private yacht atomic

ATOMIC current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of ATOMIC data.

40 Facts About Tolyatti

Written by Elfreda Solberg

Modified & Updated: 25 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Sherman Smith

• Automotive Industry Facts
• Russian Federation Facts
• Soviet Union Facts
• Volga River Facts

Tolyatti, situated on the banks of the beautiful Volga River, is a city that holds a plethora of fascinating facts and captivating stories. Located in the Samara Oblast of Russia, Tolyatti is not only known for its picturesque landscapes but also for its rich history and vibrant culture. As one of the largest cities in the country, Tolyatti has a population of over 700,000 people, making it a bustling hub of activity and a significant industrial center.

From being home to one of the largest automobile plants in Russia to having a diverse range of cultural attractions, Tolyatti offers a unique blend of modernity and tradition. In this article, we will delve into 40 intriguing facts about Tolyatti, uncovering the hidden gems that make this city truly special. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready to embark on a journey to discover the enchanting secrets of Tolyatti!

Key Takeaways:

• Tolyatti, the “automobile capital” of Russia, is a vibrant city with a rich cultural heritage, strong sports tradition, and a thriving automotive industry. It offers a diverse culinary scene, beautiful nature, and a welcoming community.
• With a population exceeding 700,000, Tolyatti is known for its strong focus on innovation, vibrant music and nightlife scenes, and a low crime rate. The city embraces technology, supports entrepreneurship, and has a growing film industry.

Tolyatti is the largest city in the Samara Oblast.

Tolyatti is a vibrant city located in the Samara Oblast of Russia. Covering an area of approximately 314 square kilometers, it is known as the “automobile capital” of Russia.

The city was founded in 1737 as a fortress.

Tolyatti was originally established as a fortress by the Russian Empire in 1737 to protect their territory from nomadic tribes.

The city was renamed Tolyatti in 1964.

Prior to 1964, Tolyatti was known as Stavropol-on-Volga. The city was renamed in honor of the Italian communist leader , Palmiro Togliatti.

Tolyatti is home to the largest car manufacturing plant in Russia.

The AvtoVAZ car factory, known for producing the iconic Lada vehicles, is located in Tolyatti. It is one of the city’s major economic contributors.

The Volga River flows through Tolyatti.

Tolyatti is situated on the banks of the Volga River , the longest river in Europe. The picturesque river adds to the natural beauty of the city .

Tolyatti has a population of over 700,000 people.

With a population exceeding 700,000 residents, Tolyatti is a bustling city with a diverse and vibrant community.

Tolyatti experiences a humid continental climate.

The city has distinct seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. The average temperature in January, the coldest month, is around -10 degrees Celsius, while in July, the warmest month, it can reach up to 25 degrees Celsius.

Tolyatti is known for its thriving automotive industry.

As the “automobile capital” of Russia, Tolyatti plays a significant role in the country’s automotive industry. It is home to various car manufacturing and engineering companies.

The city has a rich sports culture.

Tolyatti has a strong sports tradition, with ice hockey, football, and volleyball being popular among its residents. The city has professional teams competing at national and international levels.

Tolyatti is a major tourist destination in Russia.

With its beautiful landscapes, historical sites, and cultural attractions, Tolyatti attracts visitors from all over the world. Its proximity to the Volga River offers opportunities for water activities as well.

Tolyatti has several parks and green spaces.

The city is known for its abundance of parks and green spaces, providing residents and visitors with recreational areas for relaxation and outdoor activities.

The city has a well-developed transportation system.

Tolyatti has an extensive network of roads, buses, and taxis, making it convenient for residents and tourists to navigate throughout the city.

Tolyatti has a rich cultural heritage.

The city has numerous museums, theaters, and art galleries, showcasing its cultural diversity and history.

Tolyatti is home to the Zhiguli Museum of Automobile History.

The Zhiguli Museum offers a fascinating glimpse into the history of automobile manufacturing in Tolyatti and the development of the iconic Lada brand.

Tolyatti hosts the International Film Festival Kinoshock.

Each year, Tolyatti plays host to the Kinoshock International Film Festival, attracting filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world.

The city has a thriving nightlife scene.

Tolyatti boasts a variety of clubs, bars, and restaurants, offering entertainment options for locals and tourists to enjoy.

Tolyatti is known for its contemporary architecture.

The city showcases modern architectural designs, with several striking buildings and structures that add to its skyline.

Tolyatti has a strong educational system.

The city is home to numerous educational institutions, including universities, colleges, and schools, providing quality education to its residents.

Tolyatti has a diverse culinary scene.

The city offers a wide range of culinary delights, including traditional Russian dishes, international cuisine, and local specialties.

Tolyatti is a city of festivals.

Throughout the year, Tolyatti hosts various cultural, music, and sports festivals , adding to its vibrant atmosphere.

Tolyatti is known for its automotive-themed events.

The city organizes auto shows, rallies, and motor racing events, attracting enthusiasts and showcasing the latest advancements in the automotive industry.

Tolyatti has numerous shopping centers and markets.

Shopaholics can indulge in retail therapy at the city’s malls, boutiques, and traditional markets, offering a wide selection of products.

Tolyatti is surrounded by beautiful nature.

The city is blessed with picturesque landscapes, including forests, lakes, and nature reserves, providing opportunities for outdoor adventures.

Tolyatti has a strong sense of community.

The residents of Tolyatti are known for their warmth and hospitality, creating a close-knit and welcoming community.

Tolyatti is a hub for innovation and technology.

The city fosters technological advancements and innovation, attracting businesses and entrepreneurs in various sectors.

Tolyatti is home to the Tolyatti State University.

The Tolyatti State University offers a wide range of academic programs and research opportunities to students.

Tolyatti has a strong industrial base.

Aside from the automobile industry, the city is known for its production of machinery, chemicals, and other industrial products.

Tolyatti has a well-established healthcare system.

The city provides quality healthcare services, with modern hospitals, clinics, and medical facilities catering to the needs of its residents.

Tolyatti has a low crime rate.

The city has implemented effective measures to ensure the safety and security of its residents, resulting in a relatively low crime rate.

Tolyatti has a vibrant music scene.

The city hosts numerous music festivals, concerts, and performances, showcasing both local talent and renowned artists.

Tolyatti is known for its vibrant street art.

The city is adorned with colorful murals and graffiti, adding character and creativity to its streets.

Tolyatti is a major center for water sports.

With its proximity to the Volga River and surrounding lakes, Tolyatti offers opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities.

Tolyatti has a strong environmental focus.

The city is committed to sustainability and ecological preservation, implementing initiatives to protect its natural surroundings.

Tolyatti is well-connected to other major cities.

The city has excellent transportation links, including rail connections and an international airport, facilitating travel to and from Tolyatti.

Tolyatti is a center for engineering and technical expertise.

The city has a strong focus on engineering and technical education, producing skilled professionals in various fields.

Tolyatti is known for its annual motor show.

The city hosts an annual motor show, showcasing the latest advancements in automotive technology and attracting car enthusiasts from far and wide.

Tolyatti has a strong cultural identity.

With its rich history and diverse population, Tolyatti has developed a unique cultural identity that is celebrated throughout the city.

Tolyatti has a growing film industry.

The city has been the backdrop for various film productions, and its thriving film industry continues to grow in popularity.

Tolyatti is a city of innovation and entrepreneurship.

The city supports and encourages startups and entrepreneurial ventures, creating a dynamic business environment.

Tolyatti is a city that embraces technology.

With a strong focus on innovation, Tolyatti utilizes technology in various sectors, enhancing the quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Tolyatti is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant culture. From its origins as a planned industrial city to its modern developments and attractions, Tolyatti offers a unique blend of tradition and progress. With its picturesque location on the Volga River and its numerous landmarks and points of interest, Tolyatti is a destination worth exploring.Whether you’re interested in automotive history, nature, or simply experiencing the local lifestyle, Tolyatti has something for everyone. Make sure to visit the AvtoVAZ museum to learn about the city’s automotive heritage and the Tolyatti Embankment for stunning views of the Volga River.With its friendly locals, delicious cuisine, and diverse range of activities, Tolyatti promises an unforgettable experience. So, pack your bags and get ready to discover the wonders of this hidden gem in Russia. Tolyatti awaits!

1. What is the population of Tolyatti?

Tolyatti has a population of approximately 700,000 people.

2. How do I travel to Tolyatti?

Tolyatti is well-connected by air, rail, and road. The city has its own international airport, and there are regular train and bus services from major Russian cities.

3. Are there any famous landmarks in Tolyatti?

Yes, Tolyatti is home to several iconic landmarks such as the AvtoVAZ museum, the Tolyatti Embankment, and the Kuibyshev Square.

4. What is the climate like in Tolyatti?

Tolyatti has a temperate continental climate with hot summers and cold winters. The best time to visit is during the spring or autumn when the weather is pleasant.

5. What industries are prominent in Tolyatti?

Tolyatti is known for its automotive industry, with AvtoVAZ being the largest car manufacturer in Russia. The city also has a growing technology sector.

6. Are there any natural attractions near Tolyatti?

Yes, Tolyatti is surrounded by beautiful natural landscapes. Visitors can explore the Zhigulevsky National Park, which offers hiking trails, scenic viewpoints, and diverse flora and fauna.

7. What are some popular local dishes in Tolyatti?

Tolyatti is known for its delicious cuisine. Some popular local dishes include pelmeni (meat dumplings), borsch ( beetroot soup), and syrniki (cheese pancakes).

Tolyatti's location along the mighty Volga River has shaped its history and culture. As Russia's automotive capital, Tolyatti is home to cutting-edge manufacturing plants that drive the nation's economy. Visitors can explore the city's fascinating museums, vibrant festivals, and stunning natural surroundings, making Tolyatti a must-see destination for anyone interested in discovering the heart of Russia. For more captivating facts about the region, dive into the mysteries of the Volga River , uncover the secrets behind Chrysler's success , and embark on a journey through the enchanting city of Orenburg .

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

Share this Fact:

The global authority in superyachting

• NEWSLETTERS
• Yachts Home
• The Superyacht Directory
• Yacht Reports
• Brokerage News
• The largest yachts in the world
• The Register
• Yacht Advice
• Yacht Design
• 12m to 24m yachts
• Monaco Yacht Show
• Builder Directory
• Designer Directory
• Interior Design Directory
• Naval Architect Directory
• Yachts for sale home
• Motor yachts
• Sailing yachts
• Explorer yachts
• Classic yachts
• Sale Broker Directory
• Charter Home
• Yachts for Charter
• Charter Destinations
• Charter Broker Directory
• Destinations Home
• Mediterranean
• South Pacific
• Rest of the World
• Boat Life Home
• Owners' Experiences
• Conservation and Philanthropy
• Interiors Suppliers
• Owners' Club
• Captains' Club
• BOAT Showcase
• Boat Presents
• Events Home
• World Superyacht Awards
• Superyacht Design Festival
• Design and Innovation Awards
• Young Designer of the Year Award
• Artistry and Craft Awards
• Explorer Yachts Summit
• Ocean Talks
• The Ocean Awards
• BOAT Connect
• Between the bays
• Golf Invitational
• BOATPro Home
• Superyacht Insight
• Global Order Book
• Premium Content
• Product Features
• Testimonials
• Pricing Plan
• Tenders & Equipment

Atomic: built for comfortable long-range cruising

If the owner of the new Sunrise Yachts 45 metre Atomic ever tires of running his successful dive equipment company, there’s doubtless a job waiting for him at MI6.

In a staggering feat of subterfuge, he kept the build of Atomic entirely secret from his family, communicating with the Turkish yard in covert phone calls from his car and hush-hush emails. His cover was eventually blown on a family holiday in Antalya last summer, site of the big reveal. During dinner at a beachside restaurant, Atomic cruised into view, lights blazing. “What do you think of that yacht?” he asked his wife innocently. “Well, it’s yours.”

He kept the secret for 12 months, after signing terms with Sunrise Yachts in July 2013. Atomic – his first superyacht – was started on spec in 2010 as a sistership to Sunrise’s Africa , launched in 2009. The owner became aware of the project and fired off a speculative one-line email to Sunrise’s VP of sales and marketing, Jean-Claude Carme, who responded with the relevant information, not really believing anything would come of it. “I’m glad I answered that email,” he says with a smile as we tour the calm, beachy interior of Atomic at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.

Atomic was half finished when the owner bought it, giving Sunrise a challenging 12-month delivery deadline. “A lot was done: the hull, superstructure, fairing, insulation, engines and some systems,” says Carme, “but it was a tight schedule. We had to deliver in summer 2014 to accommodate the owner’s wishes to cruise the eastern Med before bringing the yacht to the US for the Fort Lauderdale show.”

How Atomic 's owner shaped her design

The owner got involved in time to tweak Atomic . “He’s an avid scuba diver, so we included mother-of-pearl insets and other marine components to the décor,” says Carme. “The client also decided to turn the garage into a dive centre with extensive sets of equipment, since he tows his tender. The sundeck and foredeck of Atomic have been redesigned as well. Meanwhile, red lines were painted on the yacht to match the décor of his jet, and a clay pigeon-shooting machine was mounted on the sundeck arch.”

Atomic shares exactly the same technical platform as Africa, as well as her Paolo Scanu exterior. And in the case of the engineering set-up, both boats carry the legacy of Sunrise CEO Guillaume Roché’s years as a yacht captain, namely in a superb technical tunnel running the length of the tank deck, connecting fore and aft engineering spaces. This level of crew access is very unusual on a 45 metre yacht, and its benefits are clear in crew miles saved and the ease of communication and diagnosis of issues.

This last job is made much more simple because the whole of Atomic is set up as a kind of Idiot’s Guide. Everywhere you look, hanging off pipes, trunking, engines, and all manner of knobs, wheels and switches are laminated sheets explaining the purpose of that particular item, and where to get spares in case anything should go wrong.

Keep it simple, stupid

It was important for Atomic ’s captain, Marvin Wilson, that everything on board live up to the KISS philosophy: keep it simple, stupid. Wilson was stationed in Turkey to oversee the last 12 months of the build, since to maintain secrecy the American owner couldn’t reasonably keep coming up with excuses to visit the country. In total, Carme says the yacht was in build for 26 months. Despite work starting in 2010, construction was slowed deliberately while he sought an owner and it’s a sign of this young yard’s ambition (Sunrise was established in Antlaya in 2007) that it’s not afraid to invest in spec builds, recognising that a growing number of clients have extreme expectations when it comes to delivery times. “For the client to be able to inspect an actual build rather than starting from a design makes a big difference,” Carme says.

Incorporating the owner's love of the sea with Atomic 's interior

The pressure to complete the fit-out of Atomic in 12 months is not apparent anywhere on board. The Franck Darnet interior is very easy on the eye and superbly finished, with headroom particularly impressive throughout. It’s not a moody design, nor massively idiosyncratic, and was partly put together before the owner had bought the boat, but that doesn’t make it any the less appealing. Big points for the French designer, therefore, who “focused on refining the subtle balance between space and materials, to provide a warm and comfortable feeling on board”.

Darnet, also responsible for the interior of Africa , adds: “The owner expressed to us his passion for the sea and for the submarine world. He wanted a certain atmosphere on board: clear, cosy, modern without being cold, elegant with beautiful materials. Those are the key words we used as a basis for our composition.” The light oak theme was an early choice before the owner was involved, and when Darnet presented his renderings after taking the above soundings, the owner said: “That’s perfect, don’t change anything!”

Despite Atomic sliding under the 500GT mark, all spaces on board feel big, which Darnet puts down to his background as a sailing yacht designer: “The optimisation of space is one of our key points; in the world of sailboats, every centimetre matters. We apply the same recipe to a motor yacht, and it’s one of the reasons why, as well as the remarkable height between decks, we have the space worthy of a 50 metre on Atomic .”

Atomic 's stunning staircase

The design highlight on board is the wonderfully tactile, sand-ripple staircase wall, which curls with you down to the guest cabins (comprising three doubles and a twin) on the lower deck. It’s never been done on a yacht, Darnet claims, and is therefore loath to divulge his secrets, only saying he worked with a Turkish sculptor to bring it to life. “I’m particularly proud of the result,” he says. “The idea was to reproduce the impression you have in an underwater dive. When you go down a level on the boat, you’re ‘diving under the sea’ in a universe surrounded with sand, and when you rise back up to the main deck, the intensity of the light is stronger. It’s the same when you’re diving.”

Atomic ’s layout largely conforms. The expansive main deck is split between a living room and formal dining, ahead of which is access up and down through the decks. The main galley is found here, too, making service to the main guest areas that much simpler. It’s a space clearly set up for use by guests and owner, since it has a domestic finish with plenty of marble and a big window out over the water. The owner’s area forward starts with a nook-cum-study, ahead of which is the full-beam bedroom and bathroom, the design of which reflects the comfortable tones of the main living areas.

The upper saloon really nails the cosy brief and is anchored by a long bar. Light floods in through big windows, and the whole space opens up via large doors onto the aft upper deck, where the formal outside dining is done. Up a level, the sundeck bar is protected by a large hardtop with classy wood surround, while forward is a spa pool. A few clues up here give an insight into the owner’s loves: a big TV sits behind the bar for watching sports, and on the rear of the hardtop a shooting trap sits ready to fling clay pigeons out over the ocean. Down below, with the tender – a 10.3 metre Intrepid – on a long tow out the back, and jet skis on the foredeck, the tender garage has become a fully equipped dive centre.

The owner is due to see some spectacular underwater sites, too, since his vision for the yacht is unequivocal: she’s going around the world, so the tried and tested hull and engineering set-up was a real bonus. “The hull was designed to be particularly effective in all sea conditions,” Carme says, “and most importantly to provide for great fuel efficiency and range with a reasonably sized engine package.” The bright red-painted lumps in the engine room are twin 1,070hp MTUs, offering an easy 12-knot cruise and range of 4,000 nautical miles. The skipper confirms Atomic is a miserly boat, sipping just 150 litres per hour at cruise and 85 litres at 10 knots, and doesn’t ship much water thanks to a pronounced knuckle in its forward sections.

Comfortable balanced with performance

So a supremely comfortable yacht inside and at sea, then, reinforcing Sunrise’s growing reputation as a builder of real pedigree. Turkish yacht building has had its detractors, but if the country keeps producing yachts like Atomic , they’ll soon run out of ammo. Carme says his company spares no expense in bringing in expertise to keep quality levels high, and points to other local yards like Proteksan, RMK and the Turkish arm of Perini Navi. Next down the line for Sunrise is a 63 metre designed by Espen Øino with an interior by Focus Yacht Design, so it’s having no trouble attracting big-name collaborators, either.

But the biggest tick against its work on Atomic is the owner, who is glowing in his praise. He visited the yacht just once during construction, when he signed the contract, so Carme and his colleagues would understandably have been nervous that balmy night in Antalya last summer, as not just the owner’s family, but also the owner himself, stepped on the completed yacht for the first time. But any fears quickly evaporated. “The Sunrise team have built me a masterpiece,” the owner declared. “ Atomic will be an awesome floating home, a base for great adventure.”

Superyacht Atomic specifications

LOA: 44.95m

Beam: 8.93m

Draught: (loaded) 2.91m

Displacement: 420 tonnes

Gross tonnage: 499GT

Engines: 2 x MTU 2000 M70, 12V

Speed (max/cruise): 16 knots/12 knots

Range: 4,000nm @ 12 knots

Owner and guests: 10

Tender: 10m Intrepid 327

Construction: Steel hull; aluminium superstructure

Naval architecture: Sunrise Yachts; Karatas Yacht Design

Exterior design: Studio Scanu

Interior design: Franck Darnet Design

Interior outfitter: Ekinoks Interiors

Builder/year: Sunrise Yachts/2014

More about this yacht

Yachts for charter, more stories, most recent, from our partners, sponsored listings.

Tolyatti: A Russian Homage To Italy

This is the curious story of a Russian city named after an Italian politician, Palmiro Togliatti.

“Togliatti” by Shine Phantom is licensed under CC BY 2.0

This is the curious story of a russian city named after an italian politician, palmiro togliatti.

There are cities which were made great by men, and men which have been made great by a city. This is the case of Palmiro Togliatti — a founding member and the longest serving secretary of the Italian Communist Party — and a Russian city located in Samara Oblast, known as Stavropol on Volga until 1964, which was then renamed Tolyatti, becoming the greatest tribute in the world to an Italian politician. The city of Tolyatti was named after him immediately after his death in Yalta — a seaside town in the then Soviet Union — on August 21st, 1964, as a result of a sudden stroke and cerebral bleed. He was on vacation, on his way to give his support for Brezhnev as Khrushchev’s successor.

Who was Palmiro Togliatti?

If you happen to travel around Italy, you may have noticed that in every Italian city — however big or small — there is a street named after Palmiro Togliatti. That’s because Togliatti was not just the charismatic secretary and one of the founders of the Italian Communist Party, but a legendary figure of Italian and international politics. He started his political career before World War I, joining the Italian Socialist Party in 1914, then serving as a volunteer, and returning home to Turin after being injured. During this period he learned about the Russian Revolution and became fascinated, wanting to bring soviet ideas to Italy. He became a founder of the Communist Party of Italy, which was a part of Communists International (Comintern). In fact, after the end of Fascism — during which he spent almost 17 years in Moscow, becoming one of the highest representatives of the Comintern with the blessing of Stalin — he came back to Italy as Deputy Prime Minister until 1945 and taking part in the Constituent Assembly until 1948, writing the current constitution of the Italian Republic. Under his political and intellectual leadership — enough to be nicknamed ‘The Best ’ — the Italian Communist Party would become the largest non-ruling party in Europe and the second in Italy, after the Christian Democracy, which was consistently the most popular Italian party until 1992, when the Cold War ended and the danger of a ‘ Soviet ’ turning point in Italy was warded off.

Nevertheless, the Communist Party ruled by Togliatti had a big influence in Italian society, especially regarding culture, and achieved great results in local elections within particular regions of Italy. Togliatti chose to become a Soviet Union citizen in 1930, in fact giving up Italian citizenship. What may have seemed like complete devotion to the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and its General Secretary Joseph Stalin, clashes with his next choice of refusing the head of the Communist Information Bureau proposed by Stalin himself in 1951, preferring to remain General Secretary of the Italian Communist Party. Throughout his career he supported his communist beliefs but fought to bring them to his beloved home country of Italy. Palmiro Togliatti wanted to fulfill his dream of a communist plan through democracy: the original ‘ Italian way to Socialism’.

Tolyatti, the Russian city

The Russian homage to Palmiro Togliatti was not chosen at random. In fact, a significant city was named after him: Stavropol on Volga became Tolyatti ( Togliatti Russianized) because right there — on the banks of Volga river — the Italian politician had a key role in building the popular AvtoVAZ factory, the manufacturer of the Lada car brand. And thus, in the 1960s, through cooperation with FIAT , the city took a new shape and a new name, because the old Stavropol on Volga was also covered by the Kuybyshev Hydroelectric Station. This infrastruscture was crucial for the development of a large industry. Therefore Tolyatti — just like what happened in Italy with Turin — became the working-class city par excellence, and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union made it a great vehicle for propaganda and experimentation. Many facilities were built, especially for sports, and new parks and monuments emerged in Tolyatti, which were made to represent the perfect Soviet city for the perfect Soviet citizen.

Not surprisingly, many popular athletes grew up in Tolyatti, such as the Olympic champion Alexei Nemov and the former ice hockey players Alexei Kovalev, Ilya Bryzgalov, Viktor Kozlov and Alexei Emelin. As you might imagine, ice hockey is very popular around there, and the local club sponsored by Lada is one of the best across Russia. Tolyatti, due to its vast spaces, has several monuments of national interest : Victory Park, a memorial dedicated to the Soviet victory in World War II built in the Auto Factory district; Liberty Square with its Obelisk of Glory dedicated to the fighters of World War II; the Mourning Angel standing in Central Park, a memorial to victims of political repression built after the end of the Communist era. Also the Transfiguration Cathedral, with its wonderful golden domes, was built after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Tolyatti was also the city where the great Russian painter Ilya Repin stayed for a brief period in 1870, painting his masterpiece ‘ Barge Haulers on the Volga’. The house where he stayed then became a monument.

Last but not least, among the most meaningful monuments of Tolyatti is ‘ Loyalty’. It is a bronze statue dedicated to a faithful dog, called ‘ Kostya’, who survived a car accident in which its owners lost their lives. Like what happened in Japan with Hachiko, Kostya wouldn’t give up, waiting for its owners for seven consecutive years at the same spot. Under the snow and the rain, winter and summer, the dog stayed there, running up to all the passing cars and hoping one day to again see its beloved masters. Only his own death let him abandon his spot, but Tolyatti citizens unanimously wanted to honor the loyalty of Kostya, building a sculpture in his memory. I could say no place was more appropriate than Tolyatti, because the city’s namesake itself represents a great metaphor of loyalty: that of Palmiro Togliatti to the Soviet Union.

Support our independent project!

Sign up now  

Terms & Conditions .

We value your privacy

Privacy overview.

Mike Lynch, recently acquitted in HP-Autonomy fraud case, is missing after yacht capsized off Sicily (updated)

Update : Authorities have yet to access the inside of the sunken yacht, and Mike Lynch is still classified as missing. Other details have emerged in the interim.

The accident appears to have been caused by a major storm and a resulting tornado-like water column that ensnared and damaged the yacht. Among the other six people still missing are Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter and Morgan Stanley International chairman Jonathan Bloomer. The voyage was to celebrate Lynch being acquitted of criminal charges in the U.S., and several members of his legal team were also on board. (The ship was registered to Lynch’s wife, one of the survivors.) By a terrible coincidence, the other person acquitted in Lynch’s trial — Autonomy’s finance head Stephen Chamberlain — had died just the week before when he was hit by a car while out jogging. Original article continues below.

Mike Lynch, the investor and high-profile founder of U.K. tech firm Autonomy, has been declared missing at sea after the yacht he was on, the Bayesian , capsized in a storm off the coast of Sicily early Monday morning.

TechCrunch confirmed with a source close to the rescue operation that Lynch is one of six people missing from the boat. Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, is one of the 15 who have been rescued. One body has been found.

The news is a dramatic, tragic development for one of the more colorful, and sometimes controversial, figures in technology out of the U.K.

Lynch’s enterprise technology firm Autonomy was acquired in 2011 by HP for $11 billion — a major milestone for U.K. technology. But it quickly turned sour, and HP sued Lynch and other executives at the company, arguing it was misled in the transaction.

HP claimed that the deal led to a $4 billion loss — money it then demanded from Lynch and his former CFO. Lynch (pictured above, left) long asserted that he acted in good faith and that he was being made into a scapegoat over a merger gone bad.

That legal drama went on for more than a decade and involved a host of other thorny chapters, including Lynch’s extradition to the U.S. and a lot of very bad publicity for Lynch. It also led to a second civil case that took place in 2022 in the U.K., which Lynch lost.

The U.S. criminal case, where Lynch was charged with 15 counts of fraud and conspiracy, went to trial earlier this year in San Francisco. Finally, in June, Lynch was acquitted .

“I am elated with today’s verdict and grateful to the jury for their attention to the facts over the last ten weeks. My deepest thanks go to my legal team for their tireless work on my behalf,” Lynch said at the time. “I am looking forward to returning to the UK and getting back to what I love most: my family and innovating in my field.”

In the interim years, Lynch built up a profile in the U.K. as an investor, most prominently as the founder of Invoke Capital . The VC firm was the biggest investor in cybersecurity firm Darktrace, a connection that was not without its own controversy . It also invested in Sophia Genetics , Featurespace and Luminance, among others. And it appeared that this is the route that he was set to continue.

Our thoughts go out to his family, friends and colleagues. We’ll update this post as we learn more.

More TechCrunch

Get the industry’s biggest tech news, techcrunch daily news.

Every weekday and Sunday, you can get the best of TechCrunch’s coverage.

Startups Weekly

Startups are the core of TechCrunch, so get our best coverage delivered weekly.

TechCrunch Fintech

The latest Fintech news and analysis, delivered every Tuesday.

TechCrunch Mobility

TechCrunch Mobility is your destination for transportation news and insight.

Fintech shutdowns, Klarna’s move into banking and which companies are hiring

Welcome to TechCrunch Fintech! This week, we’re looking at the respective demise of Tally and Score, plus examining Klarna’s latest business move. We also have a list of fintech companies…

How Fabric plans to make advanced cryptography ubiquitous

Fabric has developed a custom RISC-V-based chip that is optimized to run the algorithms necessary to establish zero-knowledge proofs and enable fully homomorphic encryption.

Life sciences investor BEVC raising $25M climate fund

BEVC is the latest life sciences VC to add planetary health to its portfolio, suggesting that the trend is catching hold.

YouTube takes on TikTok Shop with expanded Shopify partnership

As TikTok Shop gains traction, YouTube is expanding its partnership with Shopify to onboard more brands for its YouTube Shopping affiliate program, the company announced on Tuesday. The expanded partnership…

Waymo is now giving 100,000 robotaxi rides a week

Waymo disclosed Tuesday it’s now giving more than 100,000 paid robotaxi rides every week across its three main commercial markets in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Phoenix. Those figures were…

Discover how founders and investors are saving the planet at TechCrunch Disrupt 2024

Until recently, saving the world usually didn’t involve turning a profit. But as the world has warmed, a range of startups and investors have emerged that have squared the circle,…

4 days left to save big on TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets

The countdown continues! You have 4 days left to lock in your TechCrunch Disrupt 2024 tickets at the discounted rate. Don’t miss the chance to save up to $600 —…

US government accuses Iran of Trump campaign hack; Iran scoffs

On Monday, the U.S. government formally accused Iran of hacking the Donald Trump campaign. In a joint statement issued by the FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence…

Thirty-nine state AGs now support Live Nation-Ticketmaster lawsuit

The United States Department of Justice filed a major lawsuit against Live Nation-Ticketmaster in May, arguing that the entertainment giant is acting as a monopoly. An additional 10 state attorneys…

Sarah Buchner started as a carpenter when she was 12 — now her AI construction startup has raised $20 million

Construction companies deal with a lot of documents — so many that it can be difficult to process and manage them all. According to one recent survey, a third of…

The Rounds scoops up $24M to bring its ‘household restocking’ delivery service to more markets

The Rounds, the startup that delivers recurring grocery and household essentials in reusable packaging, announced on Monday its $24 million Series B funding round. The new capital will go toward…

Defcon AI closes $44M seed round to solve a problem of ‘maximum complexity’: Military logistics

The U.S. Department of Defense is a mammoth organization. It not only employs millions of service members and hundreds of thousands of civilian employees, but also has the world’s largest…

Eppo lands new cash to grow its app, website and AI experimentation business

Eppo has closed a new funding round that values the company at over $100 million.

BeyondMath’s ‘digital wind tunnel’ puts a physics-based AI simulation to work on F1 cars

Simulating the real world is a tremendously complex problem if you want to do it at any useful level of fidelity. Traditional techniques are holding back design teams at vehicle…

Starpath accelerates moon water mining plans with $12M in funding

NASA and the space industry are in agreement: If we want to establish a permanent human presence on the moon, we’ll need to make use of every native resource we…

Reliant’s paper-scouring AI takes on science’s data drudgery

AI models have proven capable of many things, but what tasks do we actually want them doing? Preferably drudgery — and there’s plenty of that in research and academia. Reliant…

Update: Authorities have yet to access the inside of the sunken yacht, and Mike Lynch is still classified as missing. Other details have emerged in the interim. The accident appears…

US tech giants fight Indian telcos’ bid to regulate internet services, pay for network usage

Global technology giants are pushing back against attempts by India’s telecom networks to bring internet services under stricter regulation, rejecting arguments that such measures are necessary to create a “level…

Pakistan’s PostEx to enter new markets, starting with Saudi Arabia

Pakistani startup PostEx is entering Saudi Arabia as first global market after hitting $21 million ARR in the South Asian nation.

Demand for AI is driving data center water consumption sky high

The AI boom is fueling the demand for data centers and, in turn, driving up water consumption. (Water is used to cool the computing equipment inside data centers.) According to…

The Waymo robotaxi honking problem has been resolved for real this time

The group honking was an unintended consequence of Waymo’s tech.

What margins? AI’s business model is changing fast, says Cohere founder

OpenAI and Anthropic spend billions of dollars a year training models like GPT-4 and Claude, but competitive price dumping is making the business around these platforms rather precarious. Aidan Gomez,…

TechCrunch Space: Spending less

Hello, and welcome back to TechCrunch Space. Did you hear? Bridgit Mendler will be joining me onstage at this year’s TechCrunch Disrupt to talk all things ground stations. She’s just…

Gemini Live could use some more rehearsals

What’s the point of chatting with a human-like bot if it’s an unreliable narrator — and has a colorless personality? That’s the question I’ve been turning over in my head…

Now a million people can watch you fumble Zoom’s screen-share settings at once

Zoom on Monday announced a new single-user webinar feature that caps out at 1 million attendees. The addition comes less than a month after the #WinWithBlackWomen fundraiser for Vice President…

Could Trump’s AI-generated Taylor Swift endorsement be illegal?

On Sunday, former President Donald Trump posted a collection of memes on Truth Social — the platform owned by his media company — that make it seem like Taylor Swift…

Swarmbotics founders grew ‘obsessed with robot swarms’ and now plan to bring them to the battlefield

Few truly autonomous systems are deployed on the battlefield, but one startup is looking to change that with robotic systems that use cooperative behavior to boost troops’ intelligence and tactical…

Former a16z VC Balaji Srinivasan obtained a private island for his new longevity ‘technocapitalist’ school

Former a16z-investor Balaji Srinivasan has booked out an island in Singapore to create his own “Network School.”

FlightAware warns that some customers’ info has been ‘exposed,’ including Social Security numbers

The flight tracking company says the misconfiguration exposed customer names, addresses, and pilot’s data, as well as Social Security numbers.

A surprising number of ‘iPad Kids’ are on X, study finds

Over 30% of 7- to 9-year-olds have an X account, according to a new report.