Financials Add to myFT
• Russian business & finance Add to myFT
• Government of Russia Add to myFT
• United Arab Emirates Add to myFT

Comments have not been enabled for this article.

Superyacht sinks latest: Underwater drone deployed to sunken yacht as families cling to air pocket theory

Search efforts have entered a third day for six tourists missing after a yacht sank off the coast of Sicily. Experts hope air pockets may offer a chance of survival, while divers have warned a "world of objects" stand in their way. Listen to a Daily podcast on the search as you scroll.

Wednesday 21 August 2024 13:35, UK

• Superyacht sinking
• Search for six missing people enters third day after superyacht sinks off Sicily
• Advanced underwater drone deployed
• Missing's brother hopes air pockets offer chance for survival
• 'World of objects' stand in way of divers - as strategy formed
• Watch: CCTV captures yacht seconds before it sinks
• Six missing - including tech boss, Morgan Stanley executive and top lawyer
• Explained: What causes waterspouts? | Inside the superyacht
• Listen to the Daily podcast above and tap here to follow wherever you get your podcasts
• Live reporting by Brad Young  and Henry Vaughan

The yacht's captain was questioned for more than two hours by prosecutors who have opened an investigation into the shipwreck, according to reports

James Cutfield, 51,  who is from New Zealand, was quizzed until late yesterday evening to help reconstruct what happened and provide useful technical details, reports the Italian news agency ANSA.

His brother Mark earlier told the New Zealand Herald he was a "very good sailor" and "very well respected" in the Mediterranean. 

Magistrates are said to be also questioning the survivors inside the Domina Zagarella hotel in Santa Flavia, where they are staying. 

Divers who took part in rescue missions during the Costa Concordia cruise ship tragedy have arrived in Porticello to aide the search for the six missing Bayesian tourists, reports Giornale Di Sicilia

Their expertise has been called upon to help open and inspect passenger cabins, where the tourists were thought to be trapped by furniture and other objects on board the yacht.

More than 4,000 passengers and crew were onboard the Costa Concordia when it struck rocks in January 2012, causing a 70-metre gash that allowed water to pour in.

The ship eventually capsized and came to rest on its side at a location known as Seagull Point, just outside the harbour on the island of Giglio, Italy.

Some 32 people died and 157 passengers suffered from post-traumatic stress.

The search for the six people still missing still feels like a rescue operation rather than a salvage operation, former Royal Navy submarine captain Ryan Ramsey tells Sky News.

He describes the "incredible pressure" at the site of the wreck, nearly 50m underwater, with the dark and cold further hampering the work of the divers.

"It's very risky," he says and believes the operation is moving into a different stage because the short spells by dive teams are not working.

Underwater drones have now been deployed (see post at 11.37am), which Mr Ramsey describes as "amazing pieces of technology".

He says while air pockets still provide hope that more survivors will be found the "build up of carbon dioxide that you're breathing out will eventually kill you". 

Images show boats carrying search and rescue crews returning to Porticello Harbour. 

Divers and underwater drones have been searching for the six missing people this morning. 

Meanwhile, a new picture of the Bayesian superyacht that sank on Monday has also emerged.

Another of the 15 survivors has been confirmed as Dutch national Tjis Koopmans.

Mr Koopmans, pictured in a white shirt leaving the coastguard headquarters on Monday, is thought to have been a member of the crew.

The yacht was carrying 10 crew members and 12 passengers when it capsized.

One crew member was confirmed dead: Chef Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan national.

Six passengers remain missing.

Divers have reached the area where the cabins are located, according to reports.

The spaces inside the ship are extremely narrow and difficult to manoeuvre within, Italian news outlet Corriere Della Sera said.

Objects floating in the water have made it "difficult to fully explore the cabins".

As such, there is no news as of yet on the missing tourists, who are thought to be inside the cabins, the media site reported.

Solo round-the-world yachtsman Tony Bullimore survived for four days by sheltering in an air pocket when his vessel capsized in the Southern Ocean in 1997.

His yacht, the Global Exide Challenger, was one of two to capsize in rough seas about 900 miles from Antarctica and 1,400 miles from the Australian coast during the Vendee Globe race.

He survived for four days in an air pocket inside the upturned hull with just a bar of chocolate and some fresh water for sustenance.

Experts have speculated air pockets could have formed as the Bayesian superyacht sank during a storm off the coast of Sicily (see post at 6.30am).

Mr Bullimore swam out from underneath the vessel after crewmen from the Australian Navy frigate HMAS Adelaide banged on the hull.

The former Royal Marine, who died in 2018 aged 79, suffered mild hypothermia, a fractured tooth, abrasions to his hands, frostbite on his forehead and fingertips, and moderate dehydration.

An upgraded underwater drone has been deployed at the site of the wreckage.

Earlier, the Italian coast guard reported it was using a drone with a two-hour underwater capability on the seabed, 50m deep.

The new robot can stay underwater for six to seven hours at a depth of 300m.

By comparison, divers who can only remained submerged at that depth for around 12 minutes.

The drone can record detailed videos and images, and will be used to reconstruct the accident for the Italian public prosecutor's office.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) has arrived in Porticello, where they are expected to look at the site where the yacht sank. 

They will carry out a "preliminary assessment" today, after arriving yesterday, PA reports.

They are looking into the incident because the Bayesian was flying a British flag - but the Italian Coastguard said the MAIB was not involved in the search and that it did not request assistance.

Spokesman Vincenzo Zagarola said: "Even if they come... the searches are carried out by the Italian authorities. Initiative [was] not requested by us."

A remote-controlled underwater vehicle (ROV) is being used to help with the search for the missing.

The depth of the wreck means divers can only spend around 12-minutes underwater - some of which is used just to descend or ascend.

They are also being hampered by the amount of furniture and other debris in the boat. 

The ROV, however, is capable of operating on the seabed autonomously for more than two hours, according to the  Italian Coast Guard.

Marine investigator James Wilkes earlier told Sky News (see 9.15am post) the vehicle will be able to scan the wreck and use CCTV to find an access point. 

This will make diving and the recovery of any bodies that may be in the yacht much safer for the dive teams.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Who was onboard tech mogul Mike Lynch's Bayesian yacht?

Topic: Disasters, Accidents and Emergency Incidents

Six people are missing, including a man dubbed the British Bill Gates, after a luxury yacht sank off the Sicilian coast.

British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch — freshly acquitted from a decade-long trial — had invited his work colleagues aboard a trip through the Mediterranean coast when a freak storm saw the yacht sink within moments.

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking vessel. The search for the missing continues.

Here's what we know so far: 

What happened?

The Italian coastguard said the yacht — the Bayesian — was anchored off the shore of port city Porticello, near the Sicilian capital Palermo, when it was hit by bad weather sometime after 4am on Monday, local time. 

Eyewitnesses said it vanished quickly beneath the waves shortly before dawn.

Managers of the sailing vessel Bayesian, Camper & Nicholsons, confirmed to the ABC that the Bayesian encountered severe weather and subsequently sank. 

"Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew," they said. 

"The wind was very strong. Bad weather was expected, but not of this magnitude," a coastguard official told Reuters.

Sicily's civil protection agency head, Salvo Cocina, said a waterspout — a tornado over the water — could have struck the yacht.

"They were in the wrong place at the wrong time," Mr Cocina added. 

Storms and heavy rainfall had swept down Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat, lifting the temperature of the Mediterranean Sea to record levels and raising the risk of extreme weather conditions, experts told Reuters.

"The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius, which is almost 3 degrees more than normal. This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms," meteorologist Luca Mercalli said.

Rescuers recover the body of one of the people aboard the Bayesian.  ( AP: Lucio Ganci )

Captain Karsten Borner of the Sir Robert Baden Powell vessel told journalists he noticed the Bayesian nearby during the storm, but after it calmed he saw a red flare and realised the ship had simply disappeared.

Mr Borner said he and a crew member boarded their tender and found a lifeboat with 15 people, some of them injured, who they then took aboard and alerted the coast guard.

Search crews, including helicopters and divers, are continuing to search the wreckage, lying at a depth of 49 metres.

Specialist divers reached the ship on Monday but access was limited due to objects in the way, the fire brigade said.

The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch is deploying a team of four inspectors to Italy to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development office said it was "providing consular support to a number of British nationals and their families".

Sicilian prosecutors have also opened an investigation into the event. 

Who is missing?

Lawyer Chris Morvillo (left), entrepreneur Mike Lynch, and Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer are among the missing. 

There were 12 passengers and 10 crew members aboard the yacht. 

Mr Cocina said the crew and passengers hailed from a variety of countries, including Britain, the United States, Antigua, France, Germany, Ireland, Myanmar, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain.

Of the 22, one man is confirmed dead and another six people are still missing. 

They are believed to be inside the hull, fire rescue spokesperson Luca Cari said.

Fabio Cefalù, a fisherman who said he responded to a flare from the vessel but found it sunk, said he stayed at the site for three hours without finding anyone.

"I think they are inside, all the missing people," he said.

Rescue teams recovered the body of the yacht's onboard chef on Monday, identified as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

The still missing people include: 

• Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah 
• Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of global financial services company Morgan Stanley International
• Chris Morvillo , a lawyer at the British multinational law firm Clifford Chance. He worked on Mr Lynch's lawsuit against Hewlett-Packard
• The identities of the remaining two missing are still unconfirmed

Who was rescued? 

Fifteen people escaped from the sinking ship. 

Eight have been hospitalised and others were taken to a nearby hotel.

Charlotte Golunski was among those rescued, recalling the harrowing moments she held her child Sofia above the waves.  ( Supplied: Facebook  )

Among those rescued were:

• Mr Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was the owner of the yacht
• Charlotte Golunski and her one-year-old daughter, Sofia. Ms Golunski is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm, Invoke Capital. She says she momentarily lost hold of Sofia in the water but managed to hold her up above the waves until the lifeboat was inflated
• Ms Golunski's husband James Emslie
• New Zealand captain of the yacht James Catfield. He told Italian newspaper La Repubblica the crew didn't see the storm coming
• A lone Dutch citizen was identified by the Dutch foreign ministry as being rescued, but was not identified

Who is Mike Lynch?

Mr Lynch, once hailed as Britain’s king of technology, was recently freed from a Silicon Valley lawsuit that tarnished his legacy. 

The 59-year-old Cambridge-educated mathematician created Autonomy , a search engine that could pore through emails and other internal business documents to help companies find vital information more quickly. 

He received the OBE for his innovation in 2006. 

He then sold the software to Hewlett-Packard (HP) for $US11 billion ($16 billion) in 2011, with Mr Lynch personally netting $US800 million. 

HP valued Autonomy at $US46 billion ($68 billion) in the months leading up to the deal.

Mike Lynch in 2019 leaving the High Court in London.  ( Reuters: Henry Nicholls/File Photo )

But the deal quickly turned sour after he was accused of forging the software's financial records to make the sale.

As part of a decades-long legal battle against HP, Mr Lynch was extradited to the UK on criminal fraud charges. 

He steadfastly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that he was being made a scapegoat for HP's own bungling. 

He was eventually cleared of all charges in June this year. 

Although he avoided a possible prison sentence, Lynch still faced a bill from a civil case in London that HP mostly won during 2022. Damages haven't been determined in that case, but HP is seeking $US4 billion. 

Following the San Francisco trial, Mr Lynch said he would return to the UK and do what he loved most: "[being with] my family and innovating in my field."

The holiday appeared to be something of a celebration after Mr Lynch's acquittal, with guests including some of the people who had stood by Lynch throughout the ordeal.

This picture shows the rescue operations off the Sicilian coast.  ( AP: Italian Coast Guard  )

In a separate act of tragedy, Mr Lynch's co-defendant in the trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died on Monday, after a road accident left him critically injured.

Mr Chamberlain — Autonomy's former vice-president of finance alongside Mr Lynch — was hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday morning and had been placed on life support. 

What is the Bayesian?

The luxury yacht is 56m long sailboat, with a 75m mast labelled as the tallest aluminium mast in the world.

It was previously named Salute when it flew under a Dutch flag.

The yacht, built in 2008 by the Italian firm Perini Navi, can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites and a crew of 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. It was last refitted in 2020.

Online charter sites listed it for rent for up to 195,000 euros (about $AU 321,000) a week. 

This picture taken on Sunday shows the Bayesian (left) and the Duch sailboat Sir Robert Baden Powell anchored off the coast line.   ( AP: Fabio La Bianca/Baia Santa Nicolicchia )

The ship also won a string of awards for its design. 

Ms Golunski said the yacht had travelled through the Aeolian Islands, Milazzo and Cefalù before sinking. 

It is likely the yacht's name would resonate with Mr Lynch because his PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on Bayesian theory.

Video shows luxury yacht sinking near Sicily as search for missing continues

Rescue crews are racing to find six missing people after a luxury yacht with 22 people onboard sank 160 feet down to the sea floor off the coast of italy during a violent storm., august 21, 2024, what’s next for russia, what comes next after texas school shooting, what's next for abortion rights in america, the new battle for voting rights, how we can build a clean and renewable future, the fight for kyiv, examining extremism in the military, gun violence: an american epidemic, border crisis: what’s happening at the us-mexico border, remembering george floyd: a year of protest, the source of covid-19: what we know, how did the gamestop stock spike on wall street happen, why are people hesitant to trust a covid-19 vaccine, how climate change and forest management make wildfires harder to contain, disparity in police response: black lives matter protests and capitol riot, 2020 in review: a year unlike any other, examined: how putin keeps power, why don’t the electoral college and popular vote always match up, us crosses 250,000 coronavirus deaths, 2nd impeachment trial: what this could mean for trump, presidential transition of power: examined, how donald trump spent his last days as president, how joe biden's inauguration will be different from previous years, belarus’ ongoing protests: examined, trump challenges the vote and takes legal action, 2020’s dnc and rnc are different than any before, what is happening with the usps, voting in 2020 during covid-19, disinformation in 2020, abc news specials on, impact x nightline: on the brink, impact x nightline: unboxing shein, the lady bird diaries, impact x nightline: it's britney, impact x nightline: natalee holloway -- a killer confesses, impact x nightline: who shot tupac, impact x nightline, power trip: those who seek power and those who chase them, the murders before the marathon, the ivana trump story: the first wife, mormon no more, leave no trace: a hidden history of the boy scouts, keeper of the ashes: the oklahoma girl scout murders, the orphans of covid: america's hidden toll, superstar: patrick swayze, the kardashians -- an abc news special, 24 months that changed the world, have you seen this man.