yachting 3 shots

Boat Reviews

• Boats Specs
• Marine Pros
• Boat Insurance
• Boat Warranties
• Boat Transport
• Boat Towing
• Marine Forecasts

Your Ultimate Boating Resource

What is the definition of anchor shots?

Anchor shots, also known as “anchor outs”, are a term used in the boating community to describe a technique used to secure a boat in place. To put it simply, anchor shots involve dropping an anchor from the boat and letting it sink down to the bottom of the body of water underneath. This anchor then holds the boat in place, preventing it from drifting away or being moved by the currents or wind.

Before attempting an anchor shot, it is important to choose the right kind of anchor and to know the water depth and type of ground beneath the surface. The most common types of anchors used for boats are fluke anchors, plow anchors, and mushroom anchors. The fluke anchor is ideal for sandy bottoms, while the plow anchor is better for rocky or weedy bottoms. The mushroom anchor is best suited to mud or clay bottoms.

To execute an anchor shot, navigate the boat to the desired location and determine the water depth. Lower the anchor slowly, allowing it to sink to the bottom while paying out the required amount of anchor line. The anchor line should be at least five times the depth of the water to ensure maximum holding power. Once the anchor has reached the bottom, set it by jerking the line a few times to ensure it has properly dug into the bottom.

To test if the anchor is securely set, gently try moving the boat by shifting weight in different directions. If the boat remains in place, the anchor has been set properly. A good tip for making sure the anchor doesn’t slip during this process is to add a small amount of reverse throttle to the boat- this will help in digging the anchor and setting it more firmly.

It’s worth mentioning that anchor shots are not a fix-it-all solution for securing a boat. If the weather turns and the wind picks up, or if the anchor isn’t set correctly, the boat may drift or even start drifting. It is essential to regularly check the anchor’s security and re-set if needed. Also, be certain to keep scope in mind while using anchor shots. The more scope that is let out, the more the anchor has a chance to “set” itself, creating a stronger hold on the bottom.

Overall, using anchor shots is an essential skill for any boater who plans to spend time on the water. With the right equipment and knowledge, this technique can help keep the boat in place, allowing for a relaxing day on the water without worrying about drifting off course.

Related Questions

What type of wood is used for pier pilings, what is the difference between a dock and a floating pier, what is the proper technique for pulling a beginner wakeboarder, what does ‘no wake’ mean on a lake, what is the difference between wash and wake, is wakesurfing possible in the sea, why don’t wooden piers rot, what size wakeboard is needed, how to achieve more pop on a wakeboard, does wake surfing translate to ocean surfing, latest posts, overview of the 2024 sea-doo rxp-x 325, overview of the 2024 parker offshore 2900 cc, what your boat’s beam is and why it matters, power cats of 2024: ultimate guide to the top power catamarans this year, don't miss, our newsletter.

Get the latest boating tips, fishing resources and featured products in your email from BoatingWorld.com!

Navigating the Heat: 10 Safety Tips for a Safe Boat Ride in the Summer Heat

Highs, lows, and tidal know-how: a deep dive into ocean currents, 10 essential tips for fishing near private property, the benefits of using a drift sock: guidance for anglers, lure fishing: secrets for imitating live bait and attracting fish, explore the untapped depths of america’s best bass fishing spots, outboard motor maintenance: tips for keeping your engine in top shape, the essential boat tool kit: tools every boater needs, diy boat building: 8 tips and tricks for building your own vessel, the art of miniature maritime craftsmanship: ship in a bottle, antifouling paints: a guide to keeping your boat shipshape, beginner’s guide to standup paddle boarding: tips and techniques, boating for fitness: how to stay active on the water, kayak safety: how to stay safe on the water, anchoring in a kayak or canoe: how to secure your small boat, overview of the 2024 yamaha 252sd, overview of the 2024 tiara yachts 48 le, overview of the 2024 bass cat jaguar sts, 2024 pursuit os 445: an overview, 2024 aquila 47 molokai review, 2024 sea-doo switch 13 sport review, gear reviews, megabass oneten max lbo jerkbait review, fortress anchors fx-7 anchoring system review, fortress anchors fx-11 anchoring system review, fortress anchors commando anchor kit review, fortress anchors aluminum anchors review, stay in touch.

To be updated with all the latest news, offers and special announcements.

• Privacy Policy

How To Operate A Yachts Anchoring System

SUPERYACHT BASICS

0    comments

One of the fundamental skills a deckhand or a crew member will need to know is how to drop and anchor and how to retrieve an anchor. These large yacht have heavy duty windlass anchor systems, and learning how they operate is key to your safety, to not damaging them and to safely securing the vessel to anchor.

The below video will go into great detail the common anchoring systems and protocols for dropping anchor.

How to drop anchor on a yacht, Superyacht Crew basics.

You may also like

Caribbean cruise adventure, mediterranean cruise, get in touch.

Session expired

Please log in again. The login page will open in a new tab. After logging in you can close it and return to this page.

100 Basic Yachting & Sailing Terms You Need To Know

• No Comments

Yachting is an increasingly popular activity that involves exploring and enjoying bodies of water aboard sailboats or motorboats. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned sailor or brand-new to the sport; knowing the language used in yachting is crucial for efficient communication and secure navigation. We’ll look at some of the most often used terminology and expressions in the world of yachting in this list of 100 fundamental yachting terms, from boat parts to navigation and safety gear, and more. This list is an excellent place to start whether you’re seeking to brush up on your yachting terminology or are just beginning into the sport.

Aft – Toward the back of the boat

Anchor – A heavy object used to keep a boat in place

Ballast – Weight added to the bottom of a boat to improve stability

Beam – The width of a boat at its widest point

Bilge – The lowest point inside the boat where water collects

Bimini – A type of sunshade or canopy used on boats

Bow – The front of a boat

Buoy – A floating marker used to mark channels, hazards or anchorages

Cabin – An enclosed space on a boat used for sleeping and living quarters

Capsize – To tip over or turn upside down

Cleat – A metal or plastic fitting used to secure ropes or lines to the boat

Cockpit – The open area in the back of the boat where the steering and controls are located

Compass – A navigational tool used to determine the direction

Crew – The people who work on a boat, assisting with sailing or other duties

Deck – The top surface of a boat where people can stand or walk

Dock – A platform or structure where boats can be tied up or moored

Draft – The depth of a boat below the waterline

Fender – A cushion or bumper used to protect the boat from damage when docking

Flag – A piece of fabric used to signal or communicate on a boat

Galley – The kitchen area on a boat

Genoa – A type of sail that is used for cruising and racing

GPS – Global Positioning System, a navigational system that uses satellites to determine the location

Halyard – A rope or line used to hoist or lower a sail

Hatch – An opening in the deck or cabin of a boat

Head – The bathroom on a boat

Hull – The main body of the boat, typically made of fiberglass or wood

Jib – A small triangular sail located forward of the mast

Keel – A fin-shaped object located under the boat that provides stability and helps prevent drifting

Knot – A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile per hour

Lanyard – A short cord or rope used to secure equipment or gear on a boat

Latitude – A measure of distance north or south of the equator

Leeward – The side of the boat sheltered from the wind

Lifeline – A line or rope used to provide safety and support on the deck of a boat

Log – A device used to measure speed and distance traveled

Mast – A vertical pole or spar that supports the sails

Mooring – The process of securing a boat to a dock or anchor

Nautical – Relating to or involving ships, sailors, or navigation on water

Navigation – The process of planning and controlling the course of a boat

Oar – A long pole with a flat blade used for rowing a boat

Outboard – A motor located on the outside of the boat

Port – The left side of a boat when facing forward

Propeller – A device that uses rotating blades to provide forward motion to a boat

Pulpit – A railing or fence located on the bow of the boat

Rudder – A flat object located at the back of the boat used to steer

Sail – A piece of fabric used to catch the wind and propel the boat

Sailing is the practice of using the wind to power a vessel through the water

Sheet – A line or rope used to control the angle of the sails

Skipper – The person in charge of operating a boat

Stern – The back of the boat

Tack – The direction of a boat when it is sailing upwind

Throttle – The control used to increase or decrease engine speed

Tiller – A handle or lever used to steer a boat

Transom – The flat, vertical surface at the back of the boat where the outboard motor is mounted

Trim – The adjustment of the sails and other equipment to optimize performance

Wake – The waves created by a boat as it moves through the water

Windward – The side of the boat facing into the wind

Winch – A device used to pull or hoist heavy objects on a boat

Yacht – A larger, more luxurious type of boat typically used for pleasure cruising

Bilge pump – A device used to pump water out of the bilge

Boom – The horizontal pole or spar that extends from the mast to support the bottom of the sail

Bowline – A knot used to secure a line to a fixed object

Cam cleat – A device used to secure a line under tension

Catamaran – A type of boat with two parallel hulls

Centerboard – A movable fin located underneath the boat that helps improve stability and maneuverability

Chafe – The wearing away or damage to a rope or line caused by friction against another surface

Clew – The lower corner of a sail

Current – The flow of water in a particular direction

Dinghy – A small boat used to transport people or supplies to and from shore

Fairlead – A device used to guide a line or rope in a particular direction

Flotation device – A piece of equipment used to keep a person afloat in the water

Forestay – The wire or rope that supports the mast at the front of the boat

Gaff – A spar used to support the upper edge of a sail

Headway – The forward motion of a boat

Inboard – A motor located inside the boat

Jibsheet – The line or rope used to control the jib sail

Keelboat – A type of sailboat with a fixed keel for stability and maneuverability

Luff – The forward edge of a sail

Masthead – The top of the mast where the highest sails are attached

Navigation lights – Lights used to signal other boats of the position and direction of a boat at night

Outhaul – The line or rope used to control the tension of the bottom of the sail

Planing – The state of a boat when it is moving quickly across the water and partially out of the water

Powerboat – A type of boat that is powered by an engine rather than sails

Ratchet block – A device used to reduce the effort required to pull a line under tension

Reefing – The process of reducing the size of the sails in high wind conditions

Rigging – The system of ropes and wires used to support and control the sails and mast

Rudderpost – The vertical post or shaft that the rudder is attached to

Scow – A type of sailboat with a flat bottom and squared-off ends

Shackle – A metal fitting used to connect two pieces of rope or chain

Spinnaker – A large, lightweight sail used to catch the wind when sailing down

wind 90. Spreaders – The horizontal struts on a mast that help to support and spread the shrouds

Standing rigging – The fixed parts of a boat’s rigging system, such as the mast and shrouds

Stern light – A white light on the back of a boat used to signal other boats at night

Stowaway – A person who hides on a boat in order to travel without permission

Tiller extension – A device used to extend the length of the tiller to make steering easier

Topside – The upper part of a boat, above the waterline

Transom door – A door in the back of a boat that provides access to the water

Traveler – A device used to move the mainsail along the boom

Waterline – The level at which a boat floats in the water

Winch handle – A handle used to turn winches to control the sails and lines

Yawl – A type of sailboat with two masts, the smaller of which is located aft of the rudder post.

Leave a Review Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

You may also like

Sailing spots.

Where to Rent a Yacht in Winter: An Expert’s Guide

A Yachter’s Guide to Australian Customs and Immigration Procedures

Yachting basics.

When to Change Your Anchor Chain and How to Choose the Right One

Sailing for beginners – 10 Questions and Concerns

Sailing routes.

Sailing Route in Spain: from Barcelona along the Costa Brava

Sailing Route in Thailand from Phuket

Yacht events.

No listings were found matching your selection. Something missing? Why not add a listing? .

Sailing News

International Charter Expo (ICE) 2023: Get Ready for the Ultimate Yacht Charter Event!

Navigating 2023: A Calendar of the Year’s Remaining Major Sailing Races and Regattas

Faces in yachting.

Laura Dekker: The Youngest Circumnavigator – A Voyage of Resilience and Dreams

John F. Kennedy: The Yachtsman President

Boat reviews.

• TOP Charter Deals (updated)
• Advertising and Promotion
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy

Please note that some links on our site are affiliate links. This means we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you if you click on them and make a purchase. We recommend products because we believe they add value, not because of the commission we receive. Your support helps keep our site running. If you have questions, please reach out to us.

Privacy Overview

Change Location

Find awesome listings near you.

• Stunning sailing shots: how to choose and best use a drone

Sailing is an unforgettable experience, but why not enhance your sailing memories with stunning visuals?! Our tips on how to take drone footage on your boat will help you get the perfect shot. Plus, we'll show you how to minimise risks and prevent drone accidents at sea, so you won't lose your valuable data.

Choose a drone for sailing that is waterproof

At first glance, it might seem obvious, but there are dozens of boaters who have destroyed their drone in the waves. So if you're serious about capturing your sailing experiences at sea, a waterproof drone with a built-in camera is essential. As well as being able to shoot your sailing journey worry-free, the drone can be used to take footage of other fun activities, such as snorkelling, kiteboarding or paddleboarding.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Wondering what other activities to combine with sailing? Whether you enjoy water sports, such as snorkelling and kayaking, or prefer to explore islands and towns on foot or by bike — we've put together a list of the best. Try out our  Top 12 fun activities to do on a sailing holiday and make the most of your yachting vacation.

When choosing your drone, you should focus on a few other features such as the weight of the drone , photo resolution , zoom , lens  aperture  and  image stabilization . The formats in which the drone takes photos or shoots video are also important — the more of them the device supports, the better.

It is also advisable to choose a device that can  land on the surface  of the water. Also, consider the so-called home point (HP) — a fixed point for the drone to return to if it loses connection to the remote (something quite difficult to find at sea). In regattas, for example, this tends to be the judges' boat or the nearest piece of land. Having a home point also allows you to safely film from a greater distance. Keep in mind that mid-range drones have a signal range of about 5 km (individual models vary) but, even so, it's always best to keep your drone within sight.

A great choice for sailors is a device where you can set a dynamic home point  — it continuously updates the position of the home point according to the position of the remote.

Another key aspect is flight time and battery level , especially in open sea. If the battery level indicates less than 30%, you should bring the drone close to the HP (home point) so that it can get an improved signal and land better. If you're planning to land it on a moving boat, you should start flying the drone back when the battery is at 50%. If intend to do a lot of flying, it definitely pays to have spare batteries to hand.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Don't have your drone yet?  You  can find drones with a camera in online stores, such as on Amazon, or search for your local  specialist shop . Believe us, you'll have a lot of fun with it when sailing and capture some great shots. Just remember that if the drone has a built-in camera, it is necessary in the EU to register the device and the pilot.

Filming with a drone when sailing

The biggest challenge when filming with a drone is to get good quality, detailed shots without crashing into anything on the boat. Professional videographers recommend filming from a height above the highest mast of the floating boat, about 10 to 20 metres up. If you'd like to get some really action-packed footage, take advantage of manoeuvres such as when turning during a race. As well as the action of the crew, you may even be able to capture boats battling it out.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Would you rather be steering the boat than filming it with a drone? Get your  skipper's licence with us  .

More useful sailing tips:

It's easier with two people.

Every shot requires cooperation and although you may not need a whole film crew with a director, cameraman and sound engineer when filming your voyage, it's still worth having a helper. They can help you track the drone in the air, hold the drone as it takes off and lands, and generally assess the situation to determine when the drone is "fired up" enough to take off safely.

Your assistant can also help you in situations where the drone might hit the mast, shrouds (the steel cables holding the mast up) and other lines on board. You won't be able to see these on the screen or glasses connected to the drone. And, as you'll be focused on guiding it, you will need someone to give you perspective, even if your drone has to capability to automatically avoid obstacles.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Often when sailing, especially with a small boat, the only way to land a drone is to catch it in your hand. This can be quite an adrenaline rush. The "catcher" should wear a cap to prevent the risk of facial injuries and some more substantial gloves .

Tips on shooting videos with a drone

Although today's audiovisual technologies make it easy to take high quality photos and videos, it pays to know some basic guidelines to make your yachting holiday footage even better. Whether you're an experienced sailor or looking for the perfect sailing destination for beginners , we've got some tips on how to film your dream holiday:

• Think about your shots. You want to create an interesting video for family or friends, but you don't want to spend hours going over the rough footage.
• Before you launch your drone into the air, take a look around for the most interesting locations to film. Also, make sure the weather is clear. There's only so much wind your drone can handle and you don't want it to get blown away.
• Consider the resolution of the video. Will HD resolution be enough or do you want to project the video in Full HD (1920x1080) or 4K ? Do you have a computer with enough capacity to handle the raw footage or would you like to shoot the video on your smartphone?

• Find a helper to help you launch and land your drone, and generally help you with shot selection. It's also worth having a pair of gloves ready in case either of you have to catch the drone.
• Don't forget to monitor your battery level, set a low battery warning or set it to "Return to home" or "Hover".
• A drone makes a good servant, but a terrible master. Make sure that you are in control.

YACHTING.COM TIP: Already have a drone  as part of your sailing kit? Check out what else  to bring with you in our guide — Sailing essentials: don't forget to pack these things .

From the deck of which boat will you capture stunning scenery?

Got all your boating gear ready and just need a sailboat? You've come to the right place. We'll find the perfect one together!

Denisa Nguyenová

Faq drones on the boat.

If you are on a watercraft in Ocean City, remember to smile!

Recent photos.

All images are for purchase as digital downloads.   Once you have purchased your high-resolution image, look for an email with a link to download the image file (check your Spam/Junk folder too).  Save the file to your computer or device.  You can use the file endlessly to print your own photos, create wall art, and more!   Images are typically posted by 10pm on the day they were shot.

Beach Portraits

Vacation fun, special albums.

Rave Reviews

We Want to See you In OC?

If you’re out on the bay near the inlet, look for us on the pier adjacent to the Coast Guard Station with the hot pink signs and the strobe light attached to our tripod.  Look for us!

Shop Galleries

Metal Prints

(518) 466-1006

[email protected]

Terms & Policies

Refund Policy

Copyright Notice

Privacy Policy

Copyright ©2024 OC Yacht Shots | All Rights Reserved

Things you buy through our links may earn  Vox Media  a commission.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht  Recap: Marcos Is a Human

Below deck sailing yacht.

This episode is a study of masculinity, patriarchal systems, and how they oppress the people who live within them, in rise and grind culture, in masochism.

Marcos receives tragic news that his best friend’s mother passed away, and yet, the show must go on. He has no time to grieve or react consciously. Gary finds him on the top deck where Marcos confides in him and shares that his friend can’t leave Miami and go back to Venezuela, where his family is, because of immigration issues. Marcos can relate: The same thing happened to him after his grandparents died. Gary, bless his heart, tries his best to comfort Marcos despite having the emotional intelligence of a foot. He tells him that the guests can wait, but Marcos has no time to waste. It’s seafood night, and he rejects Gary’s offer to come keep him company. He needs to focus and throw himself into his work.

In a confessional, Marcos cries. He reveals that he imagines losing his own mother and wishing that this won’t happen to him. Obviously, this news weighs on Marcos throughout the charter. How could it not? And unlike the rest of the crew, he has no one to help him do his job. He is a team of one. A lone wolf. Even worse, the guests request a molecular gastronomy night. Not that Marcos would ever phone it in, but he literally can’t with that cuisine. And then, these polite Canadian guests have the gall to invite Captain Glenn to dinner. Not now, pals! Captain Glenn relays this news to Daisy, who flubs it up and doesn’t relay this to Marcos until the next day.

This is a huge mistake on Daisy’s part, and she knows it. Marcos has to scrap his entire menu since he doesn’t have enough food for an extra diner. He’s pissed, rightfully. And the fact that the rest of the crew is off splashing around in a relay race with the charter guests is simply salt in the wound. Edvard Munch couldn’t have painted a sadder scene. The image of Marcos alone in the galley, tapping his knife against the tomatoes he most likely has to 86, while the others are romping about, having fun in the sun in matching sailors’ uniforms, is permanently burned into my brain. I swear he was the only one with a job this episode! Save for the deckies saving the  Parsifal  from dragging again amid 30 knots of wind — but how can I talk about that when Marcos is struggling with larger-than-life issues?

The food is, of course, flawless. If Marcos does one thing, it’s consistently deliver. The guests — and me — are fawning over Marcos. In fact, when the guests depart, primary guest Lane turns to Marcos to say, “I’m going to be keeping an eye out, my friend, because I expect to see the word ‘Michelin star’ somewhere next to your name very soon. Every dish totally redeemed the wind and the weather.” And these kind Canadians put their money where their mouth is! The crew receives the biggest tip of the season: $23,000, or $2,555 each.

And they earned it. In addition to Marcos cooking through grief, the rest of the crew relatively put in the work. Like I said in the  last recap , this charter wants the crew to join them in a relay race — and these people clearly take their fun and games very seriously. They bring along two sets of matching uniforms (pirates and sailors) and Captain Glenn is decked out in a referee’s ensemble with matching arm floaties. I still don’t understand or believe in the concept of making your crew participate in mandatory fun, but different strokes!

These guests also introduce the boat, and viewers I’m sure, to the “Canadian tradition” of hurricanes. When I heard ‘hurricane,’ I thought of the classic New Orleans cocktail. I was mistaken. According to this group, a hurricane is when a person does a shot and gets a glass of water thrown in their face and slapped. The men aboard want the stews to slap them. Scarlett smacks the shit out of Lane and his dick immediately gets hard. This group loves costumes and humiliation (I will be thinking about this a lot). To the point that this is a Canadian tradition, I am not sure. Granted, I only conducted two cursory Google searches (“canadian hurricane slap” and “canadian hurricane slap shot”) but only found one Reddit post dedicated to the phenomenon. Please comment below if you’ve ever heard of this!

Poor Marcos can’t catch a break, though. In the pref sheet meeting, the team learns that for their final charter, the guests want a wedding officiated by Captain Glenn. Of course, they also want a multi-tiered wedding cake, and oh yeah, it has to be gluten- and dairy-free. This sends Marcos over the edge. “I’m emotionally destroyed. I’m stressed. I’m tired. This is ridiculous. This is too much,” he says in a confessional. He needs a minute to process alone, and relays this. King of communication and expressing his needs! Daisy has never seen him like this and is concerned.

Like a good hen mother, she grabs Marcos for a cigarette during their night-off dinner and creates a safe space for him to talk about his feelings. He says he feels better at first, but after some pressing, he starts crying. He’s going through so much and so often shoves away his emotions to make room for work. He needs this release. I am proud of Daisy for giving Marcos that room to open up. He says he’s just human. True babe! Let yourself be! It’s okay to not be okay. His confessional breaks my heart: “This is the first time in the whole season that I’m thinking I’m not going to pull it off. It’s that serious. I may have reached my limit, and now I’m in a glass of water ready to drown.” I am praying for Marcos that he can pull through, but I wish he didn’t have to be strong. He deserves to be soft and at least have a singular night off between these back-to-back charters.

• below deck sailing yacht

Most Viewed Stories

• Cinematrix No. 152: August 25, 2024
• The 15 Best Movies and TV Shows to Watch This Weekend
• Osgood Perkins Unpacks All the Hidden Demon Appearances in Longlegs
• What Happened With Kendall and Nicole From Love Island USA ?
• A Baby Bieber Has Been Born
• Evil Series-Finale Recap: Last Rites

Editor’s Picks

Most Popular

What is your email.

This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us.

Sign In To Continue Reading

Create your free account.

Password must be at least 8 characters and contain:

• Lower case letters (a-z)
• Upper case letters (A-Z)
• Numbers (0-9)
• Special Characters (!@#$%^&*)

As part of your account, you’ll receive occasional updates and offers from New York , which you can opt out of anytime.

Log in or Sign up

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser .

gr8trn Senior Member

I was watching Tristan Mortlock of MY AWOL on his VLOG SuperYachtCaptain. He was showing his procedure for leaving a Med mooring in Portofino. As the anchor chain was coming in there was a reference to how many shackles to go. They had four or five out and they had two left. I was assuming the ground tackle was shackled at certain lengths but that seemed odd. Is this a measure of length on large vessels like super yachts? What does a shackle equate to?

CptnMaxwell New Member

A shackle (shot) of chain is the distance between Kenter Shackles on Studlink Chain. According to Class Rules this is 27.5m (90ft, 5o fathoms). This means the chain is broken down into manageable lengths for manufacture and handling and these are joined together by Kenter Shackles. This also allows a vessel to replace a portion of their chain due to wear, corrosion or damage. The Kenter Shackles are recognizable so it is possible to determine how much chain is out by counting the shackles. It is quite common for yachts to paint the Kenter Shackles using a colour code to allow easy identification of how much chain is out. This varies per vessel, with different colours used or number of links painted indicating differentiating shackles. Most important is painting of the last shot of chain (warning shot) to ensure the user doesn't get to the bitter end.

Thank you @CptnMaxwell , I no longer think it as odd. Manageable lengths, replacing portions and identifying the shots make it all clear.

Riknpat Senior Member

Interesting. But wouldn't 90 feet be 15 fathoms? 50 fathoms would be 300 feet.

@Riknpat You are entirely correct - 15 fathoms per shot. Tristan's videos are a good insight into working onboard a Superyacht. Thanks are also required to the owner of MY AWOL.

DOCKMASTER Senior Member

On commercial ships they always refer to it as a shot of chain. Each 90’ shot is connected via a detachable link. They paint each detachable link red and then a corresponding link of chain on either side is painted white. So the second shot of chain has two white links on either side of the red detachable link, the third shot has three white painted links, etc, etc. Ships normally carry 10 or 11 shots total. The second to last entire shot is painted yellow as a warning that they are nearing the bitter end. The last shot is painted entirely red. When anchoring the CAPT or Chief Mate will direct how many shots they want deployed. There are some amazing videos on YouTube of runaway anchor chains on ships. Not a place you want to be if this happens.

CptnMaxwell said: ↑ @Riknpat You are entirely correct - 15 fathoms per shot. Tristan's videos are a good insight into working onboard a Superyacht. Thanks are also required to the owner of MY AWOL. Click to expand...

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

10 Of The Best Luxury SuperYacht Photographers

• Inspiration

Related News

Popular news this week, popular news this month, latest news.

• Yacht Charter & Superyacht News >

Written by Rachael Steele

Ships have captured the public imagination for thousands of years as a symbol of power, elegance and affluence. Passing through history as worthy subjects of artist and poets, capturing the essence of a regatta fleet or the details of the most opulent and innovative mega yacht of recent times is as integral as ever. The yachting industry is filled with talented photographers and filmmakers, and here we highlight 10 prolific names who have shot prestigious yachts and events.

Jeff Brown – Breed Media

Notable superyacht shots: Savannah , Galactica Star , Ann G .

Best known in recent times for photographing the interior and exterior of Feadship’s 2014 superyacht Savannah, Jeff Brown captures the whimsical and abstract elements of modern design while retaining the realism that often disappears in vibrant environments and under dramatic lighting.

Savannah – photo by Jeff Brown

In 2003 Jeff Brown co-founded Superyacht Media, and his expertise combined with that of his team catapulted the company into a leading position in media content for superyacht-related marketing worldwide. His background in design has awarded him an uncommon perspective when it comes to selecting the focus of his photography and videos, which in turn has resulted in over 100 magazine covers in the last seven years alone and repeat business from builders.

Superyacht Ann G by Heesen Yachts. Photo courtesy Jeff Brown

Six deck luxury yacht Invictus by Delta Marine from 2013 and Irimari by  Sunrise Yachts from 2014 have also prospered from Jeff Brown’s ability to see behind the finished product to pinpoint the detail from the designers, from the colour choice for the en-suite mosaic to the grooves amidst the gloss of the formal dining table.

Red Square. Photo credit Jeff Brown

Kurt Arrigo – Kurt Arrigo Photography

Maltese-born Kurt Arrigo is renowned for his superyacht regatta photography, although his diverse portfolio also includes superstars, fashion shoots and underwater photography of various subjects. There is a strong attachment to water in all his works and a nostalgic touch that turns modern events into instant classics. With an eye for the moment, Kurt captures fleeting scenes of celebrations and crowds in motion.

Sailing Yacht Moonbird. Photo courtesy of Kurt Arrigo

Contrast is a particularly strong element in the regatta pictures, balancing human fervour against a cool white deck, or the brand new fleet of superyachts sailing past ancient Mediterranean buildings. Kurt Arrigo also photographs the Rolex sponsored events .

Sailing Yachts. Kurt Arrigo Photography

Guillaume Plisson – Guillaume Plisson Photography

Notable superyacht shots: Silver Fast , Cloud 9 , and  Kismet

It’s likely that if you have browsed through the high-end yachts from shipyards Heesen and Lurssen in recent years, you have come across some of the work of Guillaume Plisson. Superyachts Ester III , G alactica SuperNova   and Solandge have all benefitted from Guillaume Plisson’s playful touch with angled overhead shots and subtle lighting against moody skies.

66m super yacht ESTER III – Photo by Guillaume Plisson

Using the past as inspiration combined with cutting edge technology, Guillaume Plisson discovers the individual strengths of each design while treating them with the same respect as any vintage yacht. Stylised shots of the hull and up-close realism mark Guillaume Plisson’s work, making it recognisable whether as the cover of a high-end magazine or as one of a score of shots detailing the deck and interior.

Galactica SuperNova. Photo by Guillaume Plisson

Ed Wright – Ed Wright Images

Notable superyacht shots: Maltese Falcon , Auspicious

From his warm and vibrant home in Monaco to the chill white Antarctic landscapes, Ed Wright has travelled the world and brought back with him glimpses of untouched landscapes devoid of human life, save for a fleeting presence of a yacht on the horizon.

Maltese Falcon. Photo by Ed Wright

Much closer to home, Ed Wright has captured the spirit of sailing regattas through the Mediterranean and has completed shoots aboard yachts for luxury brands as well as yacht builders and owners. Whether taking wide-angle shots or close-ups of five-star dining delights, Ed Wright has produced consistently high-quality results that have made him an established name in the industry.

David Churchill – David Churchill Superyacht  Photographer

Notable superyacht shots: Galactica Star, Galactica Super Nova and Athena

An award-winning photographer and co-founder of the Superyacht Creative, David Churchill has long-running experience with big-name builders in the yacht industry, working with Abeking & Rasmussen , Baglietto and Dynamiq to name but a few. He imbues his crisp imagery with a sense as if it were a still from a story in progress and this has contributed to his long-running success.

VICTORIA DEL MAR – Photo by David Churchill

Past projects which received much acclaim in the media include Galactica Star and Galactica SuperNova, and his photographs have graced the covers of Yacht Design, Boat International, Architectural Digest and other magazines.

Charter Yacht Victoria Del Mar. Photo by David Churchill

  Cory Silken – Cory Silken Photography

With an eye for sailing yachts, Cory Silken has photographed and videoed regattas for sponsors such as Bacardi.

Royal Huisman Pumula Yacht – Cory Silken

His most recent work includes the Best Superyacht Challenge Antigua , which took place earlier this month. As well as creating visual marketing material for superyachts for charter, Cory Silken has a public gallery in his hometown of Newport in Rhode Island, where he exhibits and sells his photography.

Wisp superyacht – Exterior – Photo by Cory Silken

Being close to New England and a quick flight to the Bahamas and Caribbean , he has filled his portfolio with invigorating photographs of favourite tropical locations .

Stuart Pearce – Stuart Pearce Photography

Notable superyacht shots: Sailing Yacht Aquijo

Sailing Yacht Aquijo. Photo by Stuart Pearce

There’s more to a yacht than an impressive interior and a spa pool, and on a luxury charter, the crew can easily become the difference between an enjoyable break from the office and a holiday treasured for a lifetime. As well as photographing hulls, decks and interiors for marketing, Stuart Pearce covers the crews of luxury yachts and brings to life their passion and professionalism.

AQuiJo jacuzzi on board – Photo by Stuart Pearce

His experience with lighting and attention to detail brings out the best aspects of each room, and when the viewer’s eye roams away from the main focus, they are sure to discover some mundane element that is anything but when it serves to enhance the scene.

Kristina Strobel – Kristina Strobel Photography

Notable superyacht shots: Kismet, St David , Blade (ex.H2ome) , Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem by Kristina Strobel

Kristina Strobel has over a decade’s worth of experience in fashion, lifestyle and luxury travel, beginning her career working for Macy’s in New York. Her images have been published in international magazines, art books, lifestyle and travel publications and have featured notable yachts including Blade (ex.H2ome), St David and Kismet. In the diverse colour range and bustle of her works is a noticeable, crisp focus which is brought to the fore in her abstract work and used to focus the eye on background objects.

MY MIRAGE Exterior Kristina Strobel

Alberto Cocchi – Alberto Cocchi Photography

Notable superyacht shots: Param Jamuna IV , Vellmari’

M/Y Param Jamuna. Photo credit Alberto Cocchi

Featuring on the covers of international luxury lifestyle and yachting magazines, Alberto Cocchi has a wealth of experience in photography with a focus on architecture, fleets, interiors and lifestyle shots. Turning already outstanding design into the captivating, bold colours are highlighted on his images of close-up cuisine to perfectly juxtapose the scope of his wide-angled evening fleet photography.

Luxury Yacht Vellmari by Rossinavi. Photo by Alberto Cocchi

Alexis Andrews – Alexis Andrews Photography

Notable superyacht shots: Elysian (ex. Elandess) , Panthalassa , Lady L

S/Y Panthalassa. Photo credit Alexis Andrews

Alexis Andrews was born in Greece and studied fashion and advertising photography in Europe before he moved to Antigua in 1986. There he started his carrier of photographer in the yachting industry. Nowadays, Alexis Andrews works all over the globe for yacht designers, shipbuilders, yacht brokers and advertising agencies to deliver the best of the marine photography. His passion for sailing inspired Alexis Andrews to create the St Barts Bucket Race , which one of the most exciting racing events held every year in the Caribbean . His latest project is the Caribbean Documentary film Vanishing Sail.

Motor Yacht Elysian (ex Elandess). Photo credit Alexis Andrews

Special mention: Marc Paris

Notable superyacht shots: Serene , Hokulani , DB9

Marc Paris photography

Having completed assignments for renowned builders such as ISA , Mondo Marine and Amels , Marc Paris was a well-known photographer within the yachting industry, and before his untimely death in 2012, he had photographed a plethora of luxury yachts, including Lady Moura , Parsifal III and Seawolf . His agency FAB Studios continues to support young photographers looking to gain experience.

Seawolf. Photo by Marc Paris

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "10 Of The Best Luxury SuperYacht Photographers".

• Charity & Fund Raising
• CharterWorld News
• Classic Yachts
• Coronavirus
• Cruise Ship
• Ecological Yachts
• Expedition Yachts
• Expert Broker Advice
• Feature Superyachts
• Interior Design
• Legal & VAT Yacht Issues
• Luxury Catamarans
• Luxury Gulet
• Luxury Phinisi
• Luxury Trimarans
• Luxury Yacht Design
• Luxury Yachts
• Marinas & Harbours
• Marine Ecology
• Marine Electronics
• Marine Equipment
• Mega Yachts
• Modern Yachts
• Motor Yachts
• New Launch Yachts
• New To Charter
• Open Style Sports Yachts
• Private Jets
• Sailing Yachts
• Social Media
• Sports Yachts
• Superyacht Crew
• Superyacht Photographers
• Superyacht Products & Supplies
• Superyacht Refits
• Superyacht Reviews
• Superyachts
• Uncategorized
• Yacht Builders
• Yacht Charter
• Yacht Charter Destinations
• Yacht Charter Picks
• Yacht Charter Specials
• Yacht Delivered to Owner
• Yacht Designers
• Yacht Events & Boat Shows
• Yacht Fashion
• Yacht Industry News
• Yacht Photos
• Yacht Racing
• Yacht Racing & Regattas
• Yacht Safety Equipment
• Yacht Support Vessels
• Yacht Tenders
• Yacht Videos
• Yachting Associations
• Yachting Awards
• Yachting Business
• Yachts For Charter
• Yachts For Sale

Quick Enquiry

Superyacht news:.

Email Your Yachting News to: news @ charterworld.com

Luxury Yachts At Events

Luxury Yachts nominated for the 2014 World Superyacht Awards

World Superyacht Awards 2014 Finalists

The Top Pools on Private Yachts

10 Superyachts and their Outstanding Aft Decks

Late summer special offer on board 72m superyacht ARBEMA in the Western Mediterranean

The International SeaKeepers Society will host its 2024 annual Founders Event in October

Special offer for remaining weeks of September on board 51m sailing yacht RED DRAGON

A luxury charter yacht is the perfect way to encounter New England’s fall foliage display

Navigating the World of Luxury Yacht Charters: Your Guide to the Perfect Getaway

OCEA delivers 33m motor yacht ARAOK II to her new owner

39m sailing yacht LINNEA AURORA launched by SES Yachts

66m Benetti motor yacht IRYNA hits water in Italy

A first look at 55m superyacht PROJECT AGNETHA from Heesen Yachts

44m superyacht ORION ONE reaches a construction milestone

40m superyacht HYGGE from MCP Yachts commences sea trials

44m charter yacht JEMS offers 9 days for the price of 7 in August in Italy

Rossinavi introduces full custom 50m superyacht BEL1

The 'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Season 3 Trailer Is Here: Watch!

Season 3 of the series is returning Monday, Feb. 21.

Below Deck Sailing Yacht is back for season 3 with new and familiar faces and sea-level chaos! In the latest trailer for the hit Bravo series, Captain Glenn Shephard is back on the epic Parsifal III,  sailing across the beautiful waters in Menorca, Spain.

“When you go sailing, you never really know what the conditions are going to be like,” Captain Shephard says at the beginning of the trailer before the preview of the chaos aboard the luxury yacht plays out.  

Returning this season are chief stew Daisy Kelliher, chief engineer Colin MacRae and first mate Gary King. Joining the vets on board the yacht are a few new faces, chef Marcos Spaziani, second stew Gabriela Barragan, third stew Ashley Marti, and deckhands Kelsie Goglia and Tom Pearson. 

From the looks of it, this season is set to bring all the action and drama as the crew manages to navigate various hookups (and makeout sessions), power struggles, injuries and a storm that looks like it could take the boat underwater.  

In the new trailer, we see that Tom, who isn’t ashamed of showing off his self-proclaimed “dad bod,” is bringing the body shots, and Gabriela, who braves the elements and topples over in the hot tub, is bringing the fun. Meanwhile, Gary is bringing the romance and a “striptease,” and Daisy is all about a fabulous party -- all while managing the expectations of the guests who board the yacht. 

However, the season isn’t going to be without some serious drama as the yacht faces strong winds and a storm that could possibly send it underwater, and Chef Marcos gets a severe head injury that could leave the crew without a head chef.  

Below Deck Sailing Yacht season 3 premieres Monday, Feb. 21 at 8 p.m. EST on Bravo. 

Updates on Celebrity News, TV, Fashion and More!

RELATED CONTENT:  

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht': Dani Confirms Jean-Luc Is Her Baby's Dad

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht' Star Alli Dore Pregnant With First Child

'Below Deck Sailing Yacht': Dani Talks J.L., Daughter's Paternity

• Below Deck Sailing Yacht

trending now in World News

North Korea table-tennis champs face punishment for 'grinning' in...

Exiled billionaire social media app founder arrested while...

Bodies of tech tycoon, daughter found in separate cabins on...

Dad of six dies skydiving, leaving his family in fear of losing...

Netanyahu warns Hezbollah after major missile exchange with Israel

Window cleaner claims he discovered 400-year-old Shakespeare...

Controversial influencer’s fleet of luxury cars towed from home...

Houthis burn Greek oil tanker in Red Sea, mock US by posting...

Chilling footage shows bayesian superyacht slowly disappearing from view during raging storm.

Security camera footage from 650 feet from where the Bayesian superyacht sank Monday shows it slowly disappearing.

In the chilling video, the lights from the boat go out of view as the storm rages.

A witness told Giornale Di Sicilia that they rushed to watch the tape after learning about the ship.

What to know after a tornado sank the yacht Bayesian off the coast of Sicily:

• A superyacht capsized off the coast of Sicily after a tornado hit the area early Monday, killing seven passengers.
• British tech tycoon Mike Lynch was identified as one of the bodies pulled from the wreckage. His teenage daughter, Hannah, was the final one to be recovered.
• Lynch — known as “Britain’s Bill Gates” — had invited guests from Clifford Chance, a legal firm that represented him, and Invoke Capital, his own company, on the voyage,  according to the Telegraph . 
• Security camera footage shot from 650 feet from where the  Bayesian sank Monday  shows it disappearing.
• A rare and unexpected “black swan” weather event may have led to the  Bayesian’s speedy demise , maritime experts say.

“Of about 20 cameras installed in the house, only one was not disturbed by the wind and rain. You can clearly see what is happening,” the witness said.

“There was nothing that could be done for the boat. It disappeared in a very short time.”

There are 3 main reasons Mike Lynch's superyacht may have sunk. None give much hope for finding more survivors.

• Tech tycoon Mike Lynch is missing after his superyacht sank off Sicily during a storm.
• The Bayesian yacht sank near Palermo amid severe weather, with six people still missing.
• Authorities are investigating the cause while search efforts continue for Lynch and others.

Mike Lynch , a controversial tech tycoon, remains missing after his superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday.

The 183-foot Bayesian superyacht was carrying 22 people when it sank during stormy weather near Porticello, Palermo.

Fifteen people were rescued, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares. Six passengers remain missing.

One body was recovered and is believed to be that of Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who worked on the vessel, according to BBC News.

Divers on Wednesday entered the superyacht after breaking a window. They now have to contend with narrow corridors and floating debris as they search for survivors.

There are several theories about what caused the vessel to sink, but none carry much chance of survival for the missing.

A dangerous weather phenomenon

The City Council of Bagheria said the wreck was likely caused by bad weather in a press release published on Monday.

A strong storm hit the area about an hour before the superyacht sank, it said.

Witnesses said they saw a waterspout — a tornado-like column of wind found in water — before the sinking, BBC News reported.

According to data from the International Centre for Waterspout Research , cited by the BBC, there were 18 waterspouts off the coast of Italy on Monday.

Related stories

Matthew Schanck, a maritime search and rescue expert, told Business Insider that the situation was "unprecedented" because it's difficult for meteorologists to predict when waterspouts will occur.

Rick Shema, a consulting meteorologist, told USA Today that waterspouts are rare and can be triggered by unusually hot weather.

Shema said the water was 83.7 degrees, more than three degrees hotter than an average day for the area.

"Hurricanes can form at 80 degrees. This was almost four degrees higher than that," he said.

Tornadoes usually reach up to 300mph, while waterspouts can reach 120mph, Shema said.

"Even an average tornado, 120 miles an hour, that's a lot of wind," he said, adding that it would "heel the boat over for sure."

The ship's mast could have been damaged

Other factors may have contributed to the 56-meter superyacht's fall — but the details are murky.

Karsten Borner, the captain of another yacht who witnessed the sinking, told Italy's Corriere della Sera Daily that he saw the ship's mast "bend and then snap," according to part of the interview cited by the BBC.

However, Marco Tilotta, a spokesperson for the Palermo fire service divers' unit, told AFP that the ship had been seen lying on its side fully intact, BBC reported.

"If the mast was broken, that would be a significant thing that would be reported," Schanck told the BBC.

Speaking to BI, Schanck said it's possible the mast could have been damaged during the sinking, but the conflicting reports make it difficult to say.

He said there's also the question of whether the keel — a weight underneath the boat to keep it balanced and upright — was deployed.

Either way, he said the construction of the ship was unlikely to be a contributing factor, as it was "designed and constructed to rigorous international standards."

"There's no indication that there's any sort of breach of any international maritime construction or safety standards," he said.

Open doors and windows

Soaring temperatures in the area may have caused passengers to leave windows and doors open.

This would have allowed the yacht to become filled with water quickly during the storm, he said.

"I imagine all the doors were open because it was hot, so there were enough hatches and doors open that it filled with water very quickly and sank like that," Sam Jefferson, former editor of the magazine Sailing Today, said in an interview with PA.

"There has been water ingress into this vessel. That's why it's at the bottom of the seabed," Schanck told BI.

However, he said it's not possible to say whether this happened because of open doors or windows, structural damage to the mast, or because the ship became "heeled over" during the bad weather.

Survival for the missing is unlikely

Italian authorities are investigating the exact cause of the sinking while search crews continue to look for the missing passengers.

A spokesperson for the local fire department told The Independent that the search is "complex," adding that divers operate in 12-minute underwater shifts.

There could be survivors in the ship's air pockets. However, Schanck told USA Today that the chance of survival for those missing seems unlikely.

"My professional opinion is that the casualties will be located within the vessel," he said.

"There is a risk versus benefit in all maritime search and rescue incidents," he said. "Where we start transitioning to a recovery phase, that line shifts."

This sentiment was echoed by Luca Cari, a spokesperson for the local fire service. Speaking to ABC News on Wednesday, Cari said it remains a "rescue operation" rather than a recovery operation. However, he noted that finding survivors in air pockets would be "rather improbable."

It's been more than 48 hours since the ship sank. Nick Sloane, an engineer who worked on the Costa Concordia salvage operation in 2014, told Sky News that there's only a "very small window of time" to find those who could be stuck in air pockets.

"You've got a maximum of two to three days to try to get someone out, so the next 24 hours are critical," he said on Wednesday.

• Main content

4 bodies found inside the Bayesian, Mike Lynch family yacht, amid search

Four bodies were recovered inside the Bayesian superyacht on Wednesday, more than two days after it sank off the coast of Italy , setting off an exhaustive search for six missing people, including British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch .

Two of the bodies discovered earlier on Wednesday were brought to shore. One body recovered was a heavily built man, Reuters reported.

Six of the ship's 22 passengers, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter, went missing after the yacht plunged under the water just before 5 a.m. on Monday as a storm swept across the area. Americans are among the missing, officials have said.

The U.K.-registered yacht belonged to Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, who was also on board and was rescued. The tech tycoon was recently acquitted on fraud charges after a year under house arrest.

Ricardo Thomas, the ship's cook, was found dead on Monday, according to the coast guard.

The rescue mission saw a diving team, helicopters and multiple coast guard ships deployed to search the water. Fifteen people were pulled from the water on Monday, and eight were hospitalized in stable condition.

A 'black swan event'? Experts puzzle over why Bayesian yacht sank

An investigation opened by local prosecutors into the cause of the disaster is ongoing. Experts have pointed to a water spout, a tornado over the water that can travel up to 120 mph, that formed during the storm, as well as the heavy weight of ship's mast, one of the largest in the world.

The 184-feet-long ship was made by Italian ship manufacturer Perini in 2008.

Lynch set off on the cruise late last month to celebrate his acquittal on fraud charges in the U.S. that marked a decade of legal challenges, the Associated Press reported .

One of his lawyers and a character witness for Lynch during the trial were also on board and vanished when the boat went down. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of the four people found.

Here are the passengers who were declared missing.

Mike Lynch and Hannah Lynch

Mike Lynch, 59, is co-founder of Britain’s largest enterprise software, Autonomy, which was sold to Hewlett-Packard in 2011, and founder of venture capital fund Invoke Capital. 

Sometimes known as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” Lynch was slapped with charges after HP said it had uncovered deceit and a major accounting scandal within the firm. He spent a year on house arrest after being extradited from the UK.

In early June, at the end of a 12-week trial, a San Francisco jury acquitted Lynch of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. He was also cleared on a charge of securities fraud later that month.

Lynch and Bacares have two daughters and six dogs, all named after engineering parts, according to the U.K.’s Sunday Times in a profile of Lynch from last month.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, was also among the missing. She was preparing to study English literature at Oxford University, according to the Sunday Times. 

Hannah is the younger of Mike Lynch’s two daughters, the Times reported . Mike Lynch told the outlet that his daughters had grown up with their father being publicly accused of fraud. 

Jonathan Bloomer and Judy Bloomer

Jonathan Bloomer is the non-executive chairman of both Morgan Stanley International and the insurer Hiscox, among other companies. Bloomer acted as a character witness on Lynch’s behalf during his fraud trial. 

Hiscox Chief Executive Aki Hussain told Reuters in a statement that the firm was deeply shocked and saddened and their thoughts were with all those affected. 

Bloomer’s twin brother, Jeremy, told BBC that he is processing the news and the family is waiting to hear updates.

“He was my elder by half an hour, so, it means a lot when you lose a twin brother,” Jeremy Bloomer told BBC. “We’ll still wait and see, so it’s fingers crossed.”

Jonathan Bloomer’s wife, Judy, is a psychotherapist of nearly three decades and former teacher. She specializes in anxiety and stress. She studied English language and literature at Homerton College in Cambridge.

Christopher Morvillo and Neda Morvillo

A lawyer with Clifford Chance, Chris Morvillo was among the team that represented Mike Lynch during his trial. Morvillo is an American citizen. 

He was an assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1999 to 2005, and he worked on the criminal investigation stemming from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 

Morvillo was a graduate of Fordham University School of Law and Villanova University. 

Neda Morvillo, his wife, owns a hand-crafted jewelry company under her maiden name, Neda Nassiri. The company’s website said she has been designing and making jewelry for over 20 years.

In a post on LinkedIn after the conclusion of Lynch’s trial, Chris Morvillo acknowledged his family for their support during the case. 

“And, finally, a huge thank you to my patient and incredible wife, Neda Morvillo, and my two strong, brilliant, and beautiful daughters, Sabrina Morvillo and Sophia Morvillo.  None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home. 

And they all lived happily ever after…."

Contributing: Reuters

A tornado sank a luxury sailing boat off the coast of Sicily. Here’s what we know

E mergency workers in southern Italy are still hunting for at least one person who remains missing after a tornado sank a luxury yacht early Monday – prompting an air and naval operation off the coast of Sicily .

Twenty-two people are thought to have been on the yacht when the tragedy struck. Fifteen people were rescued from the wreckage, according to Italy’s Coast Guard. One body was recovered on Monday and five more were found on Wednesday, after divers struggled to reach deep inside the yacht around 50 meters underwater (approximately 150 feet).

Two Americans and four Britons were among the six initially reported missing – including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of Morgan Stanley International, and Chris Morvillo, a prominent lawyer. The five bodies found Wednesday have not been identified, while the body recovered Monday is thought to be that of the onboard chef Ricardo Thomas.

Here’s what we know.

What happened?

A small waterspout – a type of tornado – spun over the Mediterranean island early Monday, likely capsizing the sailing boat amid lashings of rain and strong thunderstorms.

The British-flagged yacht, called the “Bayesian,” was anchored about a half a mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast. The vessel sank after its mast broke in half in the storm, Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection, told CNN on Tuesday.

Eyewitnesses described furious gales and hurricane-like winds that left an avalanche of debris near the pier.

More than a dozen survivors were spotted in the area hanging onto life rafts, according to the captain of a nearby boat, who steadied his ship to avoid colliding with the Bayesian.

“We got this strong hurricane gust and we had to start the engine to keep the ship in an angled position,” Karsten Bower told reporters in Palermo on Monday. “After the storm was over, we noticed that the ship behind us was gone.”

Bower and his crew rescued four injured people, he said, before calling Italy’s Coast Guard – who later rescued the remaining survivors.

One of those rescued – a child – was airlifted to the children’s hospital in Palermo. Eight people were hospitalized in total, according to the mayor’s office.

The girl’s mother, Charlotte, described how she battled to hold onto Sofia, her 1-year-old daughter, as reported by Italian news agency ANSA.

“In two seconds I lost the baby in the sea, then I immediately hugged her again amidst the fury of the waves. I held her tightly, close to me, while the sea was stormy,” she told journalists. “Many were screaming.”

The mother and daughter were later reunited with the father, James, according to a doctor at the local children’s hospital in Palermo.

“The survivors are very tired and are constantly asking about the missing people,” the doctor, Domenico Cipolla, said Monday. “They are talking and crying all the time because they have realized that there is little hope of finding their friends alive.”

Italy’s fire brigade dispatched helicopters to aid in the search, officials said Monday. After an unsuccessful attempt on Monday, the brigade sent divers to try and enter the sunken ship Tuesday, recommencing the operation on Wednesday.

The depth of the wreck means divers can only work there for limited periods of time, according to Marco Tilotta, an inspector for the diving unit of Palermo’s local fire brigade. The Italian fire brigade said Monday its divers had reached the yacht’s hull 49 meters (160 feet) below sea level.

The United Kingdom’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB) said it has deployed a team of four inspectors to Palermo which is conducting a preliminary assessment of the scene.

Who was on board?

Twenty-two people were on board the Bayesian, which was flying under a British flag and had mostly British passengers and crew, in addition to two Anglo-French, one Irish and one Sri Lankan person, a spokesperson for Italy’s Coast Guard told CNN.

A troupe of high-profile guests are among those missing, including Lynch, the 59-year-old British tech investor who fought a fraud case earlier this year in the United States – which spiraled from the disastrous $11 billion sale of his company to tech firm Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011.

His 18-year-old daughter was also named missing. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, survived the accident. Bacares told Italian daily newspaper La Repubblica that she woke up at 4 a.m. local time, as the boat tilted. She and her husband were not initially concerned, she said, but became worried when the windows of the yacht shattered and chaos erupted.

Bacares spoke to the newspaper while sitting in a wheelchair, at a hospital in the Sicilian town of Termini Imerese. She had abrasions on her feet and bandages on other parts of her body, it reported.

Bloomer, the finance tycoon, and Morvillo, a prominent lawyer – and both their wives – are also among the missing, according to Salvatore Cocina, head of Sicily’s Civil Protection.

Morvillo, an American partner at Clifford Chance, was involved in successfully defeating the US fraud case against Lynch in June. Another employee of the firm, Ayla Ronald, and her partner, survived the incident, according to a spokesperson for Clifford Chance.

The body that was recovered from the vessel on Monday was identified as the onboard chef Ricardo Thomas, an Antiguan citizen, Reuters reported.

What do we know about the boat?

Built in 2008, the 56-meter (184-foot) yacht was manufactured by Italian company Perini Navi, Reuters reported. According to the Associated Press, the boat has been available for charter for $215,000 (€195,000) per week.

Lynch’s wife is linked to the yacht. The Bayesian is held by the company Revtom Limited, according to records from the maritime information service Equasis. The company’s latest annual return from April lists Bacares as the proprietor.

“Bayesian,” the name given to the vessel, is linked to the statistical theory on which Lynch built his fortune, according to Reuters.

The yacht’s mast stood 72.27 meters (237 feet) high above the designated water line, just short of the world’s tallest mast which is 75.2 meters, according to Guinness World Records. It was the tallest aluminium mast in the world, the Perini Navi website said.

Perini Navi is known for making “good quality boats,” according to Caroline White, deputy editor of BOAT International, a media group serving the superyacht industry.

White told CNN that if the Bayesian dismasted, “it should theoretically become more stable.” “But it might be a different story if you are in the middle of a violent storm with incredibly strong winds pinning you to the water,” she added.

Dangerous weather conditions

Strong storms across Sicily brought torrential rainfall late Sunday. Initial reports suggest a small  waterspout , which developed over the area Monday morning, could have been behind the yacht’s sinking.

Waterspouts – one of several types of tornadoes – are spinning columns of air that form over water, or move from land out to water. They are often accompanied by  high winds, high seas, hail and dangerous lightning . While they are most common over tropical oceans, they can form almost anywhere.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told CNN that while waterspouts in Sicily are rare, “there is a risk” they can happen – just not every day.

Waterspouts rely on warm waters to gain energy and the Mediterranean Sea has been very hot, reaching a record  daily median of 28.9 degrees Celsius  (84 Fahrenheit) last week, according to preliminary data from researchers at the Institute of Marine Sciences in Spain.

Local temperatures have been even higher, with waters around Sicily reaching almost 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), almost 3 degrees more than normal, Italian climatologist Luca Mercalli told CNN.

“Warmer oceans have more energy and more humidity to transfer to the atmosphere, the most important fuels for storms,” he said.

CNN’s Laura Paddison, Louis Mian, Benjamin Brown, Catherine Nicholls, Sabrina Souza, Niamh Kennedy and Eve Brennan contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com

• Skip to main content
• Keyboard shortcuts for audio player

Who are Mike Lynch and the other people missing after a yacht sank in Sicily?

Bill Chappell

Mike Lynch remains missing after a luxury yacht sank off of Sicily's coast. Lynch, who sold his tech firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011, had recently been acquitted of fraud charges related to the sale. Dan Kitwood/Getty Images hide caption

Search teams are scouring waters along Italy’s southwestern shore, where a luxury sailing yacht sank early Monday. Six people are known to be missing, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter, and Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife.

Faced with the possibility that some people might have been trapped inside the ship when it sank in a storm, dive teams (including cave divers from the local fire brigade) have been looking for ways to enter the vessel.

Divers recover at least 1 body during search of yacht wreckage off Sicily

The Palermo Coast Guard told NPR on Tuesday that such an operation is complicated by the depth and position of the hull, which lies on the seabed at a depth of around 50 meters, about a half-mile from the port in Porticello, Sicily.

Lynch, a mathematician and longtime tech entrepreneur, was on a vacation voyage that apparently doubled as a celebration of his recent acquittal on federal fraud charges in the U.S. At least two members of his legal team were reportedly on the boat.

Here’s what we know about Lynch and the tragic situation off Sicily’s coast: 

A rescue boat of the Italian Coast Guard operates in Porticello near Palermo, on Tuesday, a day after the British-flagged luxury yacht Bayesian sank. Specialist divers launched a fresh search for six people, including U.K. tech tycoon Mike Lynch. Alberto Pizzoli/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Who is Mike Lynch?

Lynch, 59, made his name as the founder and longtime leader of Autonomy, a search engine and software company that helped companies manage information. Hewlett-Packard bought Autonomy for $11 billion in 2011, but Lynch then faced accusations — and then federal charges — that he had misrepresented his company’s financial health and prospects. Lynch denied the claims, saying HP was blaming him for its own problems.

Lynch was indicted on multiple fraud and conspiracy counts in late 2018, months after Autonomy’s former chief financial officer, Sushovan Hussain, was convicted of fraud (he was later sentenced to five years in prison).

Search resumes for British tech magnate and 5 others after yacht sinks off Sicily

Lynch successfully delayed extradition from the U.K. until May 2023 . Earlier this year, the case finally culminated in a lengthy trial in San Francisco that ended with Lynch’s acquittal of all charges against him in June , after he testified on his own behalf.

Also acquitted was Stephen Chamberlain, Autonomy’s former finance VP. But on Saturday — just two days before Lynch was caught in a boating catastrophe — Chamberlain was killed in a car accident , after he was struck while out for a run.

Lynch earned a Ph.D. in adaptive pattern recognition from Cambridge University. In 2006, he was awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honor for his work in the U.K.’s tech industry. After selling Autonomy, he founded an investment group focused on startups emerging from Cambridge University.

Who else was aboard?

Survivors include Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, along with Charlotte Golunski, who works at Invoke Capital, Lynch’s venture capital firm. Golunski was on the ship with her daughter, Sofia, who had just celebrated her first birthday. In an interview with La Repubblica , Golunski said she held her little girl as she floated in darkness, using all her strength to keep her arms up and prevent Sofia from drowning. Sophia’s father was also onboard and survived.

Ayla Ronald, a lawyer who worked on Lynch’s fraud case, and her partner also escaped the wreck. Other survivors include several crew members, including two women in their early 20s who were part of the ship’s staff.

Missing along with Lynch and Bloomer are Lynch’s daughter, Hannah, 18; Bloomer’s wife, Judy; a lawyer for Lynch named Chris Morvillo; and his wife, Neda, according to local newspaper Giornale di Sicilia .

Bloomer was a partner at Arthur Andersen for some 20 years, until 1994, according to his LinkedIn profile . He then led the financial services company Prudential before taking on a number of chairman roles, including at the legal services firm DWF.

Bloomer is also currently chairman of insurance company the Hiscox Group.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event,” Hiscox CEO Aki Hussain said in a statement sent to NPR. “Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our Chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing, and with their family as they await further news from this terrible situation.”  

#Palermo , naufragio imbarcazione a Porticello: proseguono da parte dei #vigilidelfuoco le ricerche delle 6 persone segnalate come disperse. Giunti da Cagliari, Sassari e Roma i #sommozzatori speleo [ #19agosto 19:30] pic.twitter.com/7WY30ckxcK — Vigili del Fuoco (@vigilidelfuoco) August 19, 2024

What happened to the yacht?

The gathering took place aboard a massive sailing yacht called Bayesian — a term that, in mathematics and statistics, refers to probability and uncertainty. The yacht’s overall length is listed at 55.9 meters (183 feet).

The Bayesian was off the coast of Porticello when it was swamped by a violent storm before dawn on Monday morning. Numerous eyewitness accounts cited a waterspout — a highly localized spiraling storm that’s essentially a marine tornado. Around that time, the Bayesian was located in the Tyrrhenian Sea, according to the Marine Traffic tracking site.

The ship, which had 22 people aboard, sank. In the aftermath, 15 people were rescued, but one died and six were unaccounted for.  

What about the rescue effort?

Helicopters and marine craft have been searching for any sign of the passengers, hoping to find more survivors. Sea and cave divers have also been part of the effort.

Italy’s fire brigade, Vigili del Fuoco, says it is working on a plan for divers to enter the sunken vessel. An initial attempt on Monday was cut short after divers were able to gain only limited access , citing furniture that blocked a passageway.

When asked about the possibility of finding any other survivors of the calamity, Comandante Vincenzo Zagarola of the Italian Coast Guard told radio station RTL 102.5 on Tuesday that given how much time has elapsed, it’s difficult to imagine a good outcome for the missing passengers. But, he said, the search will continue.