tankoa yachts owner

By SuperyachtNews 26 Feb 2020

Vincenzo Poerio joins Tankoa Yachts as CEO

Revered industry stakeholder, vincenzo poerio has joined tankoa as joint ceo….

Boutique Italian shipyard, Tankoa Yachts has announced that revered industry stakeholder, Vincenzo Poerio has joined its managerial team as CEO. Working alongside the current CEO, Euro Contenti, Poerio joins the team, following a company board meeting held on 25th February.

“It is difficult to stay away from our industry, so I decided to start over in Genoa, the city where I started my career about 38 years ago,” says Poerio, of his appointment. “I chose Tankoa because it is a boutique shipyard with a strong focus on customer satisfaction. It is also very ambitious, with a skilled, united and passionate team that builds high-quality products. By bringing my own experience, I’m confident we can grow together to become a point of reference in the superyacht segment.”

“I chose Tankoa because it is a boutique shipyard with a strong focus on customer satisfaction. It is also very ambitious, with a skilled, united and passionate team that builds high-quality products. By bringing my own experience, I’m confident we can grow together to become a point of reference in the superyacht segment.” - Vincenzo Poerio, Tankoa

In a statement to the press, Tankoa took the opportunity to thank the outgoing directors Michel Karsenti and Renzo Chelazzi for their fruitful collaboration that has helped raise the profile of Tankoa in recent years.

After 25 years heading the Benetti operation, Poerio made the decision to step down as Benetti ’s CEO. He is widely considered to be one of the key influencers in the market having presided over the most prolific superyacht brand in history, which today holds its position as the most active superyacht builder based on units delivered.

Tankoa’s new high-profile appointment is in line with the shipyard’s mission to rank among the top brands in the superyacht sector. Tankoa classes itself as a ‘boutique’ shipyard and will only have two clients at any one time, which allows the shipyard to offer unprecedented levels of customer service, which is where the term ‘boutique’ really comes into its own. As per the data below, the shipyard’s approach to business has resulted in a consistent level of output.

Tankoa is a relatively young brand in the industry, having been founded in 2008, but its philosophy has always been to take yacht construction to new heights. Guido Orsi, who founded the brand with Contenti set out with a clear mindset on what a client requires in today’s market.

Tankoa now finds itself with four yachts out on the water and an approach that keeps its operation clear and transparent. Currently, Tankoa is investing in speculative construction, which is designed to work in the client’s favour. Not only does this significantly cut the construction time, it also provides reassurance, in terms of the shipyard’s financial stability.

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In Conversation With: Guido Orsi, Tankoa Yachts

Posted February 7, 2023 in Company by Ashleigh King

In January, Northrop & Johnson visited Genoa-based Tankoa Yachts , where we sat down with Guido Orsi, Marketing & Communications Manager and son of the major shareholder of Tankoa Yachts, to discuss Italian shipbuilding, industry trends and the future of the Tankoa brand.

For Guido Orsi, yachting is in the blood. As the son of a passionate yacht owner, the family business began with his father’s luxury Codecasa motor yacht—the vessel that sparked a business interest before it enflamed a legacy. His father bought and sold Baglietto before he founded Genoa-based Tankoa Yachts, a boutique shipyard specializing in custom builds characterized by highly detailed Italian craftsmanship.

Today, Guido is one of the owners of the yard, and having been raised within the yachting industry, is uniquely positioned to guide boutique Italian shipbuilding to new heights of luxury. He sat down with Northrop & Johnson to discuss Italian shipbuilding, industry trends and the future of the Tankoa brand.

N&J: Tell us about the early years of Tankoa.

Guido: Tankoa actually began with my father. He owned a yacht himself and in 1996, he acquired Baglietto from a friend of his. We owned Baglietto for about 10 years and sold it in 2004—he received an offer he couldn’t refuse.

But he still had this interest in yachting and wanted to continue working in the business. So, along with a good friend of his—who eventually became a shareholder—he decided to build a new yacht but the [building] sheds that were available at the time, weren’t designed to handle longer yachts.

At Baglietto, the boats built had, let’s say, a maximum range of 170’ (52m) but the main range was between 98’ (30m) and 131’ (40m). But at the beginning of the 2000s, we could see a trend: boats were getting longer and longer. So, at Tankoa, we were obliged to build new sheds.

First, we took time to decide where to build the sheds. We wanted to keep the business in northern Italy because we like to follow things personally, so distance was one of the main factors in determining the location. We liked Liguria and Tuscany because it’s a region of historical importance to the yachting industry; it has some 400 years of important maritime history.

In the end, we decided to build in Liguria because they saw this location. It was a good opportunity. We began with the two sheds we’re using now. Inside these two sheds, we can build 262’ (80m) to 278’ (85m) maximum length. We can build even longer here—you only need to create a longer shed. But so far, our biggest yacht, SOLO , is 266’ (72m).

At the beginning, we did not have a particularly good time. As soon as we began, many things happened, like the financial crisis. But the biggest impact on us was the death of my father’s best friend, the one whom we named the yard after. But still, we were focused, and we had a strong desire to continue this project. And so far, so good!

N&J: Does the name ‘Tankoa’ mean anything?

Guido: Actually, the name comes from the Genoese dialect word for scorpion, ‘ tancua .’ My father’s best friend and a major company shareholder was a Scorpio. He died in the early years of our company. It’s a nice way to remember him.

You can see the scorpion in our logo. From the front, it’s the hull of a yacht, but the way the line curves is like the tail of a scorpion.

N&J: How has the brand changed over the years?

Guido: The brand is in a constant state of evolution. In 2013, when we sold SUERTE , one of the first yachts we ever built, we decided to give the brand a fresh new look after the rough start we’d had. We wanted to change completely. This year is 2023, ten years since our last brand makeover. I think we will change again with a totally new feel. I really enjoy this sort of creative work and seeing how other shipyards take care of this matter.

But, being a boutique shipyard, there are some core things that will always remain the same. We are a serious shipyard. We do not promise anything that we cannot afford to give the client. We follow the work personally and we make sure that every yacht we deliver is a yacht that is going to make the customer satisfied. We let our work speak for itself.

N&J: Is that what makes Tankoa stand out from other shipyards?

Yes, I believe so. Initially, we said we always wanted to be in a position where people feel as if they are going to a German or Dutch yacht builder but with a creative side that only Italians can have. It’s in our DNA.

Another important point of differentiation is that whenever a customer feels that they want to change something in their project, even if it’s in an important stage of development, they can still do it. We are flexible. I feel that one problem in other shipyards is that, when the project has begun, they aren’t willing to change anything about it without great cost to the client. So, we always like to give this chance to them.

Nowadays, we feel that our main point of difference is that when we give time, dates, costs: that’s it. That is our word, and we can maintain it. Because we are a boutique shipyard, we aim to deliver four to five yachts a year. That gives us the opportunity to follow the clients and the projects directly. They don’t just become a number in a company. It’s a personal touch. A nice relationship, more informal.

N&J: How do you feel Italian shipyards differentiate themselves from the rest of the world?

Italy is a top yacht producer. We are a peninsula, so three-quarters of our country touches the sea. I think, historically, this is why we have so many shipyards. I think we’re also seen as creative. We always have to give something new to the customer, and this is our main strong point, that we can always present new projects to the client, new improvements, and we concentrate on quality. That’s probably why we’re seen as one of the leading yacht builders.

N&J: Can you explain the craftsmanship side of the build process? How do you ensure quality in your builds?

Everything that our designer presents to the client is custom made. So, whenever they see a render, the mood, the internal layout, the external layout, it’s all custom made. Nothing is made in series or in bulk. Even when we speak about, let’s say, the S 501 model—which is our 164’ (50m), of which we have delivered five and are building a sixth—everything is made to order, and everything changes. It may be a series hull and superstructure, but everything else changes totally, from the engine room to the layout of the internal GA, balconies and exteriors. We build everything from scratch.

N&J: Have the demands of your clients changed over the years?

I’d say they’re more interested in hi-fi entertainment, maintenance of the boat, and the propulsion and electrical side of the boat. This is where technology moves quickest. For example, nowadays, clients want fast, continuous wi-fi because plenty of them work while they’re cruising. For example, Cisco solutions with Starlink.

On the other hand, if they are clients that are more traditional and want a more traditional look design-wise, they are often after sophistication with modern design—more straight lines, leather. So, it depends. We have designers who are able to present whatever the client wants.

N&J: How have your clients changed over time?

The age of our clients is going down. There’s a range now between 40 and 60, which is quite interesting. There’s a strong American market and America has younger customers, mainly due to big tech. We still have a strong market in the 50 to 70 age range.

Our younger clients typically have never had a yacht before and many start with a 164’ (50m). That’s quite unusual, and they still need to be guided through the project. But the older the client is, the more likely to know everything, and they’re pretty settled. They usually like to make or stick to the design they like.

That’s the main difference. New clients have to be guided. I see that they often like particular things in their yacht, like hi-fi entertainment.

Another big area is sustainability. We’ve just built a hybrid, the motor yacht KINDA. We’re still looking at hybrid solutions because when you say ‘hybrid,’ it’s a complicated word. It can mean everything, and it can mean nothing. I think there’s still a lot to do here. And technology moves so fast, and there’s plenty we could see in the future. At the moment, we have to deal with little things. Solar panels, for example. You see solar panels, but they cannot deal with the maintenance of the whole yacht, like the lighting. They are still insufficient in what they can give.

Another example is hydrogen. Why not build yachts with hydrogen propulsion? Well, we need a big container and it’s still dangerous. It’s probably the most interesting side of fuel, but it’s still like a target we have to reach. Let’s see.

N&J: Where do you see the future of Tankoa?

We plan a time factor of three years. So, in about 2026, we’ll have new sheds. We’re expanding now. We’re growing from 20 to 30 employees to 60 to 70 employees. We’re still hiring, and I think we’ll end up with around 85 to 100 employees.

Our best plan is to have sheds where we are now. But we also have plan B and a plan C. This will occupy us for the next three years, to build new sites. So far, there are two big sheds, but they’re flexible. We will have a total of five sheds, including the two we have here, where we can build two smaller yachts.

So far, we have a 147’ (45m) entry level but in the future, we want to give an entry-level of 131’ (40m). We’ve acquired 3,000 square meters of sheds. We currently have carpentry and painting where we can build our own custom things, but we were thinking about producing other things for ourselves, like swimming pools. These days, yachts can have two to three pools each. We are watching the market and we have to follow it.

So far, so good!

For more information on Tankoa new construction yachts , Tankoa yachts for sale and Tankoa yachts for charter, please contact your preferred Northrop & Johnson broker . Learn more about the history of Tankoa with David Seal on Yachts For Sale.

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Tankoa Launches “Diamond Binta”

• By Yachting Staff
• July 17, 2024

Tankoa Yachts in Italy has launched Diamond Binta , a fully custom, 190-foot motoryacht that is on track to be delivered to its owners by the end of July.

Diamond Binta project was commissioned in 2021 for what Tankoa says is “an experienced owner seeking extended voyages and unrivaled luxury.”

With the designation Tankoa T580, Diamond Binta has exterior lines by Francesco Paszkowski and interior design by Margherita Casprini. Construction is in steel with an aluminum superstructure.

“This new yacht, our first 58 meters, is the result of years of collaboration between the Paszkowski studio and Tankoa,” Eva Orsi, president of Tankoa Yachts, stated in a press release. “I am proud of this project, which represents an evolution from the owner’s previous 50-meter yacht M/Y Binta D’Or . Its timeless design combined with cutting-edge solutions is the result of teamwork between client, designers and shipyard, blending elegance and functionality. This construction confirms Tankoa’s reputation as a boutique shipyard.”

Tankoa also built Binta D’Or , which was the first of the yard’s 50-meter yachts with its hybrid propulsion package. That yacht made its debut in 2019 as Hull No. 2 in its series, and had a design similar to Vertige , which was Hull No. 1 in the series.

As a fully custom project, Diamond Binta takes everything up more than a few notches in terms of the owner being able to customize his ride. Notable features on Diamond Binta include a forward helideck and an aft beach club with fold-down bulwarks. The onboard spa includes a massage room. Up on the fly deck, there’s a gym and a swimming pool. The yacht’s garage can accommodate two tenders, including a nearly 30-foot limo tender.

Accommodations include a master stateroom along with five guest staterooms, with a corridor on the lower deck that connects the staterooms to the beach area, passing through a viewable engine room.

For now, those are all the details that the shipyard has released—but Diamond Binta is scheduled to be on display at this September’s Monaco Yacht Show, after which the owners plan to cruise in the Mediterranean. So, be on the lookout for more insider information to come soon.

What else is happening at Tankoa Yachts? In June, the shipyard launched another Paszkowski design. Rilassata is Hull No. 6 of the S501 series. It’s also expected to be used in the Mediterranean.

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Tankoa delivers 50m superyacht GREY to her owner

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By Nina Done   8 June 2023

Following successful sea trials, the 50m (164ft) superyacht GREY has departed Tankoa 's facilities in Genoa, Italy and has now been handed over to her owners.

Representing the latest unit in their S501 series, the motor yacht has been heavily customized in line with the owners’ needs, courtesy of exterior designer Francesco Paszkowski.

Meanwhile, also in collaboration with her owners, Giorgio Maria Cassetta is responsible for her sophisticated interior design, using an array of natural materials such as rich woods and veined marbles to create a warm and luxurious ambience. 

Showcasing a whisper grey hull and sporty exterior lines with a plumb bow, alfresco living has been at the forefront of her overall design, while enlarged windows, glass bulwarks and fold-out balconies create the all-important synergy between her indoor and outdoor spaces. 

This interior is one of the finest I have ever seen on any yacht of this size

Key differences to her sister ships include a spectacular high-definition, high-luminosity cinema screen on her foredeck and top-of-the-range sound system by the award-winning brand Focal & Naim. 

She also features a wealth of relaxation and entertainment spaces across all three decks, a stunning foredeck swimming pool, vast sundeck and a fold-down beach club equipped with the latest toys and accessories.

"Our usual flexibility in satisfying customer requests is evident in the customisation made onboard GREY – such as the installation of a swimming pool in the bow, and the fantastic never seen before cinema/sound system. The jet black and whisper grey paint gives a sleek look to GREY”, says Giuseppe Mazza, Tankoa sales and marketing manager.

Superyacht GREY offers accommodation for 12 guests across six suites, including two customized VIP cabins on her main deck, with space for nine crew ensuring top notch service for her on board guests.

In order to be among the first to charter M/Y GREY, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . Alternatively, you can view and compare all yachts for charter .

Image credits: Julien Hubert for TWW Yachts

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TANKOA T450

The essence of luxury.

Tankoa Yachts T450 is everything a super yacht should be, only more compact. Yet nothing about the 45-metre yacht feels small. No compromises. No unnecessary details. The wow of the T450 is, simply, the T450. Tankoa’s debut 45-metre vessel presents a perfect balance of interior and exterior. Ingenious ergonomics make the most of the space. She is a yacht of substance. This beautiful craft refines and purifies the Tankoa spirit of elegance and quiet luxury. Clean lines show off her grace. The upper deck streamlines the sleek shape of her body while the sun deck unifies the sense of symmetry. The smallest detail serves form via function. The optimal arrangement of the interior means no sacrifices in the living spaces. Inside are six full-size, full-luxury cabins. The T450 is a precious jewel, which equals a super yacht in beauty, skill and construction, and fits in every marina. Tankoa’s first yacht under 50 metres extends the shipbuilder’s hard-earned experience in super yachts into smaller craft. The T450 embodies Tankoa’s values of innovation and excellence. Built in steel and aluminium, the T450 can be equipped with hybrid propulsion to reduce consumption and pollution, and to limit noise and vibration to imperceptible levels.

Tankoa Yachts T450. Pure form. Pure performance.

Exterior Design

Interior Design

Inside and outside are in blissful harmony

Inside, a place to escape the sun and revive. The main saloon is a sanctuary of comfort, for owner and guests. The lounge area offers 270 degree views of the water. A haven of relaxation. The owner room is a vast private space, tranquil and calming. No matter the number of guests, here is the perfect private space for alone time and world-class sleep.

The T450 is pure yacht. She represents the shipbuilder’s art at its finest and extends Tankoa’s hard-earned experience in super yachts into smaller craft.

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12 Must-See Yacht Debuts at This Year’s Cannes Fest

Cannes is the start of the official boat show season. if these dozen newbies are anything to go by, the new model year is off to a great start., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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For yacht shoppers, the Cannes Yachting Festival, which runs from September 10 to 15, is the place to see a raft of world debuts. The show in the tony French Riviera city marks the start of the international boat show season. Its offerings of 700 vessels from 16 to 165 feet includes many global debuts, from sailing vessels to motoryachts, to multihulls and a dozen other boat types. The show has about 4 miles of dock space.

While Cannes doesn’t have the superyacht glitz of the Monaco Yacht Show, its fleet continues to grow each year, both by units and hull lengths. Its two locations, Vieux Port and Port Canto, have very different fleets. Located in the heart of the city along the famed Croisette, Vieux Port is one of the oldest ports on the Côte d’Azur and home to the largest motoryachts and superyachts at the show. This year will also see Port Canto, the smaller exhibition area usually reserved for sailing yachts, dedicate space to motorboats with lengths of 43 feet and under.

Headliners this year will include the 148-foot Tankoa Go , the 114-foot compact explorer Fox from Pendennis, Otam’s 90-foot Sexy Me , and two new models from Azimut’s Seadeck Series of low emission yachts, the Seadeck 6 and 7.

Here are 12 must-see boats at this year’s show.

Pendennis ‘Fox’

The recently delivered, 114-foot Fox is an explorer yacht named after Falmouth-born, 19th-century scientist Robert Were Fox the Younger, who invented the compass that guided the first expedition to the South Pole. Built by Pendennis shipyard in Falmouth, U.K., the yacht marries a muscular, military-style exterior with bright and modern beach-house interiors. It sleeps 10 guests in five suites, including a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck.

RR-MV-Requests-081924-6

Columbus Atlantique 43 ‘Frette’

The second hull in Columbus Yachts’s 141-foot Atlantique 43 series, Frette features Frette Bespoke linens—the Italian luxury brand the yacht is named after. The exterior and interior are designed by Hot Lab, with naval architecture by Hydro Tec. The yacht is defined by its large outdoor areas. A highlight is the 16-square-foot pool at the stern positioned about two feet above the waterline. Guest accommodations on Frette ‘s lower deck include five double cabins, three twins, and two VIPs that can convert into one large VIP suite.

OTAM ‘Sexy Me’

Otam’s new flagship yacht, the Otam 90 GTS Sexy Me , will make its world debut at Cannes following successful sea trials where the 92-footer hit blistering speeds of 45 knots—three knots faster than its contracted top speed. The power comes from a pair of 2,600 hp MTU engines and Arneson surface-drive propellers. Fittingly, the yacht’s helm console is inspired by racing cars with a carbon-fiber structure that resembles the protective “halo” system used by Formula 1 cars. The air intakes on the front of the yacht and “snorkel” on the hardtop purposely resemble the hood and roof scoops on luxury supercars.

60 Sunreef Power Eco

The 60 Sunreef Power Eco is the smallest model in its solar catamaran range. Launched under the Sunreef Yachts Eco flag, the 60-footer relies on engineered solar panels developed in-house by the Polish builder. The photovoltaic technology uses efficient, shock-resistant, flexible, and ultra-thin solar panels integrated in the yacht’s composite structure, including the hull, mast, superstructure, bow terrace, and bimini roof. Key features include a customizable semi-open salon, a large bow terrace and flybridge with a spa pool, a bar, a dining area, and sunpads. It may be 60 feet long, but its interior volume equals a yacht 20 feet longer.

Azimut Seadeck 6

The 58-foot Seadeck 6 is the debut model from Azimut’s Seadeck Series of low emission yachts. According to Azimut, owners can save as reduce carbon-dioxide emissions by as much as 40 percent. The savings come from a lightened carbon-fiber superstructure, a hybrid propulsion system and an optimized hull that is wider at the stern and streamlined at the bow. According Azimut, the hull shape allows the yacht to plane sooner, reducing drag at lower speeds. Azimut’s 72-foot sistership Seadeck 7 will also be at Cannes, where it will make its world debut.

Custom Line ‘Sodan’

Ferretti’s 126-foot Sodan , the eighth hull in the popular Custom Line 120 series, will be shown at Cannes this year by Burgess Yachts. Its raised pilothouse is a key feature of Francesco Paszkowski Design’s sporty exterior. The studio is also responsible for the interior, which has a functional layout and large social areas. Five well-appointed guest cabins include a full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck with a private owner’s lounge.

Tankoa Yachts ‘Go’

Tankoa is launching Go at Cannes, the first of its T450 series. The 148-footer may be the largest new yacht at the show, but it’s the first vessel under 164 feet built by the Italian yard. Go , with its steel hull and aluminum superstructure, was developed in partnership with Cassetta Yacht Design & Architecture. It’s built for an American client who increased the gross tonnage from 430GT to 450GT to allow for greater interior volume, including a large owner’s suite forward on the main deck and five lower deck guest cabins. The beach club at the stern has opening sides when at anchor and a pool. “ Go is a great addition to the Tankoa core fleet. It is an incredibly flexible platform on which we can create semi-custom yachts, offering big volumes without compromising on the sleek and elegant lines,” said Claudio Corvino, Tankoa’s sales and business development danager for the Americas and Asia-Pacific.

WiderCat ‘Acali’

Wider Centro Stile and Luca Dini Design penned the first hull in the WiderCat 92 serie s . Acali is a roomy catamaran, featuring the builder’s serial hybrid-propulsion system. The main deck is dedicated to the owner’s suite, with a private foredeck lounge that occupies almost half of the interior space on that level. Two VIP cabins and two twin guest cabins are located on the lower deck. The tender garage has a dropdown transom hatch that turns into a swim platform when lowered. On the upper deck is an additional forward cockpit, sky lounge, and helm station.

Omikron OT-60

The OT-60 is the debut model for Omikron Yachts, a new subsidiary brand owned by Greek shipbuilder Olympic Marine. The Cannes Yachting Festival marks the world premiere of the series, which has six hulls that have been completed or are in build. The interior and exterior configurations are designed by Lorenzo Argento, with naval architecture by Juan Kouyoumdjian. The interiors are styled by Ciarmoli Queda Studio, featuring natural materials, neutral colors, and tactile finishes.

Silent 62 Tri-Deck

Optimized for outdoor living and warm climate sailing, Silent Yacht’s 62 3-Deck , full-electric catamaran promises quiet, emissions-free cruising. Powered by the builder’s signature solar technology, the 62-footer has transoceanic range when cruising at eight knots. A signature design is the large flybridge entertaining space, with dining and lounging areas. It’s matched with a bright main deck salon with large windows, an open galley, and a dining area. The customizable third deck is available in three versions: an open sky lounge, a closed sky lounge, or an owner’s suite.

Sirena 48 Hybrid

This Sirena 48 is the Turkish builder’s first hybrid offering of its series. It’s powered by a serial hybrid powertrain driven by twin 213kW electric motors. When cruising at 14 knots in electric mode, it has a range of 30 nautical miles. Other changes to the regular Sirena 48 include a sleek coupe-style coach roof with glass and solar panels for a sportier look. Replacing the previous open-air flybridge, it allows natural light into the main salon while reducing weight to improve the yacht’s performance and range in pure-electric mode.

Read More On:

• Admiral Yachts
• Azimut Yachts
• Cannes Yachting Festival
• Sirena Marine

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Who Was on the Sunken Yacht? Tech Mogul Mike Lynch, His Family and Friends.

Mr. Lynch, the former chief executive of the software firm Autonomy, who was acquitted on fraud charges in June, was with friends and family when the yacht went down in a severe storm.

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By Michael J. de la Merced

Michael de la Merced reported on Mike Lynch’s career and legal battles over the course of 13 years across two continents.

A cruise on the Mediterranean Sea aboard a superyacht was supposed to be a celebratory event for the British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch , who was acquitted in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company, Autonomy, to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

Instead, it turned into a disaster after the yacht, a 180-foot boat called the Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily in a violent storm. Of the 22 people aboard, 15 were rescued, six bodies were recovered and one was still missing. Search operations at the site of the sunken yacht were continuing on Thursday.

Here’s what we know about the passengers.

Mike Lynch and his family

Mr. Lynch, 59, is a British software entrepreneur who had once been described as his country’s Bill Gates. He founded the software firm Autonomy, which analyzed clients’ unorganized data, and turned it into one of the most prominent British technology companies of its time. He became a widely known corporate leader, who advised David Cameron, the British prime minister at the time, and joined the board of the BBC.

In 2011, Mr. Lynch sold Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion, which was far above its market value, earning him hundreds of millions. But HP investors almost immediately soured on the transaction, and the American tech giant quickly fired its chief executive — and then Mr. Lynch.

HP later accused Mr. Lynch of misleading it about the state of Autonomy’s business, setting off a decade-long legal ordeal for the British executive, who denied the accusations. U.S. prosecutors charged him and other executives with fraud, and Autonomy’s chief financial officer was convicted in 2018.

Despite appeals to the British government, Mr. Lynch was extradited to the United States last year and was confined to a townhouse in San Francisco ahead of his criminal trial, which began in March. Facing the possibility of decades in prison if convicted, Mr. Lynch and another colleague were instead acquitted of all charges.

An official in Palermo, Sicily’s capital, said on Thursday that Mr. Lynch’s body had been recovered. His wife, Angela Bacares, 57, accompanied him on the yacht, and she was rescued on Monday when it sank. She was a consistent presence at his trial in the United States. Records show that she controlled Revtom, the company listed as the owner of the Bayesian.

Hannah Lynch, Mr. Lynch and Ms. Bacares’s 18-year-old daughter, was also on the yacht and remains missing.

The other guests

Jonathan Bloomer, 70, chair of Morgan Stanley’s international arm and the chairman of Hiscox, an insurance provider that trades on the London Stock Exchange, was on the yacht when it sank, along with his wife, Judy Bloomer, 71. Their bodies are thought to be among those recovered, but Italian authorities have not identified them.

Christopher J. Morvillo, 59, a New York-based partner at the international law firm Clifford Chance, was also on the yacht. A former federal prosecutor who comes from a family of prominent lawyers, Mr. Morvillo represented Mr. Lynch during his criminal trial in San Francisco. His wife, Neda, 57, was with him on the yacht. Their bodies are also assumed to be among those recovered.

“We are in shock and deeply saddened by this tragic incident,” a representative of Clifford Chance said in a statement.

Surviving passengers rescued from the yacht include Charlotte Golunski, a partner at Mr. Lynch’s venture firm, Invoke Capital; Ms. Golunski’s husband, James Emslie; and their one-year-old daughter Sophie. Also rescued were Ayla Ronald, a lawyer at Clifford Chance, and her partner, Matthew Fletcher.

The yacht had a crew of 10, and nine were rescued. The body of the chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered from the water, the Sicilian Civil Protection Department said.

Elisabetta Povoledo contributed reporting, and Kitty Bennett and Susan Campbell Beachy contributed research.

Michael J. de la Merced has covered global business and finance news for The Times since 2006. More about Michael J. de la Merced

The superyacht tragedy will likely spark legal drama

• A deadly superyacht sinking off the coast of Italy during a storm will likely spark legal drama, experts said.
• Maritime legal experts say lawsuits are likely, but negligence would need to be established.
• "I would not be optimistic about the chances for any claims," one expert said.

The operator of the superyacht that sank during a violent storm off the coast of Italy this week is likely to face legal troubles over the tragedy that left UK billionaire tech tycoon Mike Lynch and others dead, according to maritime law experts.

But the success of any potential lawsuit is up for debate.

Three maritime legal experts told Business Insider that the operator and owner behind the now-sunken luxury sailing yacht called the Bayesian should lawyer up in anticipation of possible claims from families of the dead or the survivors themselves.

"There's always the possibility of claims when there's a casualty," said Martin Davies, the director of the Maritime Law Center at Tulane University School of Law in Louisiana. But based on what is currently known about the incident, Davies said it is "unlikely that any claims would succeed."

Michael Sturley, an expert in maritime law and professor at the University of Texas at Austin's School of Law, agreed. "Based on what we know now, I would not be optimistic about the chances for any claims," he said.

However, Sturley noted, "There is still a lot that we don't know."

Bad weather does not automatically absolve a party of liability, but it would be challenging to make a wrongful death or personal injury claim as negligence would need to be established, according to the experts.

"Under English law, they'd have to prove fault and I don't think there's much prospect of anyone proving fault," said Davies.

"Bad weather at sea is not at all unexpected, which is why you can't just simply say bad weather and hope to get off the hook," Davies said. "What seems different about this case is that it came suddenly."

Still, said Oregon-based maritime lawyer Gordon Carey, "It doesn't spell defeat" for a potential legal claim "just because it's a weather event."

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The yacht was carrying 22, including UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch and a Morgan Stanley exec

The British-registered 184-foot yacht was anchored about a half-mile off the Italian port of Porticello near Palermo, Sicily, and carrying 22 people when a fierce storm hit and quickly sank the vessel just after 4 a.m. on Monday, according to reports.

The body of the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, was found on Monday. Six other passengers — Lynch; his 18-year-old daughter Hannah; Lynch's friend and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer; Bloomer's wife, Judy; Lynch's attorney Christopher Morvillo and Morvillo's wife Neda — went missing during the disaster.

Divers on Wednesday found the bodies of Lynch and four of the missing inside the sunken yacht that was around 164 feet below the surface. Sky News reported that Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was unaccounted for.

Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares , was among the 15 people who were rescued in the aftermath of the tragedy. Reports said Lynch had been on the boat celebrating his recent acquittal on fraud charges in the US.

According to the Associated Press , documents show Bacares as the sole owner of Revtom Ltd., the Isle of Man-registered company that the online international maritime database Equasis lists as the owner of the Bayesian.

The Bayesian was being managed by the global yachting company Camper & Nicholsons. In a statement posted to its website, the company said it can "confirm that the vessel encountered severe weather conditions and subsequently sank near Palermo, Italy."

There were a total of 10 crew members and 12 guests on board, it said.

"Our priority is assisting with the ongoing search and providing all necessary support to the rescued passengers and crew," the company said.

It was not immediately clear who the captain and crew of the vessel were employed by. Camper & Nicholsons declined to comment beyond the statement posted online.

The maritime legal experts BI spoke to said that the operator of the Bayesian could potentially face liability claims, depending on the circumstances, if it hired the captain and crew and managed the vessel.

Davies said a boat like the Bayesian is bound to have "all kinds of insurance."

"And so someone may make a claim in the hope of getting some money from the insurance," he said.

English law would likely apply if any claims were made

According to Davies, it is more likely that English law would apply should the family of any of the victims or a survivor try to take legal action since the yacht was a UK-flagged vessel. US law could be applied if jurisdiction could be established, said Davies and others.

Under US law, crew members, not passengers, could potentially make an "unseaworthiness" claim, according to the maritime experts.

"The advantage of unseaworthiness is it's a strict liability claim," said Sturley. "You don't have to prove negligence. For other losses, you'd have to prove negligence."

To make an unseaworthiness claim, Davies explained, "you'd have to argue that there's something about the vessel that makes it unfit to withstand a sudden storm like this."

However, he said, "I find it hard to see there was any unseaworthiness of the vessel here."

Also under US law, the families of the dead could potentially make a legal claim under the Death on the High Seas Act, the experts said.

"People are supposed to take precautions against weather, but you take precautions that are reasonable under the circumstances, and sometimes you have a freak weather event that nobody could see coming, and it would not have been reasonable to have guarded against that," Sturley said.

He added, "Nobody prepares for hurricanes in the Sahara Desert. And if a hurricane happens to hit the Sahara Desert, that doesn't mean that people who didn't guard against it were negligent."

The AP reported that Italian civil protection officials believe that a tornado-like waterspout hit where the yacht was anchored, likely causing it to capsize.

"If it was a water spout, which it appears to be, it's what I would class as like a 'black swan' event," Matthew Schanck, chair of the UK-based Maritime Search and Rescue Council told the AP.

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Rilassata: Tankoa launches sixth unit in newly styled 50m S501 EVO series for French owner

Genoa-based shipyard Tankoa Yachts has announced the launch of the sixth unit in its freshly restyled S501 EVO series. The restyling was built on the success of sistership Grey (now Jimmy ), with features including improved technical capacity and a better configuration, including a more open saloon, enlarged windows and extended sundeck. 

Built for a French owner, the 49.9-metre yacht has been christened Rilassata ; an Italian word for "relaxed". 

The yacht's design comes from Francesco Paszkowski , with interiors in collaboration with Margherita Casprini , and features the series'  distinctive sporty silhouette culminating in a generous bow area and elegantly tapered aft decks, with the owner opting for a sandy-beige coloured hull. 

Layout changes on the new sub-500 GT superyacht include an upper deck exclusively arranged for the owner's use, with the captain's cabin sitting on the main deck to make space for this change. The main deck forward also plays host to a gym and games room with side-opening balcony. 

The remaining guest accommodation comprises four ensuite cabins on the lower deck.

“The S501 series has proven tremendously popular with our international clients," said Giuseppe Mazza, Tankoa's sales manager. "This success is largely due to our flexibility in accommodating customer requests, even with a series model, which is evident in Rilassata’s unusual interior layout.” 

The recent launch comes at a busy time for Tankoa, as the boutique Italian yard has a further seven units in build. Rilassata joins two other yachts scheduled for delivery this year, according to BOATPro . 

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