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The super yacht spanning over five decks and owned by Qatari Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani , Al Lusail, has docked in Malta!

Photos show the luxurious yacht entering the Valletta Grand Harbour.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alex Turnbull (@alex__turnbull)

The stunning vessel was finished in 2017 after being built by the German shipyard, Lürssen.

Its unique exterior was designed by H2 Yacht Design, while its interiors were designed by March & White.

Al Lusail is so big that it can accommodate up to 36 guests. It is fully equipped with a gym, a beauty salon, a helicopter landing pad, a swimming pool, and a movie theatre.

The impressive yacht is equipped with twin MTU 20V 1163 M84 engines that deliver a top speed of 20 knots.

28th March 2023

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World’s fourth largest superyacht spotted arriving at Malta’s iconic Grand Harbour

She left the Lürssen facilities in Germany last week for her maiden voyage to Malta

by Helena Grech

July 12, 2022

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The f ourth largest superyacht in the world , and the fifth largest by length, was spotted cruising into Malta’s iconic Grand Harbour last week.

The stunning pleasure craft, simply called ‘Blue’, was photographed by freelance photographer Alex Turnbull.

Built by one of the world’s leading builders of custom luxury superyachts, Lürssen is a family-run yacht manufacturer based in Germany, dating back to 1875. The shipyard currently holds a near monopoly in the construction of supersized superyachts as it counts 13 of the world’s top 25 superyachts within its ranks.

Formerly known as Project Blue, the pleasure craft is 160 metres long and was formally launched in February 2022. It was tested in open water back in April, and after a successful trial, it departed from the Lürssen shipyard on 4th July for her maiden voyage to Malta.

The superyacht was designed by Terence Disdale, while the naval architecture was developed by Lürssen.

Blue is just one of 63 motor yachts longer than 100m across the globe, and sails under the Cayman Islands flag.

The impressive pleasure craft boasts a crisp white hull with four upper decks, providing for a highly elegant profile. The vessel’s beam measures a staggering 22.5 metres and the entire yacht clocks in at 15,320 GT.

On-board features include a pair of helicopter landing sites: a large helideck at the bow and a smaller helipad aft. From a recreational perspective, it has been praised for its extensive swimming platform, providing guests with a highly comfortable experience when accessing the water.

The vessel is kitted out with its very own beach club, an array of al fresco relaxing and entertainment spaces, and a jacuzzi installed on the sun deck.

According to superyachtfan.com , Blue caters for 48 guests across 24 cabins, and can hold 80 crew members in around 40 cabins. The superyachting platform also says that Blue is priced at around $600 million, and that it is owned by Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the Abu Dhabi royal family.

It is one of the world’s largest to be equipped with diesel-electric power hybrid propulsion and is capable of using electric propulsion for slow speeds, and of generating electrical energy to operate the vessel at higher velocities.

In order to generate less noise and vibration and reduce nitrogen oxide levels, Blue is equipped with a state-of-the-art exhaust after-treatment system. Furthermore, the wastewater treatment plant is equipped with new membrane technology that allows the treated wastewater to be safely disposed of in ‘drinking water quality’.

Helena Grech

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MALTESE FALCON Sailing yacht for charter

• Length: 88m (288.6ft)
• 12 guests in 6 cabins
• Built: 2006 (refitted 2023), Perini Navi, Italy

The instantly recognisable 88m (288.6ft) MALTESE FALCON, acclaimed as the Finest Superyacht Ever among a host of other awards, is still one of the world’s most innovative sailing yachts. Now this truly iconic yacht is better than ever having undergone a huge double refit in summer 2022 and winter 2022-23 with an endless series of mind-blowing upgrades.

Exciting and rare, offering iconic elegance and innovation.

• 18 awards since her launch, including being named ‘Finest Superyacht Ever’ by Superyacht World magazine
• 2022/2023 extensive interior, exterior and engineering refit
• Unique three-deck sky-lit atrium
• Wellness facilities: massage room & fully equipped gym
• Private VIP deck
• Largest outdoor cinema projected on the lower sail and indoor cinema
• Large aft shaded Bimini/Circus
• 2,400 square metres of sail can be set within six minutes

About MALTESE FALCON

The instantly recognisable 88m (288.6ft) MALTESE FALCON, acclaimed as the Finest Superyacht Ever among a host of other awards, is still one of the world’s most innovative sailing yachts. Now this truly iconic yacht is better than ever having undergone a huge double refit in summer 2022 and winter 2022-23 with an endless series of mind-blowing upgrades.

View all yachts for charter

As well as a gleaming hull repaint, there is a new extendable passerelle that takes you all the way down to the water where there is a new inflatable platform for beach-club sea-level living. The flybridge has a new circular sunbed that rotates with the sun. Inside you’ll find her guest areas brighter and more welcoming with lighter woods, cream panels and new tapestries.

There’s a new cinema room on the main deck, a redesigned Japanese-style dining room and her gym shares a state-of-the-art MS Sculpt electric muscle stimulator with the massage room. As well as the latest Starlink Wi-Fi throughout and a wheelhouse brimming with the latest technology, she now operates more sustainably with LED lighting throughout, a new engine control room and new generators for lower noise and vibration.

Her unique features remain, like the three-deck sky-lit atrium where the stairs spiral around the main mast, an iconic architectural wonder. You can still indulge your passion for film with the world’s largest outdoor cinema, where movies are projected onto the lower sail so you can watch from the flybridge. The main deck aft, now shaded by a stylish new hardtop, is even better suited to entertainment with open-air dining aft and a circular sit-up bar, revamped with cream marble and new sound and light systems.

On the water, you'll find whatever you're looking for in MALTESE FALCON's garage of brand-new toys. She has a 10m (33ft) Pascoe tender to ferry guests into port or onto a deserted beach for a BBQ and thrill them on waterskis and wakeboards. SeaBobs, kayaks, SUPs, jet surfs, snorkelling equipment, windsurfers - she has plenty to keep you entertained.

When it's time for bed, the full-beam master suite on the lower deck has a large walk-in wardrobe and adjoining gym as well as his-and-hers bathrooms, now with jacuzzi bath as well as a shower room. As principal you may be tempted to take the private VIP deck instead, aft facing on the flybridge with access to the terrace and walkaround side decks, as it has a brand-new bed with a TV that rises from beneath it. There are an additional four double cabins on the lower deck, each with en suite facilities.

Be one of the first to experience this reborn icon of the seas. Get in touch now to book your MALTESE FALCON charter.

Tenders & toys

• 2 × Tenders
• Anti-jellyfish pool
• Inflatable platform
• 4 × SeaBobs
• 2 × Jetsurfs
• 2 × eFoils
• 4 × Kayaks
• 4 × 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

• Cross trainer
• Free weights
• Resistance bands
• Training bench
• Yoga instructor
• 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.

Check availability

Maltese falcon is available for those dates, maltese falcon is available for those dates subject to confirmation., sorry, maltese falcon isn't available for those dates, contact a broker to discuss your requirements, please change your dates or contact us for a personalised yacht selection..

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Rate from EUR 451,000*† per week

• Length: 90.1m (295.6ft)
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PLANET NINE

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Rate from EUR 435,000* per week

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• Built: 2003 (refitted 2014), Austal, Australia

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Rate from USD 463,000* per week

• Length: 62.5m (205.1ft)
• Built: 2010, Icon Yachts, The Netherlands

Rate from USD 417,000*† per week

• Length: 62.3m (204.4ft)
• Built: 2000 (refitted 2022), Feadship, Royal Van Lent, The Netherlands

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5 Cool Superyachts That Have Visited Malta in the Last 10 Years

November 30, 2021.

The Maltese Islands are known for their azure waters and for this reason, many yacht and sailing boat owners decide to venture and explore its waters, especially in the hot summer months. 

Throughout the years, Malta has been visited by several superyachts that leave people amazed by their size, luxury, and overall beauty. Yachting.mt , Malta’s freshest yacht  broker  and  charter  service, brings you 5 cool superyachts that have explored the Maltese azure waters in the last 10 years.

The Maltese Falcon

It would not make sense to write an article of some of the most majestic vessels that sailed within Maltese waters, without mentioning the Maltese Falcon . The Maltese Falcon is a new class of yacht. Its revolutionary sailing system, called the Falcon Rig, includes 3 self-standing and rotating masts hosting 15 sails for a total sail area of 2,400 square meters. The Maltese Falcon was also awarded the Superyacht World Trophy.

What makes Maltese Falcon special?

• Water skis, snorkeling gear and 6 full sets of diving gear
• Outdoor cinema
• Jet Skis, SeaBobs and Kayaks

Serene is an award-winning motor yacht that was built by Fincantieri in Italy within their Muggiano shipyard. The yacht, which has been designed to comfortably accommodate up to 24 guests in 12 suites comprising one VIP cabin, made its way to Malta back in 2015, leaving local onlookers absolutely amazed. Serene is also capable of carrying up to 62 crew onboard that together ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience.

What makes Serene special?

• Sundeck featuring a wet bar, pizza oven and Teppanyaki grill
• Two helicopter pads
• Health spa and beach club
• Indoor climbing wall

Size : 20th largest in the world

HORIZONS III (Martha Ann)

Another yacht that turned heads was HORIZONS III , previously known as Martha Ann. The luxury mega yacht accommodates 12 guests in 5 cabins. She features modern lines, with a contemporary feel despite its classic influence. Boasting just about every yacht feature imaginable, her dark blue hull merged with her size make her one of the world’s most impressive yachts.

What makes HORIZONS III special?

• Gym & exercise equipment
• Jacuzzi on deck
• Assorted water toys such as waterskis, sailing dinghy and more
• Seabob & snorkeling gear

Golden Odyssey

Built in 2015, the majestic Golden Odyssey visited Malta in 2020. With a beam of 20m and a draft of 5.1m, she has a steel hull and aluminum superstructure. The motor yacht can host several guests in cabins boasting an interior design by Alberto Pinto. Guests sailing on the Golden  Odyssey can make use of several amenities such as swimming pools, spa and gym. A helipad also sits comfortably on one of its decks.

What makes Golden Odyssey special?

• Helipad access
• Swimming pool
• Spa & beach club
• Gym & elevators

Size : 25th largest in the world

Known as the yacht of Russian billionaire, Roman Abramovich, Eclipse visited Malta more than a few times. Being one of the largest private yachts in the world, it has an estimated value of $1.5 billion. The luxury yacht boasts two helipads, three launch boats, two swimming pools, a nightclub, a hair salon, a cinema and a restaurant.

What makes Eclipse special?

• 3 helicopters & 2 helipads
• A disco hall
• Three man submarines
• Several hot tubs

Size : Third largest in the world

Interested in buying, selling or chartering a yacht?  Get in touch  with us today.

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• What to know

Malta boasts with one of the largest ship registries in the world. On multiple occasions, especially during the summer months, the locals get to see some of the most expensive and luxurious yachts in the world as they berth in places like Vittoriosa (Birgu) or Valletta . 

These below are some of the most luxurious boats which stopped by in Maltese waters. 

Current location: Marine Traffic

In 2015, the Maltese waters welcome the Serene, the world twelfth largest superyacht in the world. 

This incredible piece of marine beauty, made in 2011, is a staggering 134 metres long. It got its incredible style from the Italians, of course. It was in fact created in the Italian shipyard of Fincantieri. This particular model was designed by Espen Oeino with interior design by Reymond Langton Design.

It has over 2,700 square metres of the living interior with the ability to sleep 24 people inside. There are 15 staterooms which include a master suite, twin cabin, 10 double cabins and VIP stateroom.

With the possibility of having 52 crew members on board, this enormous vessel includes an on-deck gym, tender garage, seawater swimming pool, two helipads, a lift, cinema and a submarine hangar.

The Serene was built for Russian vodka tycoon Yuri Shefler for $330 million. It has been reported that in 2015, a Saudi Prince bought it for $500 million while on holiday in the South of France.   

This stunning 81.5-metre long superyacht was launched in 2013 by the Lurssen’s Rendsburg yard. The Solandge can host up to 12 guests in eight cabins. 29 crew members can work here in one go in its’ 15 cabins. It has a unique interior, the boat being designed by Aileen Rodriguez combining a classical touch with the traditional rare materials. 

The interior included 33 types of exotic wood, stone selections of 49 different kinds among other luxury materials.

This model is renowned also for its’ speed, having the ability to reach an incredible 12 knots cruising speed, reaching a maximum of 18 knots making it fast, elegant and practical at the same time.

It has been reported that this boat will take you back some $165 million.

Maltese Falcon

Before we dwell into this masterpiece, one might want to note that the Maltese Falcon is the title of a very famous film noir of the 1940s. (You might want to add that to your watchlist). 

It is only apt and proper that we include this vessel in the list of luxurious yachts that visited Malta.

This yacht was also created in Italy, at the Perini Navi shipyard, to be exact. It was built in 2006 and at the time, it brought shockwaves among the yachting enthusiasts because of its revolutionary sailing system, dubbed the “Falcon Rig”.

It’s an 88-metre long yacht that has six luxurious double cabins with the ability to host 12 guests. It also includes one master suite and two designated VIP rooms. The Falcon visited Malta in 2009 and pulled-over for a stop at the Grand Harbour in Valletta. 

This yacht was the first commissioner for American businessman Tom Perkins. He never specified for how much it was bought, simply saying it cost more than $150 million but less than $300 million.

Horizons III (Previously named Martha Ann)

One rich owner had ordered the manufacturing of three yachts; Saint Nicholas, Titania and Martha Anna. The latter had visited Malta not too long ago and it turned some heads on its way in. 

This superyacht was also designed by Espen Oenio and has a bit of everything to entertain and make its’ guests relax. Its’ 70 metres long and can host up to 12 people in its six luxurious staterooms, also including a full master cabin and a VIP suite. 

Four double cabins can host 20 crew members who are tasked with making the owner’s trip as comfortable as possible. The deck includes a full range of facilities including Jacuzzi, gym and a lift. 

The Martha Ann is elegant but also fast as it can reach an impressive 15.5 knots.

At the latest Monaco Yacht show, this yacht was listed at $79 million, a little bit cheaper from its’ original $100 million. 

Golden Odyssey

This is the most recent of world superyachts to visit Malta. The Golden Odyssey was roaming around Maltese waters only recently in July 2020. It is 123 metres long, built by Lurssen shipyard and is currently owned by Prince Khaled bin Sultan bin Abdul Azziz, the former deputy minister of defence for Saudi Arabia.

The luxury of this vessel is impressive. It includes a swimming pool, spa, beach club, gym and an elevator. A helipad also sits comfortably on one of its decks. Nothing much else is known about this yacht.

This beauty comes with a jaw-dropping price tag of $400 million. The prince owns seven similar luxury yachts. They called, for good reason, the Golden Fleet. Some of these yachts are also apparently used for research purposes. 

Explore the Maltese coasts on board of our sailing yacht on a private charter: visit Gozo, Comino and Blue Lagoon . 

#daycruises #privatedaytrips #sailing 

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An exclusive superyacht marina in the Mediterranean, an immeasurable experience. Create lasting memories with Camper & Nicholsons.

An iconic marina destination in the central mediterranean, for the world’s most prestigious yachts & superyachts..

LIVE THE MARINA

An iconic marina destination in the central mediterranean, for the world’s most prestigious yachts & superyachts.

Enjoy an unrivalled experience at this premium marina destination located in Vittoriosa, Malta, with magnificent views of the island’s capital, Valletta, across the harbour. Set back against the outstanding UNESCO World Heritage site, Grand Harbour Marina is a destination not to be missed. Offering exceptional facilities, personalised service and varied activities for Boat Owners, Captains and Crew throughout the year and central to the Mediterranean.

MALTA AND MORE

At the heart of a thriving island.

Grand Harbour Marina boasts a unique position in the heart of a culturally rich and exciting cosmopolitan island, Malta. Explore Malta’s unique heritage, culture and remarkable landscapes, and berth at our marina, your home port. Located in the Central Mediterranean Sea, and at the crossroads to East meets West, close to Southern Italy.

The smart choice

With 26 superyacht berths up to 135 metres, Grand Harbour Marina can accommodate you throughout the year with flexible berthing packages. Annual, Seasonal and visitor berthing is available for yachts from 10 metres.

A premium marine hub

Grand Harbour Marina is owned by internationally recognised Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, offering an unrivalled service to its superyacht and yacht visitors. The marina is home to some of the most sought-after service companies and superyacht firms including efficient provisioners and concierge. Additionally, the marina is located next door to one of Europe’s leading shipyards, Palumbo, offering outstanding refit and maintenance services. Grand Harbour Marina is the leading hub of nautical events on the island and Mediterranean and is the start line to prestigious round the island Rolex Sea Race.

Grand Harbour Marina is a Captain’s marina of choice, especially during the winter months, with a busy Captain and Crew Club, including activities such as, yoga, go-karting and BBQs.

“Malta has a traditional charm all its own, yet it also has a modern cosmopolitan vibe. It’s a magical combination that few places can claim… and the island’s lifestyle, once experienced, is irresistible.” Gordon Vassallo, General Manager

Gordon Vassallo , General Manager

It is important to remember that along with Grand Harbour Marina being one of the most welcoming ports you can come across during your travels onboard, the Crew and Captains Programme allows preferential rates and offers at many food and beverage destinations in and around Malta. The VIP treatment is greatly appreciated, and the unbeatable knowledge, support and help consistently delivered by the Grand Harbour Marina team, ensures a seamless, and fun, winter break.

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Worked here on 2 yachts now, great marina, friendly staff, good facilities.

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A first class marina, with really helpful staff, lead by excellent management.

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Hub of marine activities set in a historical background.

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A MALTESE FAMILY BUSINESS IN YACHTING SINCE 1990.

Valletta Superyachts is a new face to a long-established marine enterprise established since the early nineties. The family name Travers-Tauss is synonymous with yachting in Malta. From humble beginnings our firm has transformed over the last two decades into a multi-enterprise company that covers the pleasure & superyacht marine industries in Malta. With a reputation built on customer focus the family firm has overcome the challenges of the size of the local Maltese market by expanding and covering all the different aspects of yacht ownership, from sales to service, wintering, guardiennage, maintenance, ownership structures and advisory.  Through the following main subsidiaries of our yachting enterprise we are able to service boats & yachts from 4 metres to 90+ metres. With the diverse skill sets required at each size, we speak your language, whatever it may be. 

VALLETTA SUPERYACHTS

www.vallettasuperyachts.com The most recent offering from the yachting network established by the Travers Tauss family is focused on SUPERYACHTS visiting Malta or interested in availing themselves of the attractive fiscal incentives available to yacht owners to register their Superyacht under the MALTA FLAG with various ownership structure options. With dedicated legal and tax resources VALLETTA SUPERYACHTS may assist any yacht owner through the purchase, ownership and day-to-day requirements brought about through SUPERYACHT OWNERSHIP. On the quay VALLETTA SUPERYACHTS' TECHNICAL TEAM is able to offer service and support through a professionally trained service equipe and is the appointed BENETTI SERVICE PARTNER in MALTA.   Our CONCIERGE offers captains and crew of visiting Superyachts peace-of-mind and hassle-free delivery of day-to-day requirements including Berthing, Bunkering, Provisioning, Hospitality Services and Guest Transfer Requirements.

ESPRIT YACHTING

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Established in 2006, we are the exclusive representatives in Malta for the AZIMUT|BENETTI GROUP.  This long-standing excellent relationship with the maritime's industry's leading yacht manufacturer is about to enter the 15th year.  The company offers the group's entire range of yachts from the AZIMUT and BENETTI Yacht brands.

Backed by a strong aftersales team that follows the fleet of customer's yachts built up over the years we also have a firm grip on the strongest local market shares.  With both a strong local and foreign ownership ratio the company has a keen understanding of discerning and diverse requirements owners may have. Yacht owners can enjoy  hassle-free yacht ownership through Esprit's ancillary service that offers YACHT MANAGEMENT and CHARTER MANAGEMENT that covers the yacht’s requirements all year round. Esprit is also the exclusive dealer and service centre in Malta for WILLIAMS PERFORMANCE TENDERS. We have proudly represented Williams since early days. 

STRAND MARINE

www.strandmarinemalta.com

Established in 1990, today we are leaders in pleasureboat sales, servicing & yacht support.  Strand Marine has a long history of boat sales predominantly under the LARSON boats brand.  Over the last years the company has extended its product offering SUZUKI Marine Outboard Motors, SACS Ribs & OCEANMASTER Boats. For the past decade we have ably represented prime brands such as MASTERVOLT Electrical Components, MAXWELL Winches, ISOTHERM Refrigeration, HELLA Lighting,  SEAVISION Underwater Lighting, CPOD Vessel Tracking Solutions & MAXPOWER Bow and Stern Thrusters and others.

YACHTING EVENTS

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Established in 2014, the new joint-venture with AT Group & Mr. Peter Valentino has secured the licence to organise the RC44 VALLETTA CUP in 2015, 2016 & 2018.  The class designed by the all-time AMERICA'S CUP Champion RUSSELL COUTTS will establish itself as a calendar event within the International Circuit of yacht racing. The company is a full-service event organisation capable of hosting World-class yacht race and exhibition events in perfectly wind-swept Maltese Islands.  The company is currently in negotiations and will shortly announce additional yacht race classes keen to add the Maltese Islands to their sailing calendar. 

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Marina di Valletta is the result of a consortium formed between Marina di Varazze S.r.l, the marina development division of Azimut|Benetti Group and already operates marinas in Varazze, Viareggio, Livorno and Moscow.  The consortium includes a number of local leading companies from the yachting, hospitality, furniture and construction industries whose names are synonymous with sound traditional values and expertise in their respective fields.

With luxury touches installed throughout, the Marina boasts a travertine walkway and durable and attractive paver flooring in the parking area shall be accentuated by a well-studied ambient lighting.  

The Marina Club House shall be fully operational by March 2018. The iconic structure will house the Marina Offices, toilets, showers, a high-end café and a yacht support office.

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EXCLUSIVE: Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7 in Malta onboard superyacht HOME

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By Editorial Team   28 October 2021

Bravo's much-beloved maritime hit has been seen filming in Malta for season 7 of Below Deck Mediterranean, with crew members spotted aboard superyacht HOME  and our exclusive superyacht data tracking her whereabouts confirms that she will be the new superyacht for this upcoming season.

Fans of the extremely popular reality TV show, which chronicles the lives of crew members working aboard a superyacht, will be extremely happy to hear the long-standing Captain will be back at the helm in the eagerly awaited new season.

Photos appear to confirm that fan favorite Captain Sandy will be returning to our screens as will Courtney Veale and Mzi "Zee" Dempers. It's expected season 7 will be aired in May 2022, but no official announcement has yet been made regarding its release nor the yacht and crew members.

Superyacht HOME in Below Deck Mediterranean Season 7

This marks the first time superyacht HOME appears in the show, following the appearance of elegant charter yacht LADY MICHELLE in season 6. The 180-foot Benetti cruised Croatia's sunkissed coastline and myriad islands while the show's many antics took place on her decks.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)

49m (160ft) superyacht HOME is a multi-award-winning vessel that can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests across 6 palatial staterooms. First launched in 2017, she features beautifully proportioned decks for exquisite indoor/outdoor living and boasts a whole raft of charter-focused amenities that will enthrall guests. 

Our tracking data shows charter yacht HOME has primarily been docked in the stunning sun-dappled Valletta harbour overlooking the majestic Fort St.Angelo, but has dropped anchor in the serene Golden Bay, Mellieha Bay and Xemxija Bay too.

From her convivial sundeck setup replete with Jacuzzi and glowing cocktail bar, to her panoramic sky lounge and state-of-the-art water toys, she certainly has the wow factor required for Below Deck Mediterranean.

Yacht rentals in Malta

A  yacht rental in Malta beckons with balmy temperatures, tranquil landscapes and its sun-drenched, UNESCO- recognised centre steeped in history. Combined with eye-poppingly beautiful island hopping to nearby sister isles of Gozo and Comino, guests will adore this diminutive destination for a sunny escape.

To discover more about chartering one of the yachts featured in Below Deck Mediterranean, get in touch with your chosen yacht rental broker .

Featured charter yachts in Below Deck Mediterranean:

55m Benetti 2003 / 2024

56m Oceanco 1993 / 2016

47m Heesen 2006 / 2013

54m Turquoise Yachts 2006 / 2016

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Yacht Services Malta

Super yacht agency, yacht charters, boero paints, about nautica, nautica has a wide experience in the malta yacht industry.

NAUTICA was formed in 1988 as a Professional Yacht Support Company to face the growing local and international market for professional services. It is a reference point for all yacht operators, guests, management companies , captains and crew cruising around Malta and the Mediterranean.Before opening the company , Simon Borg Cardona , the Managing Director , worked in the Merchant Navy as a Second officer and also as Chief Mate on various Commercial Ships and Yachts and his vast experience in this sector has surely helped to understand the Yachting Industry’s requirements and needs. "The NAUTICA Team" offers professional yacht Agency services, Yacht Charters ,Yacht Paints and Boat sales in the Maltese Islands and central Mediterranean. Nautica Ltd have been adding and expanding their own fleet of charter yachts slowly and in line with our client’s requests and feedback. At Nautica customer satisfaction is paramount and we work hard to ensure that client feedback and suggestions are implemented. Over the last Twenty five years or so , Nautica have specialized in Super Yacht Agency , providing all kinds of services , provisioning , berthing , yard works , Bunkering, Customs and Police Immigration formalities ,and all other ancillary services that may be required during their visit to the Maltese Islands .We have handled some of the largest and most prestigious super yachts in the world and many Captains and Management companies have recommended our company to fellow Captains and crew alike . We strive to make sure that Captains and Crew leave Malta totally satisfied with our personal and efficient services .

Profurl developed its first headsail reefing-furling system in 1980, when it was known as ProEngin. The company quickly became the reference and world leader in this area.

Today Profurl means:

Our ambition is to provide you with the best of modern technology, why choose profurl, boero paints.

Boero YachtCoatings makes high quality coatings, for use in all marine applications, that satisfy the needs of both pleasure craft enthusiasts and major shipyards involved in the construction of ambitious yacht and superyacht projects.

Our close relationship with all customers encourages us to develop leading edge coatings, produced using selected raw materials, formulations in compliance with the latest legislation and production processes that guarantee constant quality.

To all this we add extensive application cycle know-how and the desire to help our partners through every step of their path.

In doing so, we are guided by our passion for the sea and our desire to satisfy our customers and be an integral part of their success.

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With over 15 years experience in the local yacht charter industry, we’re proud to own one of the largest, privately owned fleet of Sailing Yachts, Catamarans and RIBs in the Mediterranean. 

Whatever the size of your event, we’ll be happy to help you plan it and make sure your trip will be plain sailing.

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Book your sailing yacht charter in Malta with us. There’s no better way to explore the Maltese waters. We accept bareboat bookings or can provide you with one of our experienced skippers.

15 Years Of Experience

Malta Charters is one of the largest private sailing & RIB charter operators in the Mediterranean which owns all its vessels.

Malta Charters was established in 2006 while pursuing a vision to tap into the growing niche of yacht chartering and boat rental in the Maltese Islands. Our company’s motto is ”Bringing friends together for a great time at Sea.”

With a staff complement of more than 15 full timers and 40 part timers, and a base at Kalkara Marina, situated inside Valletta’s majestic Grand Harbour, Malta Charters strives towards its purpose by offering up to 30 Sailing Yachts and 4 Sailing Catamarans and 7 Ribs for rent at prices within everyone’s reach.

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All services, including financial management, crew administration, and more, are available à la carte.

Xone embodies the fusion of "X" and "one", which signifies the unity of diverse individuals and superyachts finding common ground within an inclusive zone. Through our extensive superyacht management services and maritime academy, we play our role in creating a positive influence on the sector today and in the future.

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Xone Maritime Academy is an approved maritime training center of the Malta Flag State, the Marshall Islands, and an IYT Worldwide partner school, which offers a wide range of prestigious certifications and training to seafarers at all skill levels up to Master of Yachts<3000GT.

Our courses and programs cover a diverse selection of carefully designed options that will provide aspiring maritime professionals with the knowledge, skills, and certification necessary for success in this challenging and rewarding industry. 

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Xone Superyacht Management enables owners to thoroughly enjoy their vessel while allowing captains to concentrate on efficiently operating the yacht, relieving them of administrative burdens. We provide the confidence of complete adherence to regulations and maritime conventions by handling all technical, safety, security, financial, crew, operational, and more aspects of superyacht ownership. We ensure your investment is expertly managed and cared for.

Xone Superyacht Management operates as an authorized broker of registrars for the Cook Islands, Malta, Antigua & Barbuda, and Langkawi. The choice of flag state for your yacht can significantly impact key aspects such as taxes, boarding, liability, and overall enjoyment. We specialize in simplifying the process, facilitating accurate completion of all legal procedures and paperwork, whether you require commercial or private yacht registration. With our team, you can decide which flag state best serves your purposes.

Xone was founded in 2011 by Levent Baktır, a Master Mariner. Anchored on the strong foundation of the Xone Maritime Academy, Xone has taken a holistic approach over time to enhance all aspects of the superyacht industry and shape its future. Today, Xone's expertise encompasses not only bringing a valuable crew to the sector but also managing yachts with precision. Xone understands the complexity and diverse requirements involved in maintaining a superyacht and aims to deliver accurate solutions that cater to unique demands.

Superyacht Berthing Malta

Malta's Premier Yachting Destination

Marina di Valletta is an ideal berthing destination in Malta for Superyacht owners, captains and crew, with first-class facilities and luxurious shore-side amenities. Many passionate Superyacht owners, captains and crew have chosen our berthing and mooring options over the years due to our prestigious location and premium services.

Marina di Valletta has rightfully earned a reputation within the superyacht industry as the premier location to berth whilst visiting Malta.

Marina di Valletta offers a world-class location for world-class Superyachts . For Superyachts visiting Malta , or those traveling the Mediterranean, there is no better location. The marina offers alongside berthing facilities for Superyachts up to 75+ metres. Our pontoons are wider than the average width of local marinas, offering better stability and comfort for marina patrons. 

Centrally positioned, the marina is within minutes of the city gate of Valletta, Malta’s capital city, and all that vibrant Valletta has to offer and only 10 minutes drive from Malta International Airport .

As one of the largest dedicated Superyacht marinas in Malta , Marina di Valletta provides an exceptional standard of service and a comprehensive range of logistical support services for visiting Superyachts including our own in-house Superyacht agency – Valletta Superyachts.

Amenities at Marina di Valletta

Marina di Valletta offers excellent facilities, varied activities and personalised services, 24 hours a day. With luxury touches installed throughout, the Marina boasts state-of-the-art marina amenities. Our concierge services include but are not limited to gardiennage, yacht cleaning, fuelling and yacht provisions.

Moreover, berthing assistants will deliver a new level of service and equipped with electric scooters will ferry belongings between the car and the boat. Marina ribs will always be at hand for assistance during mooring.

– Concierge, Yacht Cleaning, Yacht Support and Gardiennage Services. – Alongside Transit Berthing available for up to 75m meterm and 500GT+ Superyachts. – 24-hour Marina Personnel / Security. – Fuel bunker service at berth / logisticlal loading / unloading support. – Iconic Marina Capitanerie including new Marina reception & Highly rated Restaurant. – Direct Transport links to Valletta and the rest of the island.

Mediterranean Cuisine at Samizu Restaurant

Marina di Valletta boasts a modern and airy bistro right by the water’s edge at the foot of the majestic fortifications of Valletta. Enjoy al fresco dining with gorgeous views of our Marina.

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Competitive Mediterranean rates which we will be happy to share with your captain or agent on request. Starting from €235 per night for 24m vessels and scaling up to €740 for 75m vessels.

For stays in excess of 10 nights, the Marina will apply a more economical monthly rate. Current Water & Electricity consumption is charged at €0.27/kWh electricity and €7/m3 of water and are subject to change from time to time.

Contact us for rates.

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Prepared to welcome you. The best mooring in Malta is at your disposal.

To simplify the procedures upon arrival and avoid waiting times, all yachts must submit vaccination certificates (each per passenger), filled out Crew list and Annex 8 form.

All the documents should be sent on 6 emails (below), with [email protected]  and  [email protected] in copy.

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With extensive professional experience, our highly qualified team are committed to providing the best service quality possible to all our clients and visitors.

Visiting Malta by Superyacht

There are ample reasons to visit Malta on your Mediterranean vacation. Its crystal blue waters, year-round good weather, and stunning coastline make it the perfect place to explore by yacht. The wonderful capital, Valletta, is packed with sites of historical significance including museums, a cathedral and multiple Churches. You’ll also find a number of cool street cafes, bars and quality restaurants from which to watch the world go by.

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The Creepy Coincidences of the Billionaire Superyacht Sinking

Starting with the name..

The sinking of tech billionaire Mike Lynch’s yacht in a freak storm off the Sicilian coast last week certainly has to rank among the most bizarre fatal celebrity accidents in years. There was the weird coincidence that Lynch had just gotten acquitted after a yearslong legal battle over a multibillion-dollar fraud; the eerie synchrony of the same-day death of his co-defendant after being struck by car while jogging; the fact that the $40 million vessel had been described as virtually unsinkable; the fact no vessel that size had been sunk by a waterspout in centuries; and the fact that the area where it struck is not known for waterspouts. But perhaps the wildest thing about the whole saga is the yacht’s name , Bayesian .

It refers to a method of statistical calculation that was originally devised by an 18th-century Presbyterian minister, Thomas Bayes. Lynch named his yacht after Bayes’s method in recognition of its role in building his fortune. In short, he had honored a method of calculating probabilities — only to be killed aboard its namesake by an accumulation of wildly off-the-chart improbabilities.

“The irony is tragic,” says British science journalist Tom Chivers, who writes for Semafor and published a book this year on Bayesian statistics called Everything Is Predictable. “It’s not a subtle irony. Bayes is the maths of prediction. This sequence of events is just spectacularly unlikely.”

It’s as if Charles Kane had been crushed to death under a giant rosebud.

How did we get here? In statistics, total probability is calculated by multiplying together all the component probabilities. So let’s look at the individual parts of the case.

Mike Lynch was something of a black-swan event in himself. Until he came along, the U.K. had never before had a software billionaire. The son of a fireman and a nurse who had immigrated from Ireland, Lynch grew up in England, then rose above his humble roots by attending Cambridge University. After graduating, he returned to Cambridge to earn a Ph.D. in signal processing , then stayed on to conduct postdoctoral research in neural networks, the data-processing technology that underlies machine learning. In 1990, while still a student, he founded his first company at the age of 25 with a loan of £2,000 from an eccentric acquaintance he made in a bar.

His research had led him to understand that by using neural networks computers could sift through unstructured data to find information that a user wanted. To do this, a program needed to assemble a vast number of interrelated probabilities and then update these probabilities as new information came in using Bayes’s formula. In 1996, he founded a separate company, Autonomy, to do just that.

Lynch was way ahead of the curve in seeing the technology’s commercial potential. At the time, the field was struggling through a so-called AI winter: Research had stalled, and the processors hadn’t yet been developed that would allow for the creation of the large language models of today. But Lynch’s foresight served him well. By 2000, the company was worth more than a billion dollars and Lynch was being lauded as the U.K.’s answer to Bill Gates . In 2011, he sold Autonomy to Hewlett Packard for $11 billion. It was a tremendous coup for a former scholarship boy.

He used some of the money to buy a 184-foot long yacht named Salute from a Dutch property developer named John Groenewoud, who had bought it new for nearly $40 million in 2008. At the time it was built, the yacht’s 237-foot-high aluminum mast was the tallest in the world. Lynch renamed it after the kind of statistics that had made his fortune: Bayesian.

Lynch’s luck soon turned. After the deal closed, HP realized that Autonomy’s revenues were largely fictitious and that the deal it had staked so much on was in fact a dog — what one analyst later dubbed “the worst, most value-destroying deal in the history of corporate America.” HP wrote down the investment by $8.8 billion. The company fired its CEO, and the company broke up into two parts.

A lot of people were pissed. HP blamed “willful effort on behalf of certain former Autonomy employees to inflate the underlying financial metrics of the company in order to mislead investors.” These suspicions were the basis for a series of legal actions, and in 2019 U.S. prosecutors indicted Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomy’s former vice-president of finance, on fraud charges that carried a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Lynch’s own lawyers called it “one of Silicon Valley’s biggest-ever fraud cases.”

The trial took a long time to unfold in part because Lynch waged a yearslong battle against extradition from the U.K. to the United States, a battle he finally lost in 2023. This past March, his trial began in San Francisco. The New York Times noted that “ Mr. Lynch’s odds do not look good. ” (Former Autonomy CFO Sushovan Hussain had already been convicted on similar charges and sentenced to five years in prison.) But Lynch and Chamberlain beat the odds. On June 6, a jury found both men not guilty on all counts. “Lynch’s win is extremely unusual in federal criminal cases,” as the New York Post reported . “In fact, only less than 1% of federal cases ended in acquittal in 2022, according to the Pew Research Center.”

The sinking

Lynch decided to celebrate with a Mediterranean cruise aboard Bayesian . The yacht was to carry its full complement of ten crew and 12 guests. Invited along with Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were several people who had helped secure his freedom, including lawyer Christopher Morvillo of the firm Clifford Chance and Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, who had testified to Lynch’s good character at his trial. Not on the guest list was his co-defendant. Three days after Bayesian set sail, Chamberlain was back in England and jogging near Cambridge when he was struck by a car. Severely injured, he was taken to the hospital and put on life support.

Bayesian was off on a meandering course through the Tyrrhenian Sea. It wandered among the Aeolian Islands of Pecorini, Malfa, and Lipari, then stopped at the port of Milazzo on August 14. From there, it sailed westward along the northern coast of Sicily toward Palermo. On the evening of Sunday, August 18, it anchored about 300 yards from the harbor of Porticello, where severe thunderstorms had been forecast. “We all knew that a storm was coming and that during that night it was better to keep the boats inside the port,” a local fisherman later told the BBC .

Under certain very specific conditions, thunderstorms can yield tornadoes. When these occur over water, they are called waterspouts, but in every other regard the phenomena are identical, says Wade Szilagi, director of the International Centre for Waterspout Research. Tornadoes are measured according to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with EF5 being the strongest with winds of up to 300 miles per hour .

Like tornadoes, waterspouts are more likely to be found in areas where the meteorological conditions are favorable for their development, such as the Florida Keys and Lake Erie. As for the region where the Bayesian sank, “I wouldn’t say that this is a hot spot” for waterspouts, says Szilagi.

Shortly before dawn the vessel was apparently struck by a waterspout of unknown size and intensity while it was riding at anchor. Violent gusts slammed the yacht from side to side, forward and back, before ripping it from its anchorage. Bayesian tipped on its side, filled with water, and sank below the waves just 15 minutes after the storm began. While nine of the crew and four of the passengers escaped, six of the passengers remained trapped in the hull, including Mike and Hannah Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy, and Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda. Their bodies were later recovered by divers. The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found floating on the surface.

Even given the intensity of the storm, the speed with which Bayesian sank was shocking, nearly incomprehensible, to the yachting community. “I have never seen a vessel of this size go down so quickly,” Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship that came to the survivors’ aid, told the Guardian . “Within a few minutes, there was nothing left.”

In interviews with Italian media, Giovanni Costantino, chairman of the company that built the Bayesian , said that his firm’s sailing yachts are “unsinkable” and among “the safest boats in the world.”

It won’t be entirely clear what happened until Italian authorities are able to complete their inquiry, but many, including Costantino , have speculated that the crew failed to prepare the yacht for the storm, for example by remaining at anchor and leaving hatches open to the weather. Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the captain, James Cutfield, who survived.

Even assuming gross negligence on the part of the crew, the sinking of a vessel as large and robust as the Bayesian by a waterspout is vanishingly improbable. Such events are simply exceedingly rare, and none has been so deadly in centuries. In 2004, a waterspout in Greece picked up a boat and flung it onto a 10-year-old boy, killing him. And last year, a waterspout struck a 50-foot boat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore , killing four. The last reported time a waterspout claimed as many victims as died on the Bayesian was back in the 16th century, when one struck a crowded harbor in Malta, killing hundreds.

The same day that the Bayesian sank, U.K. police reported that Chamberlain had died in hospital of his injuries. He became one of the 165 pedestrians between the age of 25 and 59, out of a U.K. population of 42 million , to be killed each year by vehicles.

The bizarreness of this string of unlikelihoods has been lost on no one. “This sequence of events is just spectacularly unlikely,” Chivers notes. “There is this Bayesian-probability aspect to it, this building of unlikeliness upon unlikeliness.”

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Posted on 06/05/2024

Maximizing Your Yacht's Market Potential: A Comprehensive Guide to Selling Your Yacht Successfully

Selling a yacht is an intricate process that requires strategic planning and careful execution to ensure a quick and profitable transaction. As an industry expert, Boatcare Trading Ltd brings to the table an extensive network and proven strategies to assist yacht owners in maximizing their sale potential. This comprehensive guide offers insights into the most…

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Living in Malta offers a unique blend of sun-drenched landscapes, rich historical tapestry, and a vibrant maritime culture, deeply intertwined with the Mediterranean Sea. This archipelago, situated at the heart of the Mediterranean, is not just a picturesque postcard destination but a place where the sea is a way of life, offering an unparalleled lifestyle…

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Set sail into the heart of the Mediterranean’s splendour with Boatcare Trading Limited, Malta’s leading purveyor of luxury yacht charters. Our private yacht charters offer an escape into a world where your desires steer the course, blending adventure with the pinnacle of luxury. Luxurious EscapesYour journey begins at any point of preference, where your private…

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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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The Creepy Coincidences of the Superyacht Sinking

T he sinking of tech billionaire Mike Lynch’s yacht in a freak storm off the Sicilian coast last week certainly has to rank among the most bizarre fatal celebrity accidents in years. There was the weird coincidence that Lynch had just gotten acquitted after a yearslong legal battle over a multibillion-dollar fraud; the eerie synchrony of the same-day death of his co-defendant after being struck by car while jogging; the fact that the $40 million vessel had been described as virtually unsinkable; the fact no vessel that size had been sunk by a waterspout in centuries; and the fact that the area where it struck is not known for waterspouts. But perhaps the wildest thing about the whole saga is the yacht’s name , Bayesian .

It refers to a method of statistical calculation that was originally devised by an 18th-century Presbyterian minister, Thomas Bayes. Lynch named his yacht after Bayes’s method in recognition of its role in building his fortune. In short, he had honored a method of calculating probabilities — only to be killed aboard its namesake by an accumulation of wildly off-the-chart improbabilities.

“The irony is tragic,” says British science journalist Tom Chivers, who writes for Semafor and published a book this year on Bayesian statistics called Everything Is Predictable. “It’s not a subtle irony. Bayes is the maths of prediction. This sequence of events is just spectacularly unlikely.”

It’s as if Charles Kane had been crushed to death under a giant rosebud.

How did we get here? In statistics, total probability is calculated by multiplying together all the component probabilities. So let’s look at the individual parts of the case.

Mike Lynch was something of a black-swan event in himself. Until he came along, the U.K. had never before had a software billionaire. The son of a fireman and a nurse who had immigrated from Ireland, Lynch grew up in England, then rose above his humble roots by attending Cambridge University. After graduating, he returned to Cambridge to earn a Ph.D. in signal processing , then stayed on to conduct postdoctoral research in neural networks, the data-processing technology that underlies machine learning. In 1990, while still a student, he founded his first company at the age of 25 with a loan of £2,000 from an eccentric acquaintance he made in a bar.

His research had led him to understand that by using neural networks computers could sift through unstructured data to find information that a user wanted. To do this, a program needed to assemble a vast number of interrelated probabilities and then update these probabilities as new information came in using Bayes’s formula. In 1996, he founded a separate company, Autonomy, to do just that.

Lynch was way ahead of the curve in seeing the technology’s commercial potential. At the time, the field was struggling through a so-called AI winter: Research had stalled, and the processors hadn’t yet been developed that would allow for the creation of the large language models of today. But Lynch’s foresight served him well. By 2000, the company was worth more than a billion dollars and Lynch was being lauded as the U.K.’s answer to Bill Gates . In 2011, he sold Autonomy to Hewlett Packard for $11 billion. It was a tremendous coup for a former scholarship boy.

He used some of the money to buy a 184-foot long yacht named Salute from a Dutch property developer named John Groenewoud, who had bought it new for nearly $40 million in 2008. At the time it was built, the yacht’s 237-foot-high aluminum mast was the tallest in the world. Lynch renamed it after the kind of statistics that had made his fortune: Bayesian.

Lynch’s luck soon turned. After the deal closed, HP realized that Autonomy’s revenues were largely fictitious and that the deal it had staked so much on was in fact a dog — what one analyst later dubbed “the worst, most value-destroying deal in the history of corporate America.” HP wrote down the investment by $8.8 billion. The company fired its CEO, and the company broke up into two parts.

A lot of people were pissed. HP blamed “willful effort on behalf of certain former Autonomy employees to inflate the underlying financial metrics of the company in order to mislead investors.” These suspicions were the basis for a series of legal actions, and in 2019 U.S. prosecutors indicted Lynch and Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomy’s former vice-president of finance, on fraud charges that carried a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Lynch’s own lawyers called it “one of Silicon Valley’s biggest-ever fraud cases.”

The trial took a long time to unfold in part because Lynch waged a yearslong battle against extradition from the U.K. to the United States, a battle he finally lost in 2023. This past March, his trial began in San Francisco. The New York Times noted that “ Mr. Lynch’s odds do not look good. ” (Former Autonomy CFO Sushovan Hussain had already been convicted on similar charges and sentenced to five years in prison.) But Lynch and Chamberlain beat the odds. On June 6, a jury found both men not guilty on all counts. “Lynch’s win is extremely unusual in federal criminal cases,” as the New York Post reported . “In fact, only less than 1% of federal cases ended in acquittal in 2022, according to the Pew Research Center.”

The sinking

Lynch decided to celebrate with a Mediterranean cruise aboard Bayesian . The yacht was to carry its full complement of ten crew and 12 guests. Invited along with Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, were several people who had helped secure his freedom, including lawyer Christopher Morvillo of the firm Clifford Chance and Jonathan Bloomer, the chairman of Morgan Stanley International, who had testified to Lynch’s good character at his trial. Not on the guest list was his co-defendant. Three days after Bayesian set sail, Chamberlain was back in England and jogging near Cambridge when he was struck by a car. Severely injured, he was taken to the hospital and put on life support.

Bayesian was off on a meandering course through the Tyrrhenian Sea. It wandered among the Aeolian Islands of Pecorini, Malfa, and Lipari, then stopped at the port of Milazzo on August 14. From there, it sailed westward along the northern coast of Sicily toward Palermo. On the evening of Sunday, August 18, it anchored about 300 yards from the harbor of Porticello, where severe thunderstorms had been forecast. “We all knew that a storm was coming and that during that night it was better to keep the boats inside the port,” a local fisherman later told the BBC .

Under certain very specific conditions, thunderstorms can yield tornadoes. When these occur over water, they are called waterspouts, but in every other regard the phenomena are identical, says Wade Szilagi, director of the International Centre for Waterspout Research. Tornadoes are measured according to the Enhanced Fujita Scale, with EF5 being the strongest with winds of up to 300 miles per hour .

Like tornadoes, waterspouts are more likely to be found in areas where the meteorological conditions are favorable for their development, such as the Florida Keys and Lake Erie. As for the region where the Bayesian sank, “I wouldn’t say that this is a hot spot” for waterspouts, says Szilagi.

Shortly before dawn the vessel was apparently struck by a waterspout of unknown size and intensity while it was riding at anchor. Violent gusts slammed the yacht from side to side, forward and back, before ripping it from its anchorage. Bayesian tipped on its side, filled with water, and sank below the waves just 15 minutes after the storm began. While nine of the crew and four of the passengers escaped, six of the passengers remained trapped in the hull, including Mike and Hannah Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy, and Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda. Their bodies were later recovered by divers. The body of the yacht’s cook, Recaldo Thomas, was found floating on the surface.

Even given the intensity of the storm, the speed with which Bayesian sank was shocking, nearly incomprehensible, to the yachting community. “I have never seen a vessel of this size go down so quickly,” Karsten Borner, the captain of a sailing ship that came to the survivors’ aid, told the Guardian . “Within a few minutes, there was nothing left.”

In interviews with Italian media, Giovanni Costantino, chairman of the company that built the Bayesian , said that his firm’s sailing yachts are “unsinkable” and among “the safest boats in the world.”

It won’t be entirely clear what happened until Italian authorities are able to complete their inquiry, but many, including Costantino , have speculated that the crew failed to prepare the yacht for the storm, for example by remaining at anchor and leaving hatches open to the weather. Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation into the captain, James Cutfield, who survived.

Even assuming gross negligence on the part of the crew, the sinking of a vessel as large and robust as the Bayesian by a waterspout is vanishingly improbable. Such events are simply exceedingly rare, and none has been so deadly in centuries. In 2004, a waterspout in Greece picked up a boat and flung it onto a 10-year-old boy, killing him. And last year, a waterspout struck a 50-foot boat on Italy’s Lake Maggiore , killing four. The last reported time a waterspout claimed as many victims as died on the Bayesian was back in the 16th century, when one struck a crowded harbor in Malta, killing hundreds.

The same day that the Bayesian sank, U.K. police reported that Chamberlain had died in hospital of his injuries. He became one of the 165 pedestrians between the age of 25 and 59, out of a U.K. population of 42 million , to be killed each year by vehicles.

The bizarreness of this string of unlikelihoods has been lost on no one. “This sequence of events is just spectacularly unlikely,” Chivers notes. “There is this Bayesian-probability aspect to it, this building of unlikeliness upon unlikeliness.”

• ENVIRONMENT

A sea tornado just sank a yacht in the Mediterranean. We might be seeing more of them.

A deadly waterspout is strongly suspected of sinking a yacht off the coast of Italy. Scientists weigh in on whether they’ll worsen as the planet warms.

A superyacht carrying 22 people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, sank off the coast of Palermo, Italy, in the early hours of August 19.  

The 183-foot Bayesian yacht is believed to have been hit by a waterspout —a tornado that forms over the ocean—and some experts are concerned that climate change could worsen these storms in the Mediterranean and other quickly warming waters.

Here’s what you need to know about waterspouts and whether hotter temperatures could cause more of them.

What is a waterspout?

A waterspout is a tornado that forms over water. “The tornado doesn't really care what surface it’s over,” says David Sills, executive director of the Northern Tornadoes Project at Western University in Ontario, Canada. “Whether it's a city or a forest or crops or water, the tornado is going to do its thing."  

These columns of rotating air “form where an air boundary exists, for example where warm and cold air collide,” says a spokesperson at the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) via email.

Changes in wind direction at different heights can cause a rotation.

“Imagine just above the ocean, the wind is blowing in one direction,” says Peter Inness , meteorologist at the University of Reading. When the wind higher up blows in another direction, “the air between those two levels of wind starts rotating around the horizontal axis.”

The warm air below rises and these “spinning parcels of air are also lifted and stretched in this process and can concentrate on the surface of the water creating a vortex,” says the BOM.

As the air is sucked upwards into the storm, the spinning intensifies like taking the plug out of the bath, says Innes: “the water going down the plughole rotates very intensely because it's being sucked downwards.”

It’s similar to a figure skater, adds Sills: “When they bring in their arms, and then they spin faster and faster.”  

How dangerous are waterspouts for boats?

Although the wind associated with waterspouts can reach 55 miles per hour, they typically move at under 25 miles per hour, are short-lived, and don’t cause much damage. “They usually only impact any single point for a few minutes,” says the BOM.

The Bayesian was moored overnight when it sank. Although people have attributed this to a waterspout, it’s not yet been confirmed.  

“It was dark and there are no images available,” says Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society , via email.

Boats are designed to right themselves when blown over by strong winds. “Those sailboats have a big, heavy keel so that when you start to go over, it pulls you back up,” says Sills.

But if water gets into the ship, it can lose buoyancy. “It's called a knockdown,” he says. “Time spent over like that means water and waves can get into open doors and it starts to take on water. Then you start to sink.”

The rapid change in wind strength and direction are also dangerous for boats, says Innes, “because it could result in the boat rocking backward and forward very violently.”

Will climate change cause more waterspouts?

One study has found more frequent waterspouts off the coast of Spain’s Balearic Islands when sea surface temperatures are higher, particularly between 73 and 78°F.

This year, “the Mediterranean is [over 5°F] above average,” says Mercalli, which is “an anomaly considered "extreme". These unusually warm waters could be partly due to climate change as well as year-on-year variability.

Some people are concerned that climate change could cause an increase in tornadoes on land and water.

“Global warming will increase all weather extreme events, because it injects more energy into the atmosphere,” says Mercalli.

But experts are wary of confirming a definite link with climate change. “Waterspouts are a very short-lived and local scale phenomena, and therefore difficult to attribute to impacts of climate change,” says the BOM.

The Mediterranean is warming more quickly than the rest of the ocean. Although climate change will make sea surface temperatures warmer, it’s unclear how it will affect the other conditions needed to create waterspouts.

Waterspouts need a temperature difference between air and sea. If the air is warming at the same rate as the bodies of water, an increase in waterspouts is unlikely, says Sills.  

Low pressure is also needed. “Even if the water is really warm, if you've got an area of high pressure over the Mediterranean, you won't get those thunderstorms,” says Inness. “You won't get waterspouts.”

Wind direction also comes into play. In this region, humid air from the north is more likely to cause storms than dry winds coming up from North Africa.    

Due to poor historic data, it’s not possible to confirm that waterspouts are increasing, says Mercalli, “but surely all heavy storms, including thunderstorms that generate strong winds, downbursts, heavy rains and hail are increasing worldwide and in Italy.”

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• CLIMATE CHANGE

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Bayesian Yacht Sinking: Climate Change Created Perfect Storm for Waterspouts

The waterspout blamed for the deadly sinking of a luxury superyacht carrying the British tech billionaire Mike Lynch in Italy has been called a freak “black swan” event. But scientists believe this kind of marine tornado is becoming more common with global warming.

While the cause of the sinking of the Bayesian hasn’t officially been determined, weather conditions and witness reports from Sicily, where the yacht was anchored off the coast, have led experts to suspect a waterspout, a whirling column of air and water mist. The key factor for waterspout formation is warm water—and the past year has seen the ocean surface heat up to record-breaking temperatures , in part due to climate change.

“If this rate of warming is going to be continuing in the future, it’s very possible these phenomena will be common and not rare,” says Michalis Sioutas, a meteorology PhD who studies waterspouts in Greece and is a board member of the Hellenic Meteorological Society. “It’s very possible to talk about waterspouts or even tornadoes and extreme storms becoming common.”

The 180-foot Bayesian sank in a matter of minutes after being caught in a sudden storm with strong winds and intense lightning at around 4 am on Monday. Fifteen people who had been aboard were rescued, and one person was found dead. Six people are missing, including British tech billionaire Mike Lynch, who was recently cleared of fraud charges over the sale of his company to Hewlett-Packard. On Wednesday, the bodies of five people were recovered from the sunken ship but have yet to be identified.

Fishermen saw a waterspout near the yacht shortly before it sank, and a nearby schooner was tossed about by what its captain, Karsten Borner, called a “hurricane gust,” which he believes capsized the Bayesian . Experts have said the conditions were ripe for a waterspout.

This extreme weather phenomenon occurs when warm, moist air rises rapidly over water, spinning as winds change direction at different heights. The result is a long, bending funnel of spray between the water and the clouds, tapering off as it rises as much as 10,000 feet into the heavens.

It comes in two flavors. The more vanilla kind is a fair weather waterspout , which forms in relatively calm and even sunny conditions, often under a billowy cumulus cloud. It happens more often in places like the Great Lakes and the Florida Keys, reaches wind speeds of 50 miles per hour, and usually breaks up before it can cause significant damage.

Then there are severe waterspouts, essentially tornadoes over water, which “are another beast” entirely, according to Wade Szilagyi, a retired forecaster at the Meteorological Service of Canada who now directs the International Center for Waterspout Research. These tornadic waterspouts can move from land to water, or vice versa, and twist at 125 miles per hour or more. They’ve been known to throw debris, rip apart buildings, and overturn boats.

A waterspout documented by Sioutas in Methoni, Greece, in 2004 picked up a boat and sent it sailing through the air, striking and killing a 10-year-old boy. Last year, a sudden storm and waterspout with winds of over 40 miles per hour overturned a tourist boat carrying off-duty intelligence agents on Italy’s Lake Maggiore, killing four. Sioutas says waterspouts can even generate “massive water displacements similar to tsunamis,” citing the gigantic waves that struck the coast of the Greek island of Samos during a 2004 cyclone, tossing boulders like toys.

Tornadic waterspouts spring up only in stormy weather with strong winds, lightning, and sometimes hail, and are the product of two main ingredients: wind shear and rising, unstable air. The process begins when masses of cold and warm air collide. This brings together winds from different directions that start to spin around each other, creating vortices. If a thunderstorm also converges in the area, it can provide the instability, sucking warm air up into itself at dizzying speeds. Over water, it starts carrying moisture up as well. Szilagyi compares the waterspout’s development to a twirling figure skater.

“You can think of the skater, if she just spins around normally, that’s like the little vortex that’s already started,” he says. “But if she brings her arms in, then that’s like the column of that unstable warm air, pulling, stretching that vortex upward. She starts to spin faster.”

Waterspouts have been known and feared since ancient times. In the 1550s in Malta, a waterspout plowed through the harbor of Valletta, reportedly destroying an armada of warships and killing hundreds of people. It’s even thought that old stories of fish or frogs raining down on land may be the product of waterspouts sweeping the creatures up into the clouds.

Now global warming may be supercharging the phenomenon. The International Panel on Climate Change has not found a definite link—there hasn’t been much research into how climate change may be affecting waterspouts—but experts say that the conditions for waterspouts to form are happening more often. A 2022 study of 234 waterspouts in the Spanish Mediterranean over the past three decades found that they were more likely to break out when the sea surface was warmer, especially above 23 degrees Celsius (73 degrees Fahrenheit). And water temperatures are now at unprecedented levels.

Last year was the warmest on record for the ocean. The heat content of the upper 6,500 feet of the seas was the highest ever seen. The seas broke temperature records every single day between May 2023 and May 2024. Marine heat waves struck areas from Antarctica to the Mediterranean.

“Warmer oceans have more energy and more humidity to transfer to the atmosphere, the most important fuels for storms,” says Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society. “The contrast of warm sea and colder air that flows over energizes vertical winds that could result in downbursts or waterspouts.” (A downburst is a powerful cascade of wind and rain from a thundercloud.)

That perfect storm of waterspout conditions hit Italy around the time the Bayesian sank. In recent days, a mass of high-level cold air has swept down from the Alps and over the country’s western coast, meeting the exceptionally warm air just above the sea surface. Four days before the Bayesian went down, sea surface temperatures were the hottest ever recorded across the Mediterranean Sea, with a daily median of 28.71 degrees Celsius. The ocean near where the Bayesian was anchored has reached almost 30 degrees Celsius this week, four degrees higher than the 20-year summer average, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Cold and warm air clashed. Winds started spinning, and overheated water provided the ingredient of instability needed for a waterspout outbreak. As a result, a total of 28 waterspouts were documented off the western coast of Italy from August 17 to August 20, according to the International Center for Waterspout Research.

The total number of waterspouts reported has been increasing in recent years, although a major factor has been that more people are able to capture them with phone cameras and post them on social media, Szilagyi says. But he says that warming waters and a longer waterspout season due to climate change are also contributing. In particular, he believes the number of severe waterspouts are on the rise.

“With the increased water temperatures, that’s probably resulting in more frequent tornadic waterspouts,” Szilagyi says. “There’s no scientific evidence yet that they’re getting even stronger. It’s just that they’re becoming more frequent.”

Warming sea waters are also expected to boost other extreme weather events like Mediterranean hurricanes, or “medicanes,” one of which contributed to the flash flood that killed thousands of people in Libya last year .

In this brave new world, countries need to improve early-warning systems and invest more in research to forecast and observe trends in waterspouts, scientists say. “We have to prepared for more dangerous waterspouts possibly in the future,” Sioutas says. “Significantly warmer waters contribute very significantly to the creation of waterspouts, especially the violent ones.”

Updated 8-22-2024 1:15 pm BST: A previous version of the story stated that the ship’s mast had snapped; this detail has been removed as damage to the mast has not been confirmed.

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