motor yacht 007

• Weird But True
• Sex & Relationships
• Viral Trends
• Human Interest
• Fashion & Beauty
• Food & Drink

trending now in Lifestyle

These alcoholic drinks can raise the risk of gout, a painful type...

I'm a doctor — these are 3 daily supplements I swear by for...

Drug gang busted after smuggling cocaine worth millions in...

Most dangerous cosmetic surgeries revealed — one has a 92% risk...

Horrific scan shows the disturbing effects of undercooked pork on...

Museum opens nudist exhibit — for visitors who also go...

I'm a nutrition doctor — here's who should take magnesium...

Passenger ripped for baking sourdough bread on flight: 'That’s...

Video captures the moment 160-foot ‘007’ superyacht sinks in greece.

Sunken but not stirred.

Footage captured the calamitous moment that a massive superyacht named “007” sank — with five passengers inside — in Greece

The maritime disaster occurred Friday night after the 160-foot vessel, which reportedly sails under a British flag but is owned by a Swiss businessman, experienced a GPS malfunction off Kythos Island, SWNS reported. This reportedly prompted the captain to bring it closer to shore than was advisable.

As a result, the James Bond-themed luxury boat hit the rocks, and began taking on water with five passengers inside.

“In trying not to be sunk, he sailed closer to shore, in less than 10 meters depth — and that’s how the ship got to that position,” explained a boat owner who witnessed the catastrophe.

Accompanying footage, uploaded to YouTube, shows the swanky vessel, which sports a helipad, lying half-sunken on its side around 50 feet from the nearby Kolona Beach.

Thankfully, all five passengers were rescued and transported to safety before the “007” sank. “No people were hurt,” described the aforementioned eyewitness. “The coastguard was immediately aware and sent help in the night.”

Rescuers also erected an anti-pollution perimeter in the area, although there was reportedly “no diesel leakage or damage to the scenery,” the bystander said.

Local authorities will launch a probe into the sinking of the “007,” which was delivered in 2006 by the Bodrum-based shipyard Aegean Yacht, but whose owner remains unknown.

Along with a helipad, the superyacht reportedly boasts five cabins, including a master suite, and can reportedly sleep ten people.

This isn’t the first time a luxury vessel has visited Davy Jones’ locker of late. Last month, heart-pounding footage emerged of a 130-foot superyacht capsizing and sinking stern-first into the water off the Italian coast.

In February, a Ukrainian man was arrested for partially sinking his Russian tycoon boss’s $7.7 million luxury super yacht in Spain in protest over the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Advertisement

• Nautic Shows
• America’s Cup
• Classic Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Superyachts
• Yachts News
• Destinations
• Yacht Clubs
• Boat Racing
• Meta Yachts

You could say that 2022 has not been a good year for superyachts in general, and you wouldn’t be completely off the mark. In between seizures and legal complications, and what seems like an increased number of totaling incidents, superyacht-watching has definitely gotten more… dramatic this past year.

We can now add another incident to that ever-growing list: 007, a superyacht delivered by Aegean Yachts in 2006, has sunk after running aground off the coast of Greece. It happened on Friday night (September 2), with reports in the local  media  saying that the captain hit rocks under the surface of the water.

The ship is now almost completely submerged in Kolona Bay in Kythnos, in the Cyclades island chain in Greece, only some 15 meters (49.2 feet) from the beach. The Greek Coast Guard has confirmed the incident but, for the time being, it can’t speak on the circumstances surrounding it – and for very good reason, since an investigation into the cause is still underway.

The good news is that the five people onboard the vessel were rescued by the Coast Guard and transported to safety. The other piece of good news is that Coast Guard personnel was able to contain the superyacht with a floating sea wall, and there have been no reports of pollution as of the time of press. Given the location of the wreck, it is very likely that a recovery operation will be attempted.

The captain called in for help after running aground, as the ship started taking on water. Shortly afterwards, 007 listed on the port side, and eventually capsized. Photos and videos have emerged on social media showing the extent of the damage, and you will find some of them included in this article.

007 is a 49-meter (160-foot) superyacht that wasn’t available for charter, but was often described as the perfect family boat. Initially delivered as a 32-meter (105-footer) under the name Royal Enterprise, at the Bodrum shipyard in Turkey, it’s been through several refits, which have contributed to its current explorer-like, more aggressive silhouette. These refits included a lengthening of the hull to 49 meters (160 feet), adding another deck, and a small touch-and-go helipad on top.

With a design by Yavuz Mete, 007 offered accommodation for 10 guests and 5 crew. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines that developed a total of 1,300 hp, it could travel at a top speed of 12 knots (13.8 mph / 22.2 kph). None of that matters now, as it’s come to what could possibly be its end on the rocky shore of Greece.

• Superyacht 007
• superyachts

RELATED ARTICLES

Zuckerberg buys $300 million russian superyacht, megayacht a cost italy 18 million euros and it will still cost, sergei naumenko, owner of phi, unsuccessful in appeal against yacht’s detention, nancy walton’s $300 million megayacht ‘kaos’ seeks safe haven in monaco after vandalism threats, millionaire’s abandoned, capsized 007 superyacht finally refloated, draft law proposes banning internal combustion charter boats in balearic islands from 2030.

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

LATEST ARTICLES

Artemis returns to the america’s cup: the swedish team eyes a comeback amid millionaire penalties, editor picks, nautic magazine and duward watches announce prestigious collaboration: introducing the aquastar summer sailing 2024 bcn edition, canadian beau lake introduces the tahoe ’14 and lugano ’14 electric runabouts, underwater adventure and exploration with deepflight’s super falcon 3s, popular posts, mirabaud sailing video of the century: celebrating 2 decades of passion, young designer of the year 2022: ioana valentina corcodel reveals 65m ophelia concept, the nacra15 world championships open in la grande motte, france, popular category.

• Regatta 837
• America's Cup 483
• Motor Yachts 264
• Boating 220
• Superyachts 190
• Sailing 183
• Yachts News 174
• Sailing Yachts 167

By SuperyachtNews 05 Sep 2022

49m 007 sinks in Greece

The 2006 aegean superyacht currently sits semi-submerged after hitting rocks, with no loss of life reported….

49m motor yacht 007   has been reported sunk in Greece. The incident occurred near the Greek island of Kythnos over the weekend of 3/4th September. Local news outlets have reported that the Syros Port Authority has attended the scene and no injuries or loss of life have been recorded. The vessel apparently hit rocks after navigating into the bay at night. 

The below clip shows the vessel in its semi-submerged state, with MARPOL anti-pollution barriers surrounding it. It has been reported by local media that it is not leaking pollutants at this stage. 

A full statement from the Greek Coast Guard says:

In the evening hours of Friday, the Port Authority of Kythnos received information from the Unified Center for the Coordination of Search and Rescue Operations Λ.Σ.-ΕΛ.ΑΚΤ. five foreign passengers. The vessel Ε/Π σκάφος “ΔΕΛΤΑ ΙΙ” Τ.Σαρωνικού 4760 rushed to the area with an employee of the relevant port authority on board, where it found the above vessel half-submerged, at a distance of about 15 meters from the western side of the sandy beach of Kolonas Bay. The passengers, all in good health, were transferred to a support boat and then taken to the port of Merihas. The port of Kythnos is conducting a preliminary investigation, and no pollution of the marine environment has been observed since the incident.

007 was delivered in 2006 by Bodrum-based shipyard Aegean Yachts, at an LOA of 32m. Subsequently, it underwent multiple refits to extend its LOA to 49m. None of these extensions were undertaken at the Aegean yard. 

Profile links

Aegean Yacht (Previous)

Join the discussion

To post comments please Sign in or Register

When commenting please follow our house rules

Click here to become part of The Superyacht Group community, and join us in our mission to make this industry accessible to all, and prosperous for the long-term. We are offering access to the superyacht industry’s most comprehensive and longstanding archive of business-critical information, as well as a comprehensive, real-time superyacht fleet database, for just £10 per month, because we are One Industry with One Mission. Sign up here .

Related news

39m superyacht sinks off the coast of Italy

All crew members have been rescued without serious injury…

New 44m superyacht catches fire in Formentera

The new ISA superyacht Aria SF, which was delivered just last month, was expected to make its debut at Cannes Yacht Show

Another week, another fire

Instead of searching for specific factors to blame, the time is right to reflect on safety across the industry

Fire causes 33m superyacht to sink in Ibiza

It has been reported that the fire began in the engine room, fortunately, no injuries have been reported

VIDEO: 49m S/Y Eleonora E sinks following collision with supply vessel

No injuries reported after Eleonora E is struck by a 60m supply vessel in Port Tarraco

2 years ago

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

Receive unrivalled market intelligence, weekly headlines and the most relevant and insightful journalism directly to your inbox.

Sign up to the SuperyachtNews Bulletin

The superyachtnews app.

Follow us on

Media Pack Request

Please select exactly what you would like to receive from us by ticking the boxes below:

SuperyachtNews.com

Register to comment

Please use a modern browser to view this website. Some elements might not work as expected when using Internet Explorer.

• Landing Page
• Luxury Yacht Vacation Types
• Corporate Yacht Charter
• Tailor Made Vacations
• Luxury Exploration Vacations
• View All 3698
• Motor Yachts
• Sailing Yachts
• Classic Yachts
• Catamaran Yachts
• Filter By Destination
• More Filters
• Latest Reviews
• Charter Special Offers
• Destination Guides
• Inspiration & Features
• Mediterranean Charter Yachts
• France Charter Yachts
• Italy Charter Yachts
• Croatia Charter Yachts
• Greece Charter Yachts
• Turkey Charter Yachts
• Bahamas Charter Yachts
• Caribbean Charter Yachts
• Australia Charter Yachts
• Thailand Charter Yachts
• Dubai Charter Yachts
• Destination News
• New To Fleet
• Charter Fleet Updates
• Special Offers
• Industry News
• Yacht Shows
• Corporate Charter
• Finding a Yacht Broker
• Charter Preferences
• Questions & Answers
• Add my yacht

View More Photos

• Luxury Charter Yachts
• Motor Yachts for Charter
• Amenities & Toys
• Rates & Regions
• + Shortlist

007 YACHT CHARTER

14.78m  /  48'6   sunseeker   2013 / 2017.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

Special Features:

• Cruising speed of 32 knots
• Sleeps 2 guests
• Shallow draft and fast speeds for reef exploration

Lap up the natural splendor of your surroundings in the utmost comfort onboard motor yacht 007

The 14.78m/48'6" motor yacht '007' by the British shipyard Sunseeker offers flexible accommodation for up to 2 guests in 1 cabins.

If you're looking for a family-friendly yacht with plenty of onboard amenities, 007 is the perfect choice, promising superb charter vacations whatever the destination.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 2013, 007 offers guest accommodation for up to 2 guests in 1 suites comprising a master suite. There are 1 beds in total, including 1 double. She is also capable of carrying up to 1 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

007 benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter such as Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to stay connected at all times, should you wish. You can stay comfortable on board whatever the weather, with air conditioning during your charter.

Performance & Range

007 comfortably cruises at 32 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 40 knots. With a shallow draft of 0.81m/2'8" 007 can anchor closer to coves and sheltered bays overnight.

007 has a good selection of water toys and accessories to entertain you and your guests whilst on charter. Principle among these are F5S SEABOBs, that allow you to skim along the surface or steer under the crystal water and see a variety of aquatic sea life. If that isn't enough 007 also features paddleboards and snorkelling equipment.

A charter on motor yacht 007 will offer you a week of unforgettable family memories

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for 007, please provide .

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment 007 has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

007 is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'007' Charter Rates & Destinations

Please contact your charter broker for a quote or check availability .

Charter 007

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

Update your yacht

Yacht Owner, Captain or Central Agents - Send us latest Photos, Charter Rates or Corrections Send Updates

NOTE to U.S. Customs & Border Protection

Specification

• Share on Facebook
• Share Yacht

Featured Luxury Yachts for Charter

This is a small selection of the global luxury yacht charter fleet, with 3698 motor yachts, sail yachts, explorer yachts and catamarans to choose from including superyachts and megayachts, the world is your oyster. Why search for your ideal yacht charter vacation anywhere else?

136m | Lurssen

from $4,446,000 p/week ♦︎

115m | Lurssen

from $2,893,000 p/week ♦︎

85m | Golden Yachts

from $1,000,000 p/week ♦︎

88m | Golden Yachts

from $1,223,000 p/week ♦︎

84m | Feadship

from $1,111,000 p/week ♦︎

93m | Feadship

from $1,556,000 p/week ♦︎

Maltese Falcon

88m | Perini Navi

from $490,000 p/week

122m | Lurssen

from $3,000,000 p/week

As Featured In

The YachtCharterFleet Difference

YachtCharterFleet makes it easy to find the yacht charter vacation that is right for you. We combine thousands of yacht listings with local destination information, sample itineraries and experiences to deliver the world's most comprehensive yacht charter website.

San Francisco

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Twitter
• Follow us on Instagram
• Find us on LinkedIn
• Add My Yacht
• Affiliates & Partners

Popular Destinations & Events

• St Tropez Yacht Charter
• Monaco Yacht Charter
• St Barts Yacht Charter
• Greece Yacht Charter
• Mykonos Yacht Charter
• Caribbean Yacht Charter

Featured Charter Yachts

• Maltese Falcon Yacht Charter
• Wheels Yacht Charter
• Victorious Yacht Charter
• Andrea Yacht Charter
• Titania Yacht Charter
• Ahpo Yacht Charter

Receive our latest offers, trends and stories direct to your inbox.

Please enter a valid e-mail.

Thanks for subscribing.

Search for Yachts, Destinations, Events, News... everything related to Luxury Yachts for Charter.

Yachts in your shortlist

The Best Yacht Concepts From Around The World

The Stunning Ritz Carlton EVRIMA Yacht

Gliding Across Tokyo’s Sumida River: The Mesmerizing Zipper Boat

CROCUS Yacht: An 48 Meter Beauty by Admiral

• Zuretti Interior Design
• Zuretti Interior
• Zuccon International Project
• Ziyad al Manaseer
• Zaniz Interiors. Kutayba Alghanim
• Yuriy Kosiuk
• Yuri Milner
• Yersin Yacht

• Superyachts

ELEGANT 007 Yacht – Epic 72.5m Superyacht

The ELEGANT 007 yacht measures 72.48 meters in length and is built by Kanellos Bros . This Greek shipyard creates the most modern yachts in an impressively short time, according to the highest quality standards.

She was formerly named RM Elegant and held the record for being the largest yacht ever constructed by Kanellos Bros.

With her sprawling interior spaces coupled with her significant outdoor areas, she is truly an epitome of luxury.

ELEGANT 007 Yacht interior

ELEGANT 007 yacht’s interior was designed by Lally Poulias . Lally Poulias Design produces dynamic places that embrace freedom, flexibility, and ease of comfort while always serving harmony and beauty, drawing inspiration from real craftsmanship skills.

Known as ‘The Party Boat’, her interior exudes a classic vibe with a touch of modern flair, making her the perfect setting for a special occasion or event.

ELEGANT 007 Yacht exterior

Her exterior was penned by Lally Poulias , one of the leading designers in the superyacht based in Greece, that has an impressive portfolio of yacht design.

The superyacht ELEGANT 007 features an unmistakable sleek and futuristic shape that turns heads wherever she travels.

Topped with a sun deck 250 square meters in size, she is ranked amongst the most elite yachts of her type in the industry.

ELEGANT 007 Yacht accommodation

The ELEGANT 007 has accommodations for up to 30 guests in a total of 15 suites.

It includes one master suite, one VIP cabin, and thirteen twin cabins. Each of these staterooms has a wide variety of entertainment facilities and is connected to the internet via Wi-Fi. 

In addition, she can accommodate up to 28 crew members, ensuring a pleasant and stress-free luxury yacht charter experience.

She is also equipped with an incredible selection of water toys and accessories like the Yamaha Waverunner, kneeboards, kayaks, bananas, water skis, wakeboards, and snorkeling equipment.

ELEGANT 007 Yacht specifications

This mega yacht has a beam of 12.0 meters, a draft of 3.45 meters, and a total volume of 1,541 GT. 

She was constructed with a steel hull and a steel superstructure, providing more space on board thanks to her full-displacement hull. 

She can comfortably cruise at 14 knots, can reach a maximum speed of 18 knots, and has a range of up to 3,300 nautical miles from her 180,140-liter fuel tanks when she is traveling at cruising speed. 

She is powered by twin Caterpillar engines and equipped with a stabilization system to ensure comfort while on a cruise.

ELEGANT 007 Yacht price

The 72.48m Kanellos Bros motor yacht Elegant 007 is currently not listed for sale.

Do you have anything to add to this listing?

• Caterpillar
• Redman Whiteley Dixon

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Love Yachts? Join us.

Related posts.

NINA J Yacht – Awesome $15 Million Superyacht

TATOOSH Yacht – The Impressive $110M Superyacht

GECO Yacht – Gorgeous 55.2m Superyacht

V6 Yacht – Luxurious $16 Million Superyacht

Find anything, super fast.

• Destinations
• Documentaries

Elegant 007

Motor Yacht

Elegant 007 is a custom motor yacht launched in 2005 by Lamda Nafs Shipyards , in Greece.

Elegant 007 measures 72.4 metres in length, with a max draft of 3.5 feet and a beam of 12 feet.

Elegant 007 has a steel hull.

Elegant 007 also features naval architecture by Nafpigiki Hellas & Co.

Performance and Capabilities

Elegant 007 has a top speed of 18.00 knots and a cruising speed of 14.50 knots. .

She also has a range of 3,300 nautical miles.

Accommodation

Elegant 007 accommodates up to 30 guests in 15 cabins. She also houses room for up to 28 crew members.

Other Specifications

Elegant 007 flies the flag of Greece.

• Yacht Builder Lamda Nafs Shipyards No profile available
• Naval Architect Nafpigiki Hellas & Co No profile available
• Exterior Designer Lally Poulias View profile
• Interior Designer Lally Poulias View profile

Yacht Specs

Other lamda nafss yacht, related news.

Advertisement

Supported by

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.

• Share full article

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

Crash of a Tupolev TU-154B-1 in Omsk: 178 killed

Macabre Twist in Shock Sinking of Missing Tech Billionaire’s Yacht

Mike Lynch is feared dead after his yacht sunk off the Italian coast—just days after his former VP was fatally struck by a car.

Josh Fiallo

Breaking News Reporter

Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/X/Reuters

Mysterious circumstances that preceded the sinking of billionaire Mike Lynch ’s yacht on Monday morning have left the internet abuzz with conspiracies.

That’s because Lynch’s ex-colleague and c0-defendant in a recently-closed U.S. fraud trial was fatally struck by a car on Saturday—two days before authorities say a tornado abruptly sunk Lynch’s yacht off the coast of Sicily. Both men were acquitted following the trial.

Stephen Chamberlain, the financial vice president of Autonomy during Lynch’s reign as CEO, was critically injured by a car that crashed into him as he was out for a jog on Saturday. He was placed on life support but succumbed to his injuries on Monday, his attorney Gary Lincenberg confirmed.

Police in Cambridgeshire said a blue Vauxhall Corsa struck a man in his 50s, now known to be Chamberlain, ultimately killing him. Officers said the unnamed woman who struck him, aged 49, remained at the crash site.

“He was a courageous man with unparalleled integrity,” said Lincenberg of Chamberlain. “We deeply miss him. Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family.”

Chamberlain stood trial alongside Lynch, 59, as they were charged with fraud in connection with the $11 billion sale of Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011—a case that ended with a San Francisco jury acquitting the men in June.

They faced more than 20 years in federal lock up had they been convicted.

Aboard Lynch’s ill-fated trip in his 184-foot sailing vessel Bayesian were the attorneys who’d led his defense against U.S. prosecutors. He’s now feared to be dead, along with five others who remained missing on Monday night.

Divers were dispatched to the sinking site of the Bayesian. Six people, including two Americans, remained unaccounted for by Monday night.

Reuters via handout

That tally includes Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, as well as one of his attorneys. Two Americans are also reportedly among the missing and another British national. Italian authorities said they’re still searching for those unaccounted for and that dive teams have been dispatched. The body of a Canadian chef has already been recovered from the vessel.

A lawyer aboard the Bayesian’s ill fated trip was the 36-year-old Ayla Ronald, the The Telegraph reported. Her father, Lin Ronald, said the trip was to celebrate Lynch’s acquittal.

Among the survivors of Monday’s tragedy was Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares. She told La Repubblica that she sustained abrasions to her feet during the chaos and is now unable to walk.

Witnesses of the Mediterranean storm told Italian news agency ANSA that the ship was anchored in front of the port of Porticello when a tornadic waterspout formed and struck the Bayesian. The vessel sank shortly after.

“I was at home when the tornado hit,” Pietro Asciutto, a local fisherman, told ANSA. “I immediately closed all the windows. Then I saw the boat, it had only one mast, it was very large. I saw it sink suddenly.”

The Bayesian, a 56-meter-long sailboat, was photographed (left) off the coast of Palermo just hours before sinking.

Baia Santa Nicolicchia/Fabio La Bianca

Fabio Cefalù, a trawler captain who was nearby, told the BBC that he went to where the Bayesian sunk not long after the waterspout passed. Within 10 minutes, all that remained of the vessel was a series of floating items from its deck. He said he saw no survivors in the water.

Loved ones of Lynch largely haven’t spoken out since his disappearance, possibly in hopes that he may miraculously reappear. Some reports have described the tech billionaire, who didn’t maintain a public social media presence, as admiring James Bond, building model railways, and breeding koi carp. He had a second daughter, aged 21, and six dogs, reported The Daily Mail .

“At the companies he ran, Lynch is said to have put his own personal stamp, indulging his penchant for James Bond,” reported The Guardian on Monday. “Conference rooms were reportedly named after Bond enemies, such as Dr No and Goldfinger, and Autonomy even had a piranha tank in the atrium, in a nod to the 007 caper You Only Live Twice.”

Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast  here .

READ THIS LIST