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  ARM Give a man a fire and he's warm for a day, but set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life (Terry Pratchett, Jingo)

Brit tech mogul Mike Lynch missing after yacht sinks off Sicily amid storms

(2024/08/19)


Mike Lynch, often dubbed the UK's answer to Bill Gates, is reported missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily this morning.

Lynch founded Autonomy, which Hewlett-Packard bought for [1]$11 billion in 2011 .

Multiple [2]reports suggest the British entrepreneur is missing after the Bayesian, a 56-meter superyacht, sank near Porticello in storms at around 5am local time.

[3]

It is understood Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was rescued while seven others remain missing, according to a statement from [4]the City Council of Bagheria .

[5]

[6]

Karsten Borner, the captain of a ship that rescued the survivors, told local news outlets that there was a "strong hurricane gust and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position."

In a statement, the City Council of Bagheria said: "At the request of the Command of the Carabinieri Station of Bagheria, several volunteer organizations are going to the site to provide assistance to the population.

[7]

"The firefighters' divers dove to reach the hull, which appears to be 49 meters deep about half a mile from the coast."

The Bayesian had mostly Brit nationals on board, along with a New Zealander, a Sri Lankan citizen, two Anglo-French, and an Irishman, authorities said.

[8]Former Autonomy CFO banned from chartered accounting group until 2038

[9]Brit tech tycoon Mike Lynch cleared of all charges in US Autonomy fraud trial

[10]HP-Autonomy: Attorneys wrap up arguments in Mike Lynch's stateside criminal fraud trial

[11]UK tech titan Mike Lynch's US fraud trial begins today

Seven of the 22 onboard were given first aid, and none of them are in a serious condition. Another seven were reported as being at the port, a child is in hospital, and seven more are missing, including Lynch.

In June, [12]Lynch was acquitted of criminal fraud and conspiracy charges arising from the 2011 sale of Autonomy to HP. A federal court jury in San Francisco cleared Lynch of all 15 charges relating to allegation that he, along with Stephen Chamberlain, formerly VP of finance at Autonomy, unlawfully inflated the company's value prior to its acquisition.

HP paid $11 billion for Autonomy, an enterprise search firm, but within a year [13]wrote down the deal by $8.8 billion . Years of legal wrangling followed. HP shareholders sued in [14]2012 . In 2015, [15]HP sued Lynch and Sushovan Hussain , former Autonomy CFO, in the High Court of England and Wales. Lynch responded by filing a $150 million countersuit for defamation.

[16]

In 2022, HPE – which inherited the civil litigation after HP split into HPE and HP Inc – [17]prevailed in that British civil case and is [18]seeking $4 billion in damages . ®

Get our [19]Tech Resources



[1] https://www.theregister.com/2011/08/19/hp_buys_autonomy/

[2] https://news.sky.com/story/superyacht-sinks-latest-one-dead-and-six-missing-as-british-flagged-superyacht-caught-in-tornado-13199663

[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZsNsI@w@hKS-jz6zf6vc2wAAAAs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[4] https://www.comune.bagheria.pa.it/it/news/naufragio-con-dispersi-al-largo-di-porticello-contattato-il-comune-di-bagheria-per-supporto-alla-popolazione

[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZsNsI@w@hKS-jz6zf6vc2wAAAAs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[6] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZsNsI@w@hKS-jz6zf6vc2wAAAAs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZsNsI@w@hKS-jz6zf6vc2wAAAAs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/11/former_autonomy_cfo_banned_from/

[9] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/06/mike_lynch_cleared/

[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/03/lynch_autonomy_trial/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2024/03/18/autonomy_mike_lynch_us_trial/

[12] https://www.theregister.com/2024/06/06/mike_lynch_cleared/

[13] https://www.theregister.com/2012/11/20/hp_alleges_autonomy_fraud/

[14] https://www.theregister.com/2012/11/27/hp_sued_by_investor/

[15] https://www.theregister.com/2015/03/31/hp_autonomy_lawsuits/

[16] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/front&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZsNsI@w@hKS-jz6zf6vc2wAAAAs&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[17] https://www.theregister.com/2022/01/28/hpe_multibillion_fraud_trial_mike_lynch_autonomy/

[18] https://www.theregister.com/2024/02/12/hpe_autonomy_damages/

[19] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/



Julian Poyntz

more like 11 billion

Inference?

skwdenyer

Is it wrong of me to imagine a yacht named “Bayesian” would have decent weather forecasting and inferencing capabilities?

Very sad for all concerned, joking aside. People often (wrongly) assume the Med is a tranquil body of water.

Re: Inference?

TheRealRoland

Heard reports of a waterspout, and during that day torrential rains in the area.

[eta: yes, different gradations of waterspout-ness - also, tornado on land continues as waterspout on water...]

Re: Inference?

Jellied Eel

Very sad for all concerned, joking aside. People often (wrongly) assume the Med is a tranquil body of water.

Yep, sad if true. Acquited in June, probably relaxing after years of litigation and maybe now gone. Also agree about the weather. I've been sailing around there and the weather around Sicily and Italy can get brutal. Investigation will show what happened, so if anyone was on anchor or weather watch and why the Captain didn't try to head for shelter given they weren't far from a harbour.

Re: Inference?

Anonymous Coward

Meanwhile on the other side of the Med, [1]there's a billionaire with better luck .

[1] https://www.majorcadailybulletin.com/news/local/2024/08/15/126611/amazon-founder-jeff-bezos-ship-koru-the-balearics-during-the-storm.html

Re: Inference?

elsergiovolador

I once fell asleep whilst swimming. Woke up quite far from the shore, but it was an easy swim back with a lot of breaks.

Re: Inference?

Version 1.0

When I was taught to swim I was pretty bad at it, so they taught me to just float on the surface. I've never needed to do it but I'm still happy just floating - I'd recommend it to everyone, sure it not as fun as swimming but it might be safer.

Coincidence or what !!!

Anonymous Coward

Just a few questions ???

Did the hurricane happen before or after Mike Lynch went missing ?

How big a helicopter would you need to 'cause' a localised 'hurricane' ?

Can you hire one in, say, the US of A ?

Not suggesting anything .... of course .... just a few questions, thats all .... for a friend !!!

:)

Re: Coincidence or what !!!

John Sager

On seeing the headline on the Telegraph website that was my first thought. However there really was a vicious storm in that area - I just happened to be looking at the lightning activity on Blitzortung yesterday and it was quite active down there. A sad irony.

Re: Coincidence or what !!!

Alan Bourke

Not everything has to be conspiracy you doorknob

I KNEW IT!

Anonymous Coward

Q said this would happen

Re: I KNEW IT!

Snake

Is that before or after he forecast the second coming?

Silver Hammer...

Malcolm Weir

For some reason, the Beatles song Maxwell's Silver Hammer comes to mind...

What are the odds that both Robert Maxwell and Mike Lynch both disappear off yachts? But the odd thing is that Lynch seemed to have won, so did someone drop Maxwell's hammer on him, and if so why?

I'd better go get my tinfoil hat ready...

Lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Anonymous Coward

They do dangerous things - sailing, flying in helicopters, driving cars that are too powerful for them.

Re: Lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Androgynous Cupboard

I'm not sure you can say what they were doing was particularly dangerous, at 5am they were almost certainly anchored. Waterspouts and Katabatic gusts (look 'em up) are two ways you can die at sea even when sitting still in a sound boat. More bad luck than dangerous behaviour.

Re: Lifestyles of the rich and famous...

Handlebars

Just relatively dangerous, not implying reckless. Holidaying on land is generally safer than at sea, planes are safer than helicopters per passenger mile.

Anonymous Coward

I suppose a nameless tech company have enough resources and private security to arrange a disappearance...

Conspiracy Theories

Flak

I was disappointed to see no conspiracy theories regarding this incident involving a certain global hardware company and the missing gentleman, but suspect the first post (of which there is only the evidence of deletion) may have contained some speculation.

On a different note, my thoughts are with his family.

Re: Conspiracy Theories

katrinab

The conspiracy theorists to appear not to have received the memo that he was found innocent of all charges, and are going for the faked death angle.

Obviously this is complete nonsense. You can check my posting history, I've always said he was innocent, even before the trial.

the mast

EBG

is said to be the 2nd. highest in the world. All of the other boats of this class from the manufacturer are ketches, not a sloop. No doubt it was all within the certifications, but it has obvious stability consequences.

Re: the mast

Androgynous Cupboard

That's a silly comment. They were anchored. You can't send a boat to the bottom due to windage on bare poles in flat seas, not even if it's a wing mast.

Re: the mast

JimC

> You can't send a boat to the bottom due to windage on bare poles in flat seas,

You reckon? Elsewhere someone posted a video of a vicious storm event which included a big yacht being blown onto her beam ends. and in a harbour.

Anonymous Coward

Parallels to the Jordan Belfort (Wolf of Wall Street) yacht sinking off Sardinia when a 20 knot winds suddenly strengthened to 70 knots ... that time all on board survived by eventually being helicoptered off the sinking yacht.

Valeyard

While everyone focuses on disrespectful conspiracy theories the story of a mother briefly losing her 1 year old under violent waves in the sea made this really hit home how awful it is.

I wonder what the conditions were before this or if any warning was given, if it was particularly inclement I know I wouldn't have been there. Been camping with a toddler and noped out to a local B&B for a night when a yellow weather warning hit for a storm and returned the next day when it calmed down. There always has to be a line where you say "this has been nice but the holiday's on hold now"

Houston, Tranquillity Base here. The Eagle has landed.
-- Neil Armstrong