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There are 3 major theories as to why Mike Lynch’s Bayesian yacht sank so fast

On Thursday, Italian authorities retrieved a fifth body from the Bayesian superyacht that sank in a storm earlier this week, killing British technology entrepreneur Mike Lynch. 

The 184-foot British-flagged vessel sank early Monday , and the five identified bodies thus far from the incident include Mike Lynch , founder of Autonomy and investor in Darktrace; Morgan Stanley Bank International chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife, Judy; Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and his wife, Neda, were also found. Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter Hannah is still missing.

There are several theories as to why the massive $39 million boat sank in just about 60 seconds. And the maker of the ship says the crew should have had time to rescue passengers. 

Theory one: The mast was pushed over by the wind

The first theory is that the mast on the massive vessel was so tall it tipped the boat over when a waterspout— essentially a water tornado —hit the boat. Giovanni Costantino , CEO of the Italian Sea Group , which owns several boat brands including the yacht’s builder, Perini Navi , told the Financial Times the boat was “designed to be absolutely stable” because it had the “world’s second-tallest mast.” But Karsten Borner, the skipper of a nearby boat, suggests the sinking actually could have been caused by high winds hitting the 236-foot mast. Even with sails stowed, the mast and its rigging would have provided a vast surface area for wind resistance. 

The Bayesian “went flat [with the mast] on the water, and then went down,” Borner told Reuters . For reference, the tallest mast on a sailing boat on record was the Mirabella V at nearly 247 feet long, according to Guinness World Records .

Theory two: The retractable keel was in the wrong position

The second theory about the cause of the Bayesian sinking is that the keel was retracted when it should have been lowered, making the boat less stable. The keel is a structural beam that runs under the middle of the boat from bow to stern, giving the boat better stability, a lower center of gravity in the water, and more control while moving forward. “Without the keel, a boat might slip or skim on the water,” according to boat manufacturer Sea Born .

The Bayesian had a keel that could be retracted, according to the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi. It could be lifted to reduce the draught of the boat, making it easier to enter shallow harbors. It’s possible that if the keel had been in the raised position rather than extended, that could have compromised the boat’s stability in a strong wind, causing it to sink.

Theory three: A major hatch was left open to the waves

Perhaps the strongest theory so far is the notion that someone onboard may have left a major hatch or door ajar, causing the boat to quickly fill with water. In fact, Costantino thinks this is the strongest theory after watching back footage of the sinking; the rear of the boat appears to have a hinged door that folds down into a sea-level deck.

Since it was obvious the Bayesian was taking on water, there should have been time to get everyone off the boat and into rafts, Costantino told the FT .

“Jesus Christ! The hull is intact. The water came in from [hatchways] left open,” he said. “There is no other possible explanation. If maneuvered properly, the boat would have comfortably handled the weather—comfortably,” he said.

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Live updates: Seven dead in 56m superyacht Bayesian sinking tragedy

Seven people have died in the Bayesian sinking disaster. These include the six missing people who were inside the yacht when it sank, as well as a seventh person who was located shortly after the disaster. The seventh person is understood to be the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas. The other six are:

• British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, once dubbed 'Britain's Bill Gates'
• Lynch's 18-year-old daughter, Hannah
• Morgan Stanley's chairman, Jonathan Bloomer
• Judy Bloomer, wife of Morgan Stanley chairman
• Chris Morvillo, a lawyer working for London-based law firm Clifford Chance
• Neda Morvillo, an American jewellery designer and Chris' wife

It is understood that the yacht was being used to celebrate Lynch's recent victory in a 13-year £8 billion fraud acquittal.

No one remembers the mast snapping before 56m superyacht Bayesian sunk, says crew

No one recalls seeing the mast snap on board the 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian which sank off the Italian island of Sicily on 19 August. The eyewitness account of a crewmember on board the vessel, which was obtained by BOAT International , said that the boat was struck by a freak weather event which led to the yacht heeling at around 20 degrees to starboard. As crewmembers were securing items, the heeling angle began to increase rapidly until the yacht started taking on water and sank rapidly.

The crewmembers who were up on deck were able to evacuate the yacht with minor injuries. The yacht is understood to have sunk in just twelve minutes, and it is believed that a "major ingress" of water from the top down would have caused the sinking, according to a captain who wishes to remain anonymous. This is based on the fact that no breaches have been reported in the yacht's hull, and the fact that the yacht should have been able to remain afloat with two flooded compartments.

"Very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" says captain of sistership

The captain of the sistership to the sunken 56-metre Perini Navi sailing yacht Bayesian has said it is "very difficult to understand what could have overwhelmed a vessel of that size" and called the 56-metre Perini Navi series "bulletproof".

David Hutchinson, captain of Rosehearty , said he had taken the yacht around the world multiple times and he had "total faith in the boat".  "We've been to Antarctica and Chile, and we've had her in 70 knots of wind," he says, and the vessel had never put them in a situation that felt unmanageable.

However, Hutchinson noted there were differences between Bayesian and Rosehearty ; notably, Bayesian's  74-metre mast, which would have been heavier and added increased windage. The yacht's layout was also different, with guest accommodation on Bayesian located further forward.

Live updates

• During a news conference on Saturday morning (24 August), prosecutors confirmed they are in the early stages of investigating a "crime hypothesis" of culpable shipwreck and manslaughter. Authorities also said the yacht likely sunk because of a downburst (powerful wind that descends from a thunderstorm), rather than a waterspout.
• A search and rescue for six missing people has concluded. The final missing person is understood to be Hannah Lynch. 
• According to Reuters, six bodies have now been found in the sunken yacht. These include Mike Lynch, a British technology entrepreneur who co-founded Autonomy Corporation and founded Invoke Capital, although Italian authorities have not confirmed this.  
• One person was found immediately after the yacht sunk, and this is understood to be the yacht's chef. 
• Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, and a one-year-old are among the fifteen people rescued along with Bayesian' s captain, James Cutfield.
• Another sailing vessel in the area, the 42-metre Sir Robert Baden Powell ,  stepped in to offer assistance in the initial rescue.
• Divers have been able to reach Bayesian' s sunken hull, which lies at 45 metres of depth about half a mile from the coast. The yacht had the largest aluminium masts of any sailing yacht on the water.
• Eyewitnesses in the area reported "hurricane" conditions off the coast but local weather websites did not indicate any severe squall, which suggests that the weather event was not forecast.
• At around 5am local time on 19 August, Bayesian was hit by bad weather and sunk.  The sailing yacht was anchored or idle at the time of the incident.

Built in Italy by renowned builder Perini Navi and delivered in 2008, the yacht's naval architecture was developed by Ron Holland Design while the interior design is by Rémi Tessier . She was formerly known as Salute and was last refitted in 2016. She was listed for sale earlier this year, according to BOATPro . The yacht had accommodation for nine guests and 12 crew.

BOAT International will update the story as it develops.

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Long Island Yacht Club, once led by Captain Kangaroo’s Bob Keeshan, closes in Babylon

The Long Island Yacht Club, seen here on Dec. 23, 2015, was a Babylon Village institution since 1958. It closed earlier this month due to falling membership and high upkeep costs, according to club officials. Credit: Daniel Goodrich

The Long Island Yacht Club — once led by Bob Keeshan, a Babylon Village resident who played television’s Captain Kangaroo — has closed.

The 57-year-old nonprofit — which offered swimming, boating and tennis at a Babylon Village estate with a Georgian mansion for a clubhouse — shut its doors Dec. 16 after running out of cash, club officers said.

“For the past two years, we’ve been aggressively pursuing new members, and all our attempts have not been successful,” said Steve Vid, an Amityville businessman who served as the club’s commodore. “We’ve done everything conceivable. The economy is not receptive to people spending this kind of discretionary money right now.”

The club, established on the grounds of a 7-acre Little East Neck Road estate in 1958, boasted tennis courts, restaurant fare, a swimming pool and slips for 74 vessels. Members came from across Long Island and paid about $10,000 a year.

In the 1960s, its 160 full members floated one of Long Island’s largest power boat fleets. But in recent years, fewer than half its slips were occupied, and after a handful of unexpected resignations this fall, only 14 full members remained.

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Personal rebuilding expenses after Hurricane Irene and superstorm Sandy led some members to resign, Vid said. Remaining members faced higher costs, and funds declined while operating expenses remained high.

“We ran out of money,” Vid said. “I’m sick about it. It’s out of my control.”

About eight employees are out of work, Vid said. Also lost will be dozens of summer jobs.

With yearly taxes and maintenance fees reaching into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, the club would need at least 40 full members to stay viable, he said.

While some members have discussed reopening the club, Vid said several developers interested in purchasing the property have approached club officers. The club is seeking legal and accounting advice before proceeding, and Vid said he expects answers to basic questions on unwinding club holdings in January.

Village Mayor Ralph Scordino described the club as a valued resource, despite occasional complaints from neighbors about noise and other quality-of-life issues over the years.

His administration supports continued operation at that location as a yacht club, Scordino said. He said prospective developers are likely “frothing at the mouth . . . [but] I would not be in favor of putting condominiums there.”

Lee Labiento, the club’s membership development chair and a professor of global health issues at Hofstra University, held out hope of a reorganization last week, even as she mourned the loss of a gathering place for area seniors and for her own family.

“It was another way we had summer life with our grandchildren,” she said, recalling summer swim teams and children’s enrichment classes she had taught since joining 12 years ago.

Bartender Gail Whittemore, 71, an employee since the late 1990s, said she had learned the club was closing only a few days before the doors shut. She cut in half the money she planned to spend on Christmas presents for her grandchildren and anticipated it would be hard or impossible to find another bartending job until after the holiday season.

“We had the fireplace going, and it was all decorated for Christmas,” she said. “I guess they didn’t have enough members to hold down the fort.”

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Mike Lynch and daughter among missing after yacht sinks: What we know about disaster - and 'alarming' potential cause

The British-flagged luxury vessel named Bayesian was carrying 22 people when it got into difficulty off the coast of Sicily. Seven bodies have now been recovered from the wreckage.

News reporter @samuelosborne93

Friday 23 August 2024 12:24, UK

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Seven bodies have been found after a superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

Twenty-two people were on board the vessel named Bayesian when it got into difficulty in the early hours of Monday, with 15 people rescued.

Here's what we know about the sinking of the luxury vessel so far.

Follow latest updates on the superyacht sinking

What might have caused the sinking?

The British-flagged luxury vessel, named Bayesian, capsized at around 4.30am local time on Monday morning off Palermo, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic.

It sank in as little as 60 seconds with 22 people on board, 12 passengers and a crew of 10, according to the Italian coastguard.

Waterspouts, essentially tornados that form over water, were seen as powerful winds battered the area overnight, local media said.

The yacht may have sunk faster with all the doors open due to the hot weather, Sailing Today magazine editor Sam Jefferson has 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," he said.

Official pictures show air conditioning units in several of the rooms, however, which could counter the suggestion open windows caused the vessel to sink faster.

The huge mast is also likely to have played a role, he added.

What are waterspouts?

Waterspouts typically occur during thunderstorms and can develop very rapidly, within minutes.

Their spin generally reaches wind speeds between 75-200mph, but can reach as high as 300mph.

They can travel at about 10-20mph typically but can reach greater speeds, making them difficult to avoid - especially in something as slow-moving as a yacht.

Matthew Schanck, chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, called the reports of a tornado or waterspout "rare" and "quite alarming".

"The vessel was at anchor in a recognised anchorage," Mr Schanck said.

"Depending on wind direction and the state of the sea, this informs the captain whether it is a safe area to anchor or not. There was nothing that was too concerning, for my eye. All in all, the captain used the information they had to make a safe call."

Who owns the yacht?

The yacht belonged to the family of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch. He was confirmed to have died after rescuers found his body on Thursday. Mr Lynch was on holiday with his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who is still missing, and his wife Angela Bacares, who was rescued.

Mr Lynch, 59, was known as the " British Bill Gates " and has been in the headlines in recent months over a high-profile fraud case.

In June, a US jury cleared him of all charges, which were related to the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard (HP). The yacht trip is believed to have been a celebration of the end of Mr Lynch's legal troubles.

HP accused him of deliberately overstating the value of the company before it was acquired by the American tech giant.

Mr Lynch was extradited to the US to face trial in May last year and spent 13 months under house arrest in San Francisco as he awaited trial on 17 charges of conspiracy and wire fraud brought by the US Department of Justice - which were later reduced to 15 charges. He always denied any wrongdoing and was acquitted.

Read more: Lynch's co-defendant dies days before yacht sinking

Who was on board when the boat sank?

The passengers were largely British and American, with crew members were from New Zealand, South Africa, and Canada.

Charlotte Golunski was among the Britons rescued. Her LinkedIn profile says she is a partner at Mr Lynch's firm Invoke Capital and has worked there since 2012.

Speaking after the ordeal, Ms Golunski told Italian media that she lost her daughter Sofia for "two seconds" amid the "fury" of the sea but was able to retrieve her. She said she held the infant above the waves until the lifeboat was ready.

"Many people screamed. Luckily the lifeboat inflated and 11 of us were able to get on board," she told ANSA.

The girl's father James Emsley also survived, according to Sicily's civil protection agency.

Also on board were Jonathan Bloomer, chairman of investment bank Morgan Stanley, his wife Judy Bloomer, a top US lawyer Chris Morvillo, who worked on Mr Lynch's criminal case, and his wife Neda Morvillo. Divers confirmed on Thursday that their bodies had been recovered.

The yacht's captain James Cutfield survived, along with South African crew members Leah Randall and Katja Chicken.

Recaldo Thomas, a Canadian-Antiguan chef who was working on the boat, was the first to be found dead, the Italian Coastguard confirmed to Sky News.

During rescue efforts, divers saw "corpses through the portholes" of the wreck as they recovered the body of a man at a depth of 50m (164ft), according to Salvo Cocina, the head of the Civil Protection of Sicily.

What do we know about the vessel?

The Bayesian is owned by a company controlled by Mr Lynch's wife.

It was known for its unusual 72.3m (246ft) single mast - one of the world's tallest made of aluminium - and shared its name with the statistical method Mr Lynch's Autonomy software was based on.

It was built by Italian company Perini Navi in 2008 and last refitted in 2020.

It was listed for rent for up to €195,000 (£166,000) a week, according to online charter sites.

The luxury vessel , which was managed by yachting company Camper & Nicholsons, could accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

It won a string of awards for its design, according to online specialist yacht sites.

Mr Schanck, of the Maritime Search and Rescue Council, said the vessel would have been equipped with "high standard" life-saving appliances and radio communications.

He added the yacht would have met all international standards and UK Maritime Coastguard Agency regulations before its voyage.

It was previously named Salute, or "health" in Italian, when it flew under a Dutch flag. Its minimalist interior featured light wood with Japanese accents designed by the French designer Remi Tessier, according to descriptions on charter sites.

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What were its last movements?

The boat left the Sicilian port of Milazzo on 14 August and was last tracked east of Palermo on Sunday evening, with a navigation status of "at anchor", according to vessel tracking site VesselFinder.

The Bayesian previously travelled to other parts of Sicily before its last sighting off the coast of the port of Porticello.

On Sunday, the boat was seen off the coast of Cefalu before it travelled towards Porticello, MarineTraffic data shows.

In the days before, the yacht travelled around four of the Aeolian islands, just north of Sicily.

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Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese have opened an investigation into the sinking.

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Club + Resort Business

Developer Redefining Montauk, N.Y. for Year-Round Luxury

By Rob Thomas | July 25, 2019

George Filopoulos, owner and president of Metrovest Equities, began changing the feel of the hamlet at the eastern end of Long Island with his purchase of Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa in 2013. He has since expanded with Gurney´s Star Island Resort & Marina (a takeover and redesign of the Montauk Yacht Club) and Gurney’s Newport (R.I.) Resort & Marina. In addition to providing luxurious amenities, Filopoulos has focused on integrating local brands and uplifting local business.

Montauk started out as a small fishing village on the East End of Long Island, in New York’s Suffolk County, a two-to-three hour drive from Manhattan. But it has evolved into one of the most sought-after destinations in the northeastern United States—with a reputation that extends far beyond its humble beginnings, the travel website Skift reported.

When it comes to a destination’s evolution from cool to something more luxurious, the question becomes how to maintain its original allure while providing the rooms, dining, and service expected by a higher-end clientele, Skift reported.

Is being a magical place—not to mention stylish and hip—enough, or do the amenities have to match Manhattan standards for Montauk to make it as a year-long luxury destination? What is considered luxury in a destination once known more for being a laid-back and relaxed surfer’s haven rather than a posh enclave? How do you manage the crowds while maintaining a sense of calm?

Few are confronting this conundrum head-on quite like George Filopoulos, owner and president of Metrovest Equities, which bought the controlling interest in Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa with his partner in 2013, Skift reported. Filopoulos has since grown the collection beyond its original property to include Gurney´s Star Island Resort & Marina, which opened this Memorial Day, and Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina.

Its second Montauk property is a takeover and redesign of the Montauk Yacht Club, Skift reported. At least one previous member remarked during the opening weekend that it had grown tired and outdated in the changing landscape of the East End.

Filopoulos is designing spaces that include all the necessities of a luxury property—rooms with sea views, restaurants whose reputations and waitlists exceed their menus, seawater spas, green grounds, and thousands of square feet of indoor and outdoor space for weddings and events, Skift reported.

Filopoulos was a veteran vacationer in Montauk before purchasing its first storied property, and he understood the nuances of doing business in a small town that swelled during the season, Skift reported. Faced with the same challenges as the likes of hospitality leaders in other U.S. beach villages and Mexico’s Tulum, Filopoulos focused on community engagement from the start.

“I’ve got to see [the evolution] firsthand, and it’s really interesting,” Filopoulos told Skift .

He recognized that integrating local brands, uplifting local business, and providing a platform to further engagement with sister businesses were a critical element to keeping the Gurney’s brand welcome and celebrated throughout its expansion, Skift reported.

Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina’s four restaurants and bars are led by Hamptons native and chef Jeremy Blutstein who built the menus around the local and seasonal produce from land and sea, Skift reported. Seafood is caught daily by local fishermen and delivered directly to the docks at Gurney’s Star Island—a surprisingly rarity in this fishing town—and most produce is sourced from farms located within 20 miles of the property. This focus on sustainability and localism creates a positive feedback loop with the surrounding community despite drawing visitors from far beyond Long Island.

“The concept was conceived when thinking about how few fish restaurants remain in Montauk,” Filopoulos told Skift .

“It’s hard to say without cracking up a little bit, but there’s been a lot of interesting places opening up over the last 10 years, and most of them are offshoots of a place that doesn’t really have any beach or any water around it. We started to look at that and say, ‘Well, that doesn’t make sense. Why don’t we go and do something that’s focused on bringing the freshest approach to that?’”

Gurney’s Montauk properties also partner with other brands that have a local presence to offer morning workouts, wellness events, and retail pop-ups, Skift reported.

“One of the first things we did prior to even starting work at Gurney’s was reach out to brands that we thought hit the same demographic as Gurney’s to come in and use this amazing setting. Wellness brings guests out, and we’ve had great success through partnerships. You’re doing it where your whole demographic is residing for that time period, and you get the opportunity to co-market together. It has to just feel right and, when it does, it works really well,” said Filopoulos.

Gurney’s properties stand out in Montauk not only for their size—with more than 100 rooms each—but for creating a complete luxury experience from design to dining in a single location, Skift reported. The hotels continue to see a rise in new guests as well as more visits from repeat customers. There are more guests coming from beyond the Northeast with a marked rise in Europeans and more people using the hotel as a seasonal rental rather than renting a home. Luxury amenities and the ability to book shorter repeats stays throughout the summer are part of the draw.

Gurney’s beachfront location hits close to 70 percent occupancy throughout the year, with more than 90 percent occupancy in June through September and 50 percent occupancy even in January, Skift reported. Weddings and corporate events drive business in shoulder months and the off-season.

Gurney’s is not the only hotel brand reestablishing itself for the evolving clientele headed to the East End, Skift reported. Other veteran luxury hotels in the Hamptons have also renovated for the increasingly younger and wealthier customer base. The Maidstone Hotel in East Hampton completed a renovation in May 2017. With 19 rooms, the renovation focused on a fresher design and more environmentally sustainable infrastructure.

Topping Rose House in Bridgehampton was originally built in 1843 and recently renovated with rates often going for around $2,000 per night, Skift reported.

“The Hamptons are a collection of beachside villages with a lot of history but a very seasonal crowd. As a result, luxury has been reserved for the extremely wealthy with their second homes out here. We are starting to see a shift where less-monied travelers can still enjoy the beautiful landscape,” said Joseph Montag, general manager at the property.

“New renovations such as ours have put all the details into place regarding a luxury experience. We certainly strive to have luxury service in terms of the personable nature with which we welcome guests.

“We see a wider and wider range of profile for our guests. Guests continue to get younger as wealth is developed at a younger age and travel is certainly trendy for those under 45, however, we have a lot of families with children that come out for the summer as well as more established annual guests.”

Montag expects that visitation will continue to boom in the next five to 10 years, with more people taking advantage of the ability to work remotely while on vacation, Skift reported. Although this has already impacted development in cities, he believes its impact on the economy in smaller destinations such as the Hamptons will skyrocket over the next decade.

These are clear examples of historic villages transforming as their popularity booms, but there are always locals looking to maintain the status quo, Skift reported. There are numerous groups throughout the East End that work hard to ensure the impact of new properties do not overburden the fragile environment or price out long-term residents. In addition to hotels, the rise in second homes and Airbnb rentals put pressure on the local infrastructure and economy.

A New York Times article published on Memorial Day chronicled the impact of growing visitation through the lens of bathroom lines at Montauk’s Surf Lodge, Skift reported.

In an almost comical piece, council members and leaders of groups such as the Concerned Citizens of Montauk fought to preserve the cleanliness of their waters impacted by overburdened septic systems—a clear example of how the increasing popularity of the destination put the environment at risk, Skift reported.

What’s happening in Montauk and the Hamptons is nothing new, but the hoteliers building their brands based on the humble values of a fishing community with the backing of newly monied Manhattanites will continue to juggle the demands of all parties for the future, Skift reported.

About The Author

Rob Thomas, Editor-in-Chief, is based in Cleveland, Ohio. He's a member of the Golf Writers Association of America and a long-time golf course rater. Married with three children, Rob enjoys golf when not participating in activities with his family. Follow him on Twitter (@AmGolferBlog) and listen to him on the Club + Resort Talks podcast.

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L.I. Yacht Club’s new owners wind down a successful summer in Babylon

Greater Babylon coverage is funded in part by The Argyle Theatre, where Broadway comes to Babylon. Click here for tickets to ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ performing July 11 through Sept. 1.

The new owners of the  Long Island Yacht Club have just wrapped up a Labor Day weekend that featured live music Friday night, dinner and dancing Saturday and a pig roast and kids’ carnival on Sunday. Labor Day brunch followed.

The marina is now filled to capacity, with 11 on the waiting list.

It’s a far cry from when the historic Yacht Club reopened for the first time under new ownership for Memorial Day of 2016, just days after Rick Stettner and business partner Ned Hurley acquired the club on May 17.

In the run-up to that weekend, the big priority was the food. That, and making sure the lawn was cut at 307 Little East Neck Road South.

“The first thing we did was hire a chef and then the chef didn’t show up for Memorial Day, so we had to cook,” Hurley said. “We had a big barbecue, 200 people showed up and Rick and myself had to grill.”

“All while Eric was mowing the lawn,” added Stettner, speaking of his son Eric Stettner, now the Yacht Club’s general manager.

The Long Island Yacht Club was founded in 1958 and counts former longtime Babylon Village resident Captain Kangaroo (Bob Keeshan) among its charter members. Before that, the mansion, which reportedly dates to 1911, served as a private residence.

Stettner and Hurley acquired the nearly seven-acre property and its mansion, which had shut down in December 2015, from the nonprofit club for about $2 million.

photos below

One of the first things the new owners did — aside from trimming the grass — was blow up the old model of what it means to belong to a yacht club.

p class=”p1″> “You don’t need a yacht to join,” said Eric Stettner, a 2016 University of Connecticut graduate. “We have about 80 members without boats.”

“But if you want to sail you have access to sailing,” added Hurley.

They also scrapped the $10,000 annual membership in favor of $1,500, and only operate the club full time between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Members get access to the club, pool, tennis courts, sailing, swimming and tennis programs and daily camp activities for kids , as well as steep discounts on docking rights.

“It’s not about how much money you make; it’s about friendship,” said Hurley. “ As you get older, sometimes it can be hard to make friends. This is another outlet for people and families to meet other people and hang out without breaking the bank.”

Unlike most yacht clubs, there are no minimums on what people have to spend on drinks or dining, either.

“We do not enforce food or beverage minimums, which is out of the club tradition,” said Rick Stettner. “We wanted to build this on our reputation, and that’s why we have the great chef [Noah Weber] that we have here.”

In its first summer, in 2016, the club finished the season with 62 members. Now there’s 142 members.  The goal is to get 300 members signed up, then start up the waiting list. (A household constitutes a member.) There are no residency restrictions.

On the offseason, the club will be available for weddings and other private parties for non-members. And they will be hosting their own events. Some events will be opened to the public and serve as membership drives.

The first such event will be an Oktoberfest party this fall.

“We have the most beautiful wedding venue; seven acres right on the the Great South Bay,” said Hurley. “We can seat 150 people inside and another 400 outside.”

Stettner, who lives in Oakdale, and Hurley, of New York City, have owned and operated Maple Avenue Marina together for some 17 years in Bay Shore.

When they learned of the Yacht Club’s financial troubles in 2015, they jumped.

“We read in Newsday they were having financial problems and called” Commodore Steve Vid, said Hurley.

But Vid told them to get to the back of the list of 40 others who were interested in buying the club and bulldozing it for waterfront townhouses.

“Then I said we’re not interested in that,” said Hurley. “We wanted to keep the club operating.”

Suddenly they were No. 1 on the list; the club’s leaders wanted it to keep operating as a yacht club.

Babylon Village Mayor Ralph Scordino also feared the property would fall to developers.

“My biggest concern was the idea of losing this amenity that we have in the village for development, for housing,” he said. “I was hoping that someone would take it over” and revitalize the facility with the idea of attracting younger families.

“And that’s what these people did and they have done a great job,” he said. “It  just has that different atmosphere. You can go down there and have a cocktail, then have a great dinner and with that scenic view overlooking the Great South Bay it’s just a great place to be.”

A tentative deal between the club and Stettner and Hurley reached in the fall but it took those next months to finalize and organize a vote of the board for approval.

Then the renovations began. The main building’s ballroom and bar and lounge areas have been completely redone, along with all-new HVAC systems. The property has been cleaned up outside. the sailing program was resurrected, as well as all the kids’ programs.

The club now has a swim team, sailing team and tennis team. They even  hosted a successful regatta this summer.

“We recognized early on that this was a tremendous asset to the community, as opposed to it going to development,” said Rick Stettner. “With over 30 years combined in the recreational marina business, we knew it would have been a sin to let this property go to 16 or 18 individuals.

“We wanted it to be accessible to 300, 400 people with access to the Great South Bay and all that comes with it.”

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I tried a ship-within-a-ship cruise experience and it was worth it for the endless perks—here’s why

The MSC Yacht Club affords travelers a totally different cruising experience, but you’ll have to splurge.

I heard tales of luxury from people about the ritzy MSC Yacht Club , the ship-within-a-ship concept where discerning passengers enjoy their own area of the cruise ship that includes a dedicated restaurant, private lounge, separate pool and sundeck as well as private butlers and concierges to take of any whim while cruising. The elevated Yacht Club boasts priority everything while sailing MSC.

I sailed on a four-night cruise on the new MSC Seashore, a glitzy ship with Italian flair intermingled with references to New York City at every turn. Although the ship was well-appointed and had amazing dining, drinking and entertainment venues, and a bountiful Top Sail main buffet, thousands of passengers made the ship feel crowded at times, elevators were slow, and as I strolled through the general pools, they were boisterous and crowded.

RECOMMENDED: 10 things about cruising on an adults-only ship that might surprise you

Switch gears to MSC Seashore’s Yacht Club, passkey-protected for lucky guests, and is a 180 from the ship’s general spaces. Once you scan your handy Yacht Club wrist badge, or your room key, you’re instantly given entrance to a breathtaking retreat of 131 staterooms and suites. All this luxury does come at a price. Cruise fares will vary based on destination, time of year, and cabin category, but generally speaking you can expect to pay double for the Yacht Club. And from my experience, it’s worth it. Read more about why you should splurge.

You’re fast-tracked through everything

The Yacht Club’s exclusivity and impeccable service standard started from the moment I got dropped off at the Port Canaveral cruise terminal. There were hundreds of people waiting to board at 1pm on embarkation day. I saw in the distance a canopy that said MSC Yacht Club. My husband and I wheeled our carry-on luggage to the representative under the canopy. I gave her my name and within two seconds, she gave me a sticker to wear and up we ascended on the escalator to check in. Just five minutes later, I was directed to the dedicated check-in area for Yacht Club guests. To my right, I saw about 1,000 people serpentine through ropes to do general check-in. I felt a sense of relief; who wants to wait in that line? Five minutes later, a butler from the Yacht Club insisted on wheeling my luggage to board the ship and I was in my room in a total on 12 minutes from the time I stepped foot out of the car to my stateroom in the Yacht Club.

Relaxing and streamlined

In addition, Yacht Club guests have the freedom to get off the ship first for excursions. Your butler will happily escort you off the ship with a smile. Guests also can disembark on the last morning first, which is a big convenience. Your butler walks you right to the place you disembark, bypassing crowds and hassles. Port Canaveral is about an hour away from Orlando International Airport, and we took a 10 am flight home. We didn’t have to linger around until the afternoon for our flight home.

Another perk is that there’s a special seating area in the theater for shows. All the shows were excellent during my voyage. All other ship passengers have to make reservations in advance for shows but that’s not the case for the privileged Yacht Club passengers. As long as you arrive about 10 minutes before any show you choose, a crew member from the Club will allow you entry into a special roped-off section. Again, no rushing through dinner—you have the flexibility to plan your evenings your way.

Your Yacht Club package is packed with remarkable value

The price tag may sound daunting, but there’s lots of value there. All Yacht Club cabins and suites include a premium drink package that covers beverages up to $15. You can use this perk both in the Yacht Club and throughout the ship. In addition, your package includes a two-device Wi-Fi package, which worked well during my sailing. Finally, you get access to the thermal spa suite, which is a place to indulge after a day in port or a sea day. Commonly, there’s a taboo regarding mini-bars, but not in the Yacht Club. It’s stocked each day with the beverages you want; just tell your butler and consider it done.

You get perks ashore too

If your sailing includes a call to Ocean Cay, MSC’s private island, Yacht Club guests get an elevated experience there too. Yacht Club guests enjoy a private area, and a dedicated restaurant called the Ocean House. While other ship guests were hosted to a buffet of predictable fare, I enjoyed a lobster roll, and my husband chose carne asada. In my opinion, one thing that could be improved was the tram service to the Yacht Club’s private area. We were told the last tram back was 3:30pm if we didn’t want to trek a 15-minute walk in the heat. Since we were docked in Ocean Cay for the evening and weren’t sailing, I was a bit dismayed by this logistical quirk. I felt like I was keeping an eye on my phone to make sure I didn’t miss the last tram.

You have private areas with curated food and drink and outdoor spaces

Within the Yacht Club complex, there’s the Yacht Club Restaurant, Top Sail Lounge and the One Pool Buffet, which are all exclusive to Yacht Club guests. Obviously, the food and service are steps above other dining venues of the ship, I can vouch for that. Although the food is delicious, if you don’t want to pay extra to dine at the specialty restaurants or fuss in the main buffet, eating three meals a day in the Yacht Club restaurant can get a bit monotonous. The breakfast is the same daily, and lunch and dinner offer a menu with daily specials plus a few standby selections like a hamburger or pasta each day. Although the Yacht Club Restaurant concept is desirable, I would strongly suggest dining in other venues on board, especially for dinner. I thoroughly enjoyed specialty dining in Ocean Cay Restaurant, Butcher’s Cut, and Kaito Teppanyaki. I also want to mention that late afternoon high tea is offered daily at the Yacht Club Restaurant. It was one of the nicest I have experienced at sea.

Also available exclusively to Yacht Club passengers is the Top Sail Lounge, which offers panoramic water views and has chef-curated selections from morning through late night. We enjoyed popping into the lounge at all hours to try finger foods and sweets. The One Pool Buffet offers a more casual option for breakfast and lunch by the pool. The buffet has grilled fish, sandwiches and lots of delicious options if you want to dine outside.

There’s also an exclusive area with a private pool and two whirlpools for Yacht Club guests only. The sun deck loungers are very comfortable and I never had to worry about finding a lounger, there are ample. One issue I had was that there was almost no shade on the sun deck; there were shaded day beds for Royal Suite and Owners Suite guests, but beyond those, I couldn’t find any shade, which was disappointing.

You can justify the price at the end of your cruise

Overall, the best way to explain my enthusiasm for my MSC Yacht Club experience is this: it’s better to book an interior stateroom in the Yacht Club than a luxe cabin outside the Yacht Club. It’s worth the splurge and you return home feeling truly pampered and it’s money well-spent. And I make this prediction: Once you try a ship-within-a-ship concept like the MSC Yacht Club, you won’t want cruise any other way. Bon Voyage!

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

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Long Island Yacht Club

307 Little East Neck Road South Babylon, NY 11702 Phone: (631) 669-3270/ (631) 669-0129 Visit Website

Boating & Fishing / Marinas

Kaysee services, mako marina, montauk marine basin, rms marine service, saltair marina, south shore boat yard, steamer's marina, vanderbilt wharf marina, yankee clipper marina, amity harbor marine.

Advertise With Us

• GYC Weddings and Events
• Officers and Trustees for GYC
• PHRF Racing
• Pool - Swimming

Below is a list of slips currently for sale:

       AN - 0336  36

$37,000.00 

AS - 2136 36$35,000.00AS - 2544 44$69,000.00     BN - 0234  34$23,000.00 BN - 103434$25,000.00 BN - 1834 34

$24,000.00 

BS - 1738BS - 2338  38$27,000.00      CN - 0446  46$40,000.00 CS - 0236 CS - 033636 

$40,000.00 

CS - 2636 36 

$22,000.00 

     D - 0152 52 $70,000.00 

D - 0854 

   

38	$38,000.00
36	$36,000.00
54	$75,000.00

Return of Montauk Yacht Club

In July of 2022, Safe Harbor Marinas acquired Gurney’s Star Island Resort & Marina in Montauk, NY. After nine months of investment and preparation, the company announces the official return of the storied Montauk Yacht Club.

The reimagined landmark on a peninsula in the middle of Lake Montauk has begun welcoming guests to world-class waterfront hospitality that combines luxury, adventure, and connection to the water.

“The history of Montauk Yacht Club is as rich as the location is stunning. Our teammates in Montauk and throughout the country have been working to prepare for this moment. It is our great honor and joy to bring the Montauk Yacht Club back to Long Island, to her many patrons, and to our tens of thousands of boating families in the region,” said Baxter Underwood, CEO of Safe Harbor Marinas.

First introduced in 1928, the storied destination has received extensive renovations to breathe new life into its extraordinary spaces. On its 35 acres, the property has 107 stylish guest rooms, 3 pools, 2 exquisite restaurants, indoor and outdoor bars, tennis & pickleball courts, a private beach, and more than 200 wet slips that can accommodate boats up to 300 feet in length. This irreplaceable location is the ultimate getaway to the islands and cultural icons that flourish at the eastern end of Long Island.

“We are eager to introduce luxury waterfront hospitality to the world at this incredible property.” said Regional Managing Director, Alton Chun. “It’s about world class cuisine and music next to private, sandy beaches on still and glistening waters; and limitless adventures just beyond.”

About Montauk Yacht Club

Montauk Yacht Club is an iconic luxury waterfront resort and marina. For more, please visit:  https://montaukyachtclub.com .

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The Recession Takes Down a Yacht Club

By Peter Applebome

• Feb. 11, 2009

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y.

It’s safe to say that before this economic collapse runs its course, there will be many sadder stories than the demise of the Knickerbocker Yacht Club.

Founded in 1874 on the Harlem River in Manhattan, it survived several moves, two World Wars, the Great Depression, Hurricane Carol and various internal crises, living on as the second-oldest yacht club on the Long Island Sound.

But unless something totally unexpected happens, it won’t see another summer. Shortly after becoming the club’s commodore in January, Dr. Brian Raskin, a Long Island dentist, reluctantly brought to board members a proposal to shut down in the face of rising costs and falling membership.

The decision to close was confirmed at a meeting on Sunday, and the property on Manhasset Bay, near Gatsby Country on the North Shore, is going up for sale.

“Pulling teeth is easy,” Dr. Raskin said. “This is hard.”

On Tuesday evening, Dr. Raskin spoke at the empty club, where tiny, brightly-colored models of members’ vessels line the wall. “It’s nobody’s fault,” he said. “In a time when Lehman Brothers, Circuit City, Merrill Lynch and Citibank are all having major issues, it’s very difficult to complain about a yacht club. It’s a luxury item. We all know that. But, still, we’re crying over the history and what this place has meant to us.”

The term “yacht club” does not exactly evoke populist sentiments or mainstream economic concerns. Still, in its own ways, this small, high-end casualty of the bust has relevant lessons.

Originally incorporated to encourage “Yachting and the cultivation of Naval Science and Seamanship,” the Knickerbocker Yacht Club has for more than a century catered both to serious sailors and to members who bought into its sense of seaside amity.

In 1907, the club moved to Port Washington, essentially the one Jewish yacht club in a non-Jewish world. Members transported their old frame headquarters to Long Island, hoisted it atop the new one and began anew. There was iceboating and frostbiting (dinghy racing) in the winter, serious racing and leisurely cruising all summer. Members’ crafts ranged from 200-foot yachts to 10-foot dinghies, but most were moderate, with owners functioning as one-person crews. The club’s Knickerbocker Cup race, started in 1982, became internationally recognized.

At its peak in the early 1980s, the club had about 290 families with 165 boats. And then, slowly, the world changed. Boating declined in popularity. Families started carting their kids to soccer games, ballet lessons and SAT classes instead of having them hang out by the water learning to sail. Living on Long Island got so expensive that older members moved away.

And even the old sort-of rich, the doctors and dentists and successful business owners who could afford to spend tens of thousands of dollars on sailboats and their accouterments, found themselves feeling the pinch in the way they hadn’t in previous generations.

This was not the world of the zillionaires across the Sound in Greenwich and Darien. It was mostly people who made a good living but paid high taxes and struggled with college tuitions. Even at the yacht club, or this one anyway, making ends meet wasn’t always so easy even before the roof fell in, a reminder of just how small a slice of American life got the big rewards during the Wall Street boom years.

Membership fell to about 120 over the years and, with disaster looming, fell further this year. An attempt to merge with the Manhasset Bay Yacht Club next door fell through. Finally, the financial collapse put a noose around everyone. “That was the death knell,” said Jeanne Rosenthal, an ophthalmologist and the vice commodore, whose father taught her to sail at the club as a young girl. “This place was like ‘Cheers.’ I don’t know how I’ll survive without it.”

Knickerbocker isn’t the only club for the well-to-do that will struggle to survive. And every collapse and divorce brings its unhappy stories. This one could, too. Members ratified the decision to close, but some still feel it was a mistake, that officials panicked or refused to consider alternatives, putting irreplaceable real estate on the market with whatever intrigue that produces.

Geography aside, it’s not quite Gatsby’s world. But were he around to survey the pumped-up universe of fraud and collapse, the titanic hangover now playing out, from that big house across Manhasset Bay, he might look out to the water and give a wry smile.

E-mail: [email protected]

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Sunday Routine: Kai Avent-deLeon, who owns a lifestyle store and a restaurant in Brooklyn, starts and ends her Sundays with her journal . In between? Friends, family and delicious food.

LONG ISLAND YACHT CLUB

An Elegant and Versatile Venue

Create lasting memories with us.

The Long Island Yacht Club is a stunning venue with a rich history and scenic beauty, ideal for hosting special gatherings and events. Our property boasts breathtaking views of the Great South Bay and features a variety of indoor and outdoor spaces to accommodate your important occasion. In addition to the indoor and outdoor spaces, our beautiful campus includes a clubhouse, pool, tennis courts, entertainment patio, private beach, marina, and formal and informal dining and bar areas.

Seamless Service

The Long Island Yacht Club hosts wedding ceremonies, receptions, engagement parties, showers, and rehearsal dinners. The venue's staff offers all-inclusive packages to simplify preparing for your event. These include event planning, catering, bartending, setup, cleanup, suites,and outside vendors. Our rental inventory includes chairs, tables, linens, tents, chair covers, centerpieces, decor, a dance floor, and a photo booth. Parking, valeting, and wheelchair-accessible services are available to add convenience and comfort for couples and their guests. Our peak seasons stretch from April through May and September through October.

Menus Tailored to Your  Event

The culinary team of Long Island Yacht Club offers catering and bartending services for your festivities. Our catering options include stations, plated meals, family-style platters, buffets, hors d'oeuvres, and desserts. Tasting sessions are available before your event to guide selection and ensure satisfaction. Bartending is available through cash, open, or limited bar, with a wide range of beverages. Our bartenders are experienced professionals who know how to prepare various drinks with flair and can make creative drinks to suit any occasion.  

Corporate Events

Family Celebrations

As a boutique caterer, we pride ourselves on our flexibility and commitment to providing the best possible menu for your specific experience. work alongside our catering director & chef team to create the perfect culinary experience to match your budget and unique vision..

The Yacht Club provides a tailored catering service for events of all types and sizes. Whether you're looking for a brunch buffet, a cocktail party, or an intimate dinner in the club's dining room, we've got you covered. Our experienced chefs can tailor the menu to your exact specifications and provide delicious food choices for any occasion. Contact us today to discuss your catering needs and make your event a success!

Brunch by the Bay

Simple and Elegant

A Waterfront Wedding

My husband and I recently hosted our wedding celebration at the Long Island Yacht Club, and we are so happy with our experience with the venue, the food, and the service!  We are not club members (we live in California), but by a stroke of good fortune, we stopped by after last Labor Day and met the events coordinator.  We learned that non-members could host events there during the off-season (and boy, is a January wedding off-season!).  We loved the recently repainted and remodeled gathering space with two fireplaces, a separate bar area, and large round dining tables and couches.  There are many windows, so the space is bright and well-lit (which is better than many banquet spaces in the area).  We felt like we were hosting our family in our home - the staff did a fantastic job creating a comfortable, welcoming environment.  The chefs prepared a great buffet (we had many options), amazing appetizers, and dessert.  With the help of a local florist, we added some small decor, we brought our sheet cake, and that was all the coordinating we had to do.  They can display a slideshow and play a Spotify playlist, so we showed pics from our wedding in California.  All in all, we're so happy we could host precisely the kind of classy party we wanted.

- Diane L., Escondido, CA

City Island's Premier Yacht & Social Club

Long Island Sound’s Premier Yachting and Beach Club

Members & visitors enjoy easy access to NYC, the Long Island Sound, and the Atlantic Ocean from our well-protected City Island location.  Our waterfront property has a large lawn area with picnic benches, a private beach, a fishing pier, and launch operations to get you to and from your boat.  Our restaurant offers fine dining with an amazing waterfront view of the New York City skyline.

For more than 100 years, the Morris Yacht and Beach Club (MYBC) has been an institution on City Island, and our clubhouse a welcome landmark for sailors returning from a day, weekend, or extended cruise. Many have celebrated birthdays, weddings and other important events at our club, and some members have seen their children and grandchildren grow up and thrive here. Even members who don’t live on City Island call our community their second home.

When we lost the clubhouse in a fire on March 9th, 2012, many City Islanders feared that the Morris was gone, and that the property so loved by members and non-members alike would be sold. Our members united and voted to build a new clubhouse from the ground up.

Within days of the fire, Commodores from the Harlem YC, Stuyvesant YC and City Island YC called to offer meeting space and any other accommodations that we needed. The Commander of the island’s American Legion post as well as the Lido Restaurant also offered their facilities to us. At his invitation, a delegation from our Board of Directors met with Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion, who gave enthusiastic support and offered his office’s assistance.

As we continue to celebrate our new clubhouse, we will never forget the outpouring of warm feelings, generosity, and support that our fellow City Islanders have shown us. We at the Morris Yacht & Beach Club are proud and honored to be a part of the City Island community.

Commodore  – Mike Barrett

Vice Commodore  – Kevin Flaherty

Rear Commodore  – vacant

Treasurer  – James Proios

Assistant Treasurer  – Cathy McCandless

Corresponding Secretary  – Cathy Henry

Financial Secretary  – June Henry

Recording Secretary  – Pat Napolitano

House Secretary  – Lorenzo Secola

Environment, Health & Safety  – Greg Clancy

Fleet Captain  – Greg Manjorin

Board Members

Chairman of the Board  – Al Hagan

Auditing  – Mike Rauh

Beach & Lifeguards –  Greg Penny Jr

Grounds  – Kevin Flynn

House – Steve Owens

Maintenance  – Ed Spallina

Membership  – Corley Schaller

Mooring & Ways – Adam Calbo, Joe Kramer

Contact Information

Morris Yacht and Beach Club P.O. Box 10 City Island, NY 10464

Business Office: 718-885-9814

Dining & Catering: 718 885-1596 or 718 516-6282

VHF: Channel 72

Webmaster: Steve Owens

Hand colored Lithograph,Regatta of the New York Yacht Club "Coming In" by Currier & Ives

Information.

"Coming in- Rounding the Stake Boat, Regatta of the New York Yacht Club June 1st 1854".  Marine views and pictures of ships have long appealed to collectors and popular taste. Undoubtedly, however, this print was made with the well-to-do members of the New York Yacht Club as the intended prospective purchasers.The New York Yacht Club was founded in 1844 by nine prominent sportsmen, who elected James Cox Stevens as the private club's first Commodore. They made their first sail from New York City to Newport, Rhode Island. On June 6, 1848, the Club's first annual regatta took place, thereby launching a tradition of yacht racing and an annual regatta that has occurred almost every year since (except during wartime).

This print, which depicts the New York Yacht Club's Annual Regatta of 1854, shows a long line of yachts sailing from the left distance towards the right of the image on a fair, partly cloudy day. At the far right, the yacht "Una" is going around a small stake boat (that is, a moored boat marking a turning point in the race), which has the United States flag flying atop its mast. The scene is further animated by four seagulls flying above the water in the lower left foreground. Keyed beneath the image are the names of the identified boats: "Alpha," "L'Esperance," "Twilight," plus additional names, with the the name "Una" appearing at the far right -- its placement identifying the lead vessel and ultimate winner. As recorded in the Club archives: "On the 1st of June, 1854, fourteen yachts were entered and started, and the prizes awarded to the Una, L.M. Rutherford, first class; Ray, F.M. Ray, second class; L'Esperance, W. Langdon, third class."

Nathaniel Currier, whose successful New York-based lithography firm began in 1835, produced more than 7,000 hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life and its history. People eagerly acquired such lithographs featuring picturesque scenery, rural and city views, ships, railroads, portraits, hunting and fishing scenes, domestic life and numerous other subjects, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. As the firm expanded, Nathaniel included his younger brother Charles in the business. In 1857, James Merritt Ives (the firm's accountant since 1852 and Charles's brother-in-law) was made a business partner; subsequently renamed Currier & Ives, the firm continued until 1907. Title: Regatta of the New York Yacht Club, June 1st, 1854: "Coming In" -- Rounding the Stake Boat

Artist: Drawn on stone by Charles Parsons (American (born England), Hampshire 1821–1910 New York)

Publisher: Lithographed and published by Nathaniel Currier (American, Roxbury, Massachusetts 1813–1888 New York)

Medium: Hand-colored lithograph

Dimensions: Image: 17 1/2 × 27 3/4 in. (44.5 × 70.5 cm) Image with text: 19 1/8 × 27 3/4 in. (48.6 × 70.5 cm) Sheet: 21 3/4 × 30 7/8 in. (55.2 × 78.4 cm)