What caused the Bayesan to sink off the coast of Palermo on August 19th was above all its maxi and single mast, which made it unstable. This is supported by the New York Times, which conducted a meticulous investigation through technical documents on the construction of the boat and computerized simulations of the movements of billionaire Michael Lynch’s luxury yacht. The Bayesan, writes the NYT, was an exception in Perini Navi‘s series of super-luxury yachts, which have two masts instead of just one. It was the original buyer, a Dutch businessman, who insisted on a single tree, which would be taller than in the world.
But, according to the NYT, this decision ended up making the vessel much more vulnerable than other superyachts. In addition to being exceptionally tall, more than 72 meters, it was also very heavy, several tons of aluminum. This, explains the newspaper, should have pushed to create weight on the bottom of the boat, a ballast to lower its center of gravity and counteract its tendency to tilt. This was worked on in a Turkish shipyard in 2006, but instead of distributing the ballast evenly across the bottom of the boat, which would have ensured better stability, the builders stacked it towards the rear of the hull. The Bayesian technical documents show, according to the engineers consulted by the NYT, how vulnerable it was.
Even without serious errors on the part of the crew, the ship could have sunk in a storm that other vessels would have survived. The American newspaper conducted the investigation by interviewing a dozen naval architects, engineers and other experts, who found other vulnerabilities in the yacht’s design: basic design choices, such as the two high doors on the side of the deck, which increased the possibilities that the ship would take on substantial quantities of water if strong winds pushed the boat to the side. These, together with the instability created by the mast, are the reasons why, according to the accounts of witnesses and survivors, the yacht completely tipped onto its side and sank within a few minutes.
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**Interview with Yacht Safety Expert Dr. Lisa Grant on the Sinking of the Bayesian**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Grant. Can you explain to our audience the key factors that led to the sinking of the 56-meter Perini Navi sloop, the Bayesian, off the coast of Palermo?
**Dr. Lisa Grant:** Thank you for having me. The sinking of the Bayesian was indeed tragic and the result of a combination of design flaws and construction choices. Significant among these was the decision to equip the yacht with a single, exceptionally tall mast. While visually striking, this design made the vessel top-heavy and much more unstable than typical superyachts, which usually feature two masts.
**Interviewer:** The New York Times mentioned that the decision for a single mast was made by the original buyer. What does this indicate about the risks involved in custom yacht designs?
**Dr. Lisa Grant:** Custom designs can certainly lead to unique and breathtaking vessels, but they come with risks, especially if they deviate significantly from proven designs. In this case, the choice of a taller mast, while appealing, compromised the yacht’s stability. Stability in sailboats is crucial, and altering fundamental design elements can lead to dangerous outcomes.
**Interviewer:** You also mentioned the issue of ballast distribution. Could you elaborate on that?
**Dr. Lisa Grant:** Absolutely. Proper ballast distribution is vital for enhancing a yacht’s stability. Ideally, ballast should be evenly distributed to lower the center of gravity. However, in the case of the Bayesian, the ballast was stacked toward the rear of the hull. This misplacement further amplified the vessel’s tendency to tilt, making it susceptible to capsizing, especially in adverse sea conditions.
**Interviewer:** What lessons can be learned from this incident regarding yacht construction and safety?
**Dr. Lisa Grant:** This tragedy underscores the importance of adhering to established safety standards and engineering principles in yacht construction. It is crucial for designers and builders to consider stability as a primary factor, particularly in customized yachts. Incidents like these should prompt a wider discussion about regulatory measures and compliance within the luxury yacht industry to prevent future tragedies.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Grant, for your insights. The sinking of the Bayesian serves as a pivotal reminder of the interplay between design ambition and safety.
**Dr. Lisa Grant:** Thank you for having me. It’s essential to keep these discussions alive to promote safer practices within the industry.
