On August 14, 2024, the privately owned, 184-foot-long, aluminum sailing yacht Bayesian, with a 237-foot-tall aluminum mast and a retractable keel, sailed from the port of Milazzo, Italy, for an excursion around the Aeolian Islands and the north coast of Sicily, Italy. Twelve passengers (British, Canadian, and American) were aboard, as well as ten crewmembers. The crew intended to disembark the passengers on August 19 before transiting to Naples, Italy, for maintenance.
On August 18, the Bayesian anchored off the northern coast of Sicily near Cefalù. With thunderstorms forecasted and the winds increasing, the crew picked up anchor and motored from Cefalù toward Porticello, about 25 nautical miles to the west. They planned to shelter there from the forecasted weather; the location also allowed for easy disembarkation of passengers the following day. Later that night, at 2124 local time, the crew of the Bayesian anchored the vessel to the east of the main breakwater in Porticello. At the time, seas were calm, with a very light wind from the northwest.
The following morning, August 19, about 0355, it began to rain, and the wind picked up to 30 knots. The Bayesian began listing to starboard. About 0357, both the Bayesian and a nearby yacht started dragging anchor.
About 0400, the wind increased to more than 70 knots. At 0406, the Bayesian violently heeled over 90° to starboard. Several crewmembers and passengers were thrown overboard.
The crew activated one of the vessel’s two EPIRBs and released a liferaft from the sinking vessel. About 0424, a crewmember entered the inflated liferaft and assisted those in the water aboard. The vessel sank in about 165 feet of water.
Crewmembers from the nearby yacht recovered all occupants from the liferaft. However, six passengers and one crewmember died as a result of the Bayesian’s sinking.
The United States was invited to participate in this investigation as a Substantially Interested State (SIS). When a flag State and/or investigating State designates the United States an SIS, the US Coast Guard represents the US Administration. Under the International Maritime Organization’s Casualty Investigation Code, the NTSB joined the Coast Guard in their role as a SIS. We may participate in investigations of serious marine casualties involving foreign-flagged vessels in international waters—for example, investigations involving foreign-flagged cruise ships with US citizens on board.
The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) is the lead investigating authority. The MAIB will produce a report of its investigation. The Coast Guard will not pursue a separate investigation or produce a separate report. Following the practices in the IMO Casualty Investigation Code, the NTSB and the Coast Guard will make joint comments to the draft MAIB report. The MAIB will consider any suggested recommendations from the Coast Guard and the NTSB. The NTSB will post the final MAIB report in the docket.
For this investigation, we have produced an investigation close-out memorandum, which can be found in our docket.
