Americans among missing after luxury sailing yacht sinks off Sicily

The Italian Coast Guard said it is searching for six people, including Americans, who were aboard a luxury yacht that sank off the coast of Sicily in a storm. The missing also included a British tech tycoon. Fifteen people were saved, including a 1-year-old child. NBC News' Steve Patterson reports.

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[vbrown]

So much focus in the comments about the size of the boat and mast, or about the missing billionaire. I am extraordinarily impressed by the mother who ensured both the survival of herself and her 1-year old, keeping the child held above her head while treading water in a storm! And the fact that her husband was found alive elsewhere is just miraculous for that family. I hope the best for the others that are missing and their families.

[CatT]

Wow a mother having to hold her 1-year-old above the waves until help arrived. Just really wrenched my heart! I can only imagine how difficult that was. But what I don't understand is the mast on this boat looked overly tall. Why would you need a mast that large?

[gormnordman]

this is so sad, i think of the familys who lost their love ones...

[StevenAaa-uclg]

Yes the strong wind probably hit that huge mast and blew the boat on its side and water flooded in through open windows

[balthazaar]

Funny his co-defendant died 3 days before

[Nikitateagurl_]

Its that unnecessary tall mast that killed them. 75m mast is overkill

[reecom]

They can write a mystery movie script. Days before the sinking the billionaire owner’s partner dies in a car accident after winning the lawsuit against their company. The modern superyacht with its owner celebrating the lawsuit win sinks at anchor next to an old wooden yacht that survived storm.

[sallydixon]

I was in Nice last April and we saw many super yachts there and in Monaco. They were extraordinary!
Never wish that you owned that much trouble!
So sad, , but 25 people survived! And a little baby!
Amazing!

[petroulapiterou]

The yacht can be lifted with a floating crane although air is running out in any airpockets if there is a survivor inside.

[robertw.]

Did this yacht have a retractable keel? Find it amazing that it capsized and losing the mast would have brought the centre of gravity down quite considerably. If it indeed had a retractable keel and that keel was in the raised position, it would have have a big effect on the yachts stability.

[PanosVatikiotis]

Even at anchor, were the engines on, trying to steer the ship against the wind to avoid any listing caused by the mast?

[reecom]

Batten down the hatches; “Secure a ship’s hatch-tarpaulins especially when rough weather is expected”. A ship sinks when taking on seawater.

[ICallItAsItIs]

I don't care. It looks like they had a good life. A lot of us can't even afford a dingy.

[reecom]

In the picture just before she sank, it shows an older sailing ship anchored very close by, yet the super yacht sank, and the old wooden sailboat didn’t. The super yacht was over valued on how safe it was in rough weather.

[michaelhorl]

How is it possible that a modern yacht sinks???? A yacht may looae her Mast, but she does not sink!!!! What happened???

[sallydixon]

The Mediterranean has had, apparently, horrendous storms!
They were very lucky fifteen people survived.
Apparently there was a lot of winds noise before the boat went down.The rescuer said 15 people were in a life raft.Hmmm.

[miemcintosh]

I pray to God to give us that relief.
We need to dig from that absurdity rule at sea. Its heartbreaking!

[pencilmen]

The Sicilan connection.
Forgedabardit.

[superhard]

Some people dying from hunger, some babies never reach their age, they should donate the yacht for charity or to help Africa or Central America…. Private jets, private islands, etc etc… why why so greedy

[sallydixon]

I wonder about a water spout? Could it make a whirlpool that the boat went down into? The boat, I think, got sucked down into the water! It was there and then it wasn’t, said the captain of the boat that rescued the 15 survivors.
Why don’t they lift the boat out with a crane?
Such a tragedy.