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12 Fascinating Facts About ‘Kismet,’ the 400-Foot Megayacht With an Underwater Lounge

This version of 'kismet' is more extravagant than shahid khan's last 312-footer. we look inside at the jacksonville jaguars owner's penchant for tasteful bling., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan is at it again. His 400-foot superyacht Kismet (formerly Project Jag) is due to splash this summer, and true to form, it’s another crazy attention-grabbing creation.

Khan’s third custom-built Lürssen has a 5,500 gross tonnage, almost double the weight of his former 312-foot yacht (also named Kismet and now renamed Whisper ), which he sold last September for a cool $160 million. It’s not just the name that’s the same. Both boats have fire pits, video walls, a basketball court and wild chandeliers, but this time Khan’s added an underwater Nemo lounge, a duplex owner’s suite, and a retro neon dance floor. Oh, and this six-deck behemoth’s hull is a whopping 88 feet longer.

The Pakistani American billionaire has a reputation for making a statement. Aboard his previous yacht he mandated a “Champagne and caviar” interior from Reymond Langton that screamed excess, with a custom grand piano that sat beneath a sweeping black-and-gold Art Deco staircase. The new 400-foot Kismet also enjoys interiors by the British design studio in partnership with Khan’s family, while the exterior is by Nuvolari Lenard.

Kismet ’s week charter price of roughly $3.25 million makes it one of the most expensive charter yachts in the world alongside Flying Fox . It’s an average of about $272,000 each for 12 guests, who are accommodated in nine ensuite cabins. The crew of 37 is on hand to make it a memorable week.

A full suite of water toys, from sea bobs and eFoils to Flitescooters and an inflatable slide, add to the waterside fun. There’s also a floating deck to park Jet Skis, a sailing dinghy, and storage for a private submersible. When venturing from the mothership, a four tenders, including a 37-foot Hodgdon and a 39-foot Naiad, will transport owners and their guests.

Here are 12 cool facts about one of the world’s most expensive charter yachts, available from this summer through Cecil Wright.

The Jacksonville Jaguars Link

Khan’s former 312-foot Kismet was hard to miss, thanks to a 13-foot silver jaguar statue (in inset above) that he mounted on the bowsprit every time his NFL team played. This time, he’s decided to make the big cat a permanent fixture by incorporating a silver sculpture on the underside of the bowsprit. He’ll be flying the flag for his NFL football team everywhere he cruises. You can just make out the sleek, silver Jaguar under the end of the bow. 

Gilded Duplex Owner’s Apartment

The full-beam owner’s apartment, spanning two decks, is dripping in gold. It includes a large primary suite with a circular skylight, a fireplace, and gilded wall coverings with bed linens and carpets to match. There are two separate marbled bathrooms and dressing rooms and a private hot tub forward, as well as one of two hair salons/beauty rooms on board. The remaining guest cabins can be configured as doubles or twins.

Music Maestro

A DJ station overhanging the bridge deck aft is where guests can spin some tunes on the decks, but it’s Khan’s love of custom pianos that steals the show. A Bogányi grand piano in the upper deck was designed by award-winning Hungarian pianist Gergely Bogányi. Its swooping curves and cantilevered body wraps around a crimson red cast-iron plate that holds 21 tons of string tension.

Therapy at Sea

Kismet is one of only a handful of yachts to have a cryotherapy chamber on board and possibly the first chromotherapy bathtub. They’re in the dedicated Balinese-inspired spa on the lower deck, along with a hammam, sauna, and private massage room. There’s also a gym and yoga studio and a juice bar, both with opening sea terraces.

The ‘80s Effect

In a nod to ‘80s retro arcade games, Kismet ’s “Tron corridor” includes neon accents and a wireframe matrix dance floor in pink and blue that lights up for the full disco effect. During the day, it serves as a relaxing transition point between the wellness area and guest areas, with lounging sofas and a cocktail bar.

Making a Splash

When the gin-clear surrounding waters aren’t enough, three swimming pools—two with waterfall features—and four outdoor showers should do it. There’s also a swim-up bar on the pool deck.

A Nemo Theater

Two cinemas—one outdoor on the bridge deck and one indoor on the lower deck—deliver the latest in movies. Of course, the real cinematic experience comes in the form of an underwater Nemo viewing window. It sits just below the 150-inch drop-down TV in the cinema lounge, so guests can spot passing sharks while viewing Jaws on screen. Pre-movie drinks are served in four interior bars, including the Champagne bar and wine cellar room.

Hoops on the Helipad

Forward of the master cabin on the foredeck is a helipad that can accommodate an H155 helicopter for guest transfers. It also doubles as a basketball and pickleball court. It’s not clear if Khan will ever use the helipad or keep it exclusively for ball sports as he did on the previous Kismet.

Global Cuisine

Kismet ’s culinary options span from Michelin star-level dining to an outdoor pizza oven, a teppanyaki cooking station, and barbecue on the pool deck. Seating arrangements shouldn’t be a problem either, with configurations for up to 24 guests on the upper deck, 18 on the main deck and 14 on both the top and pool decks.

Khan has long been a fan of a bioethanol fireplace, choosing to have three on his former yacht. He’s increased the number to four this time, accompanied by ornate marble surroundings. There are also two external fire pits for chilly evenings and under-floor heating in guest areas.

Boardroom With a View

When attending to business on board, a primary office on the pool deck brings stunning ocean and outside-deck views while being accessed via a private staircase from the owner’s suite. It has a conference table and its own dedicated pantry for hosting meetings.

Stairway to Heaven

Kismet ’s elaborate central staircase appears to have the same video walls as the previous yacht, bringing pops of green and yellow lighting. It’s complemented by a handful of living walls with vegetation. Other plants are spread across the six decks, bringing the outdoors in.

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On board the 95m Lürssen superyacht Kismet

• Superyachts

"My goal was to create a yacht that many years from now will be timeless and yet still be ahead of its time. I wanted to balance awesome with welcoming,” says Shahid Khan, owner of the stunning 95m Lürssen superyacht Kismet...

A new superyacht project presents its designers with the most desirable of blank canvases.

When you get up to the 90-metre-plus mark, it’s more than a mere canvas, it’s a landscape – as empty landscapes go, this is Kentucky in the late 1600s.

But it’s not just a matter of filling the acres of virgin territory with novelties: there’s sometimes a backstory, too, which brings its own constraints.

Kismet has been cruising almost non-stop since launch. All photos: Guillaume Plisson

“The stakes were high,” as exterior designer Espen Øino puts it bluntly about the initial design phase of the Lürssen Kismet .

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He was also the designer of the owner’s previous Kismet (a 68-metre built at Lürssen in 2007, sold by Moran Yacht & Ship in 2013, and now named Global ).

A year after launch the owner realised he wanted something bigger. “The brief was clear: the new yacht had to be superior in all respects,” says Espen.

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Screens can shelter this part of the sundeck. The spiral staircase leads to the observation deck

One’s initial impression is that there are some similarities in the look of the two Kismets – the groupings of vertical windows on the lower deck, and the rising kink from main deck level.

But the size and scale of the latest Kismet draws attention to the differences. There’s the sharper-nose and the distinctive bowsprit, as well as prominent overhangs over the wheelhouse and owner’s deck.

The dark windows stand out, too, and at a distance it is hard to define where the deck supports are, making it appear as if the decks are floating. She is a bigger beast, of course, but she actually looks more of an athlete than her sister.

A sea terrace opens up the lobby and gym spaces

“The client was very much involved in the external design of the yacht.

“The external design appearance as she appears today was penned in Chicago, in his half-finished penthouse near the top of a skyscraper,” says Espen.

“Some elements of the exterior were inspired by the Chicago skyline, such as the stainless steel air inlets aft of the funnels.”

An excellent evening retreat – the main deck cinema room

A particular emphasis from the owner’s side was on Kismet’s potential not just as a family cruising yacht but as a charter yacht and as somewhere that could be used for corporate entertaining.

These aren’t necessarily incompatible drives, but it does sharpen the design focus, and it means that the outside spaces and the inside guest areas have to brook no compromise, with relaxed and sociable areas alongside more intimate and curated spaces – what’s required is nothing less than the best of all possible worlds.

“The floorplan was very carefully laid out,” says Espen. There was, he says, “very valuable input” not only from the owner himself but also his captain Kyle Fultz and purser Geraldine Fultz, and project manager Rob Moran of Moran Yacht & Ship, who have been working for the owner for a long time. The interior design team at Reymond Langton also worked on the previous Kismet .

The first step was something of a back-to-basics approach: we know that guests on charter will favour external areas, but in what ways do they really use them?

“During the design phase of Kismet , considerable time was spent analysing the way guests would want to spend time on deck during a typical week’s cruise,” says Espen. What this research produced was an emphasis on “a number of entertainment and hang-out areas”, he adds.

This part of the sundeck, which can be screened, leads to the pool, with a run-off area if there is resonance

Since launch, the yacht has had a busy couple of years, cruising with her owner and his family, chartering for ten weeks last year, and hosting a number of large-scale parties in Florida and London.

She’s made four crossings of the Atlantic, a run to the Pacific and back, and cruised 40,000 cruising miles. There are 27 crew in all, and Kismet feels like a very happy ship.

The entertainment and hangout areas reach their exemplification in the top decks of the yacht. Espen calls the sundeck Kismet’s pièce-de-résistance, as it demonstrates the overriding theme of guest choice.

There’s an informalish dining table, close to the barbecue, with comfortable bar chairs that make it possible to linger for a meal rather than just pick at finger food. Protective screens make it possible to protect this high-up area vulnerable to sea breezes as the heat of the sun wears off.

A superbly detailed spa area

Forward of this is the huge elliptical pool with a cosier hot-tub forward further still. What you might miss at first glance is that at the after end of the pool is a cascading ‘rock garden’ feature that serves as an overflow from the pool, and integrates with the skylight of the elevator.

It’s an inspired touch that keys the whole of the sundeck’s exterior design together nicely.

AV equipment in the dining area means it can be used for business meetings

The helideck on the bridge deck below transforms into another great guest area, with occasional furniture and sunshades that allow a large group of people to gather, and it can be set up as an outdoor cinema.

There’s a shaded bar area, which transforms in the evening to a disco. The wheelhouse is forward, and in front of this there is a seating area. The whole deck exemplifies the many faces of Kismet – you can gather with a group of friends on the aft deck, or inside around the bar, while if you want to escape with a book, the hanging seats provide some shade and seclusion.

Up top, the observation deck has the best views in the house

Back on the sundeck, the spiral staircase provides an elegant intro to what Espen calls “possibly my favourite spot on the yacht” – a private observation deck and sunbathing area. You can lock yourself away in silent contemplation as you relax on the sunpad.

It’s a remarkable spot that also provides a DJ station during parties. The corporate entertaining face of the yacht is shown with the comprehensive RGB lighting system that can generate sponsor’s colours. Taken together, these three upper decks are a good example of how that “balance between awesome and welcoming” has been achieved.

A deck below on the owner’s deck, full use has been made of Kismet’s vastness, with the outside spaces offering something that continues the option-heavy choices of the decks above. There’s a formal dining table shaded by the overhang from the deck above and more glass screens, and served by a bar and buffet to port and starboard.

On sunny days the screens keep the wind off, but they extend right round the space. Once enclosed, guests can be suitably air-conditioned in what had been dubbed the yacht’s ‘winter garden’, and there’s certainly a relaxed, end-of-day and out-of-office feel to the place. There’s more seating aft.

The bridge deck helipad transforms into a magical hangout space

Forward, the owner has access to a private deck area that offers a hot-tub and sunpads. The owner gets a great view from this private space over the clean expanse of foredeck. With the mooring gear fully enclosed on the main deck below, there was an opportunity to utilise this space in as many ways possible.

It can serve as a demi-basketball court once a hoop is erected (there are court markings on deck) and nets go up to keep the ball inboard. And it also serves as a second touch-and-go helipad. Finally, it can be shaded and tented to create an informal evening dining area.

Right forward at the stainless steel bowsprit there’s a base for the imposing 6ft tall and 15ft long removable sculpture of a jaguar – a reference to one of the owner’s sporting interests, the Jacksonville Jaguars (there are jaguar motifs everywhere on board).

This beast was created on the world’s largest 3D printer in Belgium, and is mostly deployed on match days. The eyes of the jaguar can be lit, which is presumably a feature employed on winning match days. The cat lives alongside the rescue tender when not in use.

The main deck seating aft – a ‘firepit’ feature

The main deck has its own space aft, which serves as a spacious welcoming area with bars either side of a dining table. But the real attraction is aft, often a main deck area that becomes lined with seating inside the guardrails. On Kismet , there are semi-circles of seating either side of a firepit that converts to a coffee table. Once again, Kismet has myriad options for guests.

For the yacht’s interior, Reymond Langton Design’s brief was to answer two needs – to create something that gave a sense of perspective on the new 95-metre vessel, and (as with the exterior spaces) to let the yacht function as a family retreat and an entertainment hub for larger groups.

Once again, the demands aren’t necessarily conflicting, but they need to be managed if they are to be fulfilled successfully. It’s the set-piece spaces of Kismet’s interior that really impress – particularly the architectural drama of the double-height spaces on the main and owner’s deck entertainment spaces.

The bar on the main deck leads to a piano bar

Pascale Reymond calls the overall design philosophy “a rich contemporary interpretation of Art Deco themes”. The bold geometric shapes and vivid contrasts of Art Deco have been successfully used for a generation of modern superyacht interiors.

It’s a flexible form, capable of reinterpretation in a contemporary style, with a modern art vibe that never tends towards abstraction. It works for the small stuff, and the big stuff, too – and it doesn’t get much bigger than the sweeping staircase between the salons on the main and owner’s decks.

If it weren’t for the monster video walls either side, you might have been whisked back for a moment to the first-class lounge of a 1930s liner. The ornately decorated glass walkway with a view down to the main deck is an inspired touch.

Decoish styling and video walls around the main deck piano lounge

There is another staircase too (opposite which is a lift to take you from the main deck to the sundeck), which frames the elegant lobby areas on the main and owner’s decks, but it’s the main staircase that serves as not only a visual feast but as a division point of the different areas.

The staircase rises over a piano bar, with a more formal lounge and bar, and a welcoming lobby, aft of that. Between the main deck foyer and the piano lounge there is a cinema room with overhead projector and semi-circle of seating. The space also doubles as a cigar room and sports bar – a further example of Kismet’s Protean charms.

An owner’s suite inspired by Chanel

Immediately above this space on the owner’s deck is the formal dining area. It makes grand use of the full beam of the yacht, and there is a further lounge aft. The owner benefits from a superbly appointed office to starboard off a centreline corridor.

There is plenty of space to play with and it has been put to good use, with a separate boudoir. Styling in the bedroom is inspired by Coco Chanel, which fits the Decoish vibe nicely, while the centreline gas fireplace adds a reassuringly homely vibe. Pascale Reymond calls the suite a “self-contained retreat at the heart of the yacht”.

Guest cabins on the main deck continue the styling theme

The main-deck guest suites are divided into three twins (that convert to doubles) and two VIPs forward, with the VIPs having more of an Art Nouveau styling theme. On the lower deck, there is an occasional guest cabin, as well as a gym and superb wellness areas for guests, including an ice fountain.

Mosaics and styling details add a touch of Zen and of the mystical east to the yacht, while a sea terrace to starboard opens up the guest space. The spa is one of Kismet’s standout areas, and is proving particularly popular with charter guests.

There are so many places for guests to lose themselves here. Among Kismet’s crew is a masseuse and beautician, a hair stylist (there’s a hair and beauty parlour), and a yoga teacher.

Guests have so many great places to choose from aboard Kismet

“Walt Disney once famously said, ‘If you can dream it, you can do it’. When you experience Kismet , you know this to be true. And for that, Lürssen should be extremely proud,” owner Shahid Khan says.

The latest instalment of Kismet’s story with an Atlantic crossing after a summer in Europe that has included a cruise of Norway. Another season of dreaming and doing awaits.

• A version of this story appeared in SuperYacht World Issue 50, July/August 2016

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Shahid Khan’s Yacht: The Story Behind the Jaguars Owner’s $200 Million Superyacht

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan left no expense unspent on his superyacht, which is one of the most luxurious yachts available.

The custom-built boat is worth an estimated $200 million and allows extravagant travel and extreme comfort on the open waters.

Inside Shahid Khan’s Yacht

With an estimated net worth of $11.6 billion, Khan is living a life of luxury with no expense spared on his superyacht.

The yacht is called “ Kismet ,” and its name derives from the Urdu word for destiny.

And, if you want to rent out Kismet, it will cost $1.2 million a week and has seen many celebrities occupy its luxurious lifestyle.

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Guests have included Beyonce and Jay-Z, as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Kismet was also used in “6 Underground,” a 2019 Netflix film that stars Ryan Reynolds.

Designed by Raymond Langton and Espen Oino, the vessel is 312 feet long, has five decks and eight state bedrooms, and is one of the most stylish yachts at sea.

Inside the boat are Khan’s lavish personal suites. They take up the front of the boat. His personal space contains an office, master bedroom, en suite rooms, and a jacuzzi.

The entertaining areas offer two video wall displays and a spa area. The spa is on the bottom deck and has a steam room, massage room, spa bath, and steam bath. Khan even hires a therapist to occupy the spa. On the same deck, there is a salon and a gym.

The yacht also has both an indoor and outdoor cinema.

For those guests lucky enough to stay on board, there are another seven bedrooms. There is even room for 26 crew members on board.

Outside, the boat has two helipads, a basketball court, and three pools. The yacht also comes with its very own firepit.

On the top deck, there is a pool, an outdoor dining area, and a large lounge. There is also a sports bar onboard that has everything you would expect, as well as barbeque facilities and a disco area.

The boat even comes with lots of goodies, with its garage offering jet skis, diving gear, and other toys to use out on the water.

Khan left the imprint of his Jaguars team on the boat when, on game day, a 13-foot statue of a Jaguar was on its helm.

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Shahid Khan’s Yacht Kismet: An Insider’s Look

Kismet is a superyacht built by the shipyard Lurssen back in 2014. For years, Lurssen has been behind the largest and most luxurious yachts on the water. It is managed by Moran Yacht Ship Chartering on behalf of owner Shahid Khan. He had a previous yacht named Kismet, so this is technically the Kismet II, but it didn’t get the number as part of the name.

How Much Did the Motor Yacht Kismet Cost

It’s believed that Khan spent about $200 million on Kismet in 2014. The boat has been up for sale a few times since then. In 2020 Moran had it listed for a price of €169,000,000, which is about $182.5 million today. It’s for sale again in 2023. The price for the 2023 sale has not been publicly disclosed. That said, the 2020 price came about after a $16 million drop midway through the year, which may have been further reduced.

How Big is the Kismet Superyacht?

Though not the largest yacht in the world by any stretch, the superyacht Kismet is still incredibly large by most people’s standards. It measures an impressive 312 feet long and features a 45-foot beam. It has a gross tonnage of 2,928 and has space for 12  guests in 7 guest cabins.

In addition to the guests, there is room on board for 28 crew members to keep the vessel running and see to the guests’ needs. 

Can You Charter the Yacht Kismet?

Unlike some yachts owned by billionaires that like to remain private and stay under wraps, Shahid Khan has opened up Kismet for charter. Of course, that doesn’t mean it’s affordable to most people or anything like that. During the summer, chartering the Kismet costs about $1,294,000 per week. In the off-season, you get a deal of only $1,200,000. This doesn’t include the price of fuel, food, or dockage fees.

Design and Features

With teak decks, a steel hull, and an aluminum superstructure, the Kismet is built similarly to other superyachts of recent history, at least in technical terms. The exterior design features a mosaic tile swimming pool resembling a clear water lagoon. When sunlight fills the space, it’s pretty breathtaking.

The pool features an inset jacuzzi and is located on the upper deck. It’s positioned such that guests in the water still have a perfect view of the surrounding sea. There’s also a nearby observation deck that allows guests to have a better look around.

The Kismet certainly lives up to the idea of a luxury yacht in numerous ways. The interior was designed by Reymond Langton Design, and Espen Oeino styled the exterior. The yacht has also had more than its fair share of brushes with fame. For instance, if you have seen the Netflix movie 6 Underground with Ryan Reynolds, you’ve seen the yacht as it was featured in the film.

Off-screen, the yacht was also chartered by Jay-Z and Beyonce when they went on vacation to Italy back in 2018.

The owner’s suite on its private deck is decorated in gold, black, and marble. It features his and her bathrooms with a private jacuzzi, large wardrobes, private helipad access, and office space. The staterooms for guests are all uniquely designed, some inspired by a Japanese aesthetic and others doing Art Deco. 

Some billionaires are pretty tight-lipped about what goes on inside their yachts. Still, because Kismet is available for charter, there’s a lot of information about what you can expect to find on board what is arguably one of the most spectacular luxury yachts on the water today. And since it’s all laid out, you can see the incredible features and amenities waiting on board. Given the cost to charter the boat for just a week, it ensures you’re getting your money’s worth. Here are some of the highlights:

• A winter garden deck
• A retractable outdoor fireplace for those chilly nights or roasting marshmallows any time
• Video walls in the main salon area
• Speaking of, the main salon is a double-height space spanning the main and upper aft deck
• A multi-level swimming pool and a full sun deck
• A luxurious bridge deck lounge
• Three different areas where guests can lounge or dine in
• A sports bar
• Grand piano in the main lounge area
• A full-size disco/nightclub
• A dedicated club room that converts to a movie theater
• There’s also an outdoor cinema for when the weather makes it more hospitable to watch a film under the night sky
• A closed-loop system that warms the waters in the pool, Jacuzzi, and elsewhere with heat from the engines so that it runs greener than other yachts
• A dedicated spa area
• A total gym with extensive workout gear and equipment
• A beauty salon
• A large beach club
• An elevator to help navigate across the multiple decks or a winding staircase if you prefer the old-fashioned way

Because there’s so much going on with the Kismet, we will separate the toys from the rest of the amenities even though they all fit together. The tender garage of the Kismet has a lot in store for people who like to have fun on the water. 

• A pair of jet skis
• Tow toys such as skis and tubes
• Scuba diving equipment and snorkeling gear
•  A 31’11 Hinckley Talaria Runabout 29 Limo Tender
• A Yamaha AR192 sports tender
• Another 29-foot tender
• A Fassmer rescue boat
• Fishing gear

How Fast is the Kismet Yacht?

Twin Caterpillar 3516-C diesel engines power the yacht. Together they can get it up to a top speed of 17 knots. Cruising speed is about 14 knots, however.

Who is Shahid Khan?

The billionaire owner of the Kismet yacht is Shahid Khan, arguably most well-known for owning the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL, the All Elite Wrestling League (or AEW), and the Fulham FC football club. He joins Jerry Jones and Tom Brady in owning a remarkable yacht.

His net worth has been estimated to be just over $12 billion. Originally from Pakistan, he has American citizenship and owns the auto parts manufacturing company Flex-N-Gate Corporation.

The Bottom Line

The superyacht known as Kismet is owned by billionaire Shahid Khan. It was built in 2014 for an initial cost of approximately $200 million. The yacht is currently for sale, and the price is down to about $169 million, though it may be lower.

The yacht measures an impressive 312 feet and can reach a top speed of 17 knots. It’s been host to several celebrities over the years and even featured in a Ryan Reynolds movie once.

Kismet is available for charter at around $1.2 million per week or a little more if you want to charter during the summer. There are numerous features and amenities for guests, including a swimming pool, a retractable fireplace, and plenty of toys that can be used in the water.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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KISMET Yacht – Extraordinaire $200M Superyacht

With a value of approximately $200 million dollars, the weekly charter rate costs the incredible US $1.2 Million per week.

She was bought in 2014 after she was launched by Luerssen from Hamburg, Germany.

She has won several awards for her unique design including The World Superyacht Awards in 2015 and she was finalized for the ShowBoats Design Awards in 2016.

The name KISMET stands for the word for “destiny” or “fate” in Urdu which is the owner’s native language.

KISMET yacht interior

Inside the KISMET yacht is just as luxurious as you might expect. The interior was designed by Reymond Langton , an award-winning design company that specializes in luxury yachts.

The owners Pascale Reymond and Andrew Langton have completed a wide range of significant projects since they founded their company in 2001.

Some of the yachts they worked on include AVIVA, TITAN, SERENE, and KAOS. 

Based in Bath in the United Kingdom Reymond Langton says of themselves that they prioritize balance, proportion, and emphasis in all of their designs.

KISMET is a prime example of their high-quality work that is tailor-made to every project they uptake.

KISMET yacht is equipped with state-of-the-art luxury amenities such as a spa, movie theatre, a grand piano, large pool, sauna, jacuzzi, and barbecue area.

She was designed in the style of a luxury five-star hotel with a “champagne and caviar theme” including a black marble deck, a full gym, helipads, and an elevator. 

Of course, there is high-speed internet available on board allowing guests to be connected wherever they go.

One of the bathtubs is made of solid onyx and there is even a retractable fireplace with an integrated waterfall and a winter garden deck.

The main saloon is constructed at double height and features full-length video walls allowing for incredible movie nights. 

This yacht can welcome up to 12 guests in 7 cabins. There is a lavish owner’s suite, a master bedroom, two VIP suites, two standard double rooms as well as two twins.

28 crew members find space in below-deck cabins. The owner’s suite includes walk-in wardrobes, a private jacuzzi, and his and her bathrooms. This yacht is designed for entertaining and events. With several salons and a lot of deck space, she is ideal for hosting lavish parties and celebrations.

The aft deck is directly connected to a sports bar which can even be transformed into a dance floor reminiscent of a luxurious nightclub in the evenings.

High-quality wood, leather, and marble decorate the interior of the vessel with influences of Art Deco design.

This yacht truly achieves its design goal and lets guests feel as though they were staying in a luxurious hotel.

Intricate wall designs and custom-made marble flooring take this yacht to the next level and provide true luxury.

Specifications

KISMET yacht measures a length of 95 meters (311 ft) with a 13.8 meter (45.3 ft) beam and a 3.75 meter (12.4 ft) draft.

Since she barely lies under the 100-meter mark, she is currently considered the 63rd largest motor yacht in the world. Manufactured from steel and aluminum, this yacht is durable and versatile. 

Her two propellers are diesel-type 3516C-HD engines with an impressive 5438 horsepower. At a weight of 2928 tons, she can reach cruising speeds of 12 knots and maximum speeds of 17 knots under ideal conditions.

Her fuel tanks allow her to have a range of up to 6000 nautical miles, which is considerable for her size.

The beautiful exterior of KISMET was designed by Espen Oeino, a renowned name in the world of superyachts.

Forbes has described him as the “superhero of superyacht design” in the past. His studio is based in Monaco, although he is originally from Norway.

She is one of his most famous projects and played a significant role in his career as a naval architect and designer. She features a large pool with mosaic tiles and an adjacent jacuzzi on the upper foredeck.

This area of the vessel provides breathtaking views over the ocean and nearby scenery. Even further up, there is a separate observation deck perfect for taking photos or watching the sunset. The large helipad on the bow can also be used as a small basketball court allowing for an unforgettable match. There is a secondary helipad on the bridge deck that can be used for sun lounging.

Underwater lighting and modern stabilizers are additional features that the KISMET yacht provides. This vessel was designed with eco-friendliness in mind despite its high energy usage.

KISMET features a so-called “closed-loop system” that heats the pool and jacuzzi using energy from the engines. This system is incredibly efficient and sets her apart from other vessels in her size range. 

The bowsprit is decorated with a four-foot jaguar statue that ties the exceptionally luxurious and unique design together.

It symbolizes the NFL team Jackson Jaguars which belongs to the current owner of KISMET.

Toys and equipment

As a charter yacht, the KISMET yacht is equipped with an array of toys to entertain those onboard.

Several jet skis, scuba diving, and snorkeling equipment, as well as four tenders, are always at disposal of the guests.

She also provides towable water toys, which are consistently among her most popular during the charter.

KISMET is far from a standard yacht. She has actually been featured in the Netflix film 6 Underground starring Ryan Reynolds.

On past charters, the yacht has welcomed A-list celebrities such as Beyonce and Jay-Z making her one of the most popular charter yachts in the world. 

Of course, this popularity isn’t unwarranted. The KISMET yacht provides her guests with incredible luxuries and leaves nothing to be desired.

This comes at the steep price of US $1.2 Million per week for charters, which doesn’t include provisions and docking fees.

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KISMET is a 122.0 m Motor Yacht, built in Germany by Lurssen and delivered in 2024.

She can accommodate up to 20 guests in 11 staterooms, with 40 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 4918.0 GT and a 17.8 m beam.

She was designed by Nuvolari Lenard , who has designed 119 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lurssen , who has architected 71 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database, and the interior of the yacht was designed by Reymond Langton Design , who has 34 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

KISMET is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 70 motor yachts longer than 100m.

KISMET is currently sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, the 5th most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 455 yachts registered. She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Croatia. For more information regarding KISMET's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: KISMET
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Displacement
• Builder: Lurssen
• Naval Architect: Lurssen
• Exterior Designer: Nuvolari Lenard
• Interior Designer: Reymond Langton Design
• Refits: 2024

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KISMET YACHT CHARTER

122m  /  400'3   lurssen   2024.

• Previous Yacht

Special Features:

• Elevator for convenient access
• Premium wellness facilities, including spa and beach club
• Brand new for 2024
• Generous pool

At 122m/400'3", iconic charter yacht Kismet features a compelling line-up of living areas and modern amenities and abounds in luxury and comfort

The 122m/400'3" motor yacht 'Kismet' offers the unmissable chance to charter a brand new superyacht, having only launched this year. Delivered by the German shipyard Lurssen and featuring interior styling by British designer Reymond Langton Design this award winning yacht can comfortably accommodate up to 12 guests in 8 cabins.

Built in 2024, Kismet is designed for exquisite indoor/outdoor living and boasts voluminous interior and exterior spaces across several decks: ideal for bronzing, lounging or entertaining. Her features include a dancefloor, beauty salon, spa, elevator, underwater lights, beach club and gym.

Guest Accommodation

Kismet offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 8 suites. There are up to thirty-six crew members on board to provide outstanding service on your charter.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

A charter on Kismet is comfortable and convenient thanks to the provided amenities, notably a dancefloor where you and your guests can celebrate in style. Meanwhile the latest beauty and hair treatments are available in the luxurious beauty room plus relieve aches from a busy day on the water in the steam room. Take the opportunity to be thoroughly pampered and indulged in the spa and in addition visit the sauna and disconnect in peace and quiet. Take a plunge in the pool under the sun or elsewhere, make your day truly exceptional at the beach club. Maintain your fitness routine and work out in the well-equipped gym or sit back with a glass of champagne in the deck jacuzzi.

Kismet benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter, notably an elevator, making any part of the yacht quickly and easily accessible. At night, guests can enjoy a mesmerizing light spectacle in the water thanks to underwater lights plus whether you want to work, use social media or stream movies on board this yacht, you can with Wi-Fi connectivity. Guests will experience complete comfort while chartering thanks to air conditioning.

Performance & Range

Built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure, she offers greater on-board space and is more stable when at anchor thanks to her full-displacement hull. Kismet comfortably cruises at 13 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 19 knots.

Onboard Kismet has a range of toys and accessories to keep you and your guests entertained on the water throughout your stay. Principle among these are submarines, offering a true 'in-depth' exploration of your destination! Take to the sea on the Jet Skis offering you power and control on the water. In addition there are four SEABOBs providing agile cruising and diving. When it comes to Tenders, Kismet has you covered - with four tenders, including a 11.2m/36'9" Hodgson Limo Tender.

Kismet and her crew are available for charter this summer for cruising within the Mediterranean. She is also accepting bookings this winter on request.

As you can see, luxury motor yacht Kismet offers guests the very best onboard experience, from its sun-kissed top deck down to its standout waterside beach club promising truly memorable vacations that you"ll want to repeat again and again.

TESTIMONIALS

There are currently no testimonials for Kismet, please provide .

Kismet Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment Kismet has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

Kismet is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 1 x 11.2m  /  36'9 Hodgson Limo Tender
• 1 x 11.8m  /  38'9 Naiad Tender
• 1 x 8.24m  /  27' Riva Tender
• 1 x 6.3m  /  20'8 Fassmer Tender

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

Kismet Awards & Nominations

• Robb Report 2024 Charter Yacht Winner
• + shortlist

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

'Kismet' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€3,000,000 p/week + expenses Approx $3,334,500

High Season

Cruising Regions

Mediterranean Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Monaco, Montenegro

HOT SPOTS:   Amalfi Coast, Calvi, Corsica, French Riviera, Mykonos, Sardinia

Winter Season

October - April

$3,000,000 p/week + expenses

Please enquire .

Charter Kismet

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker or

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The superyacht market isn’t just hot—it’s red hot. The billionaire owner of the NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars, who once was a dishwashing migrant, managed to sell his 312-foot yacht in record time, marking one of the biggest yacht deals of 2023.

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By smartly using his American Express credit card, this street vendor turned billionaire art collector earned a record-breaking 178.7 million travel miles with just three purchases. He and his family can now make hundreds of trips around the world in first class for free.

Worth more than Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffet combined, the Abu Dhabi royals have just toppled Walmart’s Waltons as the world’s richest family for 2023. The Al Nahyans live in a $490 million palace, fly around in private jumbo jets, and their yachts cost millions to refuel.

Strapped for cash Roman Abramovich was already finding it difficult to pay his staff’s salaries, and now the island nation of Jersey has seized a whopping $7 billion of the sanctioned oligarch’s assets.

After rushing across the Pacific ocean for 18 days to avoid getting captured, the Fiji police seized the $350 million superyacht Amadea of sanctioned oligarch Suleiman Kerimov. So luxurious is the vessel that the ceiling of the owner’s cabin recreates the night sky using 2,000 fiber-optic cables.

If only he had done what his father preaches – At the age of 19, Warren Buffet’s son Peter sold all his Berkshire Hathway stocks for a mere $123,000, they would have been worth $275 million now.

Having a Ferrari in your living room is passé. The ultimate flex is owning a 279-foot-long superyacht built around a man cave that showcases a $5.5 million submersible.

Ex-Google CEO Eric Schmidt will have to wait longer to take delivery of the $67,000,677 Alfa Nero superyacht as someone has filed claim to the ownership of the abandoned vessel

Steve Jobs’ Venus superyacht docked in Cairns, Australia after completing an 11-day, 4,200-mile journey across the Pacific. The $120 million vessel instantly became the center of attention as it dwarfed every other boat in the harbor.

This Star-Trek obsessed Chinese billionaire spent $97 million to build his office in the shape of the USS Enterprise. The humungous office has sliding doors and its employees use 30-foot metal slides to move between levels.

Eric Schmidt was supposed to buy a yacht once owned by a Russian oligarch. Here's the one he bought instead.

• Eric Schmidt backed out of buying the Alfa Nero megayacht last year.
• He instead purchased the Kismet, formerly owned by Shahid Khan, and renamed her Whisper.
• The ship — one of the biggest yachts owned by a tech billionaire —was listed for about $161 million.

Last year, Eric Schmidt made waves in the yachting community when news came out that he was the soon-to-be owner of the Alfa Nero, an 81-meter megayacht that belonged to a sanctioned Russian oligarch .

The former Google CEO, who is worth $32.1 billion, per Bloomberg, was to pay $67.6 million for the yacht, which was being auctioned off by the government of Antigua and Barbuda , where the ship had been moored since February 2022, the month Russia invaded Ukraine. The small Caribbean nation had been spending $28,000 a week simply to maintain the mammoth boat.

But as the sale proceedings went on, legal challenges piled up as people laid claim to Alfa Nero, and Schmidt backed out of the deal.

It didn't take long for him to rebound, though. In September 2023, just three months after he won the Alfa Nero auction, the billionaire purchased Kismet, renaming her Whisper, Business Insider has learned.

A spokesperson for Schmidt declined to comment to Business Insider.

The 95-meter-long yacht, built by the renowned German shipyard Lürssen and delivered in 2014, was formerly owned by the Jacksonville Jaguar's billionaire owner, Shahid Khan — hence images of the cat featured on her figurehead and throughout her decor.

Related stories

Whisper, which can fit at least a dozen guests and a crew of 28 features a master deck with a private jacuzzi, as well as a full-service spa, lap pool, hammam, and outdoor fireplace. Made for entertaining, the megayacht has a cinema, a grand piano, and two helipads — one of which doubles as a basketball court and the other than transforms into a disco.

Her interior was designed to "create a feeling of relaxed opulence, based on a 'Champagne & Caviar' theme," according to the brokerage that sold the ship.

While the yacht's final sale price was not public, she was listed for 149 million euros (about $161 million at current exchange rates).

At a charity auction in January, one week aboard the ship went for $2.4 million, according to industry outlet Yacht Charter Fleet — a steal, considering she typically goes for $3 million a week.

Watch: How Elon Musk makes and spends his billions

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Billionaire's £140m super yacht turns up at Tower Bridge and leaves Londoners stunned

The boat, named 'kismet', is owned by billionaire shahid khan, who also owns fulham football club, but some people aren't happy to see it moored on the thames amid a cost-of-living crisis.

• 18:19, 24 OCT 2022

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A billionaire's yacht stunned Londoners when it sailed up the River Thames and moored close to the iconic Tower Bridge.

The yacht reportedly turned up over the weekend and while some ogled at its scale, others slammed its presence amid a cost-of-living crisis as "insensitive", My London reports.

Posting a picture of the boat on Reddit, one person wrote: "Seriously, this thing showed up this morning and is moored right by Tower Bridge. It's the biggest boat I have seen here, any idea who owns it?"

READ MORE: ‘Time traveller’ warns 'hostile aliens will infiltrate the government for war'

One person replied: "Sorry but not me as I can barely afford heating, so how the heck do you expect me to own a million dollar super boat?"

It transpires the boat, named 'Kismet', is owned by billionaire Shahid Khan, who also owns Fulham Football Club. Shahid bought the club from former owner Mohamed Al Fayed in 2013.

The Pakistani-American tycoon also owns NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars will be in the capital on October 30 to play against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium, perhaps explaining why his boat is moored on the Thames.

The boat is said to currently be on sale for the cost of 169 million euros, or more than £140million.

To get more stories from Daily Star delivered straight to your inbox sign up to one of our free newsletters here .

Not everyone was happy to see it docked in London. One said: "Waiting for Just Stop Oil to spray paint it as well. Would be brilliant."

Another commented: "Think you should never show off such extravagance in a city with homeless people on the street."

Saying that, some Londoners claim they've seen better. "Gone are the Russian mega mega yachts, now come the toddlers," said one. "I mean, does this even have a helipad or two?"

Kismet, which means "fate" or "destiny" in Urdu, was built in 2014 and sails under the flag of Cayman Islands. It has its own swimming pool on board.

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Everything We Know About the Luxury Yacht Sinking in Sicily, Killing 7 on Celebratory Trip

The key unanswered question remains — how did this happen?

What started out as a celebration on a luxury yacht off the coast of Sicily ended in tragedy on Monday, Aug. 19, when the craft — the 183-foot-long Bayesian — is said to have sunk quickly into the waves of the Tyrrhenian Sea after what the Italian coast guard called a “violent storm.”  

Twenty-two people were aboard, including 12 passengers and 10 crew, authorities have said.

Fifteen people were soon rescued after the Bayesian sank. By Friday, Aug. 23, following complicated and protracted search and rescue efforts , the bodies of all seven victims had been found, sources told PEOPLE.

Among the dead were British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and his daughter Hannah.

Here’s what to know about the tragedy, as Sicilian officials are expected to share more information this weekend.

What is the Bayesian yacht?

Built in 2008 by Perini Navi, with a much lauded interior designed by Rémi Tessier and naval architecture by Ron Holland, the luxury vessel was refitted in 2020 and included six suites for as many as 12 passengers, plus quarters for 10 crew — the size of the traveling party this week when the yacht sank. 

It has previously gone by the name Salute . But Bayesian appears to be a nod to Lynch’s career, referring to a kind of mathematical modeling used in his software company Autonomy.

Notably, the Bayesian has been touted as having the world’s “largest aluminum mast” at some 246 feet.

Other features included specific design elements to “favor alfresco entertainment” outdoors, such as a large covered saloon, as one charter company put it. And the interior was intended to “create familiar, pure, and natural atmospheres,” according to the charter description. Past photos show rooms bedecked in warmly lit neutrals and cream colors.

PERINI NAVI PRESS OFFICE/HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Where was the Bayesian yacht when the storm hit?

According to the Italian coast guard, the Bayesian was off the coast of Porticello in Sicily, on the northern tip of the island, when disaster struck on Aug. 19.

A source close to the survivors previously told PEOPLE that the passengers were celebrating after Lynch, labeled in headlines as Britain's "Bill Gates," was acquitted in June in a financial fraud trial in the U.S. that was related to selling his software company Autonomy for $11 billion to Hewlett Packard in 2011.

“That's why he took his closest friends and colleagues on the trip,” the source said.

Lynch himself reflected on how his life had changed after coming out of the shadow of his legal troubles. He told The Sunday Times in the U.K. in late July that he felt like he'd been given a "second life."

But "the question is," he said then, "what do you want to do with it?”

Who was on the yacht before it sank?

The 12 passengers included Lynch, his daughter Hannah and his wife, Angela Bacares; Chairman of Morgan Stanley International Jonathan Bloomer and his wife , Judy Bloomer; New York City-based lawyer Christopher Morvillo and his wife, jewelry designer Neda Morvillo; Charlotte Golunski , her partner, James, and daughter Sophie and Ayla Ronald , a colleague at Christopher Morvillo’s law firm. 

The BBC reports that Ronald was also with her partner.

The 10 crew members included cook Recaldo Thomas , who was among the seven victims who died, as well as the captain, reportedly named James Cutfield, and others. According to The New York Times , one of the deck stewards was a 19-year-old South African native on his first such voyage.

HANDOUT/Vigili del Fuoco/AFP via Getty

Who was rescued from the yacht?

Bacares, Ronald and her partner, Golunski and her family and nine of the crew members survived the sinking. The coast guard has said that some of them were “initially rescued by a boat in the immediate vicinity.”

Karsten Borner was the captain of the nearby boat and said he saw the yacht sink quickly.

"It all happened in really little time," he told Italian news outlet Rai, according to the BBC.

“The storm was over. We noticed that the ship behind us was gone,” Borner told the BBC. “And then we saw a red flare, so my first mate and I went to the position and we found this life raft drifting [with] 15 people inside."

ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty

Who died in the sinking?

Italian authorities have not yet publicly named all seven victims, though a government official told Reuters that Lynch was among the dead and the chef’s body was also identified to PEOPLE and other outlets by local sources involved in the investigation. 

Five other passengers were initially described as missing, and five more bodies have since been found in the wreck, sources said: Lynch’s daughter Hannah; Jonathan and Judy Bloomer and Christopher and Neda Morvillo.

Simon Dawson/Bloomberg via Getty

FAMILY HANDOUT/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock 

Why did the Bayesian sink?

This has emerged as perhaps the key question in the tragedy , and the answer remains unclear.

One theory is that the boat capsized after being struck by a waterspout (which refers to a tornado over the water), though there may have been more factors at play that contributed to the sinking. 

"The dynamics aren't clear — lightning, mini tornado, water spout, it's not clear exactly what happened," one person close to the search efforts tells PEOPLE. "The most likely hypothesis is that the cause was indeed a tornado that began at land and then sped out off coast and became a waterspout at sea with a speed of more than [180 miles] per hour, to the point that it managed to practically sink the ship whilst causing minimum damage to both the mast and the hull."

"Eyewitnesses said the boat went down in minutes," this person adds.

The source says the vessel’s upper hatches could have been open at the time of the disaster, which would have caused the boat to quickly fill up with water. The source also says that large amounts of water may have flowed onto the ship through the hatches as the vessel rocked back and forth during the storm.

“This would be the only thing that could cause the hull to rear up which, as several survivors told the investigators, made the ship sink in literally 60 seconds​​​​​​​​​​​​​​,” the source says.

Patrick McMullan/Patrick McMullan via Getty 

Another factor that could have caused the yacht to lose stability was its movable keel, which is an underwater blade designed to help keep boats upright and prevent them from swaying back and forth, the source close to the investigation tells PEOPLE.

They say that the 30-foot keel was allegedly retracted to about 13 feet when the storm hit, while natural experts say it would have been strange to retract the keel at that location if the crew knew bad weather was approaching.

The boat’s 236-foot mast may also have played a role in allowing the boat to rock, similar to a pendulum.

"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 .

Speaking with PEOPLE, Costantino was more circumspect.

“I obviously can't say for certain [what happened],” he says, “but what I'm sure of is that the only reason a sailboat, especially one with Perini Navi technologies installed, could sink is if it fills with water."

Abigail Adams is a Human Interest Writer and Reporter for PEOPLE. She has been working in journalism for seven years.

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Bayesian Superyacht Sinks in Italy With Tech Tycoon Aboard: Who’s Missing? Updates on the Tragedy

A superyacht named the Bayesian sank off the coast of Sicily on August 19, 2024. There were thought to be 22 people on board when the ship went down, including tech tycoon Mike Lynch. The tragedy has left people scratching their heads and wondering what exactly happened to cause the yacht to sink and who is still missing.

What Happened to the Bayesian Yacht?

In the early hours of August 19, 2024, a strong storm caused a waterspout (a tornado that forms over water and creates columns of wind and mist) to form where the yacht had lowered its anchor for the night, according to Italian civil protection officials. Italian newspaper Giornale di Sicilia reported that Karsten Borner , the captain of a nearby yacht, saw the Bayesian during the storm. However, once the weather had calmed, he only saw a red flare glowing in the night sky.

When Borner saw the flare, he and some of his crew went to investigate. They discovered a lifeboat with 15 people on board. After getting them to safety aboard Borner’s yacht, he notified the Italian coast guard.

Sky News reported that the boat sank in less than 60 seconds.

"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," Sailing Today magazine editor Sam Jefferson said, per Sky News .

The ship’s mast, one of the tallest in the world, broke in half and likely contributed to the speed at which the yacht sank.

Who Is Missing From the Bayesian Yacht?

Along with 10 crew members, the Bayesian also had 12 passengers on board, including Lynch, his wife, Angela Bacares , and 18-year-old daughter, Hannah. Bacares was with the 15 people in the lifeboat and was rescued on August 19, 2024. Authorities also found the body of who they presumed to be the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas.

Lynch’s body was recovered from the yacht on August 22, 2024, but divers were continuing to search for his daughter. The bodies of the other five people on board have been located. On August 23, 2024, sources close to the Italian coast guard reported to People that the "last person still missing in the Palermo shipwreck is identified," meaning Hannah's body had been found.

Mike Lynch Was Known as ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’

Lynch was involved in a financial fraud trial after he sold his company Autonomy for $11 billion to Hewlett Packard in 2011. Autonomy created a search engine that could pull data from internal business documents and email. Its goal was to aid business owners and large companies in finding data much faster.

The tech tycoon was accused of falsifying records and fired by Meg Whitman , Hewlett Packard’s CEO at the time, in May 2012. Lynch was extradited from the United Kingdom to face the charges, but he continually maintained his innocence. During the two and a half month trial, prosecutors brought more than 30 witnesses to testify against Lynch and claimed that he had finessed billions of dollars from Hewlett Packard. He was ultimately cleared of all charges, along with his codefendant, Stephen Chamberlain.

Two days before the Bayesian yacht sank with Lynch on board, Chamberlain was killed after being hit by a car while jogging.

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Body of last missing person, Lynch's daughter, retrieved from yacht wreck

PORTICELLO, Italy – Italian divers have retrieved the body of British tech magnate Mike Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah, who was the last person still unaccounted for after the family’s luxury yacht sank this week off Sicily .

Seven people, including Mr Lynch himself, died when the 56m-long sail boat, the Bayesian, capsized during a fierce, pre-dawn storm on Aug 19 off Porticello, near Palermo. Fifteen people survived, including Mr Lynch’s wife and the yacht’s captain.

Mr Lynch’s family is devastated and in shock, a spokesperson for the family said on Aug 23, in their first public comments since the yacht sank.

“Their thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy. They would like to sincerely thank the Italian coast guard, emergency services and all those who helped in the rescue,” the statement said.

“Their one request now is that their privacy be respected at this time of unspeakable grief.”

Prosecutors in the nearby town of Termini Imerese are looking into possible human error that might have led to the disaster. As yet, nobody has been placed under formal investigation and none of the survivors have commented publicly.

Hannah’s body was discovered on Aug 23 by specialist divers who have been scouring the submerged vessel for the past five days, a senior official with knowledge of the rescue operation said, declining to be named.

The five other dead passengers were recovered on Aug 21 and 22. The body of the only crew member who died, onboard chef Recaldo Thomas, was found near the wreck on Aug 19.

Official identification of the corpses and autopsies will take place in Palermo.

The sinking has puzzled naval marine experts, who say a boat like the Bayesian, built by Italian high-end yacht manufacturer Perini, should have withstood the storm and should not, in any case, have sunk as quickly as it did.

The yacht’s captain, Mr James Cutfield, his eight surviving crew members and passengers have been questioned by the coast guard on behalf of prosecutors. Investigators are due to hold a news conference on Aug 24.

Complex salvage operation

Mr Giovanni Costantino, CEO of the Italian Sea Group, which owns Perini, told Reuters the shipwreck was the result of a string of “indescribable, unreasonable errors” made by the crew, and ruled out any design or construction failings.

The Bayesian is lying on its side, apparently intact at a depth of 50m. Pulling it out of the sea may help investigators determine what happened, but the operation is likely to be complex and costly.

Mr Nick Sloane, a South African engineer who led the operation to salvage the Costa Concordia cruise liner that sank in 2012, said in Italian media interviews on Aug 23 that the operation would cost up to €15 million (S$22 million).

He told daily La Repubblica that salvaging the yacht would take six to eight weeks, including preparation work, and would have to be completed by mid-October, without specifying the reasons for the timing.

Bringing the yacht to the surface will have to be done “very, very slowly”, and might take a couple of days, he said.

Mr Lynch, 59, was one of Britain’s best-known tech entrepreneurs and had invited friends to join him on the yacht to celebrate his acquittal in June in a US fraud trial.

Among those who died in the wreck were Mr Lynch’s lawyer Mr Chris Morvillo and Mr Jonathan Bloomer, a Morgan Stanley banker who had appeared as a character witness in the case on his behalf.

Mr Lynch’s wife, Ms Angela Bacares, headed the company that owned the boat. REUTERS

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Mike Lynch death: Tributes flow for Autonomy cofounder and ‘creator of dreams’

It has now been confirmed that Mike Lynch, one of the most prominent and controversial figures in the U.K. tech scene, died in the sinking of his superyacht off Sicily on Monday. At least five others also died when the vessel capsized in a violent storm; Lynch’s teenage daughter Hannah remains missing.

I encourage you to read my colleague Ryan Hogg’s obituary of Lynch , who I was writing about just a couple weeks ago in the context of his legal travails. Following a lengthy extradition drama, Lynch, 59, was acquitted in June of criminal fraud charges relating to the sale of his data software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard in 2011. Indeed, his fateful trip with family, friends and lawyers was reportedly a celebration of that victory.

Morgan Stanley International chair Jonathan Bloomer, who had chaired Autonomy’s audit committee during the HP sale, and who testified in Lynch’s defense, also died in the sinking of the Bayesian. In a grotesque coincidence, Lynch’s also-acquitted codefendant in the U.S. trial, former Autonomy finance VP Stephen Chamberlain, was fatally struck by a car while jogging in England on Saturday.

Although he was acquitted in the U.S., a U.K. civil case over Autonomy’s misrepresentation of its financials to HP resulted in a ruling that Lynch had known what was going on. As a result, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (which has been handling the case since it was spun out of HP in 2015) had been hoping to recoup billions of dollars from Lynch and former Autonomy CFO Sushovan Hussain, who received a five-year sentence in the U.S. over the affair.

“We’re saddened by this tragic event and our thoughts are with the families and friends of all those who lost their lives,” said an HPE spokesman, while declining to comment on the future of the legal proceedings.

Friends say Lynch had been at the “beginning of a new life” following his U.S. acquittal, and many tributes followed the confirmation of his passing.

“The world has lost a genius. His family have lost a giant of a man,” said Autonomy cofounder David Tabizel.

“Mike Lynch should be remembered as the person who catalyzed a breed of deep tech entrepreneurs in the U.K.,” said John Browne, the former BP CEO and the chair of the Francis Crick Institute, a biomedical research center for which Lynch once helped to raise funds. “His ideas and his personal vision were a powerful contribution to science and technology in both Britain and globally. I send my condolences to those close to him. We have lost a human being of great ability.”

David Yelland, the former editor of The Sun and Lynch’s public relations advisor, said Lynch was “failed in life by his country and his peers when he needed them most—as he looked for help in the unjust U.S. demand that he be extradited—and he has then suffered the most unfair and brutal of fates.”

“I was in touch with Mike just before he sailed,” Yelland wrote on X . “He wasn’t a mere dreamer of dreams, he was a creator of dreams not just for himself but for all those that knew him, worked with him or invested with him.”

Lynch was a fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the board of which said it was “deeply saddened” to hear of his death. A spokesperson from industry body TechUK told the Evening Standard that Lynch had been “a hugely significant and pioneering figure in the U.K. technology sector.”

More news below. And do read my colleague Eleanor Pringle’s piece on X’s true owners , whose identities have just been revealed in the context of a lawsuit by former employees. Bill Ackman is no surprise, but the same can’t be said for Diddy.

David Meyer

Want to send thoughts or suggestions to Data Sheet? Drop a line  here .

Walmart sells JD.com stake. Walmart has sold its entire $3.7 billion stake in the Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com and says it will focus on its own Chinese operations now. As Reuters reports , the move may have something to do with how the ultra-competitive nature of Chinese e-commerce squeezes profit margins. Walmart has in recent years been pulling out of a few international markets where it can’t turn a decent profit.

Head-to-head spectacle. The second half of next month will see the unveiling of not one but two big plays in the augmented reality glasses space, The Verge reports . Snap will apparently show off the fifth generation of its Spectacles on Sept. 17, with Mark Zuckerberg revealing Meta’s entry into the AR specs business the following week. Meta’s effort is code-named Orion.

Google targeting teens. Not long after the Financial Times reported that Google broke its own rules by letting Meta target teens with its YouTube ads, Adweek reports that this was no one-off. Citing three ad buyers, plus written documentation, the publication says Google’s salespeople have been advising ad buyers on how to reach teenagers despite the fact that Google doesn’t allow targeting that age group. The key, it seems, is to target the cohort of “unknown” users, about whom Google doesn’t know age or other details, as teens are probably included in the group. Google says it will remind its reps not to help agencies and advertisers skirt the company’s rules.

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES

—The estimated number of trees felled to make space for Tesla’s gigafactory outside Berlin. That’s according to environmental intelligence company Kayrros; many environmental campaigners oppose the plant.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Russian users get locked out of Telegram and WhatsApp as Moscow intensifies internet censorship , by AFP

Another Tesla veteran resigned, writing it was ‘definitely not for the faint of heart’ , by Amanda Gerut

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Andreessen Horowitz leads $80 million bet on startup seeking to tame AI with copyright , by Jeff John Roberts

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BEFORE YOU GO

Plans laid for new streamer. There’s reportedly going to be a new streaming service in town, coming from…Chick-fil-A? According to Deadline , the fast-food company has been talking to big production companies about the creation of original, family-friendly content, with a tilt towards reality TV. The publication notes that Chick-fil-A has made content for its own website before, but this would be something else—and it could be a boon for the ailing reality TV sector.

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