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On Thursday, Italian authorities retrieved a fifth body from the Bayesian superyacht that sank in a storm earlier this week, killing British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The British-flagged, 184-foot vessel sank early Monday<\/a>, and the five identified bodies<\/a> thus far from the incident include Mike Lynch<\/a>, founder of Autonomy and Darktrace; Morgan Stanley<\/a> Bank International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer; and his wife, Neda, were also found. Lynch\u2019s 18-year-old daughter Hannah is still missing.<\/p>\n There are several theories as to why the massive, $39 million boat sank in just about 60 seconds. And the maker of the ship says the crew should\u2019ve had time to rescue passengers.\u00a0<\/p>\n The first theory is the mast on the massive vessel was so tall it tipped the boat over when a waterspout\u2014essentially a water tornado<\/a>\u2014hit the boat. Giovanni Costantino<\/a>, CEO of The Italian Sea Group<\/a>, which owns several boat brands including the yacht\u2019s builder, Perini Navi<\/a>, told The Financial Times<\/em><\/a> <\/em>the boat was \u201cdesigned to be absolutely stable\u201d because it had the \u201cworld\u2019s second-tallest mast.\u201d But Karsten Borner, the skipper of a nearby boat, suggests the sinking actually could have been caused by high winds hitting the 236-foot mast. Even with sails stowed, the mast and its rigging would have provided a vast surface area for wind resistance.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Bayesian \u201cwent flat [with the mast] on the water, and then went down,\u201d Borner told Reuters<\/em><\/a>. For reference, the tallest mast on a sailing boat on record was the Mirabella V at nearly 247 feet long, according to Guinness World Records<\/a>.<\/p>\n The second theory about the cause of the Bayesian sinking is that the keel was retracted when it should have been lowered, making the boat less stable. The keel is a structural beam that runs under the middle of the boat from bow to stern, giving the boat better stability, a lower center of gravity in the water, and more control while moving forward. \u201cWithout the keel, a boat might slip or skim on the water,\u201d according to boat manufacturer Sea Born<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Bayesian had a keel that could be retracted, according to the yacht\u2019s manufacturer, Perini Navi. It could be lifted to reduce the draught of the boat, making it easier to enter shallow harbors. It\u2019s possible that if the keel had been in the raised position rather than extended, that could\u2019ve compromised the boat\u2019s stability in a strong wind, causing it to sink.<\/p>\n Perhaps the strongest theory so far is the notion that someone on board may have left a major hatch or door ajar, causing the boat to quickly fill with water. In fact, Costantino thinks this is the strongest theory after watching back footage of the sinking. In fact, the rear of the boat appears to have a hinged door<\/a> that folds down into a sea-level deck.<\/p>\n Since it was obvious the Bayesian was taking on water, there should have been time to get everyone off the boat and into rafts, Costantino told the FT<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cJesus Christ! The hull is intact. The water came in from [hatchways] left open,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is no other possible explanation. If manoeuvred properly, the boat would have comfortably handled the weather\u2014comfortably,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nTheory one \u2014\u00a0the mast was pushed over by the wind<\/h2>\n
Theory two \u2014\u00a0the retractable keel was in the wrong position<\/h2>\n
Theory three \u2014\u00a0a major hatch was left open to the waves<\/h2>\n
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