Bayesian superyacht sinking ‘not caused by storm’, says preliminary report

Aninvestigationhas found that the sinking of a Bayesiansuperyachtoff the coast ofSicily, wasnot caused by a storm as originally suspected, according to reports.

The 56-metre (184ft)Bayesian sank off the coastof theItalianisland on 19 August, 2024, killing seven people including Britishbillionaireand tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter.

Italian prosecutors have now found that a storm was not to blame for the incident, according to findings shared with Sky News.

The weather on the day of the incident amounted to “little more than a squall, a sudden increase in wind speed that precedes thunderstorms and downpours,” which should have been manageable for the crew of the ship.

Preliminary findings suggest thatthe yacht is thought to have sunkdue to improper actions on the part of the crew of the boat and their underestimation of the weather with certain safety devices not being activated properly.

The investigation is also exploring the possibility of alleged crimes including negligent shipwreck and multiple counts of manslaughter for the yacht’s captain and two of its crew members.

The yacht’s manufacturers,Italian prosecutors, British marine investigators and survivorshave all made different claimsabout why the boat sank so suddenly.

Last May, an interim report into the sinking, released by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), showed wind speeds of 63.4 knots (73.0mph) on the yacht’s beam were sufficient to tip it over.

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It was thought that the extreme winds were enough to topple the boat causing its passengers to be thrown into the sea.

The report suggested the structure may have compromised the boat’s stability in “motoring mode,” vulnerabilities that were not included in theyacht’s stability manual.

The MAIB report also challenged claims made by yacht builder The Italian Sea Group, finding that the Bayesian would capsize at a 70.6-degree heel, contrary to the builder’s assertion it could recover from 73 degrees.

Giovanni Costantino, the Chief of TISG, has described the yacht as “unsinkable” and claimed the crew must have left doors or hatches open, allowing water in.

The Bayesian was recovered from the sea ten months after its sinking in a multi-million pound operation.

At the time of its sinking, 22 people were on board. A coastguard official in Palermo said at the time thatbad weather had been expectedbut not of the magnitude witnessed, with winds of up to 90mph recorded on the day.

Subsequent investigations identified that the boat was hit by a mesocyclone, which is a type of powerful rotating thunderstorm that can produce tornadoes or extreme wind bursts.

Mr Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, was also on board the vessel and managed to escape. She told doctors that at 4am, the boat had tilted and she and her husband were woken up. Other victims included the yacht’s chef Recaldo Thomas and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy Bloomer.

byMario Satorik

in

May 01, 2026

Bayesian superyacht sinking ‘not caused by storm’, says preliminary report

Aninvestigationhas found that the sinking of a Bayesiansuperyachtoff the coast ofSicily, wasnot caused by a storm as originally suspect...

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‘Dances With Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls.

A Nevada judge gave the “Dances With Wolves” actor his sentence Monday. Ajury had previously convicted himof 13 charges, mostly related to sexual assault. He was accused by three women, including one who was 14 when the assaults began. He was acquitted on some charges.

Accusers and their families told Judge Jessica Peterson they continue to suffer from the trauma caused by Chasing Horse and struggle with their faith after he exploited his position as a spiritual leader.

Chasing Horse, wearing his navy blue Clark County Detention Center uniform, stared straight ahead as victims read their statements. He denied the charges against him.

“This is a miscarriage of justice,” he told the judge on Monday.

Other charges in Canada are still pending

The sentencing wraps a yearslong effort to prosecute the former actor after he was first arrested and indicted in 2023. That initial arrest reverberated around Indian Country, with law enforcement in other states and Canada following up with more criminal charges. Those charges are still pending.

The British Columbia Prosecution Service said Chasing Horse was charged with sexual assault in February 2023, though the date of the alleged offense took place in September 2018 near Keremeos, a village about four hours east of Vancouver. In November 2023, the case paused due to Chasing Horse’s charges in the United States, but resumed the following year.

After all of Chasing Horse’s appeals have been exhausted, British Columbia prosecutors will assess next steps, Damienne Darby, communications counsel for the British Columbia Prosecution Service, said in an email.

A warrant against Chasing Horse remains outstanding in Alberta, the Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service in Alberta said in a statement following Chasing Horse’s conviction in January. The Tsuut’ina Nation Police Service said that it is in contact with the Alberta Crown Prosecutors Office regarding the warrant.

January trial focuses on his role as spiritual leader

Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota, which is home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation. Following his appearance as the young Sioux tribe member Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costner’s Oscar-winning film “Dances With Wolves,” Chasing Horse traveled across Indian Country to attend powwows and perform healing ceremonies.

During his trial, Nevada prosecutors said Chasing Horse used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls.

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Deputy District Attorney Bianca Pucci told the jury that for almost 20 years, Chasing Horse “spun a web of abuse” that ensnared many women.

Jurors heard from three women who said Chasing Horse sexually assaulted them. The jury returned guilty verdicts on some charges related to all three.

Multiple victims described how they participated in his ceremonies or went to Chasing Horse for medical help.

Corena Leone-LaCroix, one of the victims, was 14 in 2012 when Chasing Horse allegedly told her the spirits wanted her to give up her virginity to save her mother, who was diagnosed with cancer. He then sexually assaulted her and told her that if she told anyone, her mother would die, according to Pucci. The sexual assaults continued for years, Pucci said. The Associated Press typically does not use the name of alleged sexual assault victims unless they come forward publicly, as Leone-LaCroix has.

Chasing Horse denied the allegations and his attorney questioned the main accuser’s credibility, calling her a “scorned woman.” His attorney had filed a motion for a new trial, arguing that a witness was not qualified to talk about grooming and that the statute of limitations had expired. That motion was denied.

Victims and their family members testified that they struggle with their faith as a result of Chasing Horse’s actions. The mothers of the victims said Chasing Horse betrayed their trust and abused sacred traditions.

“Even to this day I struggle to regain my faith and spirituality,” a victim’s mother said.

One victim said she still faces complications after suffering an ectopic pregnancy as a result of the assault and being forced to undergo surgery.

“I am choosing to see this moment as a fresh start. I will rebuild my life, reclaim my voice and continue fighting for the future I deserve,” one victim said.

Dr. Crystal Lee, CEO and founder of the organization United Natives, which offers services to victims of sexual abuse, said she hopes the victims find peace with the sentencing. Lee said Chasing Horse’s case shows the importance of holding high-profile perpetrators accountable, and believing the victims involved.

Chasing Horse used his status as an actor and medicine man to prey on victims, similarly to other faith leaders who abuse their power, Lee said.

“I think it makes us question who we trust and why we trust,” Lee said.

byMario Satorik

in

April 30, 2026

‘Dances With Wolves’ actor Nathan Chasing Horse sentenced to life in prison for sexual assault

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nathan Chasing Horse has been sentenced to life in prison for sexually assaulting Indigenous women and girls. A ...

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14 Iconic Photos of British Royals Visiting the U.S. (Including Kate and William Sitting Courtside!)

King CharlesandQueen Camillaare commemorating 250 years of American independence with ahistoric tripto the U.S.

This is Charles' first state visit since becoming monarch in 2022, but British royals have been touring the U.S. for decades.

"For my part, I havealways admiredthe ingenuity of the American people, and the principles of freedom which your great democracy has represented since its inception," Charles said at a September 2025 banquet honoring PresidentDonald Trumpand first ladyMelania Trump. "Throughout my life, from my very first visit to the United States in 1970 and over 20 visits since that time, I have cherished the close ties between the British and American peoples."

As the King makes his way through Washington, D.C., New York City and more, here's a look back at some of the most iconic moments from past royal visits, including whenPrincess Dianadanced withJohn TravoltaandLeBron JamesmetPrince WilliamandKate Middleton.

King George and his wife, Queen Elizabeth, make history with the Roosevelts

In June 1939, King George and his wife, Elizabeth, — the parents of the lateQueen Elizabeth— made history as the first reigning British monarchs to visit the U.S.

They were invited by President Franklin D. Roosevelt when he learned that the royal couple were planning a trip to Canada. He wrote them, extending an invite for some days of "rest and relaxation" at his Hyde Park estate in New York.

During their visit to Hyde Park, they had a picnic where hot dogs were served, which George ate "with gusto," historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr. said, perThe New York Times. Elizabeth ate hers with a fork and knife.

Queen Elizabeth attends her first American football game

On Oct. 19, 1957, Elizabeth attended her first and only American football game at the University of Maryland.

The event — which saw the University of Maryland take on the University of North Carolina – was dubbed the "Queen's Game," and according to theUniversity of Marylandarchives, the Queen andPrince Philipwere given an autographed football, along with a replica of the coin from the toss, by each of the team captains.

University of Maryland president Wilson Elkins said Elizabeth was "most interested in the difference between the English Rugby and the American game," according to the school'slibraries.

Prince Charles and Princess Anne visit the Nixon White House

In 1970, then-Prince Charles made his first visit to the U.S., when President Richard Nixon invited him and his sister, Princess Anne, for an official visit to the White House.

Nixon did it not only to keep relations strong between the U.K. and U.S., but he also hoped for a romantic connection between Charles and his eldest daughter, Tricia.

Decades later, King Charlesmade a joke about the visitduring a state banquet speech in September 2025, saying, "In fact, had the media succeeded in the 1970s in their own attempt at deepening the special relationship, I myself might have been married off within the Nixon family!"

Prince Charles and Barbra Streisand form a friendship

Charles andBarbra Streisandhad a friendship that began in 1974, when they were both in San Diego.

The then-prince was serving in the Royal Navy at the time and asked to meet the singer, who was recording the soundtrack forFunny Lady.

"The prince was utterly charming when he came to the studio, but frankly, it’s hard to have a real conversation when you’re surrounded by fifty photographers snapping pictures,” Streisand wrote in her 2023My Name Is Barbramemoir, perEntertainment Weekly. "I was drinking tea and offered him a sip ... and the future king of England actually drank from my cup, which was apparently unprecedented."

The two struck up a friendship, something that has lasted for decades since their initial meeting.

Queen Elizabeth celebrates the American bicentennial with President Ford

Queen Elizabeth visited the U.S. again in 1976, this time in honor of the American bicentennial.

On July 7, 1976, President Gerald Ford and first lady Betty Ford hosted a state dinner for the Queen and Prince Philip, which included entertainment by Bob Hope and Telly Savalas, as requested by the Queen.

Princess Diana and John Travolta share a dance

Diana shared a dance with Travolta when she visited the White House in 1985.

At the event, first lady Nancy Reagan told Travolta that it was Diana's fantasyto dance withtheSaturday Night Feverstar, he later recalled. After he asked her to dance, Travolta said, "The whole room cleared."

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"We danced for what felt like 15 minutes," he said in the 2021 PBS specialIn Their Own Words: Diana, Princess of Wales.

"It was a storybook moment," Travolta continued. "We bowed when it was over, and, you know, she was off, and I was off, and my carriage turned into a pumpkin."

Prince Charles takes on Texas

In 1986, Charles visited the Lone Star State in honor of the Republic of Texas' 150th anniversary.

During his four-day trip, Charles met with Texas celebrities like Lady Bird Johnson and Willie Nelson, according toCBS Austin.

Queen Elizabeth addresses Congress

During his April 2026 trip to the U.S., King Charles delivered an address to Congress, being the second British monarch to do so.

The first was his mother, Queen Elizabeth, during a state visit in 1991.

Princess Diana dances with Phil Donahue

In June 1996, Diana visited Chicago for three days to raise money for cancer research.

Diana was the guest of honor at a fundraising gala held at the Field Museum of Natural History, where she danced with talk show hostPhil Donahue.

"I love Chicago. It’s been wonderful," Diana said when she boarded her flight home, according toNorthwestern University.

Queen Elizabeth's last state visit to U.S.

Before King Charles' historic state visit, the last time a British monarch set foot in the White House was in 2007, when President George W. Bush hosted Queen Elizabeth.

Her six-day visit included time spent in Virginia and the Kentucky Derby, before arriving in Washington, D.C., according toTIME. The Queen's 2007 trip would also be her final state visit to the U.S. before her death in 2022.

Prince William and Kate walk the red carpet

Prince William and Kate went Hollywood while on a North American tour in July 2011. The royal couple attended the BAFTAs' “Brits to Watch” event, highlighting rising stars from the U.K.

The glamorous outing came just a few months after theirroyal weddingin April 2011.

Prince William and Kate meet LeBron James

The royal couple came back to the States in 2014, this time on the East Coast, where they attended a basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Brooklyn, N.Y.

At the game, Prince William and Kate met big stars likeBeyoncé,Jay-ZandLeBron James,who giftedthe couple a jersey for their young son,Prince George.

Prince Harry and Michelle Obama at the Invictus Games

Prince HarryandMichelle Obamawere on handto kick offthe second annual Invictus Games at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Fla.

William and Kate sit courtside in Boston

The royal couple made a surprise appearance at the TD Garden in Boston to watch the Celtics play the Miami Heat in 2022.

William and Kate were in Boston for theEarthshot Prize Awards ceremony.

Read the original article onPeople

byMario Satorik

in

April 29, 2026

14 Iconic Photos of British Royals Visiting the U.S. (Including Kate and William Sitting Courtside!)

King CharlesandQueen Camillaare commemorating 250 years of American independence with ahistoric tripto the U.S. This is Charles...

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