Sail Area: 3,747 m² (equal to half a football pitch) ⚽
Cruising Speed: 14 knots 🚤💨
Top Speed: 21 knots 🚀
Decks: 8 🛳️
Guests: Accommodates 20 guests 👫
Crew: 20 crew members 👨✈️👩🍳
Touch-and-Go Helipad: Located on the bow 🚁
Underwater Observation Area: One-foot thick glass in the keel 🧐
Elevators: Multiple 🛗
Spiral Staircases: Free-floating 🌀
Garages: For 4 tenders and 1 submarine 🚤🔧
Design & Engineering 🏗️🔧
Hybrid System: Diesel-electric power package with controllable pitch propellers 🌱
Composite Masts: Largest globally, designed to withstand up to 90 knots of wind (Category 2 hurricane) 🌪️
Sails: Made from a combination of carbon and Technora fibers, covered with taffeta for UV protection 🏴☠️
Glass Windows: Touch-sensitive black glass with a magnifying effect 🌟🔲
Financials 💰📈
Price: Approximately $600 million 💵
Annual Running Cost: $50-75 million 💸
Construction Cost: Estimated at €400 million (£292 million or $451 million) 💶
Legal and Controversies ⚖️🚫
Seizure: In March 2022, Italian authorities seized Sailing Yacht A following the imposition of EU sanctions on Andrey Melnichenko due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine 🇺🇦🇮🇹
Initial Impoundment: The yacht, valued at $600 million, was impounded due to sanctions related to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which affected several Russian oligarchs and their assets 💣🚢
Legal Disputes: The yacht was previously arrested in Gibraltar in 2017 over a €15.3 million breach of contract claim by Nobiskrug 🚢⚖️
Draught Issues: The yacht faced technical and legal issues due to discrepancies in its draft, leading to modifications and additional weight adjustments ⚓
Historical Context 📅
Pre-Engineering Start: March 2011, with significant research and development financed by Melnichenko 🛠️
Launch Year: 2017 📅
Initial Name: Project 787 ‘White Pearl’ 🏷️
Construction Details 🏗️
Shipyard: Nobiskrug, based in Rendsburg, Germany 🇩🇪
Design Contributions: Philippe Starck provided both interior and exterior design, with additional structural elements by various international firms 🎨🔧
Fibers & Sails: The sails are a sophisticated blend of carbon and Technora fibers, enhancing performance and durability 🏴☠️
Unique Features ✨
Masts: Curved and towering 100 meters above the waterline 🌟
Sail Area: Massive total sail area for optimal performance 🌊
Glass Observation: One-foot thick glass for underwater views 🧐
Ownership & Management 💼
Owner: Andrey Melnichenko, a Russian billionaire and businessman 🌟
Management: The yacht was delivered to Melnichenko in Monaco after extensive sea trials and final inspections in Gibraltar 🚢
