What is a waterspout? Terrifying natural phenomenon that sunk British Bill Gate's 180ft yacht By Ed Holt Published: 19:32 BST, 19 August 2024 | Updated: 20:08 BST, 19 August 2024 e-mail View comments A terrifying natural phenomenon known as a waterspout has led to the fatal sinking of an 180ft yacht owned by the British Bill Gates . The luxury sailboat was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am, wrecking the boat and causing it to rapidly disappear beneath the waves. British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter are among six people feared dead after the yacht they were staying on was struck by a freak waterspout.
Following the tragic incident, attention has been drawn to the ocean phenomenon with many wondering what they are and what risk they pose to ships. The US National Ocean Services says that waterspouts are a whirling column of air and water mist. A waterspout off the coast of Cornwall.
Following the tragic incident, attention has been drawn to the ocean phenomenon with many wondering what they are and what risk they pose to ships The luxury sailboat Bayesian was docked off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when a waterspout struck the area just before 5am, wrecking the boat and causing it to rapidly disappear beneath the waves (stock image) There are two different catergories of waterspouts. The first are fair-weather waterspouts which form along the dark flat base of a line of developing.