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This document is not contractual. The yacht charters and their particulars displayed in the results above are displayed in good faith and whilst believed to be correct are not guaranteed. CharterWorld Limited does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information and/or images displayed. All information is subject to change without notice and is without warrantee. A professional CharterWorld yacht charter consultant will discuss each charter during your charter selection process. Starting prices are shown in a range of currencies for a one-week charter, unless otherwise marked. Exact pricing and other details will be confirmed on the particular charter contract. Just follow the "reserve this yacht charter" link for your chosen yacht charter or contact us and someone from the CharterWorld team will be in touch shortly.

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The Most Exciting Superyacht Interiors of 2022

By Heather Collier

Superyachts.com reflects on the some of the most memorable and remarkable superyacht interiors unveiled and showcased over the course of the past year.

Lady Lene In May of this year, interior images of the 34 metre fully custom Van der Valk explorer yacht Lady Lene were unveiled for the very first time, and was publicly presented at the Cannes Yachting Festival last month. The all-aluminium tri-deck superyacht is instantly recognisable by her golden-bronze hull, fast-displacement round bilge hull and wave-piercing bow. However, Lady Lene’s interiors more than rival her sleek and sturdy exterior. Accommodating up to 10 guests, the client's brief included five staterooms: two master, one of them on the bridge deck with a private balcony, two spacious and comfortable VIP, and a guest cabin, as well as six crew members in a captain's cabin and two crew cabins. The intention for Lady Lene's interior was to create a calming effect throughout. Using materials such as fluted wood, a popular material in the 1920s and 30s, as well as natural oak, silk georgette stone, leather, and suede, the design team were able to create a cosy yet luxurious feel.

Subtle champagne gold metal touches also help create a harmonious connection between the spaces, masterfully executed by the artisans of the Van der Valk Shipyard. The main deck expands from the spacious dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows and hideable cabinetry over a residential kitchen with full-size side-by-side fridge and freezer and a six-burner induction cooktop at the bow all the way through the saloon to the large al-fresco dining and lounge areas on the extended aft deck, with a seamless transition from inside to outside areas.

Goga Described by Benetti as a 'new chapter' in this historic shipyard's journey, Goga offers a transformative 'new concept of space' to those onboard.

Rather uniquely for a yacht of 37m, guest cabins have been elevated on to the main deck, a feature more common of a much larger yacht. Her bridge can also have a veranda or a private owner deck, which is rare for a yacht of her size, and more typical of yachts 55m+.

Her interior was designed in-house by Mauro Izzo. Through Izzo and Giorgetti Design's careful and meticulous planning of each room and hand-selected piece, Goga provides guests with enhanced comfort through bright and contemporary spaces. To reach the upper deck, guests will find an alluring central stairway in the midst of elegant interior and exterior dining areas and the main saloon. Goga provides an expansive, open plan space that leads onto a foredeck area with a pool and more seating.

Up one more level is the owner’s cabin, with its own private terrace with a large sundeck just above. Guests can enjoy an uninterrupted, 360 degree view through glass that spans the entirety of the main lounge and outdoor terraces.

With an al fresco dining space dubbed as "fun island", guests can enjoy dining and lounging right by the water's edge, with huge, comfortable stairs to enter it whenever they please. In terms of accomodation, there are two further double cabins on the lower deck, bringing the total number of guest cabins to seven.

There is total separation of guests and crew, with all crew and service areas concentrated on the lower deck; granting guests the pleasure of full privacy.

A garage and huge beach club can also be found below, with tenders and toy storage dedicated. The beach area also offers a shower, sauna and laundry as well as space to store furniture and other items when guests desire to relax at sea level. Al Waab No stranger to opulence, Al Waab’s décor bears a stunning, gold wall installation, with integrated crystals that elegantly dress the stairwell and all three decks. Glass also appears to be a key feature, resulting in uninterrupted sight lines, creating a smooth, glacial pace for guests when moving between spaces.

Glass bulwarks provide uninterrupted outboard views and large outdoor areas for guests to enjoy the vistas in a secluded, plush setting. With a drop-down bulwark in the main dining area, the idea of a traditional dining room vanishes completely, complimented by a stunning alfresco breakfast space – just two metres above the water on the starboard deck. Her sprawling beach club in the stern is another highlight, along with a jacuzzi forward of the owner’s stateroom.

The use of virtual reality was also implemented early on in the project to optimise the space planning and ergonomic layout. Open-plan, owner-centric general arrangements are guaranteed to create a true sense of freedom for all onboard, sleeping up to 18 guests for both owners and guests.

Rare for a 499GT yacht, she includes a lavish split-level master suite on the upper deck with a private 4m pool on the foredeck. By placing the tender bay in a sunken deck in the bow, the tenders are easily accessible yet hidden from view. The grated ‘tween deck arrangement provides storage for two tenders, a pair of jet skis, and other water toys and amenities.

Much of the living and seating areas are outward facing, sketched with the sentiment of letting owners form an intimate, unforgettable connection with the sea. Bold Bold's interior boasts a seamless blend of luxury and practicality, offering a sleek range of oak and teak, accompanied by metallic painted features and oak and marble flooring, all centred around an extravagant sky lounge. Accommodating 12 guests in 8 luxury cabins, including an owner’s suite, 3 VIP cabins and 4 double guest cabins, while a further 13 cabins can allow a crew of over 20 onboard the Lower Deck, she is plentiful in room.

On her top deck, Bold features additional, expansive party spaces, including a secluded jacuzzi and 2,700-litre, glistening spa pool alongside a cosy firepit and equipment to set up and indulge in your own private cinema.

For owners who find joy in entertaining, look no further than the main banqueting space – complete with a bar, serving stations, two rotisseries and an induction hob, all to satisfy any guest's culinary needs.

The aft section of the Bridge Deck also features removable railings that allow space for a second helicopter, but perhaps what is most impressive, is the winter garden located on the Owner's Deck. When unveiled, this tranquil space acts as a large terrace, open to the sea breeze and breath-taking panoramic views of the water. The 300 sqm interior loft is designed to feel like a New York loft apartment and uniquely brings everyone together in a modern, open plan space with full height windows. Perhaps most dramatic is the contrast between the interior spaces and utilitarian exterior spaces – especially when viewed from the wintergarden.

Bold's aft deck opens up to a 400sqm multi-purpose open space capable of storing large tenders, sailboats, cars or submarines – a feature very few yachts can match. With a full wall LED screen and impressive sound system in the heli hanger, this space can be used for a movie, disco or an indoor/outdoor gym.

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RENAISSANCE Motor yacht for charter

• Length: 112m (367.4ft)
• 36 guests in 19 cabins
• Built: 2023, Freire Shipyard, Spain

With just three simple words, the benchmark of what the world’s most discerning guests can expect from a luxury yacht charter changes forever: Burgess introduces RENAISSANCE.

Matchless superyacht. Incomparable facilities and first-class service. A new era in charter.

• Accommodation for up to 36 guests in 19 cabins
• Palatial owner's deck featuring private fore and aft decks
• Spa deck with wellness area, treatment rooms, plunge pools, steam/sauna rooms, hairdressing/beauty room and fitness centre
• Sushi bar, BBQ bars and DJ zone
• Indoor cinema seating 19 guests
• Stunning beach club with port and starboard terraces
• 10m x 5m swimming pool on the main deck
• Dedicated business centre

About RENAISSANCE

With just three simple words, the benchmark of what the world’s most discerning guests can expect from a luxury yacht charter changes forever: Burgess introduces RENAISSANCE.

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Tenders & toys

• 2 × Limousine tenders
• 2 × Tenders
• 2 × Deck jacuzzis
• Anti-jellyfish pool
• Inflatable platform
• RYA training centre for jetskis & waverunners
• 6 × Waverunners
• 4 × Stand up jetskis
• 10 × SeaBobs
• 4 × eFoils
• 4 × Kayaks
• 6 × Stand up paddleboards
• Inflatable tows
• Fishing gear
• Snorkelling gear

Please note that tenders and toys are subject to regular upgrades and changes. Contact a Burgess broker for the latest information.

Fitness equipment

• Balance trainer
• Boxing equipment
• Cross trainer
• Free weights
• Kinesis machine
• Personal trainer
• Suspension trainer
• Training bench
• Upright stationary bike
• Beauty salon
• Hammam/Steam room
• Massage room
• On board masseuse

Please note that fitness equipment and wellness facilities are subject to regular upgrades and changes. Contact a Burgess broker for the latest information.

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The Six Concept Designs that are Rocking the Superyacht World Right Now

Written By: Rachel Ingram

From Star Trek-inspired hulls to onboard hydroponic farms, these six out-of-the-box superyachts are pushing the boundaries of creativity when it comes to design and innovation.

Concepting is an essential part of the yacht building process as designers work out how to bring their client’s dream to life – or simply put their own wild ideas to paper. Very few finished concepts come to fruition, but they still serve a vital purpose – to inspire owners to think outside the box and encourage designers and shipyards to test the limits of possibility.

While some projects are more realistic than others, each presents ideas that can lead to change and growth, which is essential as the industry continues to evolve. With so many creative concepts floating around, we highlight the most innovative designs making waves and how they could inspire the future of yachting.

Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design has released a series of impressive designs in recent years, but none are more transfixing than Poetry, a 130-metre concept yacht that the studio calls its “tribute to yachting”. The design, founded on the philosophy of living close to the water, creates a seamless harmony between the guests and the aquatic environment – on the aft, for instance, a sprawling aft beach club extends to touch the waves.

The project epitomises indoor-outdoor living. The superstructure has been fully opened to create unobstructed decks with panoramic vistas. This is best seen in the owner’s suite which spills onto a private deck. Throughout the interior, a connection to nature is maintained through water features and living vegetation, plus the installation of giant windows that flood each space with natural light – and views.

Named after the Greek God of the wind, Aeolus is as bold and impactful as her namesake. Designed to look as though she’s been “sculpted by the wind”, the 131-metre Oceanco concept yacht stands out with her sleek lines and dynamic curves that extend through the exterior and interior.

But more than being impressive to look at, Aeolus is technologically forward thinking. She’s equipped with innovative NXT technology, which was developed by the shipyard as part of its ambitions to develop a net-zero yachting industry. She’s also decorated mostly in bio-materials to further promote sustainability. And when it comes to layout, designers have taken a modern approach which re-thinks how guests live and work onboard. Aeolus is inspiring on all levels.

Feadship describes its 85-metre superyacht concept Slice as a project to usher in a “new era of interiors”. Designers at Studio De Voogt took her name literally, engineering a glass strip that runs through the yacht from bow to stern, flooding all decks with natural light. The revolutionary solution tackles the long-standing issue of lighting in the centre of superyachts, which are often dark and lit artificially. Slice “turns the inside out and the outside in,” says lead designer Chris Bottoms.

The concept was designed with modern families in mind and reimagines the way guests live on a yacht, with multi-level living spaces to keep guests connected, indoor-outdoor layouts and dual-function areas which can be adapted to suit all manner of activities. Highlight features include the 70 square metre atrium with cascading balconies at the heart of the yacht and the 10-metre-long data science-engineered pool, which features anti-slosh technology for swimming on the move.

Project Enterprise

As a company that specialises in conceptual design, M51 Concepts has not shied away from pushing boundaries with its disruptive yachts. The studio’s latest work, Project Enterprise , is a trimaran with a wide beam design to maximise storage for toys and tenders – set off directly from a direct-to-water platform within the yacht’s lower deck – and curved decks offering panoramic views from the interior.

The pools on this yacht are particularly interesting. While most designers place a pool on sun or aft deck, this 84-metre yachts places it inside a partially enclosed courtyard topped with an open sky light – sun enters during the day and the stars shine overhead at night. A secondary pool can be found on the yacht’s pointed bow which dramatically pierces the water.

Inspiration for the project was subconscious, reveals designer Anthony Glasson: “The exterior styling inspiration was only realized once finished as I had been watching the first season of Star Trek and unconsciously designed a yacht that resembles the original Star Trek Enterprise.”

Pegasus is a project of firsts. Designed by Jozeph Forakis, the design conceptualises the world’s first 3D-printed superyacht. But that isn’t its only USP. The 88-metre vessel features a distinctive mirrored exterior (another first) to make the yacht blend in with its surroundings. The designer was inspired to create a yacht that could be “virtually invisible”, both in design and in environmental impact. “I was inspired to create a yacht as close to the sea and nature as possible, made of clouds floating above the waterline. I wanted to honour nature by blending into it, becoming virtually invisible,” he says.

Inside, it gets even more interesting. The interior centres around a multi-level hydroponic garden that the designer calls a ‘tree of life’. Plants grown in the farm – including vegetables, herbs and flowers – provides fresh food for the galley. The plants also purify the air. “Pegasus is a bold but achievable vision for the near future of the superyacht industry, where man and machine live in harmony with nature rather than competing or compromising it, ” Forakis adds .

Lazzarini Design Studio is behind some of the industry’s quirkiest designs, from Avanguardia, a swan-shaped megayacht with detachable ‘head’, to The Shape, which bears a gaping hole in the middle of its superstructure. The firm’s newest concept Plectrum takes the concept of a hydrofoil to a new level. The 74-metre yacht features giant wings that enable her to ‘fly’ across the water at staggering speeds of up to 75 knots, thanks to her three hydrogen motors. The sleek yacht also stands out with her bold orange exterior and fun features including a generous beach club, aft pool, and retractable helipad hidden the bow.

Read More: 

The most impressive superyacht beach clubs in the business, the next big luxury travel and yachting trends, five of the best superyacht experiences for kids .

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Inside final 16 minutes of doomed Bayesian as yacht’s ‘black box’ reveals minute-by-minute horror of deadly storm

• Ellie Doughty , Foreign News Reporter
• Published : 10:50, 23 Aug 2024
• Updated : 9:47, 24 Aug 2024
• Published : Invalid Date,

THE FINAL minutes onboard the tragic Bayesian have been revealed as the boat's black-box data is analysed by cops probing the disaster.

Data recovered from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) breaks down exactly how it sank in a painful 16-minute timeline.

Today divers recovered the body of the final missing passenger from the wreck - Brit teen Hannah Lynch - daughter of tycoon Mike Lynch who was retrieved on Thursday.

An AIS tracking system sends information from onboard boats to coastal stations, alerting officials to movement and distress.

As part of a probe into just how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing seven people, cops are analysing the data.

It revealed that at 3.50am on Monday the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet Corriere reports.

READ MORE ON YACHT TRAGEDY

Bayesian yacht wreck may be RAISED from seabed amid search for missing teen

Divers could RAISE wreck from seabed to find missing teen as search enters day 5

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold".

After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had began to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating that the waves had reached its generator or even engine room.

At 4.05am the Bayesian fully disappeared underneath the waves.

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An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them that the vessel had sunk.

It comes as...

• Brit teen Hannah Lynch was found on the sunken boat on Friday as her family paid tribute
• Five bodies were recovered from the yacht wreck  on Wednesday and Thursday including Brit tycoon Mike Lynch
• The CEO of the firm that produced the Bayesian said the boat is  'unsinkable' and pointed to human error
• Captain James Cutfield was quizzed for two hours  by cops and remains at the  centre of a probe
• Experts believe the yacht's ' tallest mast in the world ' may have contributed to the disaster after a  freak ‘Black Swan’ weather event struck
• Pictures showed the  tiny raft that saved up to 15 people
• Frantic text messages  from the survivors revealed the chaos

Survivors and witnesses from a small nearby boat - along with official reports - initially helped piece together an account of how the disaster unfolded on Monday morning.

People reported seeing a "tornado" - later clarified as a swirling cloud of air known as a waterspout - hit the 246ft tall mast.

Officials have confirmed that this is what toppled the boat, causing it to capsize and take on water before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily.

The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am.

Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

The smaller nearby boat - named Sir Robert Baden Powell - then helped take those people to shore.

More details about the disaster surfaced yesterday as emergency workers revealed how the passengers tried to flee the water as it gushed onboard.

Divers said the guests pulled from the wreckage fled their cabins on the right - or starboard - side of the boat and tried to "climb" to safety by heading for the left - port side - where they were found.

A source working in the investigation told Italian outlet  Corriere : "We found them all on that side.

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

Officials also revealed that the keel - a stabilising fin-like backbone underneath the vessel usually lowered for balance in deep waters - had been taken up before it sank.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of Italian Sea Group which owns Bayesian-maker Perini Navi shipyard, has blamed human error for the tragedy .

He told The Sun: "Modern sailing ships, especially high-tech ones like the Perini, are designed to be extremely safe and stable.

“Even in very critical conditions, if procedures are followed, a sailing yacht like the Bayesian will return to an upright position.

"However, if the ship takes on water, this stability is compromised.

“Where the water entered will be determined by the investigators.

"What is certain is that the ship took on hundreds of thousands of litres of water."

Mr Constantino also disputed claims the tornado had not been forecast and came as a shock and said it was "widely predicted".

And referring to the AIS data obtained by prosecutors and available to Perini, he told the Financial Times: “The torture lasted 16 minutes.

"It went down, not in one minute as some scientists have said. It went down in 16 minutes.

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"You can see it from the charts, from the AIS [Automatic Identification System] tracking chart.

“The captain should have prepared the boat and put it in a state of alert and of safety, just like the boat [the Sir Robert Baden Powell] anchored 350 metres away, which was built in 1957 and handled the [weather] event brilliantly.”

• Bayesian yacht sinks
• missing person

Bayesian superyacht sinking: 'Black box' reveals last 16 minutes aboard doomed vessel

A black box recovered from the Bayesian superyacht breaks down exactly how it sank in a painful 16-minute timeline - after divers recovered the body of British teen Hannah Lynch

• 15:13, 23 Aug 2024
• Updated 19:36, 23 Aug 2024

The poignant final 16 minutes onboard the tragic Bayesian yacht have been revealed as the boat's black-box data has been analysed by police probing the disaster.

The information recovered from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) breaks down exactly how it sank in a painful 16-minute timeline. It comes as divers recovered the body of the final missing passenger from the wreck - Brit teen Hannah Lynch - daughter of tycoon Mike Lynch, who was retrieved on Thursday.

An AIS tracking system sends information from onboard boats to coastal stations, alerting officials to movement and distress. As part of a probe into just how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data. It shows that at 3.50am on Monday the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet Corriere reports.

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold". After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had began to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating that the waves had reached its generator or even engine room. At 4.05am the Bayesian fully disappeared underneath the waves.

An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them that the vessel had sunk.

Survivors and witnesses from a small nearby boat - along with official reports - initially helped piece together an account of how the disaster unfolded on Monday morning.

People reported seeing a "tornado" - later clarified as a swirling cloud of air known as a waterspout - hit the 246ft tall mast. Officials have confirmed that this is what toppled the boat, causing it to capsize and take on water before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily. The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am. Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

More details about the disaster surfaced yesterday as emergency workers revealed how the passengers tried to flee the water as it gushed onboard.

Divers said the guests pulled from the wreckage fled their cabins on the right - or starboard - side of the boat and tried to "climb" to safety by heading for the left - port side - where they were found.

A source working in the investigation told Italian outlet Corriere : "We found them all on that side. We had maps with the layout of the cabins and the positions of the guests, and that's not where we recovered them."

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'Black box' reveals last 16 minutes aboard doomed Bayesian superyacht as it sank

A black box recovered from the Bayesian superyacht breaks down exactly how it sank in a painful 16-minute timeline - after divers recovered the body of teen Hannah Lynch

• 17:08, 23 AUG 2024

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The poignant final 16 minutes onboard the tragic Bayesian yacht have been revealed as the boat's black-box data has been analysed by police probing the disaster.

The information recovered from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) breaks down exactly how it sank in a painful 16-minute timeline. It comes as divers recovered the body of the final missing passenger from the wreck - 18-year-old Hannah Lynch - daughter of Irish-born technology tycoon Mike Lynch , who was retrieved on Thursday.

An AIS tracking system sends information from onboard boats to coastal stations, alerting officials to movement and distress. As part of a probe into just how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data. It shows that at 3.50am on Monday the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet Corriere reports.

READ MORE: Captain of Mike Lynch's sunken Bayesian yacht James Cutfield is pictured and is 'very good sailor'

READ MORE: Pictured: Irish woman who miraculously survived the Italian superyacht disaster

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold". After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had began to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating that the waves had reached its generator or even engine room. At 4.05am the Bayesian fully disappeared underneath the waves.

An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them that the vessel had sunk.

Survivors and witnesses from a small nearby boat - along with official reports - initially helped piece together an account of how the disaster unfolded on Monday morning.

People reported seeing a "tornado" - later clarified as a swirling cloud of air known as a waterspout - hit the 246ft tall mast. Officials have confirmed that this is what toppled the boat, causing it to capsize and take on water before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily. The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am. Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

More details about the disaster surfaced yesterday as emergency workers revealed how the passengers tried to flee the water as it gushed onboard.

Divers said the guests pulled from the wreckage fled their cabins on the right - or starboard - side of the boat and tried to "climb" to safety by heading for the left - port side - where they were found.

A source working in the investigation told Italian outlet Corriere : "We found them all on that side. We had maps with the layout of the cabins and the positions of the guests, and that's not where we recovered them."

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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

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• 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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Chilling final moments Bayesian superyacht went down revealed as cops probe disaster

The new information is part of a probe into how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data.

• 16:33, 23 AUG 2024

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Tragic details of the chilling final 16 minutes onboard the Bayesian yacht have been released as the boat's black-box data has been analysed by cops investigating the disaster . Information from the Bayesian's Automatic Identification System (AIS) reveals the exact details of how the superyacht sank in a terrifying 16-minute window.

The new details have been shared as divers recovered the body of the final missing passenger from the wreck - UK teen and daughter of tycoon Mike Lynch, Hannah Lynch. An AIS tracking system sends information from onboard boats to coastal stations, alerting officials to movement and distress, reports the Mirror.

The new information is part of a probe into how the luxury 184ft yacht toppled and plunged to the bottom of the sea, killing at least six people, cops are analysing the data. It shows at 3.50am on Monday, the Bayesian began to shake "dangerously" during a fierce storm, Italian outlet Corriere reports.

Just minutes later at 3.59am the boat's anchor gave way, with a source saying the data showed there was "no anchor left to hold". After the ferocious weather ripped away the boat's mooring it was dragged some 358 metres through the water.

By 4am it had begun to take on water and was plunged into a blackout, indicating the waves had reached its generator or even engine room. At 4.05am the Bayesian fully disappeared underneath the waves.

An emergency GPS signal was finally emitted at 4.06am to the coastguard station in Bari, a city nearby, alerting them the vessel had sunk. Survivors and witnesses from a small nearby boat - along with official reports - initially helped piece together an account of how the disaster unfolded on Monday morning.

Top news stories today

People reported seeing a "tornado" - later clarified as a swirling cloud of air known as a waterspout - hit the 246ft tall mast. Officials confirmed this is what toppled the boat, causing it to capsize and take on water before it sank to the bottom of the sea.

Early reports suggested the disaster struck around 5am local time off the coast of Porticello Harbour in Palermo, Sicily. The new data pulled from the boat's AIS appears to suggest it happened an hour earlier at around 4am. Some 15 of the 22 onboard were rescued, 11 of them scrambling onto an inflatable life raft that sprung up on the deck.

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More details about the disaster surfaced yesterday as emergency workers revealed how the passengers tried to flee the water as it gushed onboard. Divers said the guests pulled from the wreckage fled their cabins on the right - or starboard - side of the boat and tried to "climb" to safety by heading for the left - port side - where they were found.

A source working in the investigation told the Italian outlet Corriere: "We found them all on that side. We had maps with the layout of the cabins and the positions of the guests, and that's not where we recovered them."

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Crews' views on the best layout for a yacht

Crew turnover is one of the biggest headaches facing yacht owners. A common misconception is that if an owner pays well, the crew will love their jobs. A high salary will only go so far in retaining good crew if living and working conditions aboard are unsatisfactory – or, more precisely, if the yacht is poorly designed.

In many layouts, crew flow and functions, technical spaces and critical behind-the-scenes necessities, such as storage, are not prioritized and maintenance access points are a last-minute concession. A poorly designed yacht, as any experienced owner will confirm, is hard to maintain and more expensive to run. In the end, owners will have spent more money and time than if they had given the hidden functionality of the yacht the same careful attention as systems, amenities and guest areas.

Sometimes the philosophy of form over function and following residential trends may lead to spaces that are beautifully styled and decorated, but impractical in terms of layout and function. The most experienced yacht designers underscore the importance of consulting with experienced crew in the early stages of design.

The Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), drafted by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), may make including a crew member on the design team a necessity, as the convention contains criteria for crew accommodations and living and working environment that will pertain to and significantly impact the design of all charter yachts when it comes into force in 2013.

In the meantime, if the priority of space was given over to crew, what would the perfect yacht look like from their perspective?

A Crew Wish List

In terms of size and construction, many captains suggest that the yacht’s size be between 45.7m and 70m to allow access to the popular ports.

‘The ever-increasing size of yachts is a problem for berths,’ says Captain Bob Corcoran of the 76.8m motor yacht Samar , ‘but as long as the owners understand that commercial harbours may be their only alternative, I don’t see a problem.’

A semi-explorer motor yacht design with a large, seaworthy bow would provide the most stable platform for owners who like to travel. At the very least, at-anchor stabilizers are highly recommended, as are bow and stern thrusters capable of counteracting 30-knot winds on the beam.

Wraparound decks should be incorporated, along with owners’ terraces, to eliminate the need for crew to go outboard on a harness to clean the windows daily.

There is, perhaps, no greater request from crew than ample storage. Captain David Clarke of the 73m motor yacht_ Laurel_ acted as her build captain and was able to influence the yacht’s design so as to incorporate the most sensible and efficient layout for crew operations.

‘We followed two philosophies during Laurel’s build,’ he says. ‘The first was that equipment was to be in one of only two places: where it is being used or where it is stored. The second rule was that any space greater than one cubic foot needed to incorporate storage of some type.’

To ensure that these philosophies were adhered to once Laurel was complete, Captain Clarke created a detailed tracking system that monitors every single storage space and its related equipment.

Wasted space is a sign of a poor design. Think creatively and find ways to incorporate hidden storage where it is needed most. Aboard Laurel , alfresco social areas are designed with adjacent units housing all glassware and settings for meals and hors d’oeuvres service.

Equipment should have dedicated storage as well. A shaft alley could handle the line storage; deckhead compartments could house the swim ladder and handrails. Efficiencies like this will to make a crew member’s function easier and improve service.

A Crew Wish List (continued…)

Redundant Circulation

Easy access and the ability for crew to move about quickly and unobtrusively is a very important factor in a yacht’s design.

The yacht should feature a lower deck corridor that runs the entire length of the boat, from the foredeck to the lazarette, allowing crew to travel from bow to stern without having to walk on decks or through guest areas. It would also provide an extra means of exit.

Aboard Laurel , a wide set of stairs originates amidships on the tank deck and climbs to the sun deck to allow the crew quick and easy movement between crew and guest areas without interruption. A second crew stairwell farther forward eases flow between crew areas on the lower three decks.

A dedicated crew elevator from the lower deck to the sun deck would be a welcome feature.

Lower Decks

A yacht’s layout should take its cue from the arrangement of the lower decks, as these will contain the most important components for running the yacht efficiently.

The crew-designed yacht utilizes the lower decks to their fullest potential. Ideally, the yacht would have a tank deck, which could house laundry facilities, waste management/trash refrigeration space, refrigerated/freezer storage and inventory items.

Excellence V has a separate room for the waste treatment system and one for desalination.

The tank deck aboard Laurel houses all of these areas, including an impressive number of storage rooms and cabinets. There is bonded storage for alcohol and separate stores for uniforms, toiletries, cleaning supplies, dry goods and various merchandise, each area meticulously labelled.

Crew luggage and personal sports equipment need a storage space as well. Rasselas had a separate refrigeration unit for fresh flowers – an important consideration for yachts that charter and owners who entertain frequently.

Laundry space should receive priority so that the laundry function does not co-op the crew mess. The laundry should be sized to manage the amount of bed linens daily, enabling multiple loads at once, and include a mangle rotary iron with the ability to quickly press eight to 10 feet of table linen.

‘A commercial laundry centrifuge to spin the water out of large towels and other big items will reduce drying times considerably,’ suggests Craig Tafoya, president of Penumbra Marine Logistics and former captain of the 96m motor yacht Limitless .

In the engine room, diesel-electric propulsion will allow for more flexibility of layout compared to conventional propulsion.

Regardless of the propulsion type incorporated, the engine room should be given as much space as possible, with the emphasis being that each piece of equipment can easily be serviced from all sides.

Tenders and their garage

When it comes to the type of tenders to have, the answer is the bigger, the better.

‘You want very big tenders,’ says Anders Lauridsen, captain of the 41.1m motor yacht D’Angleterre II . ‘That’s important for all our clients. Take St Tropez, for example – you can have 100 yachts anchoring off the village in the summer, with lots of traffic in the water. You want a big tender to make sure guests are comfortable and don’t get sprayed.’

Captain Mark Coxon of the 50m motor yacht_ QM of London_ agrees and advises that when there is no room to store a large tender, it should be towed, the priority here being able to fit all guests comfortably at once.

Forget about hoisting the tender to the sun deck aboard the crew-designed yacht. This is the least preferred place for storage and launching. It is time consuming and dangerous, and most crew prefer the speed and ease with which tenders can be stored in and launched from tender garages.

Designing a garage large enough to comfortably house large tenders is a different matter, however, and, as has been the case in many notable builds, may indeed dictate or substantially affect the overall length and layout of the boat.

The tender garage aboard_ Laurel_ prompted an increase in her length by over six metres. The 85.6m Derecktor-built Cakewalk features a length and layout that was predicated upon a 14.3 by 12.2m ‘boathouse’ to store three tenders over 9.1m LOA.

A 4.7m stern extension to increase exterior deck space allowed for inclusion of a spacious tender garage aboard the 54.9m Harbour Island. This garage houses a 5.8m Novurania Chase tender and two personal watercrafts, all of which are easily manoeuvred, stored and deployed with the help of an air cradle system that was developed by Tafoya and Penumbra Marine Logistics.

The air-cradle system operates much like a hovercraft in that the air pressure allows crew to use their fingertips manoeuvre a tender or toy into position and lower it. The system not only reduces risk of injury, it saves the crew valuable space and time. The air cradles can also be easily stowed away when the tenders and toys are deployed, making the garage a useable space for entertaining.

While most yachts are already being designed to factor in impacts from MLC, such as situating all crew cabins above the waterline and private cabins for officers, the crew-designed yacht would feature single en suite cabins for each crewmember with berths, not Pullmans.

TV, WiFi access and iPod docking stations can easily be incorporated into each room as well.

‘Amenities help keep crew and reduce operational turnover costs,’ says Captain Corcoran.

A crew gym with lockers should be incorporated on board as well. This is a big advantage for crew to have some personal time and space. A number of captains are finding a covered working deck forward can easily be modified to this purpose.

Crew mess and galley

So far, the elements to be incorporated on the crew-designed yacht might seem relatively straightforward, without having much of a negative impact on guest spaces, but here is where we take the turn.

Aboard nearly every yacht, the crew mess is tucked below decks near the crew cabins. The area, often with none or tiny windows, might feature a small galley, a TV and settee with dining table used for multiple purposes; eating, reading, organizing, ironing, etc…

Aboard the crew-designed yacht, however, a crew mess and separate lounge would be situated not below decks, but on the main deck forward, in the area most commonly claimed by the master suite and bosun’s locker. Can this be done successfully? It was aboard_ Laurel_, which features a crew mess to starboard and a TV lounge to port, both of which are light and bright, thanks to large windows.

‘Situating the crew mess forward on the main deck was a calculated decision,’ says Captain Clarke. ‘This part of the boat is the most uncomfortable and most noisy when underway, and we didn’t like waking the owners when bringing up the anchor or using the bow thruster.’

From here the crew also has access to the bow through the large bosun store and A/C room. Placing a crew lounge or even small office on main deck has security benefits as well, possibly cutting valuable lost time in an emergency.

This is where the squeeze begins to take effect. The crew-designed yacht would also call for the guest staterooms – all of equal size or at least two VIPs – to be on main deck.

What does this mean for the galley, the dining room and/or the main salon? The 44.5m Feadship _Harle _has all of its guest rooms, including the master suite, situated on the main deck. The galley is positioned below decks and service is facilitated via a food lift, and multiple pantries and service areas on the upper decks. The dining room has been eliminated altogether.

The below-decks galley is a no-no on many a crew-designed yachts as the chef and stews argue the galley should be located on the same deck as, and as close as possible to, the main dining area, wherever that may be. Other chefs prefer having a larger space lower in the boat where there is less motion and they are closer to their stores. This, of course, requires a food lift. And so begins the conundrum on how it integrates with the rest of the boat.

While opinions differ on whether an open-style, country kitchen is preferred over a private galley, the consensus is that the galley should have plenty of natural light and should feature a very efficient layout.

Dining and main salon

Opinions are divided on whether to do away with the large main salon and dining room and situate more living space outdoors. Captain Coxon favours the idea; he’s worked on yachts with enormous saloons that were never used. But Captain Lauridsen is not so keen. His dining room is used by his guests, especially those with children and on days when the weather turns bad.

Regardless of where the main dining area is situated, most crew would appreciate the ‘service from afar’ implementation that is found aboard_ Laurel_. Strategically positioned cameras monitor the dining areas throughout the boat and have the ability to zoom in on a guest’s drink or plate, alerting the server as to the status of the meal without the need to hover.

Storage comes into play once again in Laurel ’s dining areas. Most efficiently, the china, glassware, coffee cups and cutlery are housed in a dedicated china store just forward of the galley. Plates can be brought from the china store to the galley for plating, returned to the galley to be washed and then easily stowed without entering the guest area.

Bridge Deck

There is no compromise from crew when it comes to the positioning of the bridge and captain’s cabin. The bridge must be on the upper deck and feature 180-degree visibility.

The captain’s cabin should be behind the bridge along with a separate office and day head for crew.

As far as bridge equipment goes, Captain Kay Christensen, formerly of the 43m Canter Navali Nicolini motor yacht CD TWO, suggests keeping modern technology to a necessary minimum and that the bridge be made ergonomic.

Captain Greg Butler-Davis of the 56m Perini Panthalassa cautions against over alarming every action and equipment function.

Owners’ Area

If the crew mess is on the main deck forward and the bridge occupies the upper deck forward, where will the owners’ suite be positioned?

The predominant opinion from crew is to position the owners’ suite aft on the upper deck, away from anchor noise and daily early morning operations. This ensures the best visibility from the bridge and also affords the owners more privacy, as it is not necessary for crew to be in the upper deck aft location as much as forward.

While some crew still maintain that the master should remain low and aft where there is less motion, the upper deck, with its opportunity for a private alfresco area and great views, wins out.

Of course, utilizing this coveted location for the master might work well on a private yacht, but it eliminates one of the best entertaining spots aboard a charter yacht.

Venturing up to the sun deck, this is where we enjoy the outdoor barbecue, the gym, the bar, the spa pool and the lounging. Aboard the crew-designed yacht, this space is very different.

First, there is no gym here. An outdoor gym is one of the most difficult areas to maintain. ‘Unfortunately, most exercise equipment is steel and rusts almost overnight when in the salt air,’ says Tafoya.

Barbecues are not always used and are difficult to clean, and spa pools themselves provide an added headache for crew as they need to be emptied when underway and filled when at anchor or in port.

Captain Christensen suggests an on-board pool holding tank that pumps the water back into the pool on arrival in port. Tafoya agrees, adding, ‘A means of purifying and heating the spa pool water while in the tank would be good so the water could be used for wash-down once the owner departs.’

Crew’s vs owners’ needs

And so we’ve come full circle on this virtual walk-through of a crew-designed yacht. How does it fit with the owner’s needs and the charter guests’ requirement for a wow factor?

A perfectly good yacht needs to perform well with reliable and functional systems, excellent naval architecture and quality materials. The available space must be used in a logical manner with the right proportion allocated to engineering, owner/guest and crew function areas.

‘Functionality impacts the crew,’ says Captain Clarke, ‘and when we can work more efficiently, we can give better service to the guests.’

‘As most yacht designers will acknowledge, the vast majority of yachts represent a compromise between one or more of the contrasting requirements,’ Captain Butler-Davis explains. ‘Add all these elements together and perfection seems implausible.’

‘After 28 years, I can honestly say that there is no such thing as a perfect yacht… or crew,’ says Captain Corcoran. ‘Some are more suited to the use of the particular vessel than others, but nothing is perfect.

‘Many of the issues raised are incorporated in the MLC,’ he continues. ‘It will be interesting to see how yachts change, not only in the space required for the crew, but also in the requirements and rights crew will have.’

Originally published:  MegaYachts Volume 14 (2013) .

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