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Sailing Yachts For Sale

Do you want to realise a long-standing yachting dream or take the family out on the water with style? Whether you’re searching for a small sloop or a large sailing yacht, we can help you find your ideal vessel.

The team at Wooden Ships is very fortunate to have some of the world’s most beautiful sailing yachts for sale. We consider it both a pleasure and a responsibility to guide you in selecting the boat that is your perfect sailing match. Browse our portfolio of some of the most elegant, traditional and classic sailing boats for sale today, or contact us to find out more about the sailing boats and yachts in our books.

Enquire about Falmouth Pilot Cutter Pellew

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Falmouth Pilot Cutter Pellew

Built by Luke Powell and his Working Sail Yard to the lines of the original Falmouth Pilot Cutter 'Vincent'. Launched in 2020, she is now operating as a successful charter vessel. Built solely with charter and sail training in mind, she was constructed to MCA Category 0 standards enabling her to sail worldwide with guests/trainees plus the crew. Oak on oak hull, all bronze fastened and designed to last. 8 comfortable guest berths plus a crew cabin aft. 3 watertight bulkheads. 2 electric-powered bronze capstans on deck aid handling the rig and mooring lines. A hugely impressive and elegant sailing boat, proven to be fast, easily handled and an excellent charter platform. Pellew is an 'as new' sailing yacht for sale for half the new build cost. VAT will be charged on the sale price

• Designer: Traditional
• Builder: Working Sail Ltd
• Location: United Kingdom
• Length on deck: 68'
• Draft: 9'8"

Enquire about Westcountry Trading Ketch Bessie Ellen

Westcountry Trading Ketch Bessie Ellen

Bessie Ellen could be considered the flagship of UK traditional sailing boats. Built in Plymouth in 1904, she has been operating as a commercial charter vessel in the present ownership for over 20 years. Licenced to a very high standard under MCA with the following tickets: MCA Category 0 for 12 passengers plus 6 crew. Class VI passenger licence for 60-day passengers. Cargo licence for 50 tons of cargo.

Fully equipped and operational 118ft sailing boat with a thriving charter business, this is a totally unique opportunity to acquire a top-class traditional charter vessel. We're excited to list her in our exclusive sailing yachts for sale.

• Builder: W.S. Kelly, Plymouth
• Length on deck: 84'
• Beam: 20'4"
• Draft: 7'10"

Enquire about Tall Ship Phoenix

Tall Ship Phoenix

Built in Denmark as a Baltic Trader, she was first converted to her current configuration in 1988. Used mainly for film work and maritime festival appearances, Pheonix has become a well-known classic sailing ship in many parts of the world. Two-masted brig, a major overhaul of the rig in 2019 including new lower fore and main masts. Volvo Penta 235hp diesel, major rebuild in 2019. Well-documented refit history going back many years. Licensed under MCA Category 2, out of water survey in January 2021. An unusual, impressive and capable sea-going sailing ship, capable of many different roles but particularly well suited to period film work with which she has been particularly busy throughout 2022.Phoenix is the most famous of our yachts for sale.

• Builder: Hjorne and Jakobsen of Frederikshavn, Denmark
• Length on deck: 78'
• Beam: 22'7"
• Draft: 8'6"

Enquire about Daniel Bombigher Shpountz 44-40 Schooner

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Daniel Bombigher Shpountz 44-40 Schooner

Daniel Bombigher Shpountz 44-40 schooner launched in the south of France in 2012. She was taken on a cruise across the Atlantic, up to Nova Scotia and back to Panama. Sadly the owners suffered health issues and their planned circumnavigation was cut short and the boat was shipped back to France in 2016. She has since been laid up in a large shed, fully winterised and protected awaiting her next owner to continue the adventure. the design was intended as a long distance blue water cruising boat, spacious, capable and easy to handle. She has very shallow draft and a centreplate allowing her to access inshore areas usually off limits to a yacht of this length. 8 berths in a stunning interior. Fully equipped with all the necessary systems for long distance sailing. The yacht has had its shakedown cruise, all the normal issues with a new boat have been shaken out and she is in great shape for her next adventure.

• Designer: Daniel Bombigher
• Location: France
• Length on deck: 48'7"
• Draft: 5'10"

Enquire about G.L. Watson Gaff Cutter

G.L. Watson Gaff Cutter

launched in 1887, she was designed by the great G.L. Watson with inspiration from the Scottish Loch Fyne Skiffs. Her interior was designed by her first owner, Robert Cowan Robertson, who was an artist in the Glasgow area and created a spectacular interior design that has survived the passage of time and is nearly all original today. Her saloon joinery has been carefully restored to keep all the original panelling and features and needed only minimal repairs. Her saloon is a completely unique work of art. The yacht was totally rebuilt between 2009 and 2017 with 80% new planking and frames, new deck and all new systems. The restoration was sympathetic to the original design and has resulted in a very special and unique vessel that is in superb condition.

• Designer: G.L.Watson
• Builder: Thomas Orr Jr.
• Length on deck: 45'10"

Enquire about 56′ Ed Burnett Pilot Cutter

56′ Ed Burnett Pilot Cutter

£ 300000 inc. VAT

Constructed in 2008 to an Ed Burnett design, specifically for sail training with The Island Trust in Plymouth who specialise in taking disadvantaged young people to sea. Sadly the Trust has reached a point where 2 of their 3 vessels need to be sold so they can consolidate costs. Pegasus has proved very successful since her launch with many thousands of sea miles covered. She has commercial licence under the MCA of Category 2 for 10 guests + 2 crew (60 miles from safe haven) The vessel is fully equipped to this standard and will come with all the gear and equipment for commercial sailing activities. 12 berths in 4 cabins with 6'6" headroom in the saloon. Capable of being sailed by 2 people but comfortable space on a passage for 12. Ideally suited for charter sailing but would make a first class private adventure cruising yacht. Asking price is inclusive of UK VAT.

• Designer: Ed Burnett
• Builder: Bristol Classic Boat Company
• Location: Devon
• Length on deck: 56'1"
• Beam: 14'9"

Enquire about Brixham Sailing Trawler DEODAR

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Brixham Sailing Trawler DEODAR

Brixham sailing trawler BM 313, launched in 1911. After years of fishing and commercial operations, she started a long rolling rebuild under the present ownership which started in 1983. The boat has been sailed every season since 1972 with the present owner. Now presented in great condition and evidently well maintained. 15 berths. Volvo Penta 230hp diesel. Based in Stockholm, viewing through our Scandinavian representative.

• Builder: Robert Jackman & Sons Shipyard
• Location: Sweden
• Length on deck: 78'10"

Enquire about Luke Powell Gaff Cutter

Luke Powell Gaff Cutter

Number 8 of the sailing yachts built by Luke Powell, based on the Isles of Scilly Pilot Cutters and launched in 2012. Built for the current owners, this 64ft boat has been cruised as a private sailing yacht covering over 25,000Nm, much of it with a husband and wife crew. Planked in larch and oak fastened with bronze screws to sawn oak frames. Gaff cutter rig, Beta 35hp diesel. 5 berths including a double. Maintained to a very high standard and presented in immaculate condition, Freja is a lovely example of Luke Powells cutters, fully equipped and well prepared for new adventures. British flagged classic sailing boat, currently sailing west towards the UK and she will be based in the UK and France for this summer.

• Designer: Luke Powell
• Length on deck: 42'
• Beam: 12'2"

Enquire about Luke Powell Pilot Cutter

Luke Powell Pilot Cutter

The 44-foot Luke Powell gaff cutter sailing yacht built by Working Sail and launched in 2009. Planked in Oak and Larch on oak frames, all bronze screw-fastened. Beta 75hp diesel, 10 berths including 2 doubles. All the reassurance of a recent build sailing boat with the benefits of one which has been sailed properly. Operating as a successful charter yacht since her launch, the business aspect is included in the purchase. She would make a perfect turnkey charter operation for a new owner or be sailed as a private family sailing yacht. Internal and external refit completed summer 2024. Price is subject to VAT as part of the charter business but this could be reclaimed by a buyer with the right circumstances.

• Designer: Powell, Luke
• Builder: Luke Powell
• Location: Hants
• Length on deck: 44'
• Beam: 13'6"

Enquire about International Six Meter GBR31

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International Six Meter GBR31

Designed by Tore Holm and built in Sweden in 1939. SILVERVINGEN had a major professional rebuild in Sweden 2004-2013 put the hull back into first class condition. In recent times she was bought by the current owner who put the boat through a no expense spared refit to bring her up to the best racing standard possible. Together with her stable mate ABU she has been tested and raced very thoroughly to perfect every facet of the hull and rig. A superb yacht, fully equipped for top flight racing on the 6m circuit.

• Designer: Tore Holm
• Builder: Hagerstens Batvarv, Sweden
• Length on deck: 37'1"
• Draft: 5'5"

Enquire about Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Breeze

Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter Breeze

Built by Coopers of Pill in 1887, she is the only remaining Pilot Cutter from this yard's sailing yachts. Totally rebuilt by RB Boatbuilding of Bristol, launched in 2016. The rebuild was very thorough with only a few small parts of the original boat left, the work has been done to a very high standard and the yacht is in excellent condition. She is smaller than most pilot cutters making her much easier to handle so she can be sailed with only 2 people. 7 berths including a double in the saloon. Twin electric motors with an 11kva generator. A very smart example of one of our traditional sailing yachts for sale, in as new condition but with all the history and pedigree that comes with a working boat of this age. 2017 survey available.

• Builder: Coopers of Pill
• Length on deck: 39'6"
• Beam: 12'6"
• Draft: 6'6"

Enquire about Sparkman & Stephens Sloop

Sparkman & Stephens Sloop

Designed by K. Aage Nielsen of the S&S office, built in Cuba for a wealthy yard owner in 1942. The owner had big aspirations for his yacht racing career and had a number of successes including beating 'Stormy Weather' in the 1948 Miami Nassau race. Honduras mahogany hull all bronze fastened. 7 berths with much original panelled joinery. A superb elegant 54ft sailing boat with a well-documented history, perhaps capable of taking on the big boys in the classic sailing yacht regattas but equally at home cruising with the family. Inspected, photographed and videoed by Wooden Ships in November 2016. One of our most elegant sailing yachts for sale.

• Designer: K. Aage Nielsen
• Builder: Remigio Hernandorena, Havana, Cuba
• Location: Cyprus
• Length on deck: 51'8"
• Beam: 11'6"

Yachts for sale

Sailing yachts are one of a kind in regatta capabilities and eco-friendly performance. Nothing quite beats relaxing on your boat with an ice-cold drink and the sound of sails flapping gently overhead. Several advantages come with owning sail boats, including freedom and adaptability to sail wherever and whenever you want and travel the world at your own pace. In addition, one of the many benefits of sailing boats is harnessing the wind’s power.

Many of the classic yachts for sale by Wooden Ships have the timeless elegance and speed of a traditional sailing yacht, whilst others combine this with all the contemporary convenience of a modern yacht, ensuring that every voyage is as pleasant as possible. Whether you want a sailboat to leisurely cruise between some of the world’s most famous and colourful ports in amongst the luxury boats, explore remote spots off the beaten track, or participate in regattas, our sailboats for sale give you the freedom to do it in stylish elegance.

Sailboats for sale UK

Many people think that owning a yacht means buying a perfect, ready-made boat. However, at Wooden Ships classic yacht brokers, we know there is a boat for everyone, and many people find the best sailing boats are to take on an old classic as a project. You can usually purchase used project yachts for a much lower price than a new one. You’ll have the opportunity to put your stamp on them by carrying out any necessary repairs and renovations.

Of course, taking on project boats is not for everyone. It requires time, effort and patience to return an old boat to its former glory. But if you’re up for the challenge, a project boat can be a great way to get a unique classic yacht. We hope that you enjoy our selection of vintage and classic sailing yachts.

Do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions about any of the boats featured on our website, or if you want to sell your classic boat . Here’s some information about what to expect when you sell your boat .

Wooden Ships classic yachts brokers have an extensive database of sailing boats for sale. With a wide range of classic yachts , motor yachts and small classic boats , Wooden Ships has one of the largest selections of traditional wooden boats and yachts for sale in the UK. 

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New listing 37ft sailing boat liveable now - project to get onto water, catamaran sailing boat, sailing boat 30ft hunter horizon 30 cruiser, sleeps 6, will deliver, vat paid, copland harrier sailing boat, macwester malin 323 ketch ready to sail or liveaboard now half price, jaguar 22 sailboat (catlina 22 in us), mirage 2700 sailing yacht by thames marine for sale, westerly pembroke 26ft sailing sloop (flying cloud), classic wooden sailing yacht - 28 foot 6 inch: golden hind # 5 boat, sailing boat, dufour arpege 30 sailing boat - great condition, updated description - macgregor 26x - 1998 cruiser / cabin / motor / yatch, macgregor 26x boat with trailer, invicta 26 sailing boat, motorsailer, sailing boat with trailer and mooring in the lower exe estuary, seafarer sailing yacht/boat mariner 4 four stroke - petrol, albin scampi 30ft yacht in exelent condition 100% ready to sail, fountaine pajot athena 38 catamaran, boat, yacht, boats for sale uk, jeanneau sunfast 37 in north wales, 46ft bluewater sailing yacht / ketch, moody 346 sailing yacht, folkboat 25 sailing yatch , mahogany, 2004 maxim 380 catamaran (mk2), cornish crabber 24 mk1, duckling dinghy (fairey marine), pacific diesel cookstove by dickinson, st ives herring drifter pioneer pz277, classic wooden fishing vessel, westerly longbow 31' yacht, anderson 22 - project boat needs completing, boats for sale uk. whaly 435 with 30hp engine, sailing boat yacht, national 12 wooden sailing boat classic including trailer, lm24 motor sailer yacht, new listing snapdragon 24 sailing yacht, 35 ft steel gaff cutter, with lifting keel., fairline 45 - 1/6 boat share in spain - full 1/6 ownership with 8 weeks per year, westerly windrush 25 fully restored and ready to go new engine fitted, yachts for sale cobra 850 (28ft), vancouver 27 yacht available, westerly pembroke sailboat, boats for sale uk with live on mooring, sailing boat, van de stadt 34 yacht, fisher 25 motor-sailer, possibly px, wooden sailing boat - open to offers, gaff ketch sailing boat, colvic sailer 29’6” yacht, bilge keels, new listing westerly (westerley) renown yacht/sailing boat - perfect live aboard, classic ocean racing yacht, yacht for sale, owaissa. project, needs restoration., project sailing boat westerly gk24 - cruiser/racer, yacht omega 28 sailing yacht , sailboat, sport cruiser, boat, pegasus 700 sailing yacht, westerly centaur, motor sailer yacht ideal liveaboard ketch with in mast reefing, you may also like.

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• Boats for Sale
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Cabin Cruisers for sale in United Kingdom

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1,446 New and Used Cabin Cruisers

XO Boats EXPLR 9

Hamble southampton (United Kingdom)

OFFERED BY:

2024 Stock Boat Now Available. Introducing another great boat to our range of outstanding boats, the EXPLR 9 With its accommodation capacities and weatherproof cover, EXPLR ...

Dover Cabin Cruiser

Brundall (United Kingdom)

Henley Sales and Charter

An immaculate cabin cruiser which would make an ideal weekender for a couple or for a small family group. The owners have spent a great deal of time and money 'saving' this traditional cruiser ...

Jeanneau prestige

Norfolk Yacht Agency (United Kingdom)

Norfolk Yacht Agency Ltd

Jeanneau Prestige 42STwin Volvo D6 370 diesel engines through IPS drives. Two island double en-suite cabins with occasional saloon and cockpit double berth conversions. Generous specification in...

Rinker Fiesta Vee 270

Levington (United Kingdom)

Clarke & Carter Yacht Brokers

Accommodation The open plan saloon features a wrap around seating area forward providing comfortable seating for up to 6 people around the table which drops to convert into a great size doubl...

Bayliner 285 Cruiser

Bayliner 285Mercruiser 350 MAG MPI (300hp) petrol engine with only 408 hours. 6 berth accommodation with a separate toilet and shower compartment. Specification to include; Shore power, battery ...

Maxum 2400se

Poole (United Kingdom)

Harbour Yachts

Features Maxum 2400 SE 2005. Lovely example of this popular and well laid out boat. Great specification. Four berths in two cabins. Fitted galley and separate heads. Powered by a Mercruiser 350...

Axopar 28 AFT CABIN

Southampton (United Kingdom)

Southampton Waters Yacht Sales Ltd

Axopar 2019 model and fitted with the Mercury 300hp 4 stroke with a full documented history file, great specification which includes heating, fresh water fed head with holding tank and deck pum...

Broom Boats 44

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How sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily unfolded

One man has died and six people are missing after a luxury yacht sank in freak weather conditions off the coast of Sicily.

The 56m British-flagged Bayesian was carrying 22 people - 12 passengers and 10 crew - when a heavy storm that created waterspouts struck early on Monday.

Fifteen people were rescued and a search operation for those unaccounted for - who include the British tech tycoon Mike Lynch - is continuing.

Here is what we know about the tragedy so far and how it unfolded.

What happened to the yacht?

The Bayesian was struck by a sudden and powerful storm in the early hours of Monday morning, witnesses say.

It was reportedly anchored to the sea bed outside the harbour at Porticello, a small fishing village to the east of Palermo, when what the Italian coastguard described as a "violent storm" hit.

The storm was so fierce that it caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air and mist, to appear over the sea.

The vessel disappeared beneath the water at about 05:00 local time (04:00 BST).

A doctor treating survivors said the ship "capsized within a few minutes".

• Follow live updates here
• 'For two seconds I lost my baby in the sea' - yacht survivor
• Who are the missing and rescued?
• What might have caused yacht to sink
• Divers battle 10-minute dive window and debris in yacht search

Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm struck, causing the 72m (236ft) aluminium mast to break in half and the ship to lose its balance and sink.

However, divers on the search and rescue team have said the ship was "practically intact" on the seabed, raising questions as to whether the mast was broken.

The ship's unusually tall mast may have contributed to its sinking, according to Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the mast acted almost like a sail in the strong wind "especially with it being so high".

The extreme winds could have caught the mast and pushed the yacht over, he said.

Karsten Borner, captain of a nearby boat, said after the storm had passed, the crew noticed the yacht that had been behind them had disappeared.

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

His crew took on board some survivors, including three who were seriously injured.

Another witness, Fabio Cefalù, captain of a trawler, said he was about to go out on a fishing trip when he saw flashes of lightning so he stayed in the harbour.

"At about 04:15 we saw a flare in the sea," he said, according to the EVN news agency reports.

"We waited for this waterspout to pass. After 10 minutes we went out to the sea and we saw cushions and all the rest of the boat [that had sunk], and everything which was on the deck, at sea. However, we did not see any people in the sea.”

Another fisherman described seeing the yacht sinking "with my own eyes".

Speaking to the newspaper Giornale di Sicilia, the witness said he was at home when the tornado hit.

"Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very big," he said.

Shortly afterwards he went down to the Santa Nicolicchia bay in Porticello to get a better look at what was happening.

He added: "The boat was still floating, then all of a sudden it disappeared. I saw it sinking with my own eyes."

One of the survivors, British tourist Charlotte Golunski, told Italian newspaper La Repubblica how she held up her one-year-old daughter Sofia to stop her from drowning.

She said the two of them and her partner James survived only because they were up on deck when the yacht sank.

They were woken by “thunder, lightning and waves that made our boat dance”, and it felt like "the end of the world" before they were thrown into the water.

Charlotte said: "For two seconds I lost my daughter in the sea, then quickly hugged her amid the fury of the waves."

She added: "I held her afloat with all my strength, my arms stretched upwards to keep her from drowning.

"It was all dark. In the water I couldn't keep my eyes open. I screamed for help, but all I could hear around me was the screams of others."

What is the latest with the search?

Six passengers remain missing and the Palermo coastguard says the search and rescue operation is continuing "incessantly".

The search began on Monday and specialist divers have been working at the site since early on Tuesday morning.

One diver told Italian media the yacht was "practically intact" on its side at the ocean's basin, about 50m below the surface.

The ship's hull is obstructed with furniture and various objects, the Italian fire and rescue service has said.

Divers are looking for ways to access the yacht's cabins, but they have just 10 minutes to search on each dive before they need to return to the surface, the Italian news agency Ansa has reported.

A 1cm thick glass window is also being considered as an entry point.

Francesco Venuto, a spokesperson for Sicily's civil protection agency, told the BBC on Monday rescue teams fear the bodies of those missing "must be" in the boat.

"We've been searching all day with helicopters and boats, we've found nothing. That wouldn't make sense. In these conditions, we should have found something by now," he added.

A specialist caving search and rescue diving team arrived from Rome on Monday, hoping to "achieve results" either during the night or by Tuesday morning at the latest, the director general of Sicily's civil protection agency, Salvatore Cocina, said.

On Monday, the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch sent a team of four investigators to carry out a preliminary assessment of the Bayesian's sinking, the BBC understands.

Who was on board?

There were 22 people on board when the storm hit, including 12 passengers and 10 crew.

The body of one man has been recovered. He has not been formally identified, but the Palermo coastguard said he was the ship's cook. His nationality has not been confirmed.

Among the six people still missing is 59-year-old tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, known by some as the "British Bill Gates".

Mr Lynch founded software giant Autonomy in 1996 and was awarded an OBE for services to enterprise in 2006.

In June, he was cleared of conducting a massive fraud relating to an $11bn (£8.64bn) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

Afterwards, he told the BBC in an interview he had been able to prove his innocence only because he had the wealth to pay the enormous legal fees required.

The other missing people include Mr Lynch's 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo.

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is among the 15 people to have been rescued, with eight of those receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

Charlotte Golunski, her husband and daughter Sofia were also rescued and were unharmed, but taken to hospital for check-ups.

She said they had been on the yacht with a group of colleagues.

The daily Il Giornale di Sicilia newspaper reported the vessel had mostly British passengers on board, but also people from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland and British-French citizens.

A doctor based in Palermo said the "very tired" survivors were "constantly asking about the missing people".

Dr Domenico Cipolla told Reuters that one woman he treated described the trip as a "corporate holiday", with some of those on board "very young".

"There were a lot of work colleagues, friends, a few husbands, wives, or a couple of friends who had joined in," he adds.

What is a waterspout and why do they form?

A waterspout is similar to a tornado and can form over oceans, seas or large lakes.

The western half of the Mediterranean has experienced severe storms since the middle of last week.

Through Sunday night and into Monday morning, a zone of bad weather passed by the north coast of Sicily.

BBC Weather forecaster Matt Taylor said: "A waterspout is a tornado that has occurred over water rather than land.

"They can form during intense storms, on the base of cumulonimbus/thunder clouds.

"Turbulence, and the wind blowing in slightly different directions around the cloud, can cause rotation under the base of the cloud and the spout to form.

"Like tornadoes, they bring powerful winds, but instead of picking up dust and debris they cause a water mist around the column of rotating air."

What is the Bayesian, and who owns it?

The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites, and is listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week.

It was built in 2008 by Italian company Perini Navi.

The Bayesian's registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd, which is based on the Isle of Man.

The yacht's name is understood to derive from the Bayesian theory, which Mr Lynch's PhD thesis and the software that made his fortune was based on.

Mr Lynch's wife Ms Bacares is named as the sole legal owner of Revtom, which is registered in the Isle of Man.

The Bayesian completed a number of sailings in recent days, calling at various ports in Sicily, according to ship-tracking website VesselFinder.

A spokesperson for Camper and Nicholsons International, the firm that manages the 2008-built boat, told BBC Verify: "Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew."

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. Six people have now been confirmed dead, with one still missing.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Thursday 22 August 2024 09:55, UK

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Six 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 they all died in the disaster on Thursday.

The yacht's captain James Calfield 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 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.

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

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.

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

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Search Resumes for British Mogul and 5 Others After Yacht Sinks Off Sicily

The body of the vessel’s cook was recovered while divers searched the hull of the Bayesian for passengers, including the tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch.

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By Elisabetta Povoledo

Deep-sea divers with Italy’s firefighter corps resumed their search on Tuesday for six missing passengers — including a British software mogul and his daughter — of a yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily the previous day.

Twenty-two people were on board the 180-foot British-flagged sailing yacht, the Bayesian, which was anchored near the port of Porticello, when it was hit by what witnesses described as a waterspout, a small tornado on water, during a sudden and violent storm.

Fifteen people who managed to get to a raft were rescued by the captain of a nearby sailing cruise ship. The body of the yacht’s cook, identified by news outlets as Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan, was recovered on Monday. But several people are still unaccounted for, according to Salvatore Cocina, an official with Sicily’s civil protection agency.

Those still missing are Mike Lynch, a British technology entrepreneur; his daughter Hannah; Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Christopher J. Morvillo, a lawyer at Clifford Chance; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Mr. Lynch was acquitted of fraud in a U.S. trial in June, ending a high-profile, decadelong legal battle against accusations that he had defrauded Hewlett-Packard when he sold his company, Autonomy, to Hewlett for $11 billion.

Mr. Lynch and the others went missing days after Mr. Lynch’s co-defendant at the fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, a former vice president of finance at Autonomy, was fatally struck by a car on Saturday while out for a run, his lawyer, Gary S. Lincenberg, said in a statement.

Prosecutors in the Italian city of Termini Imerese, east of where the yacht sank, are opening a formal investigation into the yacht’s sinking. Reached by telephone, the chief prosecutor declined to comment.

The search for the missing passengers began on Monday but was suspended late that night as crews found themselves limited to the bridge deck and items like furnishings “obstructing passage,” the firefighters’ corps wrote on social media .

When divers resumed the search on Tuesday, ships trawled the waters near the site, the corps said in a statement. The Italian Coast Guard also said in a statement that search operations were “continuing unabated,” with the deployment of helicopters. There was no evidence that gasoline was leaking from the yacht, the Coast Guard said.

The yacht was lying on its right side in about 165 feet of water, meaning that divers, working in pairs, could stay underwater for only about 12 minutes at a time, said Luca Cari, a spokesman for the firefighters’ corps.

Divers were seeking a safe point of access to the vessel’s cabins. “Obviously, everything fell and the space is very tight,” Mr. Cari said, adding that the divers were having to remove obstacles, like furnishings and electrical wiring, that were “completely blocking passages.”

The firefighters’ corps said in a statement that it was impossible to verify whether people were inside the hull.

Mr. Cari said that several divers had been part of the search-and-rescue operations when the Costa Concordia, a cruise liner, capsized off the Tuscan island of Giglio in 2012, killing 32 people. It is considered one of the worst maritime disasters in modern Italian history.

“It’s like the Costa Concordia, but much smaller,” Mr. Cari said in a telephone interview, comparing the search operations. “In the Costa Concordia, we came across many obstacles but we somehow were able to overcome them. Here, the obstacles block the passages and have to be removed.” He added, “This makes it more difficult.”

Crews were also trying to raise the yacht, which experts will examine to try to determine why it sank. Until then, experts can only hypothesize what happened.

Karsten Borner, the captain of a ship, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which picked up the Bayesian’s 15 survivors, said in an interview that when the wind picked up around 4 a.m. Monday, the Bayesian was about 490 feet behind his vessel. Once the wind wound down, he said, he could not see the yacht anymore.

“My theory was that she was capsized first and then went down over the stern,” Mr. Borner said.

Dario Boote, a ship structures and naval architecture professor at the University of Genoa, said: “Now I imagine that a whole series of lawsuits will be triggered, obviously to ascertain whether there is any responsibility, as always happens very unpleasantly in these situations.” He said, however, that in this case, responsibility might be hard to determine. “Clearly, only once the wreck is raised will we know more,” he added.

Several fishermen told Italian news outlets that they had witnessed a waterspout. Peter Inness, a meteorologist at the University of Reading, said they were relatively common in the Mediterranean, though their occurrence and intensity are unpredictable.

“Until one actually forms, you can’t start telling people where it is,” Mr. Inness said, or “how to get out of the way.”

The inclement weather — with lightning intermittently streaking through the sky — made it hard to know exactly why the yacht sank. Col. Attilio Di Diodato, director of the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, said the agency had registered intense lightning activity and strong gusts of wind in the area at the time the boat sank.

The Bayesian had one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world, according to its builder, Perini Navi. “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. The type of intensity unleashed by a violent lightning storm “could have created a significant shock wave,” he added.

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

Modern yachts are built to withstand meteorological events of reasonable intensity, and all international naval registers suggest that new ships be designed for higher waves and more frequent and extreme weather events.

But “this seems a case of an unreasonable extreme event,” said Emilio Fortunato Campana, an expert in Naval Hydrodynamics at Italy’s National Research Council. “In that case, no ship is 100 percent safe,” he added. “I think the Titanic showed that nothing is unsinkable.”

Elisabetta Povoledo is a reporter based in Rome, covering Italy, the Vatican and the culture of the region. She has been a journalist for 35 years. More about Elisabetta Povoledo