1. The Sailing Yacht A - 142.81 m (469 feet)
Sailing Yacht A is the largest sailing yacht in the world, designed by French designer Philippe Stark (who also created the motoryacht A) for Russian billionaire Andrei Melnitchenko. Its ultramodern design breaks with the codes in force in the world of superyachts, especially sailing. This "sailboat" is distinguished by its very voluminous and high hull, which gives it more of a motoryacht look. Without its three carbon masts, it would be difficult to identify it as a sailboat.
With an interior volume of 12,600 gross tons and an area of 8 decks, the main features of the A are its underwater observation room, its hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and its state-of-the-art navigation systems. Other features include bomb-proof glass and 40 security cameras.
Its construction took place in the greatest secrecy, but the site is estimated at 30 million euros.
2. Black Pearl - 106.7m (350 feet)
This masterly 106.7 m long sailboat is immediately recognizable by its three DynaRig masts which support a sail area of 2,900 m2. Built for 5 years at the Dutch shipyard Oceanco, she was inspired by the Maltese Falcon (number 4 in our ranking).
The boat should be capable of making a transatlantic crossing using only 20 litres of diesel oil, thanks to a propeller system that recharges the batteries on board. In addition to this incredible autonomy, she is capable of sailing at an average speed of 20 knots.
3. Sea Cloud - 96.35 m (316 feet)
Sea Cloud is a four-masted steel-hulled barque, built in 1931 in the shipyards of Krupp Germania Werft in Kiel, Germany for the American stockbroker and billionaire Edward Francis Hutton. When she was built, she was called Hussar II and was the largest and most luxurious four-masted sailing ship of the time. Including the bowsprit, she is 109.5 m long
In 75 years of sailing, it will take no less than nine names ( Sea Cloud in 1935, IX-99 during World War II, Patria in 1961 or again Sea Cloud since 1978, after its restoration). And he had as many activities: private ship, diplomatic ship, weather station ship, submarine hunter ship, warship, tanker ship, training ship.
Today, after a complete restoration in 1978 to restore her to her former luxury, she belongs to the Sea Cloud cruise line. A maximum of 64 passengers (in 32 cabins) can embark on this luxury ship for a cruise.
4. Maltese Falcon - 88 m (289)
The "Maltese Falcon" (in French) is an 88-metre long, three-masted luxury sailing yacht built at the Turkish shipyard Perini Istanbul in 2006 for the multi-millionaire American businessman, Tom Perkins. Since then, she has been owned by Elena Ambrosiadou, CEO of the financial company Ikos. It is named after the John Huston film The Maltese Falcon released in 1941.
Its three carbon fibre masts are 60 m high and support 2400 m2 of sail area. Its rigging system - DynaRig - is composed of a self-supporting and rotating mast on which the yards are fixed perpendicularly and integrally, having a 12% curvature, unlike conventional rigging, to ensure the best efficiency. The sails stowed inside the masts unfurl automatically and the rotating masts are oriented according to the wind to be able to sail at any speed. It also has two Deutz engines of 1,800 HP each.
The Maltese Falcon is estimated to be worth $100 million.
5. Aquijo - 85.9 m (282')
The S.Y Aquijo is an 85.9 m long sailboat built by the Oceanco and Vitters shipyards in 2015, with a mast height of 91 m. Intended for charter, it accommodates up to 12 people on board in 7 cabins, including a master suite and three VIP cabins. This ketch can accommodate up to 17 crew members and offers a wide range of onboard entertainment: air conditioning, wi-fi, terraces, deck jacuzzi, gym...
