The chairman of a Bermuda-headquartered company is among the missing after the British-flagged luxury yacht, Bayesian, sank off the coast of Sicily on Monday morning, the BBC has reported.

Jonathan Bloomer, 70, and his wife Judy, were two of the six who were still missing after 15 people were rescued and one was confirmed dead.

The Briton joined international specialist insurer Hiscox Ltd last summer and became chairman in July last year.

The diversified international insurance group is listed on the London Stock Exchange and headquartered in Bermuda at Chesney House in Hamilton. The company has more than 3,000 staff across 14 countries and 32 offices.

Mr Bloomer is also the chairman of Morgan Stanley International bank.

Search, rescue and recovery continued on Tuesday as investigators continued to piece together what happened.

Others missing included British tech entrepreneur Mike Lynch, known as “Britain’s Bill Gates”, and his 18-year old daughter, Hannah.

The two others unaccounted for were lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife, Neda, a jewellery designer.

Mr Morvillo successfully defended Mr Lynch against US fraud charges and has been a partner at the Clifford Chance law firm in New York.

The Bayesian capsized at about 4.30am, according to ship-tracking site Marine Traffic cited by the BBC.

It sank with 22 people on board consisting of 12 passengers and a crew of ten.

The Bayesian is a 56-metre sailing superyacht built by Perini Navi in Italy. It was known for its unusual 75-metre single mast, one of the world's tallest made of aluminium (II).