Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorological Society, expressed that the crew should have ensured all guests were awake and provided with lifejackets, given the forecast of heavy rains.
The coast guard supported this sentiment, stating that while bad weather had been predicted, the storm’s intensity far exceeded expectations. Local reports described the event as a waterspout, or sea whirlwind, of exceptional force.
Meanwhile, the 42-meter Sir Robert Baden Powell remained anchored nearby successfully weathered the storm. Its captain, Karsten Borner, turned on the engine to maintain control and avoid a collision with The Bayesian.
Borner commented that he was unsure whether the crew of The Bayesian had managed to activate their engines. “I don’t think they did things wrong; I think they were surprised by the power of the storm,” Borner said.
He described the storm as “very violent, very intense,” adding that it brought in “a lot of water and I think a turning system like a tornado.”
The Bayesian Mast
The Bayesian was a marvel of nautical engineering, built in 2008 and boasting a 75-meter (246-foot) mast, which is claimed to be the tallest aluminum mast in the world.
