Tech tycoon Mike Lynch’s superyacht was found with its keel “partially retracted” — something sailboat design experts told The Post could have led directly to the modern craft sinking . Investigators are focusing their attention on the position of the Bayesian’s 32-foot deep keel, which divers exploring the wreck off the coast of Sicily reported finding in a raised position, according to the Telegraph . The Bayesian’s keel — a fin-shaped structure on the underside of the hull that’s instrumental in keeping sailboats balanced against their masts — could be raised and lowered, a common feature on luxury yachts that allows easier navigation in harbors where waters might be shallower or have hazards like rocks closer to the surface.
But raising the keel greatly diminishes a boat’s stability, especially under storm-force winds — let alone the tornado witnesses say hit the boat. “If the keel were in the ‘up’ position, as would be pretty common when anchored or in harbor, the lifted keel would cause its stability to be less than if the keel had been lowered,” luxury yacht designer and engineer Robert Stephens told The Post. “But stability would still have been ample for any ‘normal’ weather conditions,” Stephens said.
“From the descriptions, it sounds like weather conditions were far out of the ‘normal’ range.” The Bayesian was struck by a powerful squall just after 4 a.m.
Monday as it was anchored outside of Porticello. Witnesses in nea.