The Bayesian Curse: “Lynch Wanted to Sell It”

Yet another sign of a sort of premonition. Or a curse, for those who believe in it and seek a foothold even when faced with the tragedy of the unexpected sinking in Sicily of the Bayesian, a luxury sailing vessel – unsinkable on paper – owned by the so-called “British Bill Gates”: the 59-year-old hi-tech tycoon Mike Lynch, whose body was fished out just today.
Casting a shadow over it is the latest rumor bouncing back from the United Kingdom, according to which Lynch himself had intended to sell the mega yacht just a few months ago, only to change his mind after being acquitted in June before the US courts – against all odds – at the end of a long and controversial criminal trial for alleged fraud in the sale in 2011 for over 11 billion dollars of the first multinational he founded, Autonomy, to the American giant HP. An intention that the Daily Telegraph claims to have learned of from sources in the nautical sector. The businessman had put his jewel of the sea on the market (whose value has been estimated by some experts at around 35 million) in March. Only to change his mind last month, in order to spend the summer on board and celebrate the acquittal with family, close friends and lawyers who had supported him in his legal odyssey. But in any case postponing the evaluation of a hypothetical future sale «to the autumn».
Rumors yet to be confirmed, yet destined to fuel the narrative on the many ‘mysteries’, real or potential, of this affair. An affair on which, in parallel with the crucial judicial investigation by the Italian authorities, the investigative inquiry of the UK’s Marine Accident Investigation Branch (Maib) has also been launched, a British control body linked to the Ministry of Transport and called upon to deal with naval disasters, which has sent a team of specialists to Sicily ready to offer their advice (if requested). Especially since the Bayesian, launched in 2008 by the Italian shipyards of Perini Navi in ​​collaboration with the Canadian yacht designer Ron Holland, initially named Salute and insured according to some media sources for a few million euros, had been registered in the Kingdom after being acquired by Lynch. And it flew the flag of the island.
What is clear is that the confirmed victims of the accident are now 7. And that among them is none other than Mike Lynch, as certified by the recovery of the body. An event sealed in the Kingdom by the end of any residual hope in some “miracle” and by the almost unanimous homage of the world of business and technological research to the deceased magnate. “A genius” and “a visionary” in the words of David Tabizel, co-founder at the time with him of Autonomy, or in those of Lord John Brown, former CEO of BP in the oil sector. “A philanthropist” and a precursor in those of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering in London, a world-famous academic institution.
While remaining silent, as is customary, are the 007s with whom Lynch had established important relationships during his rise. Above all, after the sale of Autonomy and the creation of Darktrace: a strategic multinational engaged in cyber-security and artificial intelligence research (whose family shares he had sold in large part a year ago to a US hedge fund) in which he had involved former high-ranking officials of Her Majesty’s secret services. And which apparently also includes among its ‘clients’ foreign intelligence agencies such as the Israeli Mossad.