Yacht Party Turns Nightmare: Tornado Sinks Luxury Vessel, Brits Missing

Yacht Party Goes Wrong as Tornado Strikes

In a tragic turn of events, a luxurious 180-foot yacht, the Bayesian, was hit by a tornado and sank off the coast of Sicily in the early hours of this morning. The disaster has left at least seven people missing, including four Brits and two Americans.

Fifteen of the 22 people on board were rescued, including a one-year-old child and its mother. The lucky survivors were mainly British tourists, along with citizens from New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Canada, and the US.

The yacht, which boasted the second tallest mast in the world, was sailing under the British flag when the tornado struck near Palermo at around 5am.

Fears are mounting that those missing may have been trapped inside their cabins when the yacht capsized. A frantic rescue mission is underway, but hopes are fading as time passes.

This tragic incident is a stark reminder of the power of nature and the fragility of human life. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected.

Expert Divers Plunge into the Depths

Desperate Search

Expert divers have already taken the plunge to reach the sunken hull of the Bayesian, which lies 49 meters below the surface, about half a mile from the Sicilian coast. The last known location of the yacht was just after 2am local time, when it was peacefully anchored.

A local Facebook page shared a picture of the brightly lit yacht just hours before the storm hit. A man in Porticello recalled, “That boat was all lit up. At around 4.30 in the morning it was gone.” He added, “A beautiful boat where there had been a party. A normal holiday spent happily at sea turned into a tragedy.”

The boat was not far from the port, and it’s believed that the crew was surprised by the sudden storm, unable to raise the anchor and head for safety in time. “It took very little to raise the anchor and head for the port. Evidently they were surprised by the storm that suddenly hit and they were unable to avoid sinking,” said a local.

Survivors and the Missing

The vessel had a capacity of 12 passengers and 10 crew members. Among the missing is the cook, along with British, American, and one Canadian citizen. Coast guards and firefighters managed to rescue 15 people, including the captain, who is reportedly devastated by the incident. The survivors will be interviewed by authorities soon.

The yacht’s journey is being traced through nautical maps. It’s believed to have arrived in Porticello after stops in Milazzo and Cefalù. As the investigation unfolds, questions remain about the decisions made in the face of the storm and the safety measures in place on the yacht.