star yacht england

Pond Yacht Antiques

STAR PRODUCTIONS OF BIRKENHEAD

Star yachts "guaranteed to sail".

Star Productions were  founded by a First World War Belgian refugee Franz Marie Denye. Having worked in the  Liverpool dockyards during the war once hostilities ceased he set up Star  Yachts to manufacture a large range of wooden pond yachts and other children’s  toys. He and his family continued production until the compulsory purchase of  the factory forced closure in 1990.

The range of yachts and motor boats produced by Star was considerable in size and whilst there were many models  which were consistent throughout the 70 years others varied enormously. Many can only be described as seaside or bath  toys whereas others were serious sailing yachts made only to order. What makes  collecting Stars even more interesting is that it appears few records were kept  of many of these yachts. Sometimes this makes dating particular yachts  difficult. The situation is complicated further by the fact that Star also  produced  boats for other manufacturers for example fishing  boats for Lines Bros/Triang.

It is said that “imitation  is the sincerest form of flattery” so there is a certain irony in the fact that  following the demise of Star the Chinese started to reproduce some of the  models. These were sold both in this country and North America.

Arguably in 70 years  of the 20th century Star produced one of the largest ranges of Pond  Yachts in tremendous quality and quantity. They were sold by some of the largest  retailers such as Gamages and Bassett-Lowke and also by corner shops and  arcades in most of our seaside towns.

Star Yachts can now be found in antique shops and collections literally all over the world.

Exceptionally Rare 1930's Star Racing Cutter all Original-£775

Star Productions Pacific Star all original nr mint condition-£395

Star Productions Comet All original in very good condition -£435

Star Productions Meteorite all original and in mint condition -£450

Star Productions Planet mint in box-£395

1930's Star Productions Triang LB17 Fishing Smack -Under Offer

Star Productions Endeavour III original in Box -Sold

Star Endeavour II nr mint condition and totally original -Sold

Rare 1930's Star "Hollow" BR6 all Original-Sold

Star Endeavour II totally original -Sold

History

As is recounted in the brief paragraph at the head of page 2 of the , Star Yachts was founded in the years immediately following WWI by Franz Marie Denye, a Belgian refugee who had fled Belgium at the beginning of the war. Originally a builder of full size ships, he decided that models would provide a livelihood for him and his family. This they did until the works site was compulsorily purchased to clear the site for new development in 1990. At that point the family closed the business. The factory had been demolished by 1991. There was a brief attempt to keep the name alive as the banner of a Youth Opportunity Programme project to provide work for the unemployed, but it soon folded. It is not known whether the products of the YOP project were the same as those of the original company.

Production over the years was extremely varied andvery large, as is shownby the regularity with which relatively recent examples appear on Ebay and in boot sales. Apart from the last catalogue and some instructional material of comparable vintage, very little documentation has survived and we don't know a lot about the pre-war production apart from very occasional models that turn up of which we had no prior knowledge. Over the years the range has included both clockwork and steam powered boats but these are extremely rare. It is thought that Star produced hulls for steam powered models sold by Mersey Models of Liverpool and probably that the steam plants used by Star were made by MerseyModels.

Changes over time

Much of the variation in production will now be impossible to disentangle, but we have some small insights. Early (pre-1939?) hulls have a rounded counter stern, but more recent (post 1945?) models have a square stern. [early round stern] The Star trademark logo was originally a brass pressing nailed to the deck, but this was changed at an unknown date to the more familiar transfer. The last production run of yachts have blue sails. Names have been changed at various times, For instance SY7 yachts exist named both as Arctic Star and as Ocean Star. Whether this is a considered policy, or the result of a shortage of the appropriate name transfers is impossible to determine.

The catalogue is a trade catalogue. Most of the boats were sold through toy shops and department stores, particularly in seaside towns, but some of the larger boats were sold at one stage by Bassett-Lowke, who bought in a number of ranges of superior quality toy boats throughout their existence. There will be pages on Bassett's activity in the toy end of the market in due course.

You will see that the last pages of the catalogue contain many non-boat items suitable for sale in sea side toy shops. Many of these are in plastic. It is not known whether these were moulded by Star or bought in. The absence of any plastic components on the boats and the continued availability of items such as the tower style bucket suggests that they were bought in.

Catalogue and Instruction sheets

You can download the last colour catalogue, a price list and some sailing instructions.

Sailing performance

As the catalogue admits, the very small models are suited only for the bath. The smaller yachts struggle to perform, but the 'named' yachts generally sail well Western Star however, at 30 inches the largest yacht in the last catalogue, is a pig to sail properly. The performance is improved by moving the mast forward by an inch.

Potential collectors should be aware of Chinese copies of Star designs sold under the logo of Bosun Boats. These are not Star yachts in any sense and do not sail anything like as well as the originals.

See photos of some collectors with their genuine Star yachts.

Vintage Pond Yachts

• 1935 Catalogue
• Star Yacht Stands
• Postage & Delivery
• Terms and Conditions
• Model Making

Star Yachts of Birkenhead 1935 Catalogue

The Star Yacht factory in Birkenhead, England manufactured model sailing boats for a period of nearly 70 years, their yachts were successfully exported all over the world and yet, in spite of this, nowadays there seems to be very little information available identifying the broad spectrum of their products and how they had evolved over the years. From what I can gather the catalogues that were produced, depicting the full range of yachts in line drawings, were primarily intended for the trade with products listed in carton quantities and reference given to trade-terms, etc. so it is, perhaps, for this reason that so few have survived and that details of the companies products are so sketchy.

I have been fortunate to be able to scan a number of early catalogues that chart not only the development of Star’s core product, model yachts, but also the vast range of other associated toys that were produced in order that the business avoided the peaks and troughs of such seasonal sales.

I will be adding further catalogues and information over time.

See also:    The History of Star Yachts of Birkenhead.

See also:   Star Yacht display stands.

The following pages are scans from an original 1935 Star catalogue and each can be viewed by clicking on it.

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Vintage Star Endeavour lV Pond Yacht with Stand

15.75” vtg star yacht birkenhead sailboat pond yacht sailing wood metal fin toy, vintage star productions pond yacht endeavour iii, vintage 12" star yacht sy-2 birkenhead wooden pond yacht red w/ sails england, vintage wooden pond yacht , sail boat - star yacht siefert , vintage star yacht pond boat birkenhead wooden toy sailboat made in england, vintage star yacht birkenhead england wood toy pond sailboat, star yacht navigable pond sailboat vintage 14", vintage 14" star yacht birkenhead wooden pond yacht sy-3 excellent condition, vintage pond yacht made in england by star of birkenhead *read*, vintage star of birkenhead yacht pond boat england yellow, red sails 14".

Combines experience with youthful enthusiasm

"a modern timber build. Powerful, Fun and Practical Classically styled"

Member of Wooden Boatbuilders Trade Association

The customers for this design, an active sporty couple on the cusp of retirement, had seen enough of the coast around Poole that was reachable in a weekend in their traditional wooden launch, and now wished to extend their range with a faster boat that appealed to their aesthetic sensibilities, i.e. a wooden boat, that nevertheless required less upkeep.

A modern wood/epoxy build in the style they had come to expect from Star Yachts was the obvious answer. The concept asked for a launch with a minimum cruising speed of 15 knots, capable of being fairly easily trailable to destinations further away with less than ideal slipways. Being in Poole and wishing to be able to beach the boat on trips, a shallow draft was envisioned. They also preferred an uninterrupted sheer line and a swimming platform. The decision was quickly made to have an integral swimming platform, to increase the waterline and its speed potential. Andrew Wolstenholme performed his usual artistry to combine al these requirements into an elegant design of flowing lines inside and out. The sharp stem slices through the water while the spray rail, the rising flair in the bow and the rub rail shoulder the bigger waves aside and keep the cockpit dry.

The power plant chosen was a Nanni.65, a compact 57 hp turbo diesel. The usual fit-out with teak, painted bulkheads and Western Red Cedar sole boards leaves the Yellow Cedar hull planking visible on the inside, with the exterior finished in an Awlgrip paint system and Coppercoat bottom.

The forward seats and table can be converted to a sunbed, with plenty of storage underneath the seats and in the forward locker under the fore

Price on application.

deck. The aft lockers are mostly filled with diesel tanks, an internal swimming ladder, the battery, all the functional plumbing of exhaust, fishing rod holders, engine ventilation, etc. A semi rigid set-up was chosen for the windscreen, that can be lowered on deck and when upright also provides the base for a spray hood that covers the whole forward seating area

Every boat of Star Yachts is built to order in modern wood/epoxy construction with long lasting finishes, coppercoat antifouling, etc. Your personal taste can be reflected in every aspect of this little jewel: The level of finish, the cockpit lay-out, hull colour, materials, furnishings, etc.

The boat can be finished in teak, mahogany, oak, elm or any other suitable timber that takes your fancy. The engine size is chosen to suit your requirements and can include an electric version. Download Classic Boat Article.

© Andrew Wolstenholme

Dimensions:

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Star YACHT-Vintage Toy-Pond Boat-BIRKENHEAD-England-SY4

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NORFOLK STAR Sailing yacht for sale

NORFOLK STAR is a 37m (121.4ft) pedigree sailing yacht, designed and built by renowned Italian shipyard Perini Navi. This yacht is in superb condition having recently undergone a multi-million euro refit in 2020, as well as her five-year Lloyd's survey. This included a new main engine, two new generators, PLC system, Inmarsat VSAT dome, 505 Williams tender, Doyle sails and Reckmann rigging. The interior and exterior furnishings have been recovered, all surfaces and marble has been professionally cleaned and coated. The teak decks have also been professionally sanded. No expense has been spared to bring this yacht to market in pristine order for a new owner.

NORFOLK STAR is a 37m (121.4ft) pedigree sailing yacht, designed and built by renowned Italian shipyard Perini Navi. This yacht is in superb condition having recently undergone a multi-million euro refit in 2020, as well as her five-year Lloyd's survey. This included a new main engine, two new generators, PLC system, Inmarsat VSAT dome, 505 Williams tender, Doyle sails and Reckmann rigging. The interior and exterior furnishings have been recovered, all surfaces and marble has been professionally cleaned and coated. The teak decks have also been professionally sanded. No expense has been spared to bring this yacht to market in pristine order for a new owner.

On deck, the main cockpit is split into two areas, one with easy seating around a circular coffee table, whilst the other provides a dining area. Both can comfortably sit up to eight people. For relaxation, a large cushioned sunbathing area is in position immediately behind the shaded cockpit. This is a favourite spot to watch the world as you sail by.

Down below, NORFOLK STAR's bright upper salon has a large L-shaped sofa around a coffee table and a forward facing desk, with panoramic views. Her interior is finished in cherry wood, and the large hull portholes give the interior a particularly light and airy feel. From the upper salon a large stairway forward shows the way to the main salon. There are two sofas and a more formal dining area in the main salon which features an extendable walnut table.

This yacht offers a family-friendly layout with accommodation for six guests. On the lower deck, the full-width private master stateroom is found aft. Here you find a generous, glamorous space with walk-in wardrobe, en suite bathroom with a full bath, plus a seperate study area. Next door are two twin cabins that sleep another four guests. There is no compromise in comfort, as each cabin comes with an en suite shower room. There is also the option of an additional pullman berth for an extra guest.

Once aboard, NORFOLK STAR looks after her guests with Samsung LED TVs, and Creston Control AV System. At anchor, the swimming platform drops into place on the starboard side, and all the water toys come out - there's something for everyone to have fun, from paddle boards and flight boards. We are delighted to present for sale this classic sailing yacht with all the modern conveniences.

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Key features

• Major refit in 2020 including a full repaint, new main engine and two new generators
• Five year survey complete in 2020
• New Williams 505 tender in 2020
• Exterior and interior design by acclaimed Perini Navi
• Proven world cruiser
• Fantastic family or charter yacht with great deck spaces and accommodation for 6 in 3 cabins

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EUR 6,900,000 (Tax paid)

• Length: 40.7m (133.5ft)
• 8 guests in 3 cabins
• Built: 1997 (refitted 2017), Royal Huisman Shipyard, The Netherlands

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Mike Lynch yacht's black box reveals final 16 minutes of hell before ship sunk

Italian police are reviewing the data to understand what caused the luxury yacht to sink causing the death of owner mike lynch, daughter hannah and five other passengers.

• 08:35, 24 AUG 2024
• Updated 11:43, 24 AUG 2024

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Data retrieved from the black box of the luxury yacht Bayesian has provided a dramatic account of the final 16 minutes before it sank off the coast of Palermo, killing seven on board.

Divers pulled out 18 year old Hannah Lynch, daughter of tycoon Mike Lynch's and the last victim of this maritime nightmare yesterday (Friday, August 24). She was found five days after disaster struck when the ship was caught in a storm near the Italian island Sicily.

According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera, the black box revealed that the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" at around 3.50am on Monday morning. Within minutes, the yacht's anchor gave way.

Read more: Superyacht disaster's five unanswered questions from mast size to lack of safety measures

All the latest must-read news from the Daily Star.

A source close to the investigation stated the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold," by 3.59 am. After a storm tore through the Bayesian's mooring, the yacht was dragged through the water for some 358 metres and started taking in water at 4am, reports the Express .

By 4.05am, the superyacht, carrying 22 passengers and crew, had completely disappeared under the water with six passengers and one crew still inside. A distress signal was finally emitted a minute later alerting the Coast Guard station nearest to Ponticello, the closest coastal town to where the ship vanished.

Witnesses initially reported seeing the Bayesian's 246ft tall mast being struck by a "tornado," which authorities later clarified had been a waterspout. Officials initially believed the incident had occurred around 5am but the AIS now appears to show it happened approximately an hour earlier, while anchored off the port of Porticello.

Eleven passengers escaped the doomed yacht by clambering into an inflatable life raft on the deck of the Bayesian. Another four were saved by a passing ship, the Sir Robert Baden Powell, which brought them safely to shore.

Divers have tragically recovered seven bodies from the wreck, including that of owner Mike Lynch and his 18 year old daughter Hannah. The moment the ship went down was also captured on CCTV.

Also among the deceased are Morgan Stanley International Bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer with his wife Judy, lawyers Clifford Chance and Chris Morvillo and his jewellery designer wife Nada, as well as chef Recaldo Thomas.

It appears the victims attempted to escape their cabins on the starboard side in a desperate effort to reach safety on the port side. An insider close to the investigation shared with an Italian news source: "We found them all on that side."

The insider also revealed: "We had maps with the layout of the cabins and the positions of the guests, and that's not where we recovered them."

Rescue teams laboured for four days amidst the wreck, submerged 164 feet below the surface, to locate all the missing bodies.

Investigators are now primarily focused on understanding how the yacht, claimed to be "unsinkable" by its builders, the Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while another nearby sailboat was left virtually untouched.

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Timeline of the Bayesian luxury yacht disaster in Sicily

The Bayesian superyacht sank near Porticello early Monday morning.

Seven people died after a luxury superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily, with their bodies recovered less than a week after the shipwreck.

British tech mogul Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah were among those recovered after the Bayesian sank near Porticello early Monday morning.

Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the vessel, along with Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were also recovered at the scene.

Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into their deaths and here the PA news agency provides a timeline of events leading up to that announcement.

– Monday August 19

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 55m (180ft) vessel – including a mother and baby – but another seven remain missing.

A body, believed to be that of a chef on the boat, is later found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter are among six tourists that remain missing.

– Tuesday August 20

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy’s fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were “unsuccessful” because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as “complex”, with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

The Italian Coastguard tell PA they fear the six missing tourists have died, with their bodies trapped inside the luxury yacht.

It is confirmed that the body recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday was that of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the yacht.

Tributes pour in for the cook, with his friend Gareth Williams telling the BBC: “I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit.”

– Wednesday August 21

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht’s internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to the port of Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

– Thursday August 22

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

– Friday August 23

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, later confirmed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is seen being brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of her family that they are “devastated” and “in shock” after the bodies of Hannah and her father were recovered.

Hannah’s sister Esme pays tribute to her “little angel”.

– Saturday August 24

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town – Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck, according to a translation.

The press conference also hears from the prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, maritime director of western Sicily Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, the fire brigade chief of Palermo, Bentivoglio Fiandra, and the brigade’s chief diver, Giuseppe Petrone.

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Superyacht sinks latest: Investigators reveal where bodies were found as probe looks at 'crew's responsibility'

Italian officials revealed at a news conference there could be "a question of manslaughter" as they opened a shipwreck investigation and said the probe is also looking at the "crew's responsibility".

Saturday 24 August 2024 18:33, UK

• Superyacht sinking

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Prosecutor: There 'could be a question of manslaughter'
• Probe 'concentrating' on crew's responsibility
• Seven bodies recovered after five-day search of superyacht wreckage off Sicily
• Saturday's papers pay tribute to youngest victim Hannah Lynch
• Hannah's sister pays tribute to 'my little angel'
• Explained: Inside the superyacht | What challenges have faced divers?
• Eyewitness: Sombre scenes greet rescue teams as final body is brought ashore
• Live reporting by Niamh Lynch

We're ending our live coverage for this evening but here is a recap of what we know:

• Prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the Bayesian sinking;
• Officials have revealed more details on their investigation and the difficult five-day rescue mission;
• The six bodies found during the search in recent days were all in cabins on the left-hand - and highest - side of the ship. Five were found in the first cabin and the sixth was found in the third;
• Prosecutors said the six passengers were most likely asleep when the boat sank;
• The probe is now focusing on the crew and their responsibilities, with the captain set to undergo more questioning.

Monday 19 August

The Bayesian yacht, flying a British flag, sinks at around 5am local time when the area was hit by a tornado.

Fifteen people are rescued from the 56 metre vessel - including a mother and baby - but another seven remain missing.

One body, later confirmed to be the yacht's chef Recaldo Thomas, is found near the wreck.

It emerges that British technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah are among six people that remain missing.

Tuesday 20 August

The search continues for the six tourists missing.

It is reported that among those missing are Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer; his wife, Judy Bloomer; Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda Morvillo.

Police divers try to reach the hull of the ship, resting at a depth of 50 metres.

Italy's fire brigade Vigili del Fuoco say early inspections of the wreck were "unsuccessful" because of limited access to the bridge and furniture obstructing passages.

The operation is later described as "complex", with divers limited to 12-minute underwater shifts.

Tributes pour in for Mr Thomas, with his friend Gareth Williams saying: "I can talk for everyone that knew him when I say he was a well-loved, kind human being with a calm spirit."

Wednesday 21 August

The search for the six people unaccounted for enters a third day, with crews carrying out inspections of the yacht's internal hull.

A team of four British inspectors from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) arrive in Porticello to look at the site of the sinking.

A helicopter is drafted in to help with the search effort and remotely controlled underwater vehicles are being used, with naval units and cave divers also taking part in the search.

Five bodies are found inside the yacht on Wednesday afternoon. Only four of them are brought to shore.

Body bags are seen being taken to Porticello in the afternoon where dozens of emergency services staff wait.

Searches finish for the day just before 7.30pm.

Thursday 22 August

The search resumes for the remaining missing person.

The body of the fifth missing person, found but not recovered the previous day, is brought to shore.

A fire service boat with flashing blue lights returns with a blue body bag to the port of Porticello just after 8.45am local time on Thursday.

Tributes pour in for Mr Lynch and Mr and Mrs Bloomer after they are identified as having died.

The search is called off at around 8pm in Sicily, with divers expected to begin again at 6.30am on Friday.

Friday 23  August

The search continues for the final person missing from the wreck of the Bayesian, Hannah Lynch.

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, says the search for Hannah has not been "easy or quick", comparing the sunken yacht to an "18-storey building full of water".

The coastguard confirms in the late morning that her body has been found.

A green body bag is brought to the port of Porticello from the site of the sinking.

A spokesperson announces on behalf of the Lynch family that they are "devastated" and "in shock" after the deaths of Mike and Hannah.

Hannah's sister Esme pays tribute to her "little angel".

Saturday 24 August

A press conference is held in the court of an Italian town, Termini Imerese.

Public prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio tells reporters that his office has opened an initial investigation against unknown persons into manslaughter and negligent shipwreck.

As the focus now turns to the manslaughter investigation, here's another reminder of the seven victims of the sinking and the 15 people who survived. 

A close friend of the Lynch family has added to the chorus of tributes for British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, who died in Monday's superyacht sinking.

Susannah Gurdun, who lives in Suffolk, recalled being "daunted" when she first met Mr Lynch at a dinner party, before discovering he was "so much more than the corporate cliche".

"He was riveting.  He was funny, and kind, and endlessly interesting; capable of talking about anything and everything," she said.

Ms Gardun said the businessman also had a "thrilling ability" to make complicated subjects "accessible to those of us less blessed with a science acumen".

"In particular, he was wonderful with children.  I will never forget hearing him explain to a group of them - including our ten year old son - the physics of why the sky went pink at sunset," she said.

She went on describe Mr Lynch as a "true genius" and "phenomenal creative".

Ms Gardun said his daughter Hannah was also showing "serious literary promise", and added that it was "beyond tragic that we will never know where her own particular brilliance might have led".

"I still feel blessed to have shared that time with them in Spain.  Not just because I witnessed Mike’s incredible storytelling; but because I was given a chance of understanding what that moment said about all four of them as a united vibrant loving family," she said.

"He was an extraordinary human being and it was - truly - a privilege to have known him."

A yacht crew member who survived the sinking has paid tribute to Hannah Lynch, calling her a "diamond in a sea of stars".

Sasha Murray, chief stewardess of the Bayesian, has released a statement after divers recovered the final missing body from the wreckage, which is believed to be 18-year-old Hannah.

"Those who knew her will know that Hannah was a diamond in a sea of stars," she said.

"Bright, beautiful and always shining. 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. 

"While swimming with them she often said, if anything ever happened she would save them. 

"I have no doubt that the Irish, Latina fire that burns in her soul kept that spirited determination alive."

Ms Murray's statement comes as a new image of Hannah Lynch and her father Mike Lynch is released:

Prosecutors announced in this morning's news conference that they have opened a manslaughter and negligent shipwreck investigation.

Officials were unable to answer several queries from the media, saying they needed time to establish the facts, but what are the key questions facing prosecutors? 

Why weren't passengers who remained on board the vessel warned about escaping from the yacht?

The prosecutor in charge of the case, Raffaele Cammarano, suggested that some passengers may have been asleep when others were awake.

Asked why they were not woken up or alerted, he said that is something investigators are trying to work out from the statements of the survivors.

He called it an "essential" part of the inquiry.

Why were several of the passengers in one cabin?

The press conference heard several bodies onboard the sunken yacht were found in a single cabin which was not theirs.

Mr Cammarano said investigators currently do not know the reason for them being discovered in the same cabin.

The chief of the Palermo fire service, Bentivoglio Fiandra, said the yacht pinned to the right and suggested people tried to go on the other side, taking refuge in cabins in the higher part of the wreck.

Why did the boat sink?

The vessel had been deemed "unsinkable" by its manufacturer - Italian shipyard Perini Navi.

The Bayesian was hit by a downburst, according to Mr Cammarano, which are powerful winds that descend from a thunderstorm and spread out quickly once they hit the ground.

Officials will look into the safety equipment on the sunken vessel.

Mr Cammarano was asked about whether there is a black box and if the hatches were left open.

He said investigators do not have exact information about the black box and that the first phase of the inquiry will look into it.

Why were nearby vessels not similarly affected?

Another yacht, the Sir Robert BP, was about 150 to 200 metres from the Bayesian when extreme weather hit.

Its crew helped to rescue 15 people from the stricken vessel.

Italian officials said they would be looking at how the downburst could affect one vehicle and not other nearby vessels.

What weather warnings was the Bayesian alerted to?

Maritime director of western Sicily, Rear Admiral Raffaele Macauda, said the weather at the time of the yacht's sinking was abnormal and there was nothing to suggest such an extreme situation would arise.

He said there were forecasts of winds and a storm alert, but there was no warning of a tornado.

"Given that the conditions were such, there wasn't anything to suggest there could be an extreme situation arising," he said.

"There are vessels that can monitor, after all, these events and one would have thought that the captain had taken precautions."

How long will it take to recover the sailing vessel?

Mr Macauda could not confirm how long it would take to retrieve the shipwreck of the sunken yacht.

"Everything depends on the availability of the owners and the timeframe of the retrieval of the wreck and of course all that has to be submitted to the port authorities and in parallel of course there will be the inquiry results and it's only really then that we will be able to authorise the operation," he said.

"I can't say, like some experts who have already spoken on the subject, [said] that it will be eight weeks."

He made clear that the owners will bear the full cost of retrieval, although he could not estimate the figure.

Italian authorities detailed the challenging and meticulous rescue operation to recover the six missing people from the Bayesian wreck (see 9.18am post).

But why was the five-day search so difficult? 

Read more below...

More on this morning's press conference. 

One of the main updates from prosecutors was that they have opened manslaughter and shipwreck investigations after the deaths of seven people in the Bayesian sinking. 

Watch the announcement below...

Prosecutors have given a lengthy news conference this morning on their investigation into the sinking of the Bayesian. 

Read the full report on the prosecutors' probe below...

Marine investigator James Wilkes has been speaking to Sky News after this morning's press conference.

"Naturally, there are more questions than there are substantive answers at the moment - that's the nature of investigative work.

"Something forced that yacht to roll beyond its nominal stability limits, such that it wasn't able to right itself with the ingress of a certain amount of seawater that was coming into the yacht. 

"So the investigators are going to ask themselves one initial question - what must the conditions have been for this to happen? 

"Then they are going to look at the contributing factors to the yacht, sinking, and, and the unfortunate loss of life." 

Prosecutors said this morning that the future of the investigation is reliant on recovering the wreck. 

Mr Wilkes said the yacht is a "major piece of physical evidence in and of itself." 

"It's lying at 50 metres, which is a recoverable depth. 

"If it was significantly deeper, then I'm not sure they'd be considering salvage at this stage or certainly, the salvage question would be a lot more complicated to answer. 

"But if there was the ability to raise that yacht in one piece safely, then it gives the investigators physically more to look at."

Mr Wilkes said he was unsure if the yacht would have a "black box" - called a voyage data recorder in shipping. 

"It would record things like GPS position, heading speed, engine telemetry, whether the radars were on, what they were recording, alarms, communications from the yacht itself, any audio on the bridge.

"But more often than not, these are on merchant ships. The yacht was a commercial yacht in the sense that it could be chartered out so it's quite possible it has a voyage data recorder on, but I'm not sure that it does. I don't know that as a matter of fact," he said.

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News conference to be held on yacht sinking amid reports of manslaughter probe

Italian officials are scheduled to hold a press conference on Saturday morning on the sinking of a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily.

On Friday, 18-year-old Hannah Lynch became the final missing passenger to be recovered from the wreckage of the Bayesian superyacht.

The discovery comes as unconfirmed reports in the Italian media have said that prosecutors are set to announce a manslaughter investigation into the incident.

Termini Imerese Public Prosecutor’s Office investigators said it will hold a news conference to unveil the first findings of its criminal investigation, which was opened immediately after the tragedy despite no formal suspects having been publicly identified.

The main question investigators are focusing on is how a sailing vessel deemed “unsinkable” by its manufacturer, Italian shipyard Perini Navi, sank while a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed.

Hannah and her father Mike Lynch , alongside Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer, his wife Judy Bloomer, Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda Morvillo were lost when the yacht sank at around 5am local time on Monday.

In a statement, the family of Mr Lynch and Hannah said: “The Lynch family is devastated, in shock and is being comforted and supported by family and friends.

“Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.

“They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coastguard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue.

“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”

The Lynch family also issued a photograph of Mr Lynch and Hannah alongside their tribute.

Hannah’s sister Esme paid her own tribute, saying: “Hannah often burst into my bedroom and lay down with me.

“Sometimes beaming with a smile, sometimes cheeky, sometimes for advice.

“No matter what, she brought boundless love to me.

“She was endlessly caring, passionately mad, unintentionally hilarious and the most amazing, supportive and joyful sister and best friend to me.

“And on top of all this, she had even more love to give endlessly to all her friends and passion to give to her incredible studies and goals.

“She is my little angel, my star.”

Vincenzo Zagarola, of the Italian Coastguard, said the search for Hannah was not “easy or quick”, comparing the sunken yacht to an “18-storey building full of water”.

The bodies of all six missing passengers have now been brought to shore in the small fishing village of Porticello, around 11 miles from the Sicilian capital of Palermo.

Of the 22 passengers and crew on board, 15, including Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, were rescued after escaping on to a lifeboat.

The body of Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, who was working as a chef on the superyacht, was recovered at the scene of the sinking on Monday.

The boat trip was a celebration of Mr Lynch’s acquittal in a fraud case in the US.

The businessman, who founded software giant Autonomy in 1996, was cleared in June of carrying out a massive fraud relating to its 11 billion dollar (£8.64 billion) sale to US company Hewlett Packard.

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