yacht ziggy owner

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Come Aboard Former Zeigler Automotive Owner’s 116-Foot Super Yacht

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"Ziggy" was christened in 2021.

Having passed the family business over to their son, Harold and Bonnie Zeigler are in their snowbird era!

Founder Harold Zeigler bought his first Ford dealership in Lowell, Michigan at age 28; today the Zeigler Automotive Group has grown to include 35 dealerships across Michigan ,  Indiana , Illinois , and Wisconsin .

According to Yacht International the couple, who winters in Key Largo, began their search for a family-sized yacht in 2019. They were in search of something big enough to accommodate 4 generations of family, including Bonnie's 96 year-old mother.

Bonnie claims the couple has owned nearly 35 boats in their time together, what's one more?

Built in Taiwan by Ocean Alexander , the couple's custom 35R super yacht "Ziggy" has spent the past few summers cruising New England, the Bahamas, and of course the Great Lakes too!

As for just  how much the Zeiglers spent on their super yacht? I couldn't even fathom a guess. This is one of those situations where you have to request the price ; it's so astronomical they don't even list it online.

However, if you'd like to charter a similar 35R for a week in Ft. Lauderdale prices start at $120,000 per week.

Look Inside Zeigler Automotive Family Super Yacht, Ziggy

Gallery Credit: Lauren Gordon

Incredibly Unique Land Yacht For Sale in Michigan & You Can Live In It!

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ZIGGY Ocean Alexander 35R

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If you have any questions about the ZIGGY information page below please contact us .

Luxury yacht ZIGGY from Ocean Alexander was launched in 2021 from the shipyard in Taiwan. She measures 35.13m (115'3") and is a 35R model constructed with a GRP hull and superstructure, with naval architecture from the shipyard and interior and exterior styling by Evan K. Marshall. The accommodation sleeps up to 10 guests over five en-suite cabins with a professional crew of five to take care of every detail.

NOTABLE FEATURES OF ZIGGY: ~internationally renowned interior/exterior stylist ~Beach club ~Large sunbathing areas ~Choice of indoor and outdoor lounges ~Well-proportioned guest accommodation ~Draft of 2m/6.11ft for close beach access ~Air conditioning ~Wi-Fi

EXTERIOR The main deck aft is a sheltered environment offering a cosy space to relax on the C-shaped sofa and enjoy coffee mornings with friends and family. Two stairways lead down to the lower deck swim platform which connects to the beach club to create a spacious indoor/outdoor entertainment area beside the water.

Side walkways along the main deck lead to stairways up to the foredeck, where guests have panoramic views from the C-shaped sofa with drinks table, or the broad sunbed across the bow. The upper deck aft has a large circular dining table for intimate meals between the group. Two sofa/loungers are places along the stern for guests to savour after-dinner drinks along with the views.

On the sundeck, there is a Jacuzzi aft and centre with a large sunbed on both sides, a wet bar with stool seating to port and sofa seating forward on both sides for guests to sit and take in the views.

INTERIOR The lower deck layout places the crew accommodation forward, the guest accommodation amidships, the engine room behind and the beach club with gym in the stern.

The Master suite is forward on the main deck, the galley to port and the main foyer with day head to starboard. The formal dining area and main salon are combined into one large room aft, with the formal dining area seating up to 10 guests in a bright contemporary space with glass sliding doors on both sides to create a more alfresco experience. The main salon is aft to port and consists of a corner sofa and armchairs around a coffee table, while the widescreen TV is to starboard and a glass sliding door lead out onto the main deck aft.

ZIGGY Specifications

From the main foyer guests and crew have access to the upper deck, where the helm station is forward and the skylounge behind. The skylounge offers a cosy space to relax with the latest films or live sports, and provides a large corner sofa, coffee table and widescreen TV to port, a drinks/games table behind and a wet bar to starboard.

A pair of MAN V12 1,900 HP engines power her through the water.

Yacht Accommodation

The accommodation sleeps a maximum of 10 guests in 5 en-suite cabins: 1 Master suite, 2 double cabins and 2 twin cabins. The Master suite is full beam on the main deck forward, and within thee is a king-sized bed, widescreen TV, a desk/vanity to starboard and two armchairs to port. A large wardrobe is placed forward on both sides of the room and a spacious en-suite bathroom with a sink and toilet on both sides and a shared central bathtub and shower. The double cabins are amidships to port and starboard on the lower deck. Both have a queen-sized bed, widescreen TV, desk/vanity, wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. The twin cabins are forward of the double cabins to port and starboard respectively. Both have two single beds, a widescreen TV, desk/vanity, wardrobe and an en-suite bathroom with a sink, toilet and shower. The professional crew of 5 will keep everything running efficiently throughout the cruise.

Amenities and Extras

We do have available further amenity, owner and price information for the 35.13m (115'3") yacht ZIGGY, so please enquire for more information.

ZIGGY Disclaimer:

The luxury yacht ZIGGY displayed on this page is merely informational and she is not necessarily available for yacht charter or for sale, nor is she represented or marketed in anyway by CharterWorld. This web page and the superyacht information contained herein is not contractual. All yacht specifications and informations are displayed in good faith but CharterWorld does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the current accuracy, completeness, validity, or usefulness of any superyacht information and/or images displayed. All boat information is subject to change without prior notice and may not be current.

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A Sleek Super Yacht Is Docked On The Halifax Waterfront – Here’s The Inside Scoop

The Super Yacht Ziggy arrived in Halifax Harbour Friday, May 19 after travelling from New Port, Rhode Island. She is owned by Michigan couple Bonnie and Harold Zeigler.

Ziggy measures just over 35 metres or 116 feet. The rear exterior of Ziggy is a space to relax and you may spot someone enjoying their morning coffee here with family and friends. Twin stairways lead to the lower deck swim platform.

Side walkways along the main deck lead to staircases up to the front deck where passengers lounge on a C-shaped sofa with drink tables and sunbeds across the bow. Ziggy’s guests don’t have to head to a Halifax pub’s patio as outdoor dinners are enjoyed on the upper deck with a large circular dining table. The outdoor dinner area includes two loungers to enjoy drinks and views of Halifax after dinner.

On the sundeck you’ll find the Jacuzzi, wet bar with stools and more sofa seating.

The interior features luxurious guest accommodations and a beach club with gym in the back.

Its lower deck layout places the crew accommodation forward, the guest accommodation amidships, the engine room behind and the beach club with gym in the stern.

The owner’s stylish master suite is forward on the main deck. The dining and main lounge inside are open concept and combined into one large room. There is room for 10 guests to dine and sliding doors on both sides. The inside includes a corner sofa, armchairs and widescreen TV.

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That yacht start’s at 14m their buying the walleye 😉  

Wouldn’t want to pay the fuel bill on that thing!  

Yep....saw it out there. If you can afford the yacht, I'm assuming you can afford the gas! Sent from my SM-A516V using Michigan Sportsman mobile app  

Yeah, I don’t imagine they’re looking at their bank account seeing if gas fits into their budget. Sent from my iPhone using Michigan Sportsman  

Ain’t no jigging going on from that ship but I ll bet some sticking is happening. 😎  

Gonna need that 36v with a long shaft  

Hell, get away with a short shaft with that rig.. and that is "strong" for Mike's ship... What a boat! Seen one similar or maybe even same some time a bit ago. Was to busy paying attention when to throw anchor for a picture  

The Capt said it was hard to stay verticle in the wind.  

FYI, owned by Harold Zeigler of Zeigler Automotive Group  

I saw that Yaught behind Selfridge on Saturday, and it looked like there was about 15 people just on the middle deck. No telling how many it would hold inside the cabin. Not made for fishing, that's for sure.  

"FYI, owned by Harold Zeigler of Zeigler Automotive Group" I thought he was a guitar player…..[emoji51]. It will be interesting to see how many people get that one..... Sent from my iPhone using Michigan Sportsman mobile app . Slimshady Customs: Custom Painted Crankbaits.  

Saw Walleye Mike and this ship Friday morning. A friend of mine said he watched them put 17K in fuel in it up by Port Huron.  

Three's good company

After a point, you're paying to drive your fuel around. Most people who have yachts don't fill their gas tank full.  

tailgunner said: Had the chance to go out with Walleye Mike Friday and after a slow start, finished strong with 11 nice walleye . Thanks for the chance to put some nice fish in the freezer ! Anyone see this Mega Yacht out there ? 110 feet of luxury, but is it good for jigging ? View attachment 835888 Click to expand...

Each engine in that thing is worth more than two of my houses.  

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Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy Yacht

Ocean alexander 35r ziggy price and sales info, ocean alexander 35r ziggy overview, ocean alexander 35r ziggy specifications.

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy Description

Accommodation.

The Motor Super yacht/Motor Trideck Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy luxury interior sleeps up to 10 guests in 5 staterooms. She is also capable of carrying up to 5 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht experience. Timeless styling, beautiful furnishings and sumptuous seating feature throughout to create an elegant and comfortable atmosphere.

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy impressive leisure and entertainment facilities make her the ideal yacht for socialising and entertaining with family and friends.

Construction & dimensions

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy features a Fast Displacement GRP hull and GRP superstructure. She was built to classification society rules.

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy is equipped with a Zero speed and underway stabilisation system which reduces roll motion effect and results in a smoother more enjoyable cruising experience underway.

Performance

Powered by 2 x MAN® V12 1900 HP 2 x 1900 HP engines and driven by Straight shafts Motor Super yacht/Motor Trideck Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy is capable of a top speed of 23 knots, and comfortably cruises at 18 knots. With her 19500 litres fuel tanks she has a maximum range of nautical miles economic cruising speed. Her water tanks carry 2270 litres of fresh water.

Purchase Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy is currently not available for sale, to find out more about this superyacht please contact your personal Ocean Alexander yacht specialist.

Charter Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy

Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy is currently not available for charter, to find out more about this superyacht please contact your personal Ocean Alexander charter broker.

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Ocean Alexander 35R Ziggy Interior Gallery

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Who Owns That Superyacht?

Perhaps the most frequently asked question of me is “Who Owns That Superyacht?”

Generally speaking I know the answer but often given the way the industry works it is best to answer’ “I don’t know!”

But for those who really persist, I am glad I can point them in the direction of a source that is second to none when it comes to knowing who owns that Superyacht.

The website www.Superyachtfan.com is the place to head for. The comprehensive database they hold means that now anyone can identify who owns that Superyacht

Keeping up with who owns what when it comes to superyachts, can be difficult.  It’s not that we want to publicise the information because unless the information is common knowledge we do not do so, but nevertheless as experts its good to stay in touch with every aspect of the industry.

On www.Superyachtfan.com you will find information about the largest superyacht’s in the world and the wealthy folk who own them.

The site owners say it is constantly updated with the latest information about superyachts and superyacht owners and they ask that if you have any information or update about a superyacht or it’s owner, you should send them an  e-mail .

The site carries a disclaimer which says: The details about superyacht ownership as stated on this site are mostly based on rumors. In almost no case actual yacht ownership by the private individual mentioned can be proved. But it is a good place to start if you really want to know.

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Reviewed: Ocean Alexander 35R

• By Diane M. Byrne
• May 10, 2022

Not too long ago, the only way boatbuilders and designers knew how to convey the sense of space a yacht offered was by referring to the length overall. Even the most seasoned yacht owners judged the possibilities by the literal length. Similarly, yacht after yacht from competing brands offered essentially the same configurations, leaving little differences to distinguish one from the other.

Thankfully, perspectives on both sides of the buying equation started changing.

Naval architects and shipyards realized that their imagination needn’t remain confined by a tally of feet and inches. They began to get creative in how they approached the volume. In fact, they realized that they could push out volume, or gross tonnage, impressively within that physical envelope, opening up a world of possibilities without hurting performance.

Similarly, yachtsmen began to learn that gross tonnage was more important than feet and inches in terms of the creature comforts they wanted.

The 116-foot-9-inch Ocean Alexander 35R, whose gross tonnage is just shy of 300, is the latest model to demonstrate both points. Hull No. 1 was commissioned by a client before the shipyard could exhibit the yacht, and Hull No. 2 sold quickly during its debut at the most recent Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida. As of early December, Hull No. 7 was the first available build slot, with delivery anticipated in 2024. The series is attracting attention from loyal Ocean Alexander buyers and newcomers alike.

“R” in this series stands for “Revolution.” It’s an apt description because the series, which also includes the 88-foot 27R and 97-foot 30R, is different from anything else Ocean Alexander has built in its 40-plus years in business. Starting with the styling, which is decidedly modern and edgy, there’s a deliberate break from the builder’s more traditional look. It’s all the more notable that the appearances of both the traditional cruisers and the Revolution series come from yacht designer Evan K. Marshall.

The Revolution series’ design serves practical purposes too. The 35R’s high, vertical bow, as part of the hull design from Arrabito Naval Architects, provides more room inside. Bulwark cutouts along the main deck benefit the dining area and salon, as well as the owner’s stateroom, all of which are framed with nearly sole-to-ceiling panes of glass. Add in sliding glass doors to each side along with the 35R’s 25-foot beam, and the sensation is akin to being aboard a yacht at least 15 feet larger.

A similar sensation comes belowdecks. There, a short passageway to starboard leads beyond the beach club (more on that in a moment) to a head with a shower, as well as a separate gym with a sauna. Wellness areas like this one are the domain of mega-yachts upward of 150 feet length overall. Not only is it a singular feature, but it also fits without looking or feeling cramped. Even a dedicated head here is pretty uncommon for the 35R’s category. And nothing impinges upon practical space in the engine room farther forward.

Now, back to the beach club. It combines the exceptional with the practical. Marshall designed a T-shaped expanse of glass that stretches nearly the entire width of the overhead and comes partially down the forward bulkhead. It makes the cozy, air-conditioned space—outfitted on Hull No. 2 with a TV and bar to port and a settee opposite—look and feel airier. As appealing as this is, the glass holds an even bigger benefit for those seated on the main deck aft. When the 35R’s transom is open at anchor, moms and dads can take a quick glance through the glass to see their kids jumping off the swim platform or playing in the water without having to stand up and peer over the side of the yacht.

By now, you might have the impression that glass plays a big role on board the 35R. It does, and in yet another way, it enhances the sense of space. The main-deck master stateroom has picture-window ports to each side, in keeping with the current philosophy that owners should feel a stronger emotional connection to the areas where they cruise. On this yacht, that philosophy extends into the en suite head, where a porthole sits high above the tub. Once again, big-yacht thinking makes the 35R a step above the expected.

Of course, Ocean Alexander does stick with some tradition. The interior is semicustom, so owners may enjoy the look of the white-oak soles that are aboard Hull No. 2 and popular in current home design, or they may opt for something a little richer in tone. Owners can request that the shipyard’s cabinetry shop make furnishings too, or they can select items from any number of design houses. Ocean Alexander itself pursued this route for Hull No. 2, choosing bar stools and more from the Italian company Poltrona Frau. Keep in mind that some likely requests have been anticipated, such as pop-up LED lighting rimming the bow lounge for nighttime enjoyment.

While Ocean Alexander named the 35R for its length in meters, don’t be fooled by the number. The yacht’s expansive interior and alfresco areas quickly make anyone aboard forget the distance from bow to stern. And when the guests inquire as to how big the 35R is, owners can give them a quick education in how voluminous volume trumps literal length every time.  

Each year, NBC Sports spotlights the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida during a one-hour special, which includes handing out the Best in Show award. The 35R earned that top honor in 2021, beating other world debuts for a panel of judges who evaluated performance, design and technology. 

Paper Is Still Popular

Even in this digital world, paper is still practical to some people. One of them is Richard Allender, the director of US operations for Alexander Marine. Because of him, every Ocean Alexander that gets delivered stateside still has a drawer for paper charts at the helm.

Caring for Crew

Because the crew is crucial to the mega-yacht ownership experience, the 35R has several features that ease their ability to work. The main-deck foyer is lined with full-height glassware and dishware stowage, while a door hidden behind a guest stateroom’s art niche provides service access directly from the crew area.

Take the next step: oceanalexander.com

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How safe are luxury yachts? What to know after Mike Lynch yacht disaster left 7 dead

The Bayesian was a world-class yacht.

The 19th largest yacht designed by luxury Italian manufacturer Perini , it boasted a sleek interior design by French designer Remi Tessier, a double engine, and one of the tallest aluminum masts in the world. It won multiple awards, including for "best sailing yacht" the year after its release.

But, almost two weeks ago on Aug. 19, the luxurious vessel sank to the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Sicily in an internationally-followed disaster, dumping 22 people aboard into the water and leaving seven dead , including British tech magnate Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah .

"The impossible happened on that boat," Giovanni Costantino, the yacht manufacturer's CEO, told Reuters.

In the wake of the disaster, an ongoing investigation into possible criminal errors committed by the Bayesian's crew and lingering questions surrounding its design underscore the need for proper yacht safety measures and practical ship designs, according to experts.

Italian prosecutors from a nearby town have now widened their investigation into possible criminal actions by the ship's captain in the lead-up to the shipwreck to include two additional crew members, a judicial source told Reuters on Wednesday.

Tim Parker Eaton and Matthew Griffith are now under investigation for manslaughter and shipwreck, days after news broke that investigators are probing whether Captain James Cutfield committed the same crimes.

Authorities are looking into whether Parker Eaton, a ship engineer, failed to protect the ship's engine room and operating systems. Griffith, a sailor on the ship, was on watch duty on the morning the ship sank.

Cutfield "exercised his right to remain silent" when investigators interrogated him on Tuesday, Giovanni Rizzuti, his lawyer, told Reuters.

"First, he's very worn out," Rizzuti said. "Second, we were appointed only on Monday, and for a thorough and correct defense case, we need to acquire a set of data that at the moment we don't have."

Rizzuti did not immediately respond to a request for comment emailed to him by USA TODAY.

Rescuers found the bodies of Chris Morvillo, an American citizen and lawyer for Clifford Chance, his wife, Neda Morvillo, Jonathan Bloomer, a non-executive chair of Morgan Stanley International, and his wife, Judy Bloomer, inside the ship two days after the wreck. Recaldo Thomas, the ship's cook who also went by Ricardo, was the first person pronounced dead in the disaster – his body was recovered on the day of the sinking.

Captains must follow safety procedures before storms

Costantino chalked up the boat's fate to a "series of indescribable, unreasonable errors" committed by the crew. The ship's crew made an "incredible mistake" in not preparing adequately for the storm, he said.

Costantino said the crew should have summoned passengers from their rooms earlier, as the storm picked up. The keel, a heavy weight under the ship to counterbalance the ship's large mast, should have been lowered, and portholes should have been closed – both factors that could influence whether the captain is found culpable, according to experts .

Captains should always check weather forecasts and look into local weather patterns, Mitchell Stoller, a maritime expert witness and captain, told USA TODAY . When in stormy weather, captains should also weigh anchor, so that a ship can float over unstable waters, he added.

"The general standard of care in this situation is to monitor the weather, exercise caution, have a night watch, have the engine going, ready to maneuver," he said.

More: Even heroes need a vacation: What to expect from the Disney Destiny cruise ship

Wealthy clients push for impractical designs, expert says

Costantino said the ship's design and construction was error-free. But one yacht design expert disagrees.

"There's so many other factors, and this huge, complex boat is part of it," said Tad Roberts, a British Columbia-based yacht designer who has worked in the industry for nearly 40 years.

The Bayesian's giant mast is part of a trend of bigger and bigger yachts, according to Roberts. He worked on the design of the Asolare, formerly the Scheherazade – at 154 feet long, the largest cold-molded sailing yacht in the world when it was released in 2003, according to its manufacturer, Hodgdon Yacht Services. "It's small today," Roberts added.

Roberts said problems emerge when yacht designers can't say no to wealthy clients' demands for more and more extravagant and overgrown designs.

"The clients are wealthy people. They are very used to getting whatever it is they want," he said.

But owners' requests can compromise security, he said.

"Owners are not naval architects," he said. "They don't understand the issues involved, and trying to explain to them may or may not work, but there are compromises being made all the time."

Yacht buyers are more likely to get a better boat than they would 50 years ago, since yachts are exported and built towards international standards, he said. Still, the worsening effects of climate change and extreme weather are growing risks to anyone sailing the high seas, he added.

"Be aware. That's the biggest part of it," he said. "There's a possibility that things could go bad, that there is risk involved."

More: Investigators seek answers to why luxury superyacht Bayesian sank in storm

Yacht owners install million-dollar, AI-powered security systems

Piracy on yachts is even rarer than sudden storms – only two cases were reported between 2019 and 2023, according to the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre . Still, superyacht owners are investing in James Bond-esque technology in an effort to protect their vessels.

"There's definitely increased concern," said Frederik Giepmans, managing director of safety and security at MARSS, a technology company that offers high-tech surveillance and security systems for superyachts with a price tag "from the hundreds of thousands into millions," he said.

NiDAR, a software program manufactured by MARSS to provide protection for superyachts, can pick up on objects approaching a yacht from the air or water "while underway, at anchor and in port," according to the company's website.

The surveillance system uses artificial intelligence and machine learning to handle data from sensors monitoring all sides of a vessel. The AI system provides "constant, long range monitoring of the air, of the surface, of the underwater, to try and give the crew as much response time as possible," said Giepmans.

That way, yacht owners can pick up on any manner of approaching objects, from "small, fast craft approaching on the surface" to divers and submarines under the water.

But if a threat is detected, a yacht owner's "options to respond are limited," Giepmans said. "You can get out of the way. You can bring people to safety. But, for instance, a more military response is not available to you."

Giepmans pointed to a recent increase in attacks on commercial ships, like attacks carried out by Houthi rebels on ships cruising through the Red Sea. "There's a gap there in terms of security," he said. "Because there isn't really, right now, a way for commercial or private clients, to respond, perhaps, in an appropriate way to these threats."

Luxury yacht owners cruising off the coast of Monaco, for instance, shouldn't be as concerned about a direct threat to their security, as compared with boats sailing through other locations, he said. "It really depends on that, as to what extent they will go to protect their ship."

The greater danger could come from adverse weather events, as the planet warms every year.

Meteorologists have pointed to a water spout, a tornado that spun up over the water amid the storm that hit the Bayesian, as a possible factor in its wreck.

Water temperatures in the area were more than three degrees higher than average that day, the perfect conditions for the spout to form and the likely result of climate change, Rick Shema, a certified consulting meteorologist and former member of the Navy, previously told USA TODAY.

"The water spout was an uncommon occurrence. But again, these things happen, especially in warmer water," he said.

Contributing: Reuters

Cybele Mayes-Osterman is a breaking news reporter for USA Today. Reach her on email at [email protected]. Follow her on X @CybeleMO.

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116-Foot Super Yacht Spotted In Fairhaven & It’s Stunning

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For some of us, it’s boating season. For a select few, it’s yachting season.

Every summer, Newport is a hot spot for yachts, but sometimes, those yachts make a pit stop on the SouthCoast. A 116-foot superyacht was recently spotted at the Fairhaven Shipyard, owned by Bonnie and Harold Zeigler--former owners of Zeigler Automotive.

The Zeiglers of Michigan

Bonnie and Harold Zeigler have been in love since they were teenagers and have been married for 54 years. They were the proud owners of Zeigler Auto Group, spanning 41 dealerships in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin.

Harold’s son owns the family business now, allowing Bonnie and Harold to be the ultimate snowbirds between Key Largo, Florida and Michigan.

In 2019, the couple were searching for a yacht in the 110-foot range. According to Yachts International , they fell in love with a 116-foot model that Evan K. Marshall of Ocean Alexander was developing.

READ MORE: $120 Million Yacht Just Arrived in Newport & It's Massive

“After the boat was delivered in summer 2021 — on time — the Zeiglers spent several months cruising New England,” said the publication. “ Ziggy accommodated the whole family. ... They hosted a party for about 25 friends and were pleased with how well the sky lounge deck worked for entertaining.”

A Superyacht Named Ziggy

Ziggy is hull number one in Ocean Alexander’s 35R series and it is luxury at its finest. Equipped with an exercise space, sauna, and huge swim platform, Ziggy is a sight to behold.

“This boat has just about everything you could imagine,” said MarineMax Sales Consultant Scott Robertson during the yacht’s world debut.

Summer has just begun. Hopefully, the Zeiglers enjoyed the SouthCoast experience before setting off into the sunset.

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Comings and goings in halifax harbour.

Yachts are Back

the yacht Ziggy tied up on the waterfront Saturday morning. it was taking on Fuel.

Ziggy is an Ocean Alexander 35R and was launched in 2021 from the shipyard in Taiwan. She is comes in at 199 Gt. and sleeps 10 guests in 5 cabins, and has a crew of 5 (in 3 Cabins)

registered in the US, the vessel sailed from Newport RI. she is reportedly owned by Michigan couple Bonnie and Harold Zeigler, who own the Ziegler Auto group, which own 78 car dealerships and other related businesses wit a combined 1.7 billion in sales.

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Yacht Sank in Sicily Due to ‘Endless Chain of Errors,' Ship Maker's Owner Speculates: ‘Everything Was Predictable’

"A series of activities should have been done to avoid finding oneself in that situation," argues Giovanni Costantino, who owns the firm that built the vessel in 2008

• Giovanni Costantino — who is the CEO of The Italian Sea Group, the company that now owns Perini Navi, which built the  Bayesian  in 2008 — blames an "endless chain of errors" for the luxury yacht’s sinking on Monday, Aug. 19
• "Everything was predictable. I have the weather charts in front of me here," Constantino told Italian newspaper  Corriere della Sera  of the storm the boat was caught in
• "An unsinkable ship but from the crew an endless chain of errors," the CEO claimed to the outlet

The sinking of the luxury Bayesian  yacht off the coast of Sicily this week  resulted from an "endless chain of errors" by the crew, the ship maker's CEO is speculating.

"This episode sounds like an unbelievable story, both technically and as a fact," Giovanni Costantino — who leads The Italian Sea Group, the company that now owns Perini Navi, which built the  Bayesian  in 2008 — said,  according to CNN .

While speaking to  Italian newspaper  Corriere della Sera , Costantino said he believes those on board should not have been in their cabins, as he claims they were, when the Bayesian sank in the early hours of Monday, Aug. 19. 

Many details of why the yacht went into the water so quickly remain unclear and it's not yet known what the passengers and crew were doing before tragedy struck.

The 183-foot British vessel sank around 5 a.m. local time on Monday after a "violent storm" while near Porticello, the Italian coast guard said in a statement that was previously obtained by PEOPLE.

"Everything that has been done reveals a very long sum of errors. The people should not have been in the cabins, the boat should not have been at anchor. And then why didn't the crew know about the incoming disturbance?" Costantino said in his interview, translated from Italian.

Related: Italian Authorities Currently Don’t Have Anyone ‘Under Investigation’ over Luxury Yacht Sinking

"The passengers reported an absurd thing, namely that the storm came unexpected, suddenly. It's not true. Everything was predictable. I have the weather charts in front of me here. Nothing came suddenly ... Ask yourself, why was no fisherman from Porticello out that night? A fisherman reads the weather conditions and a ship doesn't? The disturbance was fully readable in all the weather charts. One could not not know," he argued.

"An unsinkable ship but from the crew an endless chain of errors," the CEO asserted.

The coast guard has said 22 people were aboard the  Bayesian  when it sank — 12 passengers and 10 crew — and that 15 of those were subsequently rescued.

The body of the yacht's chef, Recaldo Thomas, was recovered nearby. 

Costantino's comments came as it was reported that five bodies had been found in the search for the missing six people as of Wednesday, Aug. 21, a source close to the rescue operations confirmed to PEOPLE. Authorities have said that their work is ongoing. 

An Italian government official, Massimo Mariani, reportedly named one of the dead as British tech tycoon Mike Lynch . The other bodies have not yet been publicly identified by authorities. 

Lynch was celebrating with family and friends on the yacht following his acquittal in a fraud trial in June, PEOPLE previously reported.

Related: 'We Are in Shock,' Prominent N.Y.C. Attorney's Firm Says After He and His Wife Go Missing in Yacht Sinking

Costantino offered his view of how the tragedy could have been avoided: "To begin with, in a weather alert situation it was inappropriate to have, as I read, a party. Not that evening. The hull and deck needed to be secured by closing all doors and hatches, after putting the guests at the ship's meeting point as per emergency procedure. Then start the engines and pull up the anchor or release it automatically, put the bow to the wind and lower the keel.

"The next morning they would have departed with zero damage." 

When discussing whether the crew were at fault, Costantino reiterated to the Italian outlet that he believes "errors were made."

"A series of activities should have been done to avoid finding oneself in that situation," he said. "I as the ship's captain would have moved, but even if for some reason I had to stay there, I would have managed those weather conditions which then, let's face it, weren't so crazy."

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Costantino contended that there would have been "a zero risk if the correct maneuvers had been made and if situations that compromised the ship's stability had not occurred," adding to the newspaper that reports that the boat went down in seconds is "nonsense." He believes the yacht would have "went down" after water "started to enter" within "six minutes."

The remaining missing  Bayesian  passengers are Lynch's daughter Hannah as well as Chairman of Morgan Stanley International  Jonathan Bloomer, his wife, Judy , and New York City-based lawyer  Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda , sources have said.

Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, was among those rescued, PEOPLE previously reported.

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Read the original article on People .

The New York lawyer who died in the Bayesian yacht sinking wrote a LinkedIn post months before the tragedy that ended with 'they all lived happily ever after'

• Mike Lynch's lawyer wrote a chilling LinkedIn post two months before the superyacht tragedy.
• Celebrating his client's acquittal, Christopher Morvillo wrote: "They all lived happily ever after."
• Morvillo was one of the seven people who died when the yacht sank off the coast of Sicily.

Late British tech billionaire Mike Lynch 's top lawyer wrote a chilling LinkedIn post just two months before the superyacht tragedy — a note that ended with the phrase, "They all lived happily ever after."

Attorney Christopher Morvillo 's post spoke about his recent legal win in June, when Lynch, charged with fraud over the sale of his company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard, was acquitted of all charges .

His LinkedIn post discussed the "thrilling verdict" after "years of painstaking work."

He thanked members of his law firm, Clifford Chance and Steptoe LLP, with whom he worked on the case. His post also included a June 14 article from ALM, a law publication, which called him one of its "Litigators of the Week."

Then came the last two paragraphs, which touched on how happy Morvillo was to be back home with his family.

"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," he wrote. "None of this would have been possible without your love and support. I am so glad to be home."

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"And they all lived happily ever after," he added.

Morvillo was one of the seven passengers killed out of the 22 people aboard Lynch's 183-foot superyacht called "Bayesian." The yacht sank during stormy weather near Palermo, Italy, on August 19.

Fifteen people, including Lynch's wife, Angela Bacares, and the ship's captain, James Cutfield of New Zealand, were rescued from the sunken ship.

Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, Morvillo's wife Neda, and Morgan Stanley International Chair Jonathan Bloomer died in the tragedy.

Lynch's co-defendant in the fraud trial, Stephen Chamberlain, died after being struck by a car just two days before Lynch's yacht sank.

Representatives for Morvillo at Clifford Chance did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

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Exiled russian oligarch’s 257’ superyacht amaryllis seen towed through palm beach.

The Amaryllis being towed past the former mansion of Henry Flagler, built in 1902

By John Jannarone and Alan Hatfield

The 257’ superyacht Amaryllis apparently owned by exiled Russian oligarch Andrey Borodin was towed past Palm Beach, FL on Friday morning, according to a visual account by CorpGov .

The yacht, whose owner is frequently cited as Mr. Borodin by enthusiast publications, moved slowly through the Lake Worth lagoon where bridges were raised for its passage. A towboat with flashing lights about 150 feet ahead pulled the Amaryllis , built by German shipyard Abeking & Rasmussen in 2011.

While CorpGov could not officially confirm Mr. Borodin as the owner of the vessel, his wife, socialite Tatiana Korsakova, has posted dozens of Instagram photos and videos aboard the Amaryllis. A yacht broker interviewed by CorpGov confirmed that Ms. Korsakova is indeed aboard the Amaryllis in the photos and videos.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tatiana Korsakova (@tati_vk)

The sighting comes as billions of dollars in Russian-owned yachts have been seized around the world as a result of international sanctions. CNN has published an extensive list of seized vessels, which were taken in harbor cities including Mallorca, Spain and London.

However, it is unclear if the Amaryllis was being seized or voluntarily towed. Very large yachts often choose to be towed because bridges are required to raise for them, according to the yacht broker.

The former Bank of Moscow chief was granted political asylum in the UK in February 2013 after fleeing what he alleged to be politically-motivated fraud and embezzlement charges. Mr. Borodin would go on to be tried and convicted in abstentia in Russian Court in 2018, but not before managing to enlist a number of prominent American lawmakers to lobby Washington for a U.S. visa. Despite Russian extradition requests to the UK government, Borodin’s controversial attempts to make large donations to the NHS, and the uncovering of an assassination plot against his life, the fugitive banker remains overseas, having been granted access to his Swiss bank accounts and having made several notable London real estate purchases during his time in exile.

Mr. Borodin is widely listed as a billionaire, but his total wealth remains difficult to confirm accurately, with the governments of Switzerland and the Bahamas having been asked to help the Russian government in its legal case. In 2012, Borodin purchased the UK’s then-most expensive home, an 80-hectare 18th-century estate in Oxfordshire, for upwards of $217 million. In 2017 he was granted access to personal Swiss accounts holding a reported $378 million. The Amaryllis was purchased for a reported $120 million.

Mr. Borodin did not immediately respond to an emailed query from CorpGov , while the FBI declined to comment. An emailed query to The Department of Homeland Security was not returned.

www.CorpGov.com

[email protected]

Twitter: CorpGovernor

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Manslaughter Probe Launched After Bayesian Yacht Sinking Kills British Entrepreneur, Morgan Stanley Chief

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Italian authorities have launched a manslaughter investigation into the captain of the luxury Bayesian sailing yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily last week in a wreck that killed seven people, including Britsh tech entrepreneur Michael Lynch, his 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, and Morgan Stanley International director Jonathan Bloomer.

Italian Coast Guards take part in searches of missing off Porticello near Palermo, on Aug. 21, 2024.

Italian prosecutors will investigate James Cutfield, the captain of the Bayesian, for manslaughter after the ship sank in rough weather overnight on Aug. 18, multiple outlets reported Monday.

The investigation will look into if the crew of the ship appropriately handled the storm that hit the yacht before it capsized, if passengers were warned of imminent danger and if hatches on the ship were left ajar, which would have contributed to its quick sinking.

As part of the probe, the ship will be raised from the waters in which it sank later this year, CNN reported , at the cost of registered owner Angela Bacares, the wife and mother, respectively, of victims Michael and Hannah Lynch.

The Bayesian, named for a mathematical theory, is currently about 50 meters (164 feet) below the surface near the port of Porticello in Sicily, Italy, and sank less than a minute after it capsized.

Officials have said the passengers who died—Michael and Hannah Lynch, Jonathan and Judy Bloomer and Chris and Neda Morvillo—were likely asleep at the time of the sinking.

Notices of investigations into an incident must be issued in Italy before autopsies can be done on victims, Reuters reported , and the opening of a probe does not necessarily mean formal charges will follow.

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Key Background

The Bayesian is a 184-foot luxury sailing yacht with a 246-foot aluminum mast—the tallest of its kind in the world. It is legally owned by Bacares and her late husband "had a lot of pride" in his yacht, a staff member told The Times of London. The Lynch/Bacares family was on board with seven guests and the boat was anchored when a storm hit overnight on Sunday, Aug. 18. The harsh weather included a " waterspout ," a tornado-like swirling column of air and water, that caused the vessel to top over and it was then quickly dragged underwater. Of the 10 passengers, six died in the capsizing and their bodies were recovered last week. There were also 12 crew members on board and one, Recaldo Thomas, also died. Among those resued were Bacares; Charlotte Golunski, a partner at Lynch's Invoke Capital, along with her partner and her baby daughter; lawyer Ayla Ronald and her partner.

Lynch, Bloomer and Morvillo were all involved in a massive fraud trial that saw Hewlett-Packard accuse Lynch and others of artificially inflating the value of his software company, Autonomy, before HP purchased it in 2011. Lynch was indicted for conspiracy and wire fraud in the sale but was acquitted alongside his co-defendant Stephen Chamberlain, who was killed in a car crash in the U.K. the same weekend the Bayesian sank in Italy. Bloomer testified for the defense at Lynch’s trial, according to the Associated Press , and Morvillo was one of the lawyers on the case.

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Questions for Investigators Trying to Unravel Mystery of Luxury Yacht’s Sinking

The investigators searching for answers about the shipwreck, leaving seven dead, face questions about extreme weather and possible human error or problems with the yacht itself.

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By Alan Yuhas

More than 180 feet long, with a mast towering about 240 feet and a keel that could be lowered for greater stability, the Bayesian luxury yacht did not, in the eyes of its maker, have the vulnerabilities of a ship that would easily sink.

“It drives me insane,” Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, which in 2022 bought the company that made the ship, said after its wreck last week. “Following all the proper procedures, that boat is unsinkable.”

But the $40 million sailing yacht sank within minutes and with fatal results: seven dead, including the British technology billionaire Michael Lynch, his teenage daughter, four of Mr. Lynch’s friends and a member of the crew. Fifteen people, including the captain, escaped on a lifeboat.

Mr. Lynch had invited family, friends and part of his legal team on a cruise in the Mediterranean to celebrate his acquittal in June of fraud charges tied to the sale of his company to the tech giant Hewlett-Packard.

The Italian authorities have opened a manslaughter investigation, searching for answers from the survivors, the manufacturer and the wreck itself. They face a range of questions and possible factors.

An ‘earthquake’ in the sky?

When the Bayesian sank around 4 a.m. on Aug. 19, the waters in its area, about half a mile off the Sicilian port of Porticello, were transformed by an extremely sudden and violent storm, according to fishermen, a captain in the area and meteorologists.

But what kind of storm is still a mystery, compounded by the fact that a sailing schooner anchored nearby did not have its own disaster. Also unclear is whether the crew was aware that the Italian authorities had issued general warnings about bad weather the night before.

Karsten Börner, the captain of the nearby passenger ship, said he’d had to steady his ship during “really violent” winds . During the storm, he said, the Bayesian seemed to disappear behind his ship.

Severe lightning and strong gusts were registered by the Italian Air Force’s Center for Aerospace Meteorology and Climatology, according to Attilio Di Diodato, its director. “It was very intense and brief in duration,” he said.

The yacht, he said, had most likely been hit by a fierce downburst — a blast of powerful wind surging down during a thunderstorm. His agency put out rough-sea warnings the previous evening, alerting sailors about possible storms.

Locals have said the winds “felt like an earthquake.” A fisherman in Porticello said that he had seen a flare go off in the early-morning hours. His brother ventured to the site once the weather had calmed about 20 minutes later, he said, finding only floating cushions.

The Italian authorities have so far declined to say whether investigators had seen any structural damage to the hull or other parts of the ship.

Open hatches or doors?

The boat executive, Mr. Costantino, has argued that the Bayesian was an extremely safe vessel that could list even to 75 degrees without capsizing. His company, the Italian Sea Group, in 2022 bought the yacht’s manufacturer, Perini Navi, which launched the ship in 2008.

Mr. Costantino said that if some of the hatches on the side and in the stern, or some of the deck doors, had been open, the boat could have taken on water and sunk. Standard procedure in such storms, he said, would be to switch on the engine, lift the anchor and turn the boat into the wind, lowering the keel for extra stability, closing doors and gathering the guests in the main hall inside the deck.

At a news conference on Saturday, almost a week after the sinking, investigators said the yacht had sunk at an angle , with its stern — where the heavy engine was — having gone down first. The wreck was found lying on its right side at the bottom of a bay, about 165 feet deep.

12 guests occupied the yacht’s six cabins. There were also 10 crew members.

Open hatches, doors and cabin windows could have let in water during a storm, according to the manufacturer.

Open hatches, doors and

cabin windows could

have let in water

during a storm,

according to the

manufacturer.

Source: Superyacht Times, YachtCharterFleet, MarineTraffic

By Veronica Penney

Water pouring into open hatches or doors could have contributed to the sinking, experts say, but that on its own may not account for the speed at which such a large boat vanished underwater.

Asked about the hatches at the news conference, the authorities declined to comment on whether they had been found open at the wreck.

The authorities have also not specified whether the boat had been anchored, whether it was under power at the time or whether its sails had been unfurled.

A retracted keel?

The Bayesian had a keel — the fin-like structure beneath a boat that can help stabilize it — that could be retracted or extended, according to its manufacturer. On some yachts, keels can be raised to let the large vessel dock in shallower water, and extended downward to help keep a boat level.

But like the hatches, the status of the keel alone may not explain why a large ship sank with such precipitous speed. Investigators have not disclosed what divers may have seen at the wreck, aside from saying divers had faced obstacles like furnishings and electrical wiring in tight quarters. Officials want to raise the wreck to better examine it, a process that may take weeks.

Human error?

Ambrogio Cartosio, the prosecutor in charge of the case, said at the news conference that it was “plausible” crimes had been committed, but that investigators had not zeroed in on any potential suspects.

“There could be responsibilities of the captain only,” he said. “There could be responsibilities of the whole crew. There could be responsibilities of the boat makers. Or there could be responsibilities of those who were in charge of surveilling the boat.”

It remains unclear what kind of emergency training or preparation took place before the disaster, or what kind of coordination there was during it. So far, none of the surviving crew members have made a public statement about what happened the night the ship sank.

Prosecutors said they want to ask more questions of the captain and crew, who have been in a Sicilian hotel with other survivors. They said that neither alcohol nor drug tests had been performed on crew members, and that they have been allowed to leave Italy.

Prosecutors also said they were also investigating why the captain, an experienced sailor, left the sinking boat while some passengers were still on board.

Besides possible manslaughter charges, the authorities are investigating the possibility of a negligently caused shipwreck.

The bodies of five passengers were found in one cabin, on the left side of the yacht, the authorities said. The five were most likely trying to flee to the higher side of the boat and were probably sleeping when the boat started to sink, they said.

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Bank boss among missing in Sicily yacht disaster

Morgan Stanley International bank chairman Jonathan Bloomer and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo are among the six people missing after a luxury yacht sank in a storm off Sicily on Monday, Sicily's Civil Protection told the BBC.

UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch, 59, and his daughter Hannah, 18, were earlier also reported unaccounted for after the incident about 700m (2,300ft) from the Mediterranean island's shore.

The 56m Bayesian was carrying 22 people including Brits, Americans and Canadians. Fifteen people were rescued, including a one-year-old British girl. Sicily's Civil Protection also confirmed that the body of the ship's cook was recovered.

A search operation resumed early on Tuesday morning, according to Italian media.

The British-flagged yacht with 10 crew and 12 passengers sank near the port of Porticello, just east of Sicily's capital Palermo, on Monday.

The yacht capsized at about 5:00 local time after a heavy storm caused waterspouts, or rotating columns of air and mist.

Witnesses told Italian news agency Ansa that the Bayesian’s anchor was down when the storm struck, causing the mast to break and the ship to lose its balance and sink.

On Monday, specialist fire and rescue divers, trained to work in tight spaces, flew in from Rome and Sardinia, but a first search of the wreck some 50 metres below the sea surface failed.

"Access was limited only to the bridge, with difficulty due to the presence of furniture obstructing passage," the Italian fire department posted on social media.

Mike Lynch, one of the missing passengers, is known by some as "the British Bill Gates".

He co-founded software company Autonomy, before selling it to American computing giant Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 2011 for $11bn (£8.6bn).

But an intense legal battle following the high-profile acquisition loomed over Mr Lynch for over a decade. He was acquitted in the US in June on multiple fraud charges, for which he had been facing two decades in jail.

There are reports that Mr Lynch had invited members of his legal team onto the yacht to celebrate his acquittal.

The sinking of the yacht came on the same day that Mr Lynch's co-defendant in the fraud case, Stephen Chamberlain, was confirmed by his lawyer as having died after being hit by a car in Cambridgeshire on Saturday.

Lawyer Chris Morvillo has also been listed among the missing.

Mr Morvillo has worked on high profile corruption cases, including Mr Lynch's recent trial.

He also worked on the criminal investigation surrounding the 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, as an assistant US attorney for the southern district of New York from 1999 to 2005.

Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer is also one of the six people who remain missing.

The 70-year-old Briton is also chair of insurance company Hiscox.

How sinking of luxury yacht off Sicily unfolded

Sicily yacht sinking: who is missing and who survived, who is british tech tycoon mike lynch.

The Bayesian's registered owner is listed as Revtom Ltd. The superyacht can accommodate up to 12 guests in six suites.

The yacht's name is understood to be based on the Bayesian theory, which Mr Lynch's PhD thesis was based on.

Mr Lynch's wife Angela Bacares is named as the sole legal owner of Revtom, which is registered in the Isle of Man. Ms Bacares was one of the 15 people rescued.

A British mother and her one-year-old daughter also survived.

The mother, named locally as Charlotte Golunski, later described how she was holding her baby above the surface of the sea to save her from drowning.

She told Italian newspaper La Repubblica her family survived because they were on deck when the yacht sank.

She said they were woken by “thunder, lightning and waves that made our boat dance”, and it felt like "the end of the world" before they were thrown into the water.

“For two seconds I lost my daughter in the sea then quickly hugged her amid the fury of the waves,” the paper quoted her as saying.

Survivors said the trip was organised by Mr Lynch for his work colleagues.

In the initial aftermath, a nearby Dutch-flagged vessel rescued survivors from the waves, tending to them until emergency services arrived.

After the storm had passed, Captain Karsten Borner said his crew noticed the yacht that had been behind them had disappeared.

"We saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position, and we found this life raft drifting," he told Reuters.

That life raft was carrying 15 survivors, three of whom were "heavily injured", he said.

Eight of those rescued are receiving treatment in hospital, the Italian coastguard said.

The UK Foreign Office said it is supporting a number of British nationals and their families following an incident in Sicily. Britain's Marine Accident Investigation Branch is also sending a team of inspectors to conduct a "preliminary assessment" into the sinking of the UK registered-boat.