A New Zealander survived after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Porticello, Sicily, on August 19, 2024. The yacht was caught in a violent storm, and one person died while six others are missing. Ayla Ronald, who works as a lawyer in London, was on board and is safe but shaken. Her father, Lin Ronald, confirmed she survived the capsizing.
Among the missing are British entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his daughter, Hannah. Lin said Ayla was working with Lynch on a legal case related to his past business dealings. The yacht, named Bayesian, was a 56-meter sailboat with 22 people on board when it sank in rough weather shortly before dawn.
Fifteen people managed to escape before the yacht went down, including Lynch’s wife and a one-year-old girl. Reports indicate the deceased was the yacht’s chef. The missing individuals hold British, American, and Canadian citizenships. Survivors described the storm as much worse than expected.
A nearby boat’s captain noticed the Bayesian suddenly disappear after a surge in wind. He and his crew later rescued survivors on a life raft, including a mother and her baby.
Lynch, known for founding Autonomy, built Britain’s biggest software company before facing serious fraud allegations after its sale to Hewlett Packard (HP) in 2011 for $11 billion. After HP claimed accounting irregularities, Lynch spent years fighting legal battles to clear his name. He was acquitted of all charges but is still encountering financial claims from HP.
The Italian Coast Guard continues to search for the missing passengers.
