Widow Shares Last Moments Before $14M Yacht Sank, Killing Family

The widow of British billionaire Mike Lynch, Angela Bacares, has recounted the harrowing moments before the £14 million Bayesian yacht sank off the coast of Sicily on August 19, 2022. The tragedy claimed the lives of both her husband and their daughter, Hannah Lynch, while Bacares managed to survive the maritime disaster.

Bacares, aged 58, described waking up in the middle of the night as the luxury vessel began to tilt during a severe storm. The 184-foot yacht was anchored in Porticello when it was struck by a downburst, a powerful localized wind, causing it to capsize within minutes. The ferocious weather resulted in the loss of seven lives, including four British nationals, following a frantic rescue effort.

In a statement to Italian prosecutors ahead of the tragedy’s one-year anniversary, Bacares recalled feeling “not worried, just curious” as she sat up in bed. As the storm intensified, she noticed objects sliding around the cabin she shared with Lynch but initially believed the situation was not serious, having weathered a similar storm just weeks earlier in Naples.

At about 04:00 AM, Bacares decided to leave her cabin to speak with the boat’s captain, James Cutfield, who had been praised for his calm demeanor during the storm. Bacares stated she felt reassured by the crew’s presence, but shortly after their conversation, “something catastrophic happened.” She described the yacht rolling onto its side as 80 mph winds and a tornado-like waterspout pummeled the vessel.

As the yacht sank quickly, Bacares was rescued by a crew member, who was unaware of the whereabouts of her loved ones. Out of the 22 people on board, 15 survived. Tragically, both Lynch and Hannah, aged 18, were among the deceased. Divers spent five days recovering bodies from the wreckage, eventually locating Lynch and four guests in one cabin, while Hannah was found in another.

As investigations continue, Captain Cutfield is facing scrutiny for shipwreck and manslaughter. He, along with the ship’s engineer, Tim Parker Eaton, and nightwatchman Matthew Griffiths, all deny any wrongdoing. Bacares noted that she continued to feel calm until the yacht began its fatal descent.

In the aftermath, Bacares is also dealing with financial challenges. The estate of her late husband is embroiled in a legal battle with Hewlett-Packard, which claims that Lynch fraudulently inflated the value of his company, Autonomy, during its acquisition in 2011. The UK High Court recently ruled that his estate owes HP over £700 million, a financial blow that could bankrupt the estate and leave Bacares and her surviving daughter, Esme, with nothing.

Details from the yacht’s Automatic Identification System (AIS) reveal a chilling timeline of the sinking. At 03:50 AM, the Bayesian began to shake dangerously. By 03:59 AM, the anchor failed, dragging the vessel about 358 meters before it began taking on water. The yacht disappeared beneath the waves at approximately 04:05 AM, with an emergency GPS signal sent out just moments later, alerting the coastguard to the disaster.

As the investigation unfolds, the family and friends of the victims continue to seek answers and justice for their loved ones lost in this tragic event.