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Missing revealed as divers search superyacht that sank in storm off Sicily

ROME — Rescue teams and divers were searching Tuesday for six missing people, including a British tech magnate and a Morgan Stanley boss, after a luxury superyacht sank in a storm off Sicily .

The identity of those still missing emerged after an initial search of the 184-foot sailboat, named the Bayesian, was unsuccessful Monday. The British-flagged tourist vessel had 22 people aboard when it sank because of “a violent storm” off Sicily’s main city, Palermo, around 5 a.m. local time (11 p.m. ET) on Monday, the local coast guard said.

Newly released video shows the moment the vessel suddenly sank after being battered by the storm. In the video, the 250-foot mast, which was lit up and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored.

Fifteen people were rescued by a boat present in the immediate vicinity and then brought ashore by coast guard vessels, but six passengers, including American, British and Canadian citizens, remained missing, it said. They were believed to be trapped in the boat's hull, some 164 feet underwater, posing a challenge to divers who returned Tuesday to the site off Porticello, near Palermo.

Salvatore Cocina, director of Sicily’s Civil Protection Agency, told NBC News that the missing include British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his daughter, Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

Cocina did not specify the nationalities of the missing. He also did not identify Lynch's daughter or the wives of Bloomer and Morvillo.

A spokesperson for Clifford Chance, where Morvillo works as a lawyer, confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday that he and his wife, Neda, were among the missing. 

Aki Hussain, chief executive officer of U.K. insurance company Hiscox, where Bloomer is a nonexecutive chairman, confirmed to NBC News on Tuesday that Bloomer and his wife, Judy, were missing.

Italy’s national fire department said that its divers were able to get inside the wreck during a late-night dive Monday, inspecting some cabins under the bridge, but were having trouble navigating because of obstructions and narrow access gates. One of those obstructions was reported to have been caused by furniture from the cabins that moved during the storm that struck the ship early Monday.

Rescuers said that there might be bodies inside the cabins, especially considering the timing of the storm, but that they had so far been unable to check through the ship’s portholes.

Divers were forced to work in 12-minute underwater search shifts because of the depth, while surface searches continued in the area of ​​the shipwreck with a helicopter and a fire brigade boat, it added.

Mike Lynch, who was regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” was cleared of fraud charges in a blockbuster U.S. trial earlier this summer. Sources told CNBC on Monday that his wife, Angela Bacares, has been rescued. Italian news agency ANSA identified his daughter, missing alongside her father, as Hannah, 18.

Just days earlier, Lynch's co-defendant, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being “fatally struck by a car” while out running Saturday, his lawyer Gary Lincenberg said in an emailed statement.

The sailing vacation that ended in tragedy appeared to be something of a celebration after Lynch’s acquittal — Morvillo was one of Lynch’s U.S. lawyers and Bloomer testified in his defense.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic event. Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular our Chair, Jonathan Bloomer, and his wife Judy, who are among the missing,” Hussain, the Hiscox CEO, said in an emailed statement.

A Morgan Stanley spokesperson also said: “Our thoughts are with all those affected, in particular the Bloomer family, as we all wait for further news from this terrible situation.”

The Eve Appeal, a British cancer charity, described Judy Bloomer in an emailed statement as “a brilliant champion for women’s health and medical research.”

Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch said it was deploying a team of four inspectors to Palermo to conduct a preliminary assessment.

The coast guard said in a statement Monday that the ship’s cook had died. It did not give his nationality. Reuters identified him as Antiguan citizen Ricardo Thomas.

One of the survivors, identified as Charlotte Emsley, 35, told the Italian news agency ANSA that she had momentarily lost hold of her year-old daughter, Sofia, in the water but managed to retrieve her and hold her up over the waves until a lifeboat inflated and they were pulled to safety.

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered, Bayesian can carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites.

The yacht’s nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

Luca Mercalli, an Italian climatologist and president of the country’s meteorological society, told Reuters that the storm could have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, a more frequent phenomenon that doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Storms and heavy rainfall have swept Italy in recent days after weeks of scorching heat.

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit), which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli said. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

Claudio Lavanga reported from Rome and Yuliya Talmazan from London.

‘Black swan’ phenomenon may have sunk Bayesian yacht, experts say

A rare and unexpected “black swan” weather event may have led to the luxury Bayesian superyacht’s speedy demise, maritime experts claim.

The spontaneous formation of a tornado-like waterspout would have given the 22 passengers and crew aboard the luxury vessel little to no time to react to the violent storm Monday before the ship capsized and sunk, killing one and leaving six others missing.

Marine experts believe the large waterspout — a slim column of spinning air below a thunderstorm that occurs over water — was a “black swan event” or a weather phenomenon characterized by its extreme rarity and severe impact, similar to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, they told The Times UK.

“That water carries significant weight,” Matthew Schanck, chairman of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, told The Times. “And if the waterspout ends up dumping a load of that water on board the vessel, that’s going to cause significant damage.”

The Bayesian is believed to have sunk within minutes after being struck by the early morning storm. Six people, including British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and top New York City lawyer Christopher Morvillo, remained missing Wednesday as Italian officials investigate the ship’s sudden sinking.

One expert, Andrea Ratti, a nautical design professor at Milan Polytechnic University, suggested the ship may have sunk so quickly because its windows, portholes, or other openings may have been broken or smashed open by the powerful waterspout, allowing the vessel to quickly fill and sink.

However, a UK industry expert said sinking a ship of that size should have taken hours.

“I don’t think the industry has ever faced anything like this. It’s a horror story,” the unnamed expert declared.

Meteorologists told the outlet the weather conditions that led to the ship’s demise were consistent with a waterspout and that a lot of unpredictability comes with tornado warnings.

“There was a big thunderstorm just to the north of Sicily, a lot of lightning activity, lot of heavy rain, very strong signature of what we call ‘cold cloud tops’ on the satellite pictures. All of those things would add up to a thunderstorm that could easily spawn a waterspout,” said Dr. Pete Inness, a meteorology lecturer at the University of Reading.

Inness noted that with tornado warnings, officials can estimate when and where they will happen, but until one forms they don’t know all of the details, including how strong they will be.

Additionally, like tornadoes, waterspouts are short-lived weather events that go undetected on radars. Along with the fact that it was dark out during the storm, it would’ve been difficult for the crew to realize what was happening, Inness said.

There were 18 confirmed waterspouts off the coast of Italy on Aug. 19, according to the International Center for Waterspout Research.

Other experts questioned why the crew wasn’t paying closer attention to various weather warnings ahead of the tragedy.

“I don’t know if there was anyone on board consulting the radar. Let’s say that if I had been on board, at the first sign of a thunderstorm I would have woken up all the occupants and been ready and alert with lifejackets on until the storm was over,” one of Italy’s leading climate experts, Luca Mercalli, told the outlet.

Even if they had been paying closer attention, it was unlikely the crew could have been prepared for such a “high impact, low probability” weather event, Schanck added.

“I’ve reviewed the forecasts. There was nothing other than thunder. There was nothing that jumped out to me that made it a dangerous decision to anchor there,” he said.

The experts also squashed a theory shared by American entrepreneur Scott Painter , who suggested the ship’s massive 240-ft tall mast — the tallest of its kind — may have made it more vulnerable in the powerful weather event.

One rescue diver told Italian media the yacht was “practically intact” underwater, and Tom Sharpe, a former Royal Navy commander, said the idea that the mast would make the ship unstable was “just incorrect.”

“That mast is designed to have a massive sail hanging off it. So on its own with no sail, that’s not what has caused the boat to go over.”

An official investigation into the incident will likely take months, prosecutors in Sicily said.

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Five bodies found inside superyacht that sank off Sicily

Divers recovered four bodies Wednesday from inside a  superyacht that sank in a sudden storm off Sicily , Salvatore Cocina, director of the island’s Civil Protection Agency, confirmed to NBC News.

Cocina later confirmed to Sky News that a fifth body had been found and was being brought to shore. One passenger remains missing.

The identities of the bodies were not immediately released. Their recovery follows a dayslong search in the deep waters off the Italian coast where  British tech tycoon Mike Lynch  and several others were believed to be trapped in the hull. Fifteen of the 22 people aboard survived.

The rest had been missing since early Monday, when  the Bayesian was caught in the storm  while anchored off the coast of Porticello, a village near the Sicilian capital city of Palermo.

The body of the ship’s cook, identified as Canadian-Antiguan national Recaldo Thomas, was recovered Monday. 

On Wednesday, NBC News witnessed what appeared to be at least three body bags being lifted from fire department boats after they pulled into port at Porticello. It was unclear whose bodies they were. Some were later transferred to ambulances and driven away from the dock.

Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife Judy; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife Neda, are also missing. 

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was among the survivors rescued by a nearby vessel after getting into a lifeboat.

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered yacht could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist boating sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters.  

Regularly described in U.K. media as “Britain’s Bill Gates,” Lynch was  acquitted of fraud by a San Francisco jury  earlier this year, stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who brought Bloomer, who testified in his defense, and Morvillo, one of his U.S. lawyers, on the trip.

Lynch’s co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain was not aboard the Bayesian, but in what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a  car struck and killed  Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

This story first appeared on NBCNews.com . Claudio Lavanga and Claudia Rizzo reported from Porticello. Henry Austin reported from London.

Claudia Rizzo is an Italy-based journalist.

Henry Austin is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

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Rescue crews are racing to find six missing people after a luxury yacht with 22 people onboard sank 160 feet down to the sea floor off the coast of Italy during a violent storm.

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Scott Rouse

Healthcare's  Body Language  Mentor TM

About scott.

Scott Rouse is one of the top behavior analysts and body language experts in the world. He holds multiple certificates in advanced interrogation training and has been trained alongside the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, and the Department of Defense. His extensive training, education, and practice of nonverbal communication have made him an expert and consultant to law enforcement and the US military, as well as to successful CEOs, attorneys, executives, and entertainers.

As a regular guest and consultant to and for The Dr. Phil Show, Scott analyzes body language and behavior. Watch Scott on his new TV show, The Behavior Panel, on Dr. Phil’s network, Merit Street Media. Scott lectures on body language at Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Business Management, Belmont University, Lipscomb University, The University of Tennessee, and teaches Continuing Legal Education courses on body language for the Tennessee Bar Association. As well, he trains law enforcement and military across the U.S. As Entrepreneur In Residence at The Nashville Entrepreneur Center from 2011 to 2017, Scott created the Pitch Department, where he trained new, as well as seasoned, entrepreneurs to pitch for funding. From Nashville to Silicon Valley to Shark Tank, his training has helped startups raise over $1B to date. His techniques in training and teaching body language are used and hailed by entrepreneurs all over the world. Rouse is also a multi-Grammy nominated producer.

Understanding Body Language: How to Decode Nonverbal Communication in Life, Love, and Work 

Finding the right speaker for an event can be tough.  Sometimes it takes quite a while to sift through all the possibilities to find just the right one.  I know it’s tough and I understand the success of any event, no matter what size, comes down to the quality of its speakers.

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Scott Rouse

Nashville, tennessee, united states.

Author - TEDx Speaker - Body Language Expert - As a behavior analyst and body language expert , Scott Rouse holds multiple certificates in advanced interrogation training and has been trained along side the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, the Nashville Metro Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations and the Department of Defense.

His extensive training, education, and practice of nonverbal communication has made him an expert and consultant to law enforcement as well as successful CEO's, attorneys, executives, and entertainers.

Scott Rouse is Entrepreneur In Residence at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Advisor at FLO {thinkery}, a Grammy Nominated Producer, and serial entrepreneur. Rouse actively mentors entrepreneurs and startups, specializing in “fixing pitches”.

Through his work with startups his reputation has grown as “The PitchFixer”

• Body language Expert, PitchFixer

Body Language For Leaders, with Scott Rouse, Ep #54

When it comes to being an effective leader and developer of other leaders, there are no better skills to learn than those centering around body language – you could say this post is about “body language for leaders.” It’s a powerful skill set that can be used to bring greater clarity to conversations, to gain deeper insight into people, and to make work mutually meaningful in all kinds of ways.

My guest on this episode is Scott Rouse, a leading expert in body language and non-verbal communication. Scott’s skills in this area were honed through a path of intentional education about the things that make non-verbal communication so powerful – both positively and negatively. 

Keep reading to learn more about how body language can be used by leaders to amplify the meaning of work, invest in team members, and make the workplace a more fulfilling environment.

An early experience in observation and body-language skills

Scott Rouse remembers growing up in a community where his father was one of the only doctors. He watched, literally in awe, as his father demonstrated mastery of observation and non-verbal communication. The way he helped his patients cope with illness and enjoy a happier experience even in a physician’s office was remarkable.

Scott tells an amazing story of sharing lunch with his father during a visit to his father’s office at the small hospital where he worked. When Scott – then 6 years old – noticed two classmates in the waiting room, he asked his father why they were there. His father explained the reason each of them was in the waiting room – including one who was feigning illness because he didn’t want to go to school. That doesn’t sound so amazing until you learn that his father had yet to see or speak to either of them.

It was his father’s methodical explanation of how he was able to read their body language and the clues that were apparent in their mothers’ demeanors that convinced Scott that the “magic” of non-verbal communication and observation was something he wanted to learn for himself.

Join me for this episode to hear more of Scott’s incredible stories and his advice on how you can learn to observe body language for the purpose of enhancing the quality of your team relationships and workplace interactions.

The medical profession once understood the importance of bedside manner

As an adult, Scott Rouse was diagnosed with cancer and everything in his life changed, even his career. He didn’t turn to a different career because of limitations forced by his illness, he made the switch intentionally because of a negative experience he had in his Doctor’s office while receiving treatment. That experience revealed that Scott had something valuable to offer the medical profession. He would go on to help medical practitioners swept up in the technological and “big business” nature of the medical profession get back to a people-first approach to patient care.

Body language for leaders is about caring for followers, not manipulation

Scott’s story is inspiring simply because he is an example of someone who saw a way he could make a particular industry better for those it served and took action to do so. The same could be said for you as a leader – no matter what industry you are in. The influence you have as a leader can be used for good, to make your workplace into an environment where those you lead are happy to be and enthused to return to.

You can learn body language and the power of observation to enhance your ability to listen, understand, and lead the people under your care. Eye contact, appropriate touch, empathetic facial expressions, and more are skills you can master so that you can build up the people you lead, encourage their progress and growth, and establish a rapport that pays dividends in your working environment and in the lives and ongoing career success of those you lead.

One caution: Don’t buy the myths surrounding body language

Hollywood has contributed to the myths people believe about what can be discerned through body language, So have many badly researched blog posts and news stories. Leaders need to know the truth about body language skills so they can make decisions that are truly informed and beneficial to their organizations and teams.

The main thing to keep in mind is this, no matter how skilled you become at picking up on non-verbal signals and observing body language, it’s still not going to be an exact science. You are dealing with people, not machines or animals that function according to instinct alone. People are complicated and can’t be “figured out” that simply. Do what you can to learn body language clues and use them for good. But don’t use them as a tool to quickly label or diagnose things going on in your work environment. The relationships with the people you lead are based on much more than that – and true leadership is rooted in the relationships you have with those you lead.

Outline of This Episode

• [3:16] How a cancer diagnosis changed the trajectory of Scott’s career
• [13:39] The fulfillment of helping people avoid fearful situations in the medical profession
• [17:07] Brain chemistry’s effects on body language and perceptions
• [23:43] When body language doesn’t match what’s being said
• [27:40] Discerning sincerity through body language
• [34:20] The common misconceptions about understanding body language

Resources & People Mentioned

• Study: The Eyes Don’t Have It

Connect with Scott Rouse

• Scott’s Website: Scott Rouse

Connect With Bruce

• www.ContractedLeadership.com

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Blitzen’s Baddies aim for strong finish to 2024 Newport Yacht Club’s racing season

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Challenges confronted the crew of the Blitzen from day one in their inaugural year competing in the Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s racing season. Their halyard broke during the opening day race in May, sending the wind-catching kite propelling their boat from Long Beach Harbor to Newport Pier tumbling into the ocean.

“There was no hesitation between this team,” Blitzen’s owner Brett Scott said. “Everyone grabbed the kite and in 20 seconds it was up and flying again.”

She has been sailing since she was 5. But her first year at the head of a team has taught her a lot about managing schedules, the personalities aboard the boat and finances, she said.

“Whenever something breaks it adds up, so I’m definitely not doing this for the money,” Scott said with a laugh. “Don’t take investment advice from me. But we’ve really bonded as a team, and I think that’s our greatest achievement.”

There were plenty of smirks, side-eye and playful jabs as she and the crew rigged the Blitzen Friday in preparation of Long Point Race week. The three-day race is the last competitive event of the yacht club’s season.

The first leg starts in Newport Harbor and ends at Catalina Island. Boats then sail to the opposite end of the island and back on day two before returning to Newport Harbor on day three.

Blitzen’s Baddies, as the crew refers to themselves on Instagram, are all experienced sailors and were optimistic about finishing strong in their first season as a team. They’ve had some success this summer, including third-, second- and first-place finishes in their class during the three days of Long Beach Racing Week in June.

“We keep getting better,” Scott said.

Crew member Tyler Macdonald said the hardest part about the season has been “dealing with Adam and Spencer,” drawing laughs from Adam Bradley, Spencer Buchanan and the rest of the team aboard the Blitzen on Friday. Teammate Matt Whitfield said the real challenge of each race lies in “the hangover afterwards.” Coincidentally, he said his favorite activity while sailing is when they crack open some beer mid-journey.

There’s no shortage of banter aboard the Blitzen. And the irreverent sense of humor of her crew is half the reason Scoot chose to have them aboard.

She grew up in Reno and traveled to Newport Beach every summer as a child to sail with her family. She fell in love with both the ocean and the tavern-style warmth of the community that welcomed her into the sport.

Her father, Bart Scott, said he wasn’t surprised to see her move to Newport Beach. He’s proud to see her fulfill her lifelong dream of owning a boat and fielding a racing team. And although she has a sense of humor, she runs a tight ship and commands the respect of her crew.

“Once we all come together on what a problem is there’s not a lot of back and forth or arguing,” Scott said. “They all just recognize what we each need to do and get it done.”

After Long Point, Blitzen’s Baddies plan on participating in small casual races while preparing for next season. They hope to compete in the Transpacific Yacht Race from San Pedro to Honolulu next July.

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Eric Licas covers Newport Beach for the Daily Pilot. He previously was a crime and public safety reporter and, before that, spent four years as a staff writer with the Orange County Register and the Southern California News Group. He has been on the ground to cover active wildfires, civil unrest and mass shootings. He was born in the Philippines, raised in the San Fernando Valley and is a Cal State Northridge alumnus.

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6 Missing After Yacht Sinks in Sicily Presumed Dead as Sources Say Passengers Had Been Celebrating Before Storm

Authorities said the Bayesian capsized early on Monday, Aug. 19 while off the coast of Porticello

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

 Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty; Scott Eells/Bloomberg via Getty; Andy Shaw/Bloomberg via Getty

The six people who remain missing after a luxury yacht sank off the coast of Sicily during a storm are presumed dead by many of the investigators, local sources tell PEOPLE, though authorities haven't yet commented on that.

The Bayesian , a 183-foot vessel, capsized early on Monday, Aug. 19, while off the coast of Porticello, according to a statement from the Italian coast guard, previously obtained to PEOPLE.

A source close to the survivors tells PEOPLE the yacht had traveled from the Aeolian Islands to celebrate the recent acquittal of British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch , who is among the missing.

Lynch recently went to trial, and won, after he was was accused of financial fraud in connection to the sale of Autonomy, a business software company Lynch founded, to Hewlett-Packard in 2011.

“That's why he took his closest friends and colleagues on the trip,” the source adds.

Vincenzo Pepe/Getty 

The other missing passengers include New York City-based lawyer Christopher Morvillo , who helped Lynch get acquitted, and his wife Neda, as well as Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife.

Lynch’s daughter Hannah is also missing, although his wife, Angela Bacares, is one of the 15 passengers who were rescued in the aftermath of the tragedy.

Although the search is still ongoing, local sources tell PEOPLE that many of the investigations believe they are presumed to be trapped in the hold or in their cabins. (Authorities have yet to comment on this and have only referred to the individuals as missing.)

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The Bayesian still appears to be intact as it lays on its right side in about 160 feet of water, according to Reuters . Due to the depth, crews only have about 8 to 10 minutes to search before resurfacing.

A senior source at the Italian fire brigade which is in charge of the underwater rescue efforts tells PEOPLE that crews have “managed to get to the berth and to the living room, which was full of debris and cables.”

So far, they say teams have looked through portholes and “have not seen any people trapped inside,” despite some reports. 

Currently, crews are attempting to “find ways of lighting up the inside of the vessel” to help them “properly” search for the missing.

The senior fire official says five additional expert diving units “have arrived in Sicily to help with the emergency,” and 15 people are working around the clock to try and find the individuals.

“It's a very long job,” the senior official explains, noting that there are “physical limits” to what crews can do underneath the water’s surface. “At most, it is a 15 minute segment — and that includes going up and going down. And then they need time to recover.”

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Marco Tilotta, a diver with the local fire department, previously said it has been “difficult” to access the hull, which is “a world of objects” inside, according to the BBC . Navigating the narrow spaces, he added, “is a really hard and difficult job.”

However, the diver emphasized, "we are not stopping."

Added Tilotta, “We have resources, manpower and means. Our goal is to find all the people who are missing, so that is our job.”

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Missing nyc lawyer shared haunting final post before vanishing on bayesian yacht with jewelry designer wife.

A top New York City lawyer who has been missing ever since the Bayesian yacht sank off the coast of Italy on Monday morning had eerily written about his family living “happily ever after” in one of his final social media posts before vanishing with his wife in the shipwreck.

Christopher Morvillo, a 59-year-old lawyer who helped British tech tycoon Mike Lynch  — the owner of the capsized luxury boat and one of the six people missing — win his fraud trial , thanked the legal team who helped their success in his penultimate LinkedIn post before the tragedy. 

At the end of the eerie post , he wrote: “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….” 

Morvillo is a partner at white-collar law firm Clifford Chance, which has an office on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. He is a former federal prosecutor who worked on the criminal investigation of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, according to his online bio. He specializes in cases involving insider trading and corporate fraud.

Clifford Chance celebrated Lynch’s acquittal in a June 6 press release on its site. Lynch was accused of fraud related to Hewlett Packard’s acquisition of his company, Autonomy.

“The acquittal ends a 13-year legal battle, regarded as one of Silicon Valley’s biggest-ever fraud cases,” the firm said.

Morvillo and his co-counsel added, “This verdict closes the book on a relentless 13-year effort to pin HP’s well-documented ineptitude on Dr. Lynch. Thankfully, the truth has finally prevailed. We thank Dr. Lynch for his trust throughout this ordeal and hope that he can now return home to England to resume his life and continue innovating.”

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.

The press release ends with a statement from Lynch, saying, ” I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.” 

Morvillo’s wife, Neda, a jewelry designer, is also one of the six passengers still missing, officials said. 

The 160-foot luxury sailboat with 22 people aboard sank off the port of Porticello when a violent storm struck at sunrise Monday, the Italian coast guard said. 

Police divers resumed their search for the missing passengers Tuesday, attempting to reach the ship’s hull some 164 feet underwater, where officials believe people may be trapped. 

The search for those missing has been slow because the Bayesian now sits 50 meters below the surface, where divers can only stay for up to 12 minutes, fire rescue officials said in a statement Tuesday. 

Fifteen of the ship’s passengers and crew have survived, including a mother who was holding her 1-year-old daughter above her head to keep her from drowning. 

One body has been recovered  and identified as the on-board chef, officials said. 

Fire officials have said the six people unaccounted for will be referred to as “missing” until they are located in the wreckage. 

In addition to the Morvillos and Lynch, the missing include Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, as well as Jonathan Bloomer, a chairman at Morgan Stanley International, and Bloomer’s wife, Judy.

Morvillo, who has residences in New York City and South Kent, Connecticut, hails from a family of lawyers.

In an interview with the American Lawyer in 2018, he described working alongside his late father and three brothers at the firm, Morvillo Abramowitz.

“I learned more during those years than at any other point in my career, largely from just watching my father skillfully navigate clients through some of the most complex challenges that this job can throw at you,” he said. “He was the best mentor I’ve ever had.”

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• Speakers Bureau

Scott Rouse

Communicate Effectively in Life and Work, Body Language Expert and Keynote Speaker

Travels from, scott rouse biography.

As a behavior analyst and body language expert, Scott Rouse holds multiple certificates in advanced interrogation training and has been trained alongside the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, and the Department of Defense. His extensive training, education, and practice of nonverbal communication have made him an expert and consultant to law enforcement as well as successful CEO's, attorneys, executives, and entertainers. He is also a Grammy-nominated producer.

Rouse found a home for his skill set at The Nashville Entrepreneur Center where he heads the EC's Pitch Department and works with startups and new entrepreneurs helping them create investor pitches for funding. Rouse says "When pitching, there are many things that click the investor's 'Gut Feeling Controls' to the 'Something's Not Right Here' setting. Even though you're being honest, you may inadvertently be doing something that tells the investor's Limbic Brain 'Look out, this guy's up to something ' That happens because the pitcher is stressed and nervous. The investor's Limbic Brain is relaying what it believes to be correct information to the rest of the brain, just like it's supposed to, and that makes the investor act just as you would expect. As an expert in involuntary physiological communication, I see what causes that problem and I fix it." Through his success in helping startups raise millions of dollars in funding, he has become known as "The PitchFixer".

Scott's "Body Language Frankenstein" presentations and talks have been educating and entertaining audiences at U.S. and international companies as well as colleges and universities like Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Business Management, Lipscomb University, and The University of Tennessee. Although entrepreneurs and college students were the early adopters, the most loyal fans of "Body Language Frankenstein" seem to be doctors, attorneys, financial advisers, and Venture Capitalists.

Scott Rouse Featured Videos

Current: tedx: how to kill your body language frankenstein, more videos from scott rouse, tedx: how to kill your body language frankenstein, speaker reel, where's the panic, grief or guilt, dr. phil clip 2, scott rouse featured keynote programs, see more sell more.

The ability to understand the intentions, motives, and goals of those you meet with is one of the most powerful and coveted tools you can acquire in today’s business climate.  Scott breaks down the nonverbal cues you are so familiar with in sales meetings and negotiations.  This Keynote will enable you to share this information with others in your company or on your team.  The process involves 4 steps.

The Process Involves 4 Steps

1. Observing Correctly.   The difference in “seeing” and “observing” is enormous.  Most people are under the impression they are observing a person or situation when in fact, they are only seeing.  Here, I share specifically how to stop  seeing  and start  observing .

2. Creating Rapport Quickly.   The most crucial tool in sales is the ability to create and build a bond of trust and rapport very quickly.  In step 2 I show you the right way to “Match & Mirror” so you look and even sound exactly as your customer would want you to.  This will be the most powerful tool in your Body Language Toolkit.

3. Decoding The Comfort/Discomfort Cues.   Understanding cues telling you the customer is wasting your time or is ready to buy is imperative.  Here, I share the keys to decoding not only the small  but the large cues that go unnoticed by most everyone, until they know exactly what to look for.

4. How To Look At Anyone Correctly.   Looking at your customer in the right place for the right amount of time can mean the difference in success or failure in sales.  Here I share the secret to looking at anyone in any situation, correctly.  Not only will this technique help your sales, it will also help on the way up both the social and business ladders.

Intended Outcome

• Attendees will learn the 5 tactics that are key to any sales meeting or negotiation.

• Attendees will learn nonverbal cues letting them know if they are wasting time or close to a sale.

• Attendees will learn to spot the subtleties of agreement and disagreement.

• Attendees will be equipped with an array of body language tools they can use immediately.

Attendees will be given an eBook of this talk they can refer to when they feel the need to review what they learned.   They will also have access to Scott for any questions that come up or questions they may not have asked at the Keynote.

Body Language Secrets to Happier Patients

Today's healthcare professionals are experiencing changes like never before, causing stress for doctors and patients as well as staff.  There are more law suits than ever before.  Why are some doctors sued more than others?  Why are patients changing doctors?  How can that be stopped? 

Your staff represents you.  Your patients interact with your staff before they even see you.  How do your patients feel about your staff and their behavior?  How does your staff feel about you?  Your relationship with them?  Your practice must feel like a “team” or “family".  How do you keep everyone motivated and inspired so your business thrives and grows?

In this Keynote Scott will share body language keys to make your patients connect with you instantly, before saying a word.  He’ll share the research on nonverbal cues and keys that keep patients from suing.

1. The Instantaneous Impressions Study.   Scott breaks down this famous study to show you exactly how to create instant rapport, not only with your patients but with every person you meet, every time.

2. Exchange the bad info for valid info.   Most of the information about body language the average person has collected and uses everyday is incorrect.  Here, you get rid of that bad information and you replace it with valid, researched, and science based, facts.

3. Spotting important deception cues early.  Identifying the smallest of cues to deception quickly.

4. Adding tools to your Body Language Toolkit.  This step provides a plethora body language tools you can use immediately.  Tools that will help you recognize an honest answer as well as a deceptive one.

• Attendees will be equipped with an array of Body Language Tools they can use immediately.

• Attendees will learn to transmit the nonverbal subtleties of trust among patients as well as staff.

• Attendees will learn what cues they may innocently show others of deception and mistrust.

Attendees will be given a URL for a video of the most important keys of this Keynote they can refer to when they feel the need to review what they learned.   They will also have access to Scott for any questions that come up or questions they may not have asked at the Keynote.

Spies and Lies In The Board Room

In this Keynote Scott will share body language keys to make your patients connect with you instantly, before saying a word.  He’ll share the research on non verbal cues and keys that keep patients from suing.

 • Attendees will learn what cues they may innocently show others of deception and mistrust.

How To Judge The Jury

Did you know the “ 7-38-55 Rule of Communication “ is 100% incorrect?  It says “ Communication is 7% the words we use, 38% is our tone of voice, and 55% is our body language “.  Not many people do.  Including most “body language experts” and “presentation coaches”.  In this Keynote Scott walks you step by step through the  real science and research-based body language and nonverbal training that every other lawyer  thinks  they’re getting.  He transforms you into the Body Language and Nonverbal decoder you always knew you could be.  The process involves 4 steps.

1. Observation.  When Voir Dire is over, the knowledge of what cues to look for is your most powerful ally.  The key isn’t  spotting  the nonverbal cue.  The key is knowing  why the juror is showing the cue.  This step explains the correct way to observe each juror in context with what’s happening in real time.

2. The Keys.   For the modern legal professional, understanding the keys to where and  how  to look at a judge, juror, plaintiff, or defendant, is paramount.  In this step Scott walks you through the 3 Gazes and how and when to use them correctly: The Power Gaze, The Social Gaze, and The Intimate Gaze.

3. The Myths.   Most of the information the average person has gathered and uses concerning body language is incorrect and/or incomplete.  This is Scott’s pet-peeve and he makes sure you know the facts about what is true and what is false about the courtroom and nonverbal communication.

4. Using The Tools In Your New Body Language Toolkit.   In this step Scott uses 5 attendees to show you exactly what deception looks like up close.  You’ll use the tips and tricks you’ve just been given to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth.  You may be surprised by how much you’ve learned.  This is fun for the attendees while at the same time being as serious as it gets.

• Attendees will leave with a great understanding of human behavior.

• Attendees will learn how to move forward when deception is discovered.

• Attendees will learn what cues of their own may innocently give others the wrong impression.

Attendees will be given an eBook of this talk they can refer to when they feel the need to review what they learned. They will also have access to Scott for any questions that come up or questions they may not have asked at the Keynote.

Body Language Frankenstein

Today communicating effectively is more important than ever.  Misunderstandings cause real problems in personal and professional relationships.  In this Keynote Scott shares a simple concept that is helping thousands of people around the world decode body language properly.  That includes spotting lies.

1. Facts vs Myths.  Most of the information the average person uses concerning body language is incorrect and/or incomplete.  This is Scott’s pet-peeve and he makes sure you know the facts about what is true and what is false about body language. What does the real research say about knowing who is being truthful and who is being deceptive?  In step #1 you will find out.

2. The Nonverbal Cues.  Understanding the difference in the nonverbal cues you see when someone is being truthful and deceptive is a walk in the park as soon as you know what you are looking for.

3. Updating Your Nonverbal Skills.   It’s easy to watch someone else’s Body Language tell you things, but making sure your Body Language is saying the right things to others?  Sometimes that’s not so easy.  In this Keynote Scott will teach you the most important things to “update” in your personal Body Language vernacular.  

4. Using The Tools In Your New Body Language Toolkit.   In this step Scott uses 5 volunteers from the audience to show you exactly what deception looks like up close.  You’ll use the tips and tricks you’ve just been given to figure out who is lying and who is telling the truth.  You may be surprised by how much you’ve learned.  This is fun for the attendees while at the same time being as serious as it gets.

•  Attendees will leave with a great understanding of human behavior.

•  Attendees will be equipped with an array of Body Language Tools they can use immediately.

•  Attendees will learn how to move forward when deception is discovered.

•  Attendees will learn what cues of their own may innocently give others the impression of deception.

For Attorneys

As a behavior analyst and body language expert, Scott Rouse holds multiple certificates in advanced interrogation training and has been trained alongside the FBI, Secret Service, U.S. Military Intelligence, and the Department of Defense. 

His extensive training, education, and practice of nonverbal communication have made him an expert and consultant to law enforcement as well as Fortune 100 Companies, attorneys, private investigators, executives, and entertainers.  He is also a TEDx Speaker. 

Scott, along with Greg Hartley, Mark Bowden, and Chase Hughes (They are the top 4 body language experts in the world) created the popular  YouTube channel, The Behavior Panel, where they analyze the body language and human behavior in videos of public interest.

As a regular guest and consultant to and for The Dr. Phil Show, Scott analyzes body language and behavior.

Lawyer Training :  Scott teaches lawyers “Rapid Rapport Building” so you can connecting and build rapport with everyone in the courtroom early on. Teaches you how to spot lies and deception.

Interpret Depositions :  Scott decodes behavior in depositions either live or on video.  He lets you know what’s really going on.  Again, if they’re lying telling the truth etc. 

Client / Witness Training :  Scott trains your clients to look, act,     and sound believable, confident, sure, honest, trustworthy, and most importantly, how to be likable.  

Voir Dire & Jury Consultation :  Scott is a jury consultant and consults for Voir Dire.  During the trial he decodes the jury’s behavior and tells you which way each member is most likely leaning.  Scott has an in-house licensed Private Investigator that helps with research of jury members as well.

Conduct or Observe Interviews : 

Scott sits in on meetings to let the lawyer know if the person or people being met with are being honest and what their intentions may be.

Scott Rouse Featured Books

Body Language Briefcase

By scott rouse.

What Every Body Is Saying

How To Spot A Liar

Lie Spotting

I Can Read You Like a Book

Scott rouse featured reviews.

I want to thank you for being a speaker at our law firm retreat. Everyone benefitted from the information you shared and your enthusiasm for the subject was contagious! I personally found myself being hyper-aware of where everyone's feet were pointing for the rest of the weekend. I also used some of your mirroring techniques in a recent deposition and I think she said more than she would have otherwise. Thanks for speaking with us

Thank you so much for speaking at our recent annual event. It has been the talk of our offices since! We realized many of the things you spoke about are problems we deal with every day. Those are being looked at and updated as I write this. Your lecture was clear, concise, humorous, and never lacked excitement. Fascinating, really. Thank you again.

I really appreciate the way Scott brought scholarly work on nonverbal communication to life in the real-world contexts of interrogation and music business. Students appreciated his engaging multi-media examples and the incorporation of humor throughout the presentation. Scott was a hit at Belmont!

I want to thank you for the excellent presentation you did on 'Body Language Frankenstein' last week for my company, Schneider Electric. Today, on your recommendation, I watched LieStrong. Not only was it compelling but it also served as an excellent reinforcement of your presentation from last week. I will be recommending your presentation to friends and colleagues and hope to attend one of your presentations again in the future.

Scott's work developing the communication skills of our group of innovative government employees created long-term skills and a confidence-boosting approach for them to give effective voice to their ideas. The presentations came to life session by session for each team, which helped them to secure the necessary political and financial support from key decision makers for their ideas

Thank you for speaking at our recent pitch workshop. Your presentations on how to pitch and body language sure captured the attention of our students. Several from my Entrepreneur Finance class were talking about the presentations the next day. All Entrepreneur students should have the opportunity to hear your presentations. You have been a great "friend" to us at Lipscomb and generous with your time

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• Meet the Team

Life After Yachting: From Captain to West Nautical Client Manager

In his life after yachting story, Mike shares how he became a captain on board Superyachts, to moving up to manage an extensive refit, and now enjoying the simpler things in life, like his morning coffee in his own kitchen, before starting his current position at West Nautical as a senior client manager.

SYC: So, ex-Captain of the world-renowned Explorer Yacht, Gamechanger. Tell us about your time on board; what was it like?, and how long was your career?

My father taught sailing and still teaches sailing. When I finished school, I was fortunate enough to go out on yachts with him and do yachting courses. From there, I decided I liked it. And it was at the very, very start of what is now the master 3000 class four system. So, I was meeting people that were working on yachts when I was young, it sounded like a really exciting job, and still is an exciting job. Just meeting those people and talking to them, I knew that I wanted to have a look at this and see what it was all about. That was when I was 16, and I’m 42 now.

SYC: You’ve now left the Superyacht Industry. What is your current job position?

I’m the senior client manager at West Nautical, which means I’m involved in the new builds, whether it be from spec reviews through shipyard visits, delivering boats through to chartering and sales.

SYC: How have you found your transition from sea-to-land, and being based somewhere permanently?

It’s been different, but I’m enjoying it because it’s introduced more balance to my life. When you’re a yacht captain, you are focused solely on your boss, and what their requirements and needs are, whereas, within my new role and West Nautical, I’m now dealing with so many different owners. That is interesting to me because I’m now looking at things from many different angles, and understanding all owner’s expectations, and requirements. It’s also nice to be able to sleep in your bed at night…

I’m lucky, I like where I live, I have a good group of friends around me, and I get to still do my hobbies whilst working. I’ll always say it’s a lifestyle job, pretty much everybody on our team would agree. Your phones are on 24/7, and you’ve got emails coming in from clients in whatever timezone it may be, but fortunately, after a lot of years in yachting, I still love my job. So I don’t see it as a burden, I see it as fun. Overall, it was a good transition that was a natural progression which made sense to me at the time.

SYC: So you say your transition to land came after some changes on board Game Changer. Before leaving, did you have an exit strategy or time to think about what you want?

I think when opportunities present themselves, you have to sit and evaluate them and take the advice of others. This opportunity in particular just made sense to me. I had/have got a good relationship with Geoff, who owns WN. Over time he’s seen my career progress, whilst I’ve seen him build the business. It especially made sense with the new builds we have going on at the moment to step in with him.

READ MORE:  West Nautical Fuel Calculator – How it Works

Syc: during your time on board game-changer, you did an extension. would you say this was your biggest project to date and what lessons did you learn from the process.

Yeah, I would say that was the biggest project. I learned the huge value of having a good crew and good technical support. And also, I think, not over-committing yourself because I believe you don’t get the best out of yourself or those around you if you’re overcommitted.

If I was to step back now and do it again, without a doubt, I would do things differently but in hindsight, it was great.

SYC: What would be your advice for a Captain who’s just about to go into their first yacht extension?

Spec. Get the spec right, lock in the spec, make sure your research is done and ensure your numbers are crunched, so you can manage the expectations of the owner. It’s massively important. Without a good spec and a good technical team, it will be challenging.

SYC: So, what are you looking to achieve at West Nautical? What’s your biggest goal? and how do you see your position evolving?

We’ve got a lot of boats in build, and I’d like to broaden my knowledge of the build aspect of it with different builders. We’re in several different shipyards at the moment where I enjoy working with a team and adding/seeing where I can add value to the team but also where I can learn too. It’s a different generation coming through now and they look at things differently. So being receptive to that generation, and learning from that, but equally adding some experience to it as well.

Seeing it evolving, getting involved in more projects, dealing with different aspects of the industry that I maybe hadn’t done in the past, but bringing a level of experience to that situation, from operating yachts and chartering yachts out too. So, I think theres a lot of value I can add, but equally there’s a lot I can learn and that’s what makes it interesting.

I’m very open minded to a younger generation as well because I didn’t get to where I am without asking people questions and I certainly didn’t get here without people a generation above me giving me the time… I got involved in mentoring and what I like is having the younger generation ask questions. They want to grow and they want to learn, and I think we’ve got a moral and professional obligation to share that knowledge and pass it on because they are the next generation; The next generation of buyers is different than the last generation of buyers.

SYC: So when you decided that you were leaving the industry, did you have any career options in mind or did you genuinely see yourself in the role that you are in now?

It’s something I’d always considered stepping into. I’ve always enjoyed being involved in the build of yachts. For me, it’s a really fun process and I love delivering a yacht to an owner, and hopefully exceeding their expectations too. That and the sales process is interesting. But I mean, sales aside, it’s an overall interesting process; getting involved and understanding different clients, what they’re looking for, and how you can meet those expectations.

SYC: Very different from driving yachts and managing crew then?

Absolutely, yeah. I suppose the teams you work with are completely different and it’s quite nice to now have a working relationship, not work, living, socialising.

It’s nice that when I leave work, I leave, and when I have a coffee in the morning it’s generally in my own kitchen and I’m alone, rather than having lots of crew around. Sometimes it’s fun and other times it’s nice to come away with a team. For instance, we went for a work dinner last night and it’s nice to be on a normal level with people interacting. David, West Nautical’s Marketing and Design Manager, and I cycle socially together, and then we work together. You know, we can’t do our job without them doing their job. Their job can’t exist without us doing our job. So it’s nice to have that relationship and it’s equally as nice to go home.

SYC: If you could go back to the start of your yachting career, would you change anything on the path you’ve taken?

Would I change anything? That’s a really good question. Certain things about myself are not lost on me. So I am aware that I have a purpose. To answer the question, I probably wouldn’t, no. Because I think in fairness, I’ve always been truthful and honest with myself.

I think the benefit of hindsight, there are always things you would do differently. But first of all, I have to be honest with myself and I think that no I wouldn’t. There are lots of different things I’d like to do if I could go back, but at the time, every decision I’ve made, I felt was the right. And you can only play with the options in front of you…

SYC: So, I guess our last question would probably be if you could give someone coming into the industry three pieces of advice, what would that advice be?

• We are in an incredible industry to work in. It’s very diverse, it’s not an industry that needs to exist, but it exists because people want to have fun and pleasure. So I think it’s important for green crew to be open-minded.
• I think go out there and enjoy it. See the world. You know, I think for me mixing with different cultures and doing all the travelling has made me a richer person mentally, and I’m thankful for it.
• Don’t get caught up in the lifestyle. Because we all know it’s a well-paying industry, but we’re not the owners; We work for the owners. People need to be mindful of that because lifestyles can rapidly exceed the ability to sustain them at some point.

If you have any questions please do get in touch with Mike Rouse, West Nautical senior client manager at +44 7467 485919

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