yacht builders vietnam

Custom Builds

Do you have a particular trimaran, catamaran or monohull that you would like built?

Additional questions:

Is your project…

• For production?
• For pleasure?
• For commercial?
• To fulfil a personal dream?
• To achieve a business goal
• The entire vessel including fit out?
• Just the shell?
• Just components?

Rapido Trimarans, through our manufacturing facility,  Triac Composites,  in HCMC, Vietnam can build it for you.

Triac Composites has:

• An international management team
• Highly skilled local staff
• Riverside access (which connects to the port and ocean)
• A 7 axis Kuka milling robot
• A CNC cutting machine
• An 8.5m autoclave

While our preference is to build vessels from composites, we can also project-manage the build of steel ships. In August 2019, for example, we completed two x 16m steel fishing vessels for a client in Denmark.

Free Trade Agreements

Vietnam is a member of the World Trade Organisation and a key driver behind its booming economy over the past 25 years has been its commitment to free trade. Vietnam is a signatory of  12 free trade agreements and is currently negotiating another seven. So, wherever you need the vessel, there is a very good chance that Vietnam will have a free trade agreement with that country.

Contact us for an obligation free discussion and / or quote

Email: [email protected]

SONG LO BOAT

Đóng Tàu Sông Lô là một trong những đơn vị sản xuất tàu và ca nô Composite FRP hàng đầu tại Việt Nam

Be recognized as one of the best powerboats builders in Vietnam.

Building safe, high quality and high performance powerboats to bring joyful boating experience to customers.

What make us different:

Talented and dedicated staffs.

Applying new Technology and Machine in design and production.

Aim for excellent in details.

Song Lo Shipbuilding Co., Ltd is well known in Vietnam to build reliable and high performance boats since 2000. We’re building boats for many big partners in Vietnam since then including VINGROUP,  NOVALAND, HUNG THINH COOPERATION, VIETNAM BORDER AND COAST GUARD, BINH SON REFINING COMPANY, SANEST KHANH HOA, and hundreds of travel, tourist companies and resorts around Vietnam.

We aim to build better and better boats everyday.

-First FRP Boat built since:  2000

-Shipyard area:  4,000 m2

-Staff:  40

-Biggest FRP boat built:  24m LOA – 24 Tons displacement

-Current production capacity:  30 Boats from 8m-20m/ year

Our competitive advantages:

High quality of resin, fiberglass material and marine equipment. All boats built by 20 years experience designers, engineers and boat builders.

-Resin and Fiber Glass Material:  Allnex Polyester Resin from Australia Manufacturer

-Gelcoat of Boat:  Allnex Gelcoat from Australia Manufacturer

Marine Equipment:  Vetus Maxwell, BEP Marine, Hella Marine, Mastervolt, Garmin, Fusion…

© 2016 Copyright by Song Lo Shipbuilding Co., Ltd . All rights reserved

Power cats for business & pleasure.

Caption: Rapido Catamarans is located in the Triac Composites factory in HCMC, Vietnam - on the banks of the Nha Be River. Sail away... 

 Rapido Catamarans' Founders

Paul Koch and James Sganzerla, arguably, have built more composite multihulls than any other boat builder in the world. We estimate that they have built more than 1,500 multihulls since 1986 when  Paul established OSTAC (Ocean Sailing Trimarans and Catamarans) in Australia.

Paul owned OSTAC until 2008 but it was when he took the reins of Corsair Marine in 1994 over in the USA that the production really started to pick up. Understanding the economics of building boats for an increasingly cost-conscious market, the two of them relocated Corsair Marine's entire business to Vietnam in 2006. 

In 2010, they sold Corsair Marine to focus on the launch of Rapido Trimarans and Triac Composites in Vietnam. Rapido Trimarans would focus on a range of Trimarans, spearheaded by the Rapido 60 (see video below) . The hallmarks of the Rapido 60 was that she would be the world's fastest production cruising trimaran!

Triac Composites would be the builder of the trimarans - and Triac Composites would also source composite work from industries outside of marine.

Richard Eyre, a life long sailor, trimaran owner, lawyer and investment banker also played a founding role in the establishment of the company. Richard brought many years of corporate knowledge and good governance to this internationally owned and managed company.

Co founders, Richard Eyre and Paul Koch.

 Rapido Catamarans' time

In 2019, the founders surveyed the boaties in the market.

Like others, these boaties are often time poor. They are unable to afford the luxury of being dependent on the vagaries of the wind to serve their needs. They need the certainty of guaranteed performance at the turn of a key. But that doesn't mean they are prepared to accept a fuel-guzzling boat with its environmental and financial costs. They want to enjoy the water and have that sense of satisfaction in harvesting energy efficiently.

And so, the idea of Rapido Catamarans was born. 

Firstly, we continue to believe that multihulls offer numerous advantages over the multihull as per the Cats Vs Mono page on this website.

We also think that having spent three decades building wind-powered composite boats that sail across oceans, we know something about building boats that are lightweight yet structurally sound. These are key ingredients for achieving greater efficiency from the same engine (hydro, solar or conventional) without compromising safety.

But, we also need an efficient hull design...

The Designer

                                                                        As a boat builder, we rely heavily on the designer to deliver a design that we                                                                            can breathe life into. And with  Albatross Marine Design  (AMD), we have                                                                                    found such a designer.

AMD is a Thailand-based design office, founded by Dr. Albert Nazarov in early 2006, that has grown rapidly and now provides services to clients globally.

With its extensive investment in the latest available design software and testing equipment it is, without doubt, one of the most advanced design offices in the world.

 The scope of AMD's design services includes:

Design and styling

Interior design

Naval architecture

Engineering

Research and consultancy

Construction supervision

Trials and testing

AMD's achievements in the field of small craft design include the Gold Prize 2019 for the European Product Design Award for the F100 water taxi design. The f100 is a smaller version of Rapido Catamarans' RC12m .

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26  Crewed Luxury Yachts for Charter in Vietnam

Vietnam Yacht Charters

A Vietnam luxury yacht charter encompasses a captivating coastline of stunning beaches, sublime scenery, delicious cuisine and fascinating history. Whether you wish to escape to a hidden bay or indulge in hedonistic city life, the profusion of diverse attractions to see in Vietnam are guaranteed to fulfil your yacht charter wishes.    

Vietnam Luxury Yacht Charter Guide An emerging destination on the South East Asian superyacht scene, Vietnam is an ideal charter choice for those looking to get off the beaten track. Situated on the eastern Indochina peninsular, Vietnam’s long, alluring coastline spans 3,444 kilometres and takes yacht charterers from bustling cities to idyllic beaches, glistening paddy fields and breath-taking natural wonders.  

From snorkelling in coral rich waters and relaxing on sun-kissed beaches to discovering vibrant city life and fascinating culture, a Vietnam charter vacation is guaranteed to awaken the senses and enrichen the soul.   

Vietnam Yacht Charter Itinerary Vietnam’s diverse coastline ensures multiple charter opportunities. A visit to the north’s Halong Bay – or the bay of descending dragons - is a must. Over 3,000 limestone islands rise majestically up from the calm waters, creating a magical and mysterious landscape to explore by luxury yacht.

The north is also home to the fascinating city of Hanoi, where old and new mix with Chinese and French influences. In the south, meanwhile, is Ho Chi Minh City – formerly Saigon - bursting with motorbikes, eateries, coffee shops, hip bars, peaceful temples and museums.    

Central Vietnam is home to the spectacular Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as well as the quaint riverside town of Hoi An. Eighteenth century buildings, art galleries, tailors, food markets and numerous cafes line the streets and located nearby is Lao Cham, a collection of eight idyllic islands recognised as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.

The best beaches and dive sites in Vietnam are to be found around the coastal city of Nha Trang. Set against a dramatic backdrop of mountains are sandy coves, secluded bays and deserted off-shore islands for your exploration.

Chartering a Private Yacht in Vietnam If you would like more information on renting a private luxury charter yacht in Vietnam, get in touch with your preferred charter broker . They will be able to combine insider knowledge with your specific needs to create your dream yachting vacation itinerary.

Crewed Charter Yachts in Vietnam

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50m   Konjo Boat builders

from $130,900 p/week

Aqua Mekong

Wanderlust 12

85m SilverYachts

from $960,000 p/w eek

82m Abeking & Rasmussen

82m   2015/2021

from $1,223,000 p/w eek ♦︎

La Datcha 12

77m Damen Yachting

from $630,000 p/w eek

Cloudbreak 22 6 12

75m Abeking & Rasmussen

from $834,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Starlust 12

68m Abeking & Rasmussen

from $700,000 p/w eek

Wayfinder 12

68m Astilleros Armon

from $375,000 p/w eek

Aqua Mekong 40

62m Saigon Shipyard Co Ltd

from $358,000 p/w eek

56m Picchiotti

56m   2011/2023

from $311,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Northern Sun 12

51m Narasaki Shipyard

51m   1976/2007

from $161,700 p/w eek

Silolona 12

50m Konjo Boat builders

50m   2004/2009

from $130,900 p/w eek

El Aleph 12

40m Konjo Boat builders

from $85,000 p/w eek

Infinium 14

40m Perini Navi

40m   1983/2017

from $61,000 p/w eek ♦︎

Silentworld 10

40m Cies - Oassive

40m   2006/2023

from $130,000 p/w eek

Lady Azul 10

39m   2001/2021

from $133,000 p/w eek

37m Broward

37m   1990/2011

from $60,000 p/w eek

37m Camper & Nicholsons

37m   1999/2017

from $94,000 p/w eek ♦︎ *

Tiger Blue 10

35m Haji Abdullah

from $26,950 p/w eek

Antonia II 8

32m   2007/2015

from $75,000 p/w eek

32m Sanlorenzo

from $86,000 p/w eek ♦︎

from $63,000 p/w eek

Dallinghoo 8

30m S.A. Pritchard (South Africa)

30m   1990/2015

from $23,000 p/w eek

The Blue 10

28m   1997/2017

from $29,500 p/w eek

Princess Ayesha I 6

27m Leopard

from $26,000 p/w eek ♦︎

26m Sunseeker

26m   2009/2018

from $45,000 p/w eek

from $87,500 p/w eek

Cattitude 8

23m Alliaura Marine Group

23m   2012/2013

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Max Innovation

The straight line between performance and comfort..

Welcome to Max Cruise Marine. We are a specialist multihull production company with over six decades of combined boat-building experience. After many years in the industry we started our company based on a simple question: “How do we give our clients a sailing experience that combines the best of both worlds, performance and comfort? How do we empower our clients?” Our answer – options; from the interior layout and finishes, to performance enhancements and build type (self-build or professional), as well as international build location.

Our discerning clientele appreciates the balance we achieve between cruising performance and comfort. For us, performance means blending speed and safety, while taking into account factors such as efficiency of moving about the boat. Comfort, on the other hand, means never compromising on the features you need to enjoy your time aboard – while ensuring you arrive safely and on time. In short, our designs draw a straight line between performance and comfort.

All our models are the result of a single-minded objective – to fuse design innovation with cutting-edge technology and hands-on experience. Constructed with vacuum infused foam cored, carbon reinforced laminates. Current leaders in cruising Hybrid Sail Catamarans, Whatever your requirements our agents will be able to answer your questions and provide step-by-step sales support. We look forward to your enquiry. For USA Clients please contact [email protected] or  [email protected]

Or contact Max Cruise Marine. [email protected]

Why Choose Max Cruise Marine?

With so much choice in the boat building arena it makes good sense to decide upfront what utility and features you want from your multihull. if you’re looking for a best-in-class innovative blend of sailing performance and cruising comfort then max cruise marine should be your final port of call. we offer:, max quality; max performance; max comfort; max value, fast-tracked, affordable builds anywhere in the world, self-build option using our 3d modular (3dm) moulded sets – delivered worldwide, boats professionally built near you or in our vietnam build yard, moulded exterior with gelcoat finish plus cnc-cut interior (choice of three options), variety of helm, propulsion, sail plan and interior design options, our design philosophy, innovation and efficiency are at the heart of our design ethos – from the materials and build methods (3dm) we use, to the mindful creation of space, weight distribution and performance optimisation. our design and production techniques enable us to offer extremely high-quality builds at very competitive price points., max cruise marine design features include:.

Largest saloon / cockpit in class

• Perfect sightlines and 360° degree visibility

Choice of multiple layouts with generous spacing and flow

High quality finishes

Multiple helm options

Multiple propulsion options

Multiple rig options

Charter cruising and performance cruising options

Asymmetric hulls with reserve buoyancy

Centrally balanced construction – lightweight bows and stern

Max Quality Materials

All Max Cruise Marine multihulls are precision built using light, strong, high-quality materials, featuring:

3D panels are made from Vinylester resin-infused structural PVC foam core

Gelcoated exterior

Fully moulded 3D exterior

Optimized laminate orientation

CNC (Computer Numerical Control) precision-cut interior

Composites - strong, durable, light, versatile, insulative... without corrosion, UV or fatigue. It's time to innovate...

A history to succeed

[Photo caption above: Triac Composites' 65 staff and Australian management team visited Vung Tau for a team building day.]

  Triac Composites is an internationally owned and managed company,

based in HCMC, Vietnam.

While Triac Composites' origins are in manufacturing composite sailing

boats, its future actively includes expanding the use of composites into

other industries. 

Collectively, the Principals in the company have built more than 1,500  sailing boats over the last 30 years in three countries (Australia, USA and now, Vietnam). Each sailing boat was been built with composites - for very good reasons:

Why are composites the material of choice for the Principals' sailing boats?

Sailing boats rely on the wind. The lighter the boat, the faster it can travel so being light-weight is critical.

In the middle of the ocean, no one can hear you scream! Sailing boats must be built to withstand the enormous loads placed on them by the wind and water. Composites such as carbon fiber have an extremely high strength to weight ratio that rivals that of steel. Super strong; super light.

Sailing boats spend much of their lives in very hostile environments. Salt is an incredibly corrosive agent - but composites do not rust and they are able to withstand the ultra violet rays of the sun.

Composites can be moulded and manufactured into virtually any shape giving "design freedom" compared with other, more traditional, materials.

(For more benefits of composites, click here .)

Triac Composites: a new beginning, 2014

In 2014, the Principals established Triac Composites, the manufacturing arm of the Hong Kong-based Rapido Trimarans .

The 60' Rapido Trimaran was the first product to be manufactured by Triac

Composites. 

But, while composites are especially well suited to the sailing and marine

industries, their applicability in other industries represents

an enormous opportunity. 

The attributes of being light weight, super  strong, non corrosive and

offering  design freedom are benefits that other  industries will ignore at

their own peril.

Triac Composites' Principals are experts at building boats - and working with composites, whether that is in the marine industry or other industries. 

Triac Composites employs more than 60 highly skilled and motivated Vietnamese staff. Many of these staff have worked with the Directors since they first moved to Vietnam back in 2006 when they relocated a boat-building factory from the USA. 

Paul Koch - General Director and Co founder: Paul was the owner of Ostac Yachts from 1986 to 2008 and Corsair Marine from 1994 until 2010 Paul's vision and passion has pioneered numerous multihull innovations (see photo above, on right). 

Richard Eyre - Co founder: Richard is a life long sailor, trimaran owner, lawyer and investment banker and brings many years of corporate knowledge and good governance to the company (see photo above, on left).

Phil Johns - General Manager: Phil worked with Paul as the Marketing & Business Development Manager of Corsair Marine in Vietnam before joining the Australian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam where he worked as its Executive Director. He joined Triac Composites in April 2018.

Mark Waller - Operations Director: A long and rich history in composite boat building that included two decades working with Seawind Catamarans, most recently as Production Manager

Ven Tran - Factory Manager: is heavily involved with CAD Drawings and the production. He was an original member of Corsair back in 20o6 when Paul shifted the business from the US to Vietnam and then again when Paul established Triac Composites in 2014. 

In addition, Triac employs multiple qualified naval architects as well as working with international naval architects from the US and Thailand.

Triac Composites' recent projects

Triac Composites' recent projects include building:

Water vessels including the in-house 60’ Rapido Trimaran as well as yachts, power boats, coastal patrol boats and ferries

Interiors of trains , ships  and boats

Building / architectural facades ; and

High tech composites

The projects are varied and cover all shapes, sizes and strengths - all at a very low weight (being composites).

Triac Composites is well positioned to work with you to develop and deliver a composite solution for your needs.

Email us with your question!

Do you have a question? Are composites suitable for your project?

Please email us at [email protected]  

DO YOU HAVE A  QUESTION?

WELCOME ON BOARD

EXPLORING THE ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE OF LUXURY

Tam Son Yachting has mission to bring the perfect European Yachting Experience to Vietnam. TAM SON YACHTING WORLD has been driven by our Vision to a professional eco-system in Vietnam yacht industry, where all of distinguished services are served in One-stop Shop.

THE SEA WITH NO RESTRAINTS

Beneteau is one of the oldest brands in the world, founded in 1884, starting as a sailing shipyard for fishing in France. Today, Beneteau reaches out to the world with 8 collections in 2 lines of motorboats and sailboats.

WE CREATE FREEDOM 

Established in a small seaside town off the coast of France, Lagoon - the world's largest multihull builder with 5800 catamarans produced since 1984, specializes in modern sailing catamarans that are suitable for both coastal and offshore sailing. A global history of superior performance, quality, and comfort.

TIMELESS LUXURY 

The leading group of the world – owned the largest network producing megayachts and luxury yachting sector, yet Azimut has constantly innovated technology and refined each product.

THE BEGINNING OF NEW ERA

Saxdor was created by Sakari Mattila - the creative visionary and the brain behind each company’s business model. Founded 4 successfully established brands and get international awarded: Axopar, XO-boat, Paragon and Aquador.

Saxdor brand name meaning: S = Sakari, AX = AXopar, DOR = AquaDOR.

KEEP EXPLORING

120 years of experience and inventor of the inflatable boat, Zodiac Nautic offers products with exceptional resistance and reliability thanks to the materials and processes with cutting-edge technology.

DAY CHARTER CATAMARANS DESIGNED FOR PROFESSIONALS

Ocean Voyager is the world leader for day charter catamaran, producing a range of 7 boats from 53T.

NAVIGATE WITH NO CONSTRAINTS 

The Iguana was founded on one man’s desire to enjoy boating without constraints. A boat which does not need to be anchored, berthed, or trailered is a boat that can be enjoyed anytime anywhere.

FREEDOM TO DISCOVER

Kepler boats exemplify a perfect fusion of cost-effectiveness and functionality, backed by thorough evaluations from marine experts and a comprehensive series of customer surveys conducted to understand the specific needs of Vietnamese clients. This careful process gave rise to the Kepler brand.

Stay Connected

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Inside Vietnam: A yacht industry rising

BY Andrew Dembina on 9 Sep 2022

In a youthful phase of its pleasure-boating development, Vietnam’s interest in yacht ownership, charter and infrastructure is on the rise, say those in the industry there

Vietyacht motoryachts at Halong Bay

In just over a decade, the progress in the leisure-boating lifestyle has made significant inroads in Vietnam. This followed a period where purchases were often made between would-be owners and brokers or manufacturers based regionally, or potentially even further away.

One of the first private yachts imported into this new era was a Sunseeker 60 in 2007. However, with high taxes for private ownership – comprising a 30 per cent luxury goods levy for private ownership, up to 10 per cent import tax (depending on the place of origin for the purchase), and VAT of 10 per cent – alongside strict qualification requirements for captains, and a dearth in berths, the uptake has been slow.

But within this developing market, inroads are being made to bring international brands’ yachts to potential owners and charter clients in Vietnam. Slowly but surely, marinas are being built, and boat shows are occasionally planned.

Read: Can Asia’s marina scene ever match the money?

A Jeanneau fleet at Vietyacht Club marina, Halong Bay

Vietyacht , established in 2015, has spent years conducting thorough research on the domestic yacht market needs and preferences. As a result, the firm swiftly developed a solid understanding of the brands already proving popular in Vietnam and the ones it felt would be suitable for owners there.

By 2017 Vietyacht became the country’s exclusive distributor for Jeanneau Yachts and Prestige motoryachts – both brands within the French Beneteau Group.

“We knew Vietnam had no real yacht market, so we knew we’d have to have to help make it” – Salem Huong, vice president, Vietyacht and chairwoman, Vietyacht Club

“From then, things moved on smoothly,” says Salem Huong, vice president & CMO of Vietyacht. “Right afterwards, a brand-new Leader 36 [Jeanneau motoryacht] was imported to Vietnam in August 2017, and Vietyacht prepared to set up a yacht club in Ha Long Bay.”

The Vietyacht Club charter company opened in the vicinity of Ha Long Bay – the famous Unesco World Heritage Site, strewn with limestone islands, is a popular travel and yacht-cruising destination in Quảng Ninh Province. In 2018, Vietyacht became the sole distributor for Fountaine Pajot. In 2019, it launched a new company named Luxyacht – dedicated to exclusively distributing three Ferretti Group brands: Ferretti Yachts, Pershing and Riva, within the country.

Salem Huong of Vietyacht, at a Jeanneau Yacht delivery ceremony for real-estate client FLC

That busy year saw Vietyacht Club getting regular bookings for its three Jeanneau charter boats: a Leader 36, a Leader 40, and an NC14. And last year, Vietyacht became a national distributor for conventional-engine and electric Alfastreet Marine speedboats, from Slovenia. “From our launch time, we have distributed 60 boats and yachts in Vietnam,” Huong said in August.

For her, maritime pursuits were inevitable. “I was born in the dormitory of the Shipbuilding school at The Central College of Transport No.2 in Haiphong,” she says. “My mother was a ship-engine teacher, and my father was a hull teacher. So when I was a toddler, I knew what the tides were like; I knew what it was to launch a ship. I lived happily and grew up in the midst of iron and steel, welding wires, oxygen tanks, grease; by 18, I’d witnessed the launch of no less than 200 ships of all kinds.”

After 10 years abroad at university and working, “the ocean called me back, and I worked for a logistics company which handled cargo – especially marine equipment, and this helped teach me more on how a vessel is built,” she continues. “Doing business in this field for a long time with Duc Thuan Nguyen – now the president of Vietyacht, we dreamed of opening our own company. We knew Vietnam had no real yacht market, so we knew we’d help make it.”

This year, Nguyen and Huong have written many of the country’s premier resorts and companies into their order book. Luxyacht saw a Ferretti 500 sold this year – to be delivered at the beginning of 2023. “On the delivery day, we will make a big event,” says Huong – maybe at the boat show we are planning for Vietyacht and LuxYacht.

Ana Marina in Nha Trang under construction in 2017, as Ruurd van Putten (right) casts a consultant’s eye

Starting work in the country from the beginning of its pleasure-yachting era, native Dutchman Ruurd van Putten has been based in Nha Trang in the centre of Vietnam for 15 years. He is currently the owner and managing director of Anchor Management, which provides consultancy and management services for marinas, waterfront developments and sustainable solutions in Vietnam – and Southeast Asia. He is also a representative for Marinetek , which builds floating structures for marinas.

Van Putten has an excellent overview of Vietnam’s yachting progress, having spent a lot of time in various niche areas of it. He’s been a broker – including a period of establishing Princess Yachts in Vietnam (his last sale was an F62 in 2020) – worked in yacht management, and acted as an agent / trouble-shooter for visiting yachts.

He is also a consultant for pre-construction and the early-building period of marinas. Having worked as a captain and as a marina manager and broker at Huizer Marina in the Netherlands, Van Putten’s first forays in Vietnam were in the tourist and expat charter area and importing sailing boats.

Ruurd van Putten, founder of Anchor Management, at work on the early phase of Ana Marina in Nha Trang

“We started to train crew, and with the Russian tourist boom from 2007 to 2008, this allowed us to increase our operations and fleet,” he explains.

As the demand for yachts increased, it soon became clear that some potential owners were keen to buy yachts but didn’t know where to keep them, Van Putten observed back then. “Questions on maintaining them and getting a crew for them were also issues,” he adds. “It was a chicken and egg situation for marinas and investors – if there are not enough yachts to fill them, is it worth the risk?

“There are still only a select few who have the buying power to own a yacht – and they are interested in luxury motoryachts, with a popular size of 10 to 15m.”

“We have the opportunity to build new marinas where we can build them to the latest standards. This would be an opportunity for Vietnam to be very progressive” – Ruurd van Putten, owner-director, Anchor Management, Nha Trang

With a yacht purchase unattainable to many, the market for day charters is growing well, and this has a knock-on effect of creating an increasing demand for water-sports equipment and other marine toys in the country.

Ana Marina taking shape in its first phase

Van Putten is currently focused on marina development in Vietnam and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, and that’s taken him into the area of sustainable solutions.

“Vietnam is developing its yachting scene – discussing the issues around marinas and yachts, like electric propulsion, plastic reduction,” he says. “It would be a good way forward, where we have the opportunity to build new marinas, if we can build them to the latest standards. This would be a chance for Vietnam to be very progressive.”

Ana Marina, which is still not yet in its final phase of completion, has engaged some local communities with introductory sailing and boating for children who would not usually get the chance to experience it.

Right now, he is working in the pre-development consultations of three marinas in Vietnam, just as he did with Nha Trang’s Ana Marina during its first phase. Van Putten helped engage the services and liaise with some of the top European marina design, engineering works and other solution providers, to produce what was really the country’s first world-class facility.

Van Putten says that some big developers are showing interest in residential marina projects and waterfront properties with docks.

Michael Aumock

Of the latter format, Michael Aumock, American former general manager of Ana Marina – now founder of The Halong Bay Company , specialising in marina design, development and operations in Vietnam and Asia, also a yacht and commercial vessel construction supervisor, with a background in luxury lifestyle sales, including private jets and cars – is currently working on completion of a new private villa complex in the Danang area. Located on a riverside two kilometres from Danang Bay, with a private dock and mooring in front of each residence, phase one is due for completion in early 2023.

Aumock is co-founder and director of the “Dock & Home” project. “Some clients already have yachts, and others are asking us to source them,” he says. “We’re offering contracts for the boats that include crew and maintenance.”

Tam Son Yachting team, including Vu Tran (far left) and its founder Doan Viet Dai Tu (fourth from left)

Tam Son Yachting (TSY), the other key international yacht brand dealership with a service and maintenance yard for yachts up to 100ft (30.5m), is based in Ho Chi Minh and was launched in 2017. The company is part of Openasia Group, which specialises in luxury retail and exclusive distribution of luxury brands, products and services in Vietnam (including Hermès, Patek Phillipe, Vacheron Constantin, Audi, B&O and others). Initially, Tam Son Yachting became the exclusive dealer for a mix of motor- and sailing yachts, with Beneteau, Lagoon, Monte Carlo Yacht and Zodiac Nautic brands. This grew to include Azimut Yachts, Iguana, Ocean Voyager and Saxdor .

Another boat brand, Kepler, will soon join the portfolio – developed by TSY and produced in Vietnam. “Based on the experience of Openasia Group with luxury craftsmanship, we aim to build a product for Vietnamese clients with high-quality finishing and affordability,” says Vu Tran, TSY sales and marketing manager. It’s hoped the first model – an 8.5m semi-rib boat – will launch in the last quarter of this year, followed by a motor catamaran in late 2023.

“We felt there is a lack of supply from the world’s top brand for small boats – a rising trend for Vietnam,” he adds. “Also, we have good connections with resorts in Vietnam; locally built high-quality boats can be used for their transportation, sports and rescue needs.”

The first Vietnam Kepler brand model from Tam Son Yachting is an 8.5m semi-rib boat, which is hoped to launch in the last quarter of this year, followed by a motor catamaran in late 2023

TSY was the main exhibitor in the Saigon Yacht Show 2021, bringing its fleet of seven yachts, from monohulls to catamarans, to this first yacht show in Vietnam. Before the end of 2022, as TSY celebrates its fifth anniversary, it will hold a yacht show. “Right now, we have a fleet of more than 40 boats between eight and 25m,” says Tran.

A charter division of TSY is in development, in cooperation with high-end partners, such as drinks distributor Diageo, to create events that combine yachting and ‘lifestyle’ experiences. TSY owns two marinas in Ho Chi Minh City and nearby Dong Nai province and plans to open a further five in Ho Chi Minh’s other provinces in 2023 and 2024.

However, hopes remain high among those APB spoke to on the domestic scene. Huong says, “Some potential buyers have not bought yet because there are so few marinas or other docking, and these can be far from their homes. We expect Vietnam will have marinas at all our beach cities within about three years.”

All interviewed here said that while no boating association exists in Vietnam (where there are strict rules on forming organisations), local boating communities do mention this. It is hoped that it won’t be long before one is established.

A note to potential yacht visitors  

International cruising into Vietnamese waters is something to consider carefully: for foreign-flagged yachts wanting to enter, the procedure is not so easy.

“You are only allowed to enter official seaports with Customs, Immigration and other official offices – and then to travel between these,” says Ruurd Van Putten of Anchor Management in Nha Trang. “So you have to switch your itinerary to fit these ports. It is possible to submit a cruising plan – but time has to be allowed for this. And we have advised on this for visitors.

“All vessels entering Vietnam from overseas are treated the same – whether a yacht, a cargo ship, a tanker or other type. Also, captains and crew certificates of competence are very carefully checked.”

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Bayesian captain ‘investigated for manslaughter’ as probe into sinking of superyacht off Sicily continues

British tech tycoon mike lynch, his daughter hannah and five others killed when their yacht capsized in a storm, article bookmarked.

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The captain of the Bayesian is being investigated for manslaughter and shipwreck , a judicial source has said, as the probe into the sinking of the superyacht in a storm off Sicily continues.

Italian prosecutors have placed James Cutfield under investigation over the deaths of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and six other people , the official, who asked not to be named, told Reuters on Monday, confirming earlier reports by Italian media.

Being placed under investigation in Italy does not imply guilt and does not mean formal charges will necessarily follow. Notices to people under investigation need to be sent out before authorities can carry out the autopsies on the bodies of the dead.

The decision was made after Mr Cutfield, 51, was interrogated for the second time in a week on Sunday.

The New Zealand national previously said of the storm: “We didn’t see it coming.”

It is still unclear whether other members of the crew or other people will be put under investigation along with the captain.

The British-flagged Bayesian , a 56m-long (184ft) yacht, was carrying 22 passengers and crew when it capsized and sank on 19 August within minutes of being hit by a pre-dawn storm while anchored near the Sicilian capital of Palermo .

Fifteen people survived, including Mr Lynch’s wife Angela Bacares, whose company owned the Bayesian , while Mr Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah was among the seven who died.

While the vessel had been hit by a sudden meteorological event, it was plausible that crimes of multiple manslaughter and causing a shipwreck through negligence had been committed, the head of the public prosecutor’s office of Termini Imerese, Ambrogio Cartosio, said on Saturday.

Maritime law gives a captain full responsibility for the ship, crew, and all on board.

“The Bayesian was built to go to sea in any weather,” Franco Romani, a nautical architect who was part of the team that designed the boat, told the Italian daily La Stampa in an interview published on Monday.

He said the yacht could have taken on water from a side hatch that was left open.

Prosecutors in Termini Imerese did not respond to calls to confirm the reports they are probing the captain.

On Saturday, chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio confirmed an investigation has been launched but said a suspect has not been identified.

He said his team will consider each possible element of responsibility, including the captain, the crew, individuals in charge of supervision, and the yacht’s manufacturer.

Investigators are focusing on how a vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailing boat remained largely unscathed.

Prosecutors said the event was “extremely rapid” and could have been a “downburst” – a localised, powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm and spreads out rapidly upon hitting the ground.

The crew were saved, apart from the chef, Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, 58, while six passengers were trapped in the hull.

Mr Lynch and Hannah were killed alongside Morgan Stanley chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judith Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Christopher Morvillo, and his wife Neda Morvillo.

Tributes have been paid to those who died in the disaster.

Sasha Murray, the chief stewardess of the Bayesian , who is understood to have been among the 15 people rescued from the yacht, described Hannah as a “diamond in a sea of stars”. In her tribute released over the weekend, Ms Murray added: “What most people may not have seen was the extraordinarily strong, deep and loving relationship she shared with her parents, whom she adored more than anything.”

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Billionaire Yacht Was Piloted Recklessly Before Deadly Sinking, Its Builder Warns

"everything that has been done reveals a very long sum of errors.".

The builder of the sunken superyacht owned by British billionaire Mike Lynch, who died with six others after the vessel went down earlier this week , is blaming an "endless chain of errors" for the maritime disaster.

Flying under a British flag, the 184 foot Bayesian was built in 2008 by Italian builders Perini Navi and should've been "unsinkable" had proper procedures been followed, argues Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the yacht manufacturer.

"Everything that has been done reveals a very long sum of errors," Costantino told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera in an interview, as translated by People . "The people should not have been in the cabins, the boat should not have been at anchor. And then why didn't the crew know about the incoming disturbance?"

Red Sky at Morning

An investigation into the sinking is ongoing. It's believed that a small waterspout , or a waterborne tornado, struck the vessel as it was anchored off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, around 5 am local time on Monday, according to  CNN .

At some point after encountering the fierce winds, the ship's towering mast — the second tallest aluminum mast in the world — snapped, before the vessel appears to have capsized and sank with 22 people on board.

Costantino argues — pretty bluntly, we have to say — that the crew and passengers should've anticipated the stormy conditions.

"The passengers reported an absurd thing, namely that the storm came unexpected, suddenly," he said in the interview, per People . "It's not true. Everything was predictable. I have the weather charts in front of me here. Nothing came suddenly."

"Ask yourself, why was no fisherman from Porticello out that night?" he added. "A fisherman reads the weather conditions and a ship doesn't? The disturbance was fully readable in all the weather charts."

Batten Down

Their errors didn't end there, according to Costantino, who said in the interview that there would've been "zero risk" had the right maneuvers been made.

The captain and crew, he further explained to the New York Times , should've turned on the engine, lifted anchor, steered the boat into the wind, and lowered the keel for extra stability, while the passengers should've been gathered in the deck's main hall.

Another precaution would be shutting all the doors and hatches on the ship's side and stern. Costantino claimed that the Bayesian could list, or tilt to one side, to 75 degrees without capsizing, and shouldn't have sunk. But if some of those doors and hatches were left open, he told NYT , the ship could've taken on water too quickly.

As it stands, it's unclear how many of these procedures were executed. The ship's captain, James Cutfield, survived the ordeal and was questioned by authorities, but has not spoken to the media.

It's worth noting that Costantino's arguments could be seen as trying to exonerate his company of any wrongdoing. That being said, the speed at which a vessel of Bayesian's size and reputation sank has stunned sailors and investigators , who are trying to understand why most of the crew survived while six passengers perished.

More on nautical terrors: Orcas Strike Again, Sinking Yacht as Oil Tanker Called for Rescue

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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.

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Live updates: Seven dead in 56m superyacht Bayesian sinking tragedy

Seven people have died in the Bayesian sinking disaster. These include the six missing people who were inside the yacht when it sank, as well as a seventh person who was located shortly after the disaster. The seventh person is understood to be the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas. The other six are:

• British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, once dubbed 'Britain's Bill Gates'
• Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah
• Morgan Stanley's chairman, Jonathan Bloomer
• Judy Bloomer, wife of Morgan Stanley chairman
• Chris Morvillo, a lawyer working for London-based law firm Clifford Chance
• Neda Morvillo, an American jewellery designer and Chris' wife

It is understood that the yacht was being used to celebrate Lynch's recent victory in a 13-year £8 billion fraud acquittal.

No one remembers the mast snapping before 56m superyacht Bayesian sunk, says crew

No one recalls seeing the mast snap on board the 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian which sank off the Italian island of Sicily on 19 August. The eyewitness account of a crewmember on board the vessel, which was obtained by BOAT International , said that the boat was struck by a freak weather event which led to the yacht heeling at around 20 degrees to starboard. As crewmembers were securing items, the heeling angle began to increase rapidly until the yacht started taking on water and sank rapidly.

The crewmembers who were up on deck were able to evacuate the yacht with minor injuries. The yacht is understood to have sunk in just twelve minutes, and it is believed that a "major ingress" of water from the top down would have caused the sinking, according to a captain who wishes to remain anonymous. This is based on the fact that no breaches have been reported in the yacht's hull, and the fact that the yacht should have been able to remain afloat with two flooded compartments.

"Very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" says captain of sistership

The captain of the sistership to the sunken 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian has said it is "very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" and called the 56-metre Perini Navi series "bulletproof".

David Hutchinson, captain of Rosehearty , said he had taken the yacht around the world multiple times and he had "total faith in the boat".  "We've been to Antarctica and Chile, and we've had her in 70 knots of wind," he says, and the vessel had never put them in a situation that felt unmanageable.

However, Hutchinson noted there were differences between Bayesian and Rosehearty ; notably, Bayesian's  74-metre mast, which would have been heavier and added increased windage. The yacht's layout was also different, with guest accommodation on Bayesian located further forward.

Live updates

• During a news conference on Saturday morning (24 August), prosecutors confirmed they are in the early stages of investigating a "crime hypothesis" of culpable shipwreck and manslaughter. Authorities also said the yacht likely sunk because of a downburst (powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm), rather than a waterspout.
• A search and rescue for six missing people has concluded. The final missing person is understood to be Hannah Lynch. 
• According to Reuters, six bodies have now been found in the sunken yacht. These include Mike Lynch, a British technology entrepreneur who co-founded Autonomy Corporation and founded Invoke Capital, although Italian authorities have not confirmed this.  
• One person was found immediately after the yacht sunk, and this is understood to be the yacht's chef. 
• Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, and a one-year-old are among the fifteen people rescued along with Bayesian' s captain, James Cutfield.
• Another sailing vessel in the area, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell ,  stepped in to offer assistance in the initial rescue.
• Divers have been able to reach Bayesian' s sunken hull, which lies at 45 metres of depth about half a mile from the coast. The yacht had the largest aluminium masts of any sailing yacht on the water.
• Eyewitnesses in the area reported "hurricane" conditions off the coast but local weather websites did not indicate any severe squall, which suggests that the weather event was not forecast.
• At around 5am local time on 19 August, Bayesian was hit by bad weather and sunk.  The sailing yacht was anchored or idle at the time of the incident.

Built in Italy by renowned builder Perini Navi and delivered in 2008, the yacht's naval architecture was developed by Ron Holland Design while the interior design is by Rémi Tessier . She was formerly known as Salute and was last refitted in 2016. She was listed for sale earlier this year, according to BOATPro . The yacht had accommodation for nine guests and 12 crew.

BOAT International will update the story as it develops.

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Five bodies found inside superyacht that sank off Sicily

PORTICELLO, Sicily — Divers recovered four bodies Wednesday from inside a superyacht that sank in a sudden storm off Sicily , Salvatore Cocina, director of the island's Civil Protection Agency, confirmed to NBC News.

Cocina later confirmed to Sky News that a fifth body had been found and was being brought to shore. One passenger remains missing.

The identities of the bodies were not immediately released. Their recovery follows a dayslong search in the deep waters off Italy where British tech tycoon Mike Lynch  and several others were believed to be trapped in the hull. Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived.

The rest had been missing since early Monday, when the Bayesian was caught in the storm anchored off the coast of Porticello, a village near the Sicilian capital city, Palermo.

The body of the ship’s cook, identified as Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian Antiguan national, was recovered Monday. 

On Wednesday, NBC News witnessed what appeared to be at least three body bags being lifted from fire department boats after they pulled into port at Porticello. It was unclear whose bodies they were. Some were later transferred to ambulances and driven away from the dock.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, are also missing. 

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was among the survivors rescued by a nearby vessel after they got into a lifeboat.

Built by the Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered yacht could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist boating sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters.  

Regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” Lynch was  acquitted of fraud by a San Francisco jury this year, stemming from the sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion in 2011.

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who brought Bloomer, who testified in his defense, and Morvillo, one of his U.S. lawyers, on the trip.

Lynch's co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain was not aboard the Bayesian, but in what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a  car struck and killed  him Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

Claudio Lavanga and Claudia Rizzo reported from Porticello. Henry Austin reported from London.

Claudio Lavanga is Rome-based foreign correspondent for NBC News.

Claudia Rizzo is an Italy based journalist.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

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

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

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Friday 23 August 2024 12:24, UK

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

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

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

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

What might have caused the sinking?

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

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

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

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

"I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that," he said.

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

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

What are waterspouts?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who owns the yacht?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who was on board when the boat sank?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do we know about the vessel?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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What were its last movements?

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

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

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

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

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

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• Superyacht sinking