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Meet Project Sonata, a Rule-Breaking 351-Foot Sailing Yacht That Cruises Like a Luxury Liner

If ever built, sonata would be a first for sailing superyachts. it would have high-tech sails, but would ride more like a motoryacht., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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What do you call a superyacht concept that takes the progressive learnings from the world’s leading new builds and packs them together in one visionary design? You call it Project Sonata. With three DynaRig systems inspired by the legendary sailing yacht Black Pearl , an inverted bow to slice through waves and enough space on board to compete with a motoryacht, could the 351-foot hybrid sailing yacht have it all?

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Project Sonata is the work of emerging Swiss studio Valentin Design. Headed up by industrial designer Valentin Weigand, winner of Young Designer of the Year 2020, and naval architect Romain Acquaviva, the duo have their eyes set on a more sustainable, smarter, and buildable yacht.

“Our aim is to create a sailing superyacht that is more accessible to clients than the ones currently in the water,” Weigand told Robb Report . “Many clients are scared off by how complicated they perceive sailing yachts to be, requiring large numbers of crew and complicated rigs. We want to offer something that combines the joy of sailing with the ease and comfort of a motoryacht.”

The master stateroom, encased in a glass bubble, offers immediate access to the outdoors.  Courtesy Valentin Design

Sustainability is also key to the concept. Two diesel electric engines generate recuperative energy through the yacht’s propellers while sailing, supplying enough power for the hotel load and to charge its Lithium-Sulfur battery pack. The 4MW batteries, developed by Oxys Energy, are free of heavy metals, such as cobalt, and are considered safer than Li-ion batteries.

The pair have strengthened their proposition by drawing on the expertise of Derek Munro, director at Divergent Yachting, who was instrumental in the construction of Oceanco ’s groundbreaking build Black Pearl .

“Derek has first-hand experience on what can be optimized or simply didn’t work with Black Pearl ,” said Weigand, “and we’ve worked that into the design of Project Sonata to eliminate those points.”

The beamy exterior looks more like a motoryacht than a sailing vessel, with access to the outdoors and water.  Courtesy Valentin Design

What works includes a 16-foot retractable keel that saves 6.5-feet of draft when required. The considerable DynaRig is low in maintenance yet highly durable, meaning a smaller crew is required. And, like Black Pearl , the tips of the masts can be unmounted to give enough clearance to sail under the Bridge of the Americas, and access the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal.

“ Black Pearl’s masts underwent three years of engineering and are proven to be highly efficient,” said Weigand. “By using the same molds on Project Sonata, we save time and money. In the same vein, the seating arrangement aboard Black Pearl is not ideal for heeling. We’ve ensured all exterior decks have been designed with heeling in mind.”

That said, Project Sonata has also undergone computational fluid dynamics studies to ensure it performs when sailing without heeling too much. “Most sailing superyachts’ main functions are regattas, which means they are super-fast, super light and heel a lot,” Acquaviva told Robb Report . “This can be really scary for owners who are used to stability and comfort, so our design prioritizes the guest experience. Our inverted hull extends the waterline length and cuts through waves.”

Courtesy Valentin Design

At 2,992 gross tonnes, the interior volume is sizable, complemented by features that follow the current trend for a connection to the outdoors. “The only thing our design lacks is a large swimming pool, which requires too much space on a sailing yacht,” said Weigand. “We’ve mitigated that with multiple exterior platforms to access the sea itself.”

A large sun deck affords alfresco dining. On the interior, glass is king, creating a design without visual borders. The master stateroom, spread across two decks, is virtually encased in a glass bubble. The VIP cabin enjoys direct access to its own private beach club, making a novel charter proposition. A double height atrium in the formal dining area speaks of elaborate guest entertainment. This also supports the studio’s intention to make the forward areas formal, so as guests move aft the more causal the design becomes.

Project Sonata, presented to the world by Ocean Independence, is a bold proposal from a studio made up of keen sailors, but whose sailing yacht designs to date have been limited to the 50-foot range. But that hasn’t deterred the dynamic pair.

Sonata’s inverted bow is as distinctive as its masts.  Courtesy Valentin Design

“I’ve been sailing on boats since I was kid and worked in refit and construction for over 12 years,” said Acquaviva. “I understand what an owner wants from a sailing yacht, but equally what the crew need. When combined with visionary design and fully engineered naval architecture, we believe that’s a winning formula.”

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Bayliner 335

United States of America

OFFERED BY:

SouthMountainYachts.com

DECK & COCKPIT:Extended Swim Platform w Rails &Bait Tank; TransomShower & StereoControls; Molded Steps - Access to Foredeck; Trunk Storage; Wet...

Houseboat Project

Norfolk (United Kingdom)

This houseboat project would be perfect for someone looking to design their own floating home. Work has been started but now needs someone to either re-start it or continue with the project! ...

Westerley Discus 33

Kralendijk (Bonaire)

Yacht Broker Caribbean BV

The original idea was to convert a sailboat into a passenger day sailboat, featuring a spacious open cockpit with a Bimini roof. This way, we aim to offer tourists an enjoyable sailing excursio...

Custom Boats PROJECT ABACOS

$15,834,987 *

Waalwijk (Netherlands)

Denison Yacht Sales

From renowned design house, Vickers Studio, comes a head-turning 30m yacht project with a striking vertical bow design combined with a sleek and modern profile. This 30m beauty seamlessly combi...

RMK Project Aries

$34,047,925 *

Drettmann Yachts GmbH

Project ARIES is currently under construction, offering her new owner the unique opportunity for full customization. She is being built by RMK Marine, and her delivery is scheduled for 2025. Th...

Ardrossan (United Kingdom)

Euroyachts (Largs)

Boat has been out of the water for 8-10 years , Hull is in great condition as are the Engines, Shafts, Propellers, internally she needs some upgrading History of this boat s...

Custom Boats Curacao Fishing vessel

Local Bonaire fishing boat for sale by Yes something new, built from Wood and Fiberglass, Strong, for the rest of your life. Start & Go, you can improve the vessel with a fridge, toilet, ...

Kolibri (project) 900

onbekend (Netherlands)

Scheepsmakelaardij Goliath

light, fast, well-maintained vessel with good sailing characteristics Very fully equipped seaworthy sailing vessel with enormous space, good sailing characteristics and ideal for family vacati...

Marine Projects Sigma 33C

Walton on the Naze (United Kingdom)

David Morris Ltd

1980 Sigma 33C, "Irela III", fin keel, fractional rig, tiller steering, Sole 26hp diesel, sails new around 5 years ago, stack pack, sprayhood, lots of gear, lightly used. MECHANICAL Sole 26hp...

Marine Projects Moody 31 Mk II

Tollesbury Marina (United Kingdom)

1989 Moody 31 Mk II, fin keel, Volvo Penta 28hp diesel, fully battened mainsail with stack pack, hull epoxy coated in 2021/2, heating & hot water, self tailing sheet winches, chart plotter,...

Marine Projects PRINCESS 32 RIVIERA

Puglia (Italy)

Marina Yacht Sales srl

Icon of the Marin Project shipyard, this sport cruiser with excellent construction characteristics and solid materials, offers yachtsmen ample space and excellent seakeeping even in adverse con...

Willemstad (Curaçao)

The Burger 630 has undergone a haul-out, necessitating a comprehensive inspection of the entire wiring system. The vessel was received with all equipment detached from the main batteries and ge...

Marine Projects PRINCESS 45 FLY

Mar Tirreno (Italy)

ENGLISH EXCELLENCE IN THE PRODUCTION OF LUXURY YACHTS. GOOD GENERAL CONDITIONS THANKS TO PRECISE AND PUNCTUAL MAINTENANCE GOOD GENERAL CONDITIONS + AGENCY FEES. FOR INFOFRANCESCO INTERIORS: 1 B...

Birchwood Boats 33 GT

Portishead (United Kingdom)

A stunning example of a beautifully maintained, well constructed, river, canal and sea cruiser. Seldom seen in such condition, and with the added safety of twin diesel engines. Travel aboard in...

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Meet Project Sonata, a Rule-Breaking 351-Foot Sailing Yacht That Cruises Like a Luxury Liner

What do you call a superyacht concept that takes the progressive learnings from the world’s leading new builds and packs them together in one visionary design? You call it Project Sonata. With three DynaRig systems inspired by the legendary sailing yacht Black Pearl , an inverted bow to slice through waves and enough space on board to compete with a motoryacht, could the 351-foot hybrid sailing yacht have it all?

Project Sonata is the work of emerging Swiss studio Valentin Design. Headed up by industrial designer Valentin Weigand, winner of Young Designer of the Year 2020, and naval architect Romain Acquaviva, the duo have their eyes set on a more sustainable, smarter, and buildable yacht.

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“Our aim is to create a sailing superyacht that is more accessible to clients than the ones currently in the water,” Weigand told Robb Report . “Many clients are scared off by how complicated they perceive sailing yachts to be, requiring large numbers of crew and complicated rigs. We want to offer something that combines the joy of sailing with the ease and comfort of a motoryacht.”

Courtesy Valentin Design

Sustainability is also key to the concept. Two diesel electric engines generate recuperative energy through the yacht’s propellers while sailing, supplying enough power for the hotel load and to charge its Lithium-Sulfur battery pack. The 4MW batteries, developed by Oxys Energy, are free of heavy metals, such as cobalt, and are considered safer than Li-ion batteries.

The pair have strengthened their proposition by drawing on the expertise of Derek Munro, director at Divergent Yachting, who was instrumental in the construction of Oceanco ’s groundbreaking build Black Pearl .

“Derek has first-hand experience on what can be optimized or simply didn’t work with Black Pearl ,” said Weigand, “and we’ve worked that into the design of Project Sonata to eliminate those points.”

What works includes a 16-foot retractable keel that saves 6.5-feet of draft when required. The considerable DynaRig is low in maintenance yet highly durable, meaning a smaller crew is required. And, like Black Pearl , the tips of the masts can be unmounted to give enough clearance to sail under the Bridge of the Americas, and access the Pacific Ocean through the Panama Canal.

“ Black Pearl’s masts underwent three years of engineering and are proven to be highly efficient,” said Weigand. “By using the same molds on Project Sonata, we save time and money. In the same vein, the seating arrangement aboard Black Pearl is not ideal for heeling. We’ve ensured all exterior decks have been designed with heeling in mind.”

That said, Project Sonata has also undergone computational fluid dynamics studies to ensure it performs when sailing without heeling too much. “Most sailing superyachts’ main functions are regattas, which means they are super-fast, super light and heel a lot,” Acquaviva told Robb Report . “This can be really scary for owners who are used to stability and comfort, so our design prioritizes the guest experience. Our inverted hull extends the waterline length and cuts through waves.”

At 2,992 gross tonnes, the interior volume is sizable, complemented by features that follow the current trend for a connection to the outdoors. “The only thing our design lacks is a large swimming pool, which requires too much space on a sailing yacht,” said Weigand. “We’ve mitigated that with multiple exterior platforms to access the sea itself.”

A large sun deck affords alfresco dining. On the interior, glass is king, creating a design without visual borders. The master stateroom, spread across two decks, is virtually encased in a glass bubble. The VIP cabin enjoys direct access to its own private beach club, making a novel charter proposition. A double height atrium in the formal dining area speaks of elaborate guest entertainment. This also supports the studio’s intention to make the forward areas formal, so as guests move aft the more causal the design becomes.

Project Sonata, presented to the world by Ocean Independence, is a bold proposal from a studio made up of keen sailors, but whose sailing yacht designs to date have been limited to the 50-foot range. But that hasn’t deterred the dynamic pair.

“I’ve been sailing on boats since I was kid and worked in refit and construction for over 12 years,” said Acquaviva. “I understand what an owner wants from a sailing yacht, but equally what the crew need. When combined with visionary design and fully engineered naval architecture, we believe that’s a winning formula.”

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By SuperyachtNews 08 Aug 2022

Inside the launch of the longest sailing yacht ever built

Following months of controversy and trepidation, the world's largest sailing yacht is now officially rigged and afloat….

On the 2nd of August Oceanco officially launched Project Y721 - the world's largest sailing yacht and the longest yacht ever built in the Netherlands*. The initial launch took place during the early hours of a Tuesday morning, under the cover of darkness, at the Alblasserdam shipyard. The 127m schooner was then transported to Greenport, in Rotterdam, where the fore, main and mizzen mast were stepped. 

The news regarding the vessel's launch and successful transit has been slightly subdued considering the significance of the records it has already broken. The event of a launch is usually somewhat celebratory, partly out of respect and gratitude for the thousands of workers who have contributed to building what is ultimately an extremely impressive piece of naval architecture. However, because of the recent media storm surrounding the De Hef bridge, it was imperative for the shipyard to ensure that the launch and transit do not attract any unwanted attention.

To say that many of the news articles surrounding Project Y721 were sensationalised and misinformed, would be an understatement. Of course, there is an element of public interest, and tracking billionaire luxury assets has become something of a sport on some social media channels. However, while it is largely speculated, there is not yet any actual proof that this vessel belongs to Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos.

There will inevitably be those who disagree with the idea of dismantling a bridge that is older than the Great Depression and the Second World War for the sake of a billionaire's luxury superyacht. With that being said, the degree of public disdain that was directed towards the superyacht industry was surprising for many stakeholders, and will most likely go down as a lesson learned in the value of PR and proper journalism as an antidote to clickbait. The general reportage surrounding Project Y721 implied that the existence of the bridge had come as a surprise to the shipyard and that they hadn't considered how it would be able to make it out to the open sea. However, this is simply not the case.

Oceanco has been around since 1987, and as a waterfront enterprise, one of the most important relationships that Oceanco have is with the national authority for the waterways (the Rijkswaterstaat) . The Rijkswaterstaat assist with the monitoring and controlling of traffic along the rivers when the shipyard needs to move their yachts to and from the facilities out to a harbour and the North Sea. Oceanco have already delivered 5 superyachts over 100 metres in length, including the 107m sailing yacht Black Pearl.

The shipyard has been using the waterways for over two decades and uses it to launch and deliver some of the most iconic superyachts to date. Oceanco has previously highlighted the significance of the Van Brienenoord Bridge when transporting superyachts through Rotterdam. The shipyard has extensive ongoing communications and a constructive long-term relationship with the authorities in charge of the bridge’s operations, as they look to minimize the impact on road traffic by limiting opening times.

A spokesperson for Oceanco explained, “There are two route options available and the choice is ours depending on timings and logistics. The first, shorter route is via Rotterdam, passing through the Van Brienenoord Bridge and Erasmusbridge, while the second is via the ‘Oude Maas’, which passes through bridges at Alblasserdam, Dordrecht, and Spijkenisse.” With regards to Project Y721, the yacht itself took the ‘Oude Maas’ route, while the masts were delivered via the slightly shorter ‘Nieeuwe Maas’ route which passes through the city centre.

The superyacht is currently moored up in Greenport, just 30 kilometres away from the open sea. It is yet to undergo sea trials and delivery. The name of the vessel also has not yet been revealed and its AIS tracking information is not available to the public.

* Yes, we know about Sailing Yacht A. So, maybe now would be a good time to consider what differentiates a true sail yacht from a large motor yacht with sails. Maybe Project Y721 is actually the longest schooner in the world? But then again, who even decides what a sailing yacht is these days?... I sense an opinion piece coming along….

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Latest 24m sailing yacht Project AANDEEL by Adam Voorhees

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Written by Zuzana Bednarova

The graceful 24-metre sailing yacht Project Aandeel represents the latest project, developed by Adam Voorhees from the Netherlands. Originally designed by Sparkman&Stevens and launched in 1996 as luxury yacht Sleighride , which was subsequently refitted at Westerly Marine in California, superyacht Aandeel is the first project designed entirely by Adam Voorhees Design. This beautiful sloop embodies a sense of directness in the built form and honesty in materiality, mixing up the latest technology to meet the demands for high performance sailing as well as casual, elegant living.

24m sailing yacht Project Aandeel by Adam Voorhees

Luxury yacht Aandeel is the perfect result of a complete, two year rebuild involving entirely new interiors, exteriors, and systems. Based on the Sparkman&Stephens platform of luxury yacht Sleighride , the design brief calls for automated sail handling systems so the owner can take her out by himself, but also refined and luxurious spaces for entertaining and relaxing with lots of friends and family onboard.

Aandeel Yacht - aft view

Pre-preg carbon construction, water ballast, and a generous sailplan ensure fast and easy sailing. Reflected both inside and out, particular attention has been placed on the idea of comfortable living in multifunctional spaces that maximize versatility and heighten the relationship between the users and the nautical environment.

Luxury yacht Aandeel - Exterior

Custom furniture pieces commissioned by the owner and interactive lighting details also contribute to the uniqueness of the Aandeel yacht. The lack of visual noise and an ethos of complexity hidden by simplicity define the yacht’s eminently livable, essential aesthetic.

Superyacht Aandeel - Interior

Aandeel Yacht - Cabin

Technical Specifications of Aandeel yacht project by Adam Voorhees:

Type _ High Performance Sloop Construction _ pre-preg carbon Length OA _ 23.5m / 77’3″ Length WL _ 23.0m / 75’5″ Beam _ 5.6m / 18’4” Draft _ 3.6m / 11’9″ Displacement _ 20.5 tons

Please contact CharterWorld - the luxury yacht charter specialist - for more on superyacht news item "Latest 24m sailing yacht Project AANDEEL by Adam Voorhees".

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Florida charter yacht REAL SUMMERTIME offering 10% discount

Westport announce the first hull of their 36m W117 range is nearing completion

Superyacht LAUNCHPAD previously Feadship 1010 delivered

Croatian charter yacht LA PERLA offering 10% discount on exclusive vacations in the Adriatic

33m luxury yacht FREEDOM for charter in the Caribbean and New England

Charter a yacht during the Monaco Historic and F1 Grand Prix festivals and soak up the atmosphere from on deck

News from Feadship about superyachts PROJECT 712 and PROJECT 715

39m luxury yacht EVOLUTION for charter on Australia’s east coast

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Six facts about the build of Sailing Yacht A

One of the largest superyachts in the world , the 142.81 metre Sailing Yacht A has pushed the boundaries of yacht building. We reveal some of the most amazing facts about how this boat came to be.

The construction of Sailing Yacht A

This incredible superyacht was commissioned by Andrey Melnichenko. As owner of Motor Yacht A , we knew Sailing Yacht A would be anything but conventional. Melnichenko is one owner who delights in challenging the status quo and moving the game on, introducing new techniques and technologies in his yacht projects. Sailing Yacht A ticks both boxes: at 142.81 metres LOA, the “sail-assisted motor yacht” is one of the largest superyachts in the world.

Working once again with Philippe Starck on the design, Melnichenko assembled his own team to take the project from concept to completion. He chose Dirk Kloosterman, a veteran project manager of superyacht builds, to lead it. Kloosterman was involved in the build of Larry Ellison’s Rising Sun before taking on Motor Yacht A for Melnichenko.

Sailing Yacht A  is his biggest undertaking. Kloosterman’s first challenge was to find a shipyard with the capabilities to build such a vessel. Few major deep-water shipyards wanted to take on the risk of such a radical project, but Nobiskrug’s purchase of part of the HDW yard in Kiel, Germany, presented an opportunity.

“This was an excellent facility, with its large docks and the draught needed for the project,” Kloosterman says. “In March 2011, we signed the deal for pre-engineering to start. It was made clear to the yard that the team wanted large input and control over the build so the standard tender-and-bid process, with the yard supplying subcontractors, was scrapped. Cost control for an eight-deck motor yacht, with the added dimension of sailing, was going to prove challenging.”

Sailing Yacht A's imposing scale

Sailing Yacht A is a sharp, three-masted motor yacht with sailing potential, constructed mostly in steel incorporating composite and carbon fibre to keep weight down. In profile from her high bow, the sheerline climbs aft, before dropping down to an almost retroussé stern. The line is seamless, without interruption or sight of any deck equipment, anchors, balconies or openings of any kind, but they are all there, cleverly hidden away. Astonishingly, there are 24 shell doors in the hull.

The windows, which are all oval, look small from a distance, but all have a magnifying effect, making them seem huge from the inside. A special one-way film covers the exterior of the glass for privacy and helps to blend them into the custom metallic paint finish by Alexseal.

Her scale is extraordinary: 142.81 metres LOA, with a maximum beam of 24.88 metres and a draught of eight metres. She has eight decks, connected by multiple elevators and free-floating spiral staircases, garages for four tenders and a submarine, as well as a touch-and-go helipad on the bow. Every part of her interior has been designed to be flowing and organic.

Inside, up to 54 crew will run a professional galley large enough to serve a hotel and a powerplant and hotel services, stretching uninterrupted across two decks. In contrast to the volume of the everyday living accommodation is arguably the most incredible feature on board, occupying the smallest space: an underwater viewing pod moulded into the keel, offering a view of the props.

To make sure it all worked, hydrodynamic research facility HSVA in Hamburg performed towing tests for the hull, and the Wolfson Unit at the University of Southampton carried out wind tunnel tests to determine aerodynamic loads. This phase of the project revealed the optimal combination of sailing characteristics, seakeeping behaviour and performance under power. MARIN, in the Netherlands, conducted final tests of the model with keel and rudders.

With simulated aerodynamic loads applied, results concluded that the yacht’s heeling angle when under full sail would be a maximum of 12 degrees at 20 knots true wind-speed upwind and 35 knots downwind.

The rig and sail plan of Sailing Yacht A

Three colossal unstayed masts – the largest carbon masts in the world – define Sailing Yacht A . The mainmast towers 100 metres above the waterline – taller than Big Ben. An enclosed electric gimballed crow’s nest is incorporated, to whoosh a crew member 60 metres up the mast for what will surely be one of the most amazing views on the water. Dykstra Naval Architects , the Dutch naval architect that designed the rig for Maltese Falcon , was the obvious choice to develop an easy-to-use and safe sailing system.

Being “sail assisted”, the ratio between sail area and the yacht’s displacement is somewhat lower than would be found on a pure sailing yacht. Dykstra optimised the sailplan with full roach sails and freestanding aerodynamically efficient masts that can be rotated a total of 70 degrees to increase lift-drag characteristics.

Curiously, the masts are curved. “When we started to design this rig,” explains Mark Leslie-Miller from Dykstra, “the distinct feature of the freeboard sloping up towards the stern was already defined. For styling reasons, we wanted the foot of the sails [thus the booms] to align with the sheerline.” Sails this big would need to furl rather than flake when not in use. Furling booms, however, have to be at 90 degrees to the mast in order to work. Rather than tip the entire mast forward to preserve the right angle, Dykstra designed in the curve to keep the design aligned.

Magma Structures in Portsmouth, UK, developed the unique freestanding spars in carbon fibre, the only material that could cope with the stresses involved; masts this size cannot, in fact, be built using metals, according to Magma’s Damon Roberts, and they posed quite a challenge for the team. “Since the rig concept is unprecedented on this scale, there were no easy answers or standard solutions for any of the challenges that the rig design posed,” he says.

The sail and booms on Sailing Yacht A

With the masts designed to carry the whole load, they were able to calculate the maximum bending-force load on the lower bearing by using the predicted upper wind speed limit. “Allowable material stresses and safety factors then clearly led to the structural requirements for the design,” Roberts adds. The bending load at deck on the main mast, for instance, is about two-and-a-half times that of a Dreamliner aircraft wing and about two times that on Maltese Falcon , which has the highest-loaded freestanding masts to date. To put it another way, the masts can withstand 90 knots of wind with full sail up (equivalent to a Category 2 hurricane), or two double-decker buses hung from the tip of each.

Magma built the masts using high-strength carbon/epoxy prepreg laminate. Each mast was produced in four large sections: top and bottom, port and starboard. In the lower sections, 370 layers of carbon were laid up in open moulds. For the curing, Magma designed and manufactured oven software to monitor and control the cook cycle over a three-day period. Embedded in the masts is a network of fibre-optic sensors to give real-time comprehensive load data for safety, historical data, condition monitoring and sail performance optimisation.

The total sail area of 3,747 square metres is equal to the size of half a football pitch, and is 67 per cent larger than Maltese Falcon’s 2,370 square metres. Unlike the many small sails that deploy from Falcon’s mainmast, Sailing Yacht A’s fully battened mainsail, at 1,464 square metres, is a single piece and furls on a carbon-fibre mandrel inside a U-shaped boom at the press of a button; no crew are required. The total length of fibre used in the sail is 754 miles, or long enough if pulled straight, to stretch from the shipyard in Kiel to Monaco.

The sails, by Doyle Sailmakers of the US, are a combination of carbon and Technora fibres and covered with taffeta to protect them from UV. The trick was determining compression loads on the battens and then engineering a soft inboard end capable of furling reliably but, at the same time, handling the forward thrust of the battens without tearing. Future Fibres, in Valencia, constructed the carbon-fibre booms, which measure 25 metres (foresail), 27.5 metres (mainsail) and 23.6 metres (mizzen).

Glass technology on Sailing Yacht A

Germany’s GL Yachtverglasung (GLY) developed the yacht’s glass, including the longest piece of curved glass ever made: a 1.8-tonne, 15 metre bulwark forward on the bridge deck. “The designer wanted to make the look as clean as possible and preferably without railings. The only way to make invisible railings was to make them out of glass,” explains Kloosterman.

Two other huge glass bulwarks are found on deck seven, at 11 metres in length, and forward of the owner’s deck, at 14 metres long. GLY also supplied three elliptical-shaped pieces for the underwater observation pod that is moulded into the keel. By using special GLY-MarineCobond interlayers during lamination, the company reduced the glass thickness and weight by as much as 50 per cent compared to typical windows.

Meeting Lloyd’s requirements that the underwater windows had to be tested at 10 times the working pressure took a bit of ingenuity. GLY built a steel tank and bolted on the observation pod windows then moved this assembly to Bodensee on the southern border of Germany and sunk it to the bottom of a 120 metre-deep hole to create the adequate pressures. The nearly foot-thick windows passed the test.

Sailing Yacht A's propulsion

One of the most important design factors was keeping the weight down as much as possible, so the choice of propulsion was key. The goal was to achieve a cruising speed of 16 knots and a 21-knot top speed and be able to sail silently. The solution was unlike any ever installed on a yacht: a customised diesel-electric system. Building on a basic concept from river cruisers, EMS in Hamburg developed this system and then MTU, together with Vacon and DEIF, took it further.

“We use variable-speed generators,” explains Kloosterman. “This means that we can get more power out of a generator because we can run up to 2,050rpm (giving 2,800kW) and the advantage is that instead of requiring five generators we only need four. This means a large saving in weight but also in costs of purchase, installation, operation and maintenance.

The generators can also spin down to 1,050rpm when load is less; the Superimposed System Controller (SSC) constantly calculates the optimal speed and determines the best combination of generators on line. For example, the SSC may ascertain that at a particular electrical load it is more fuel efficient to run two generators at 1,200rpm than run one generator at 2,050rpm. Running two at a lower speed can have many advantages such as reduced noise/vibration, reduced overall fuel consumption and reduced engine wear.” Maintenance intervals will almost certainly increase, says Kloosterman, from 15,000 hours to as much as 30,000 hours.

The pair of propellers can be driven by the twin MTU 20V 4000 ML73 main diesel engines or by electric motors or by a combination of both through clutches and gearboxes. The same electric motors can also be used as economical shaft generators when the main engines are driving the yacht.

“There are a variety of separate propulsion modes to suit the requirements of cruising and sailing; the propulsion system is very flexible, and I believe this is the future of yacht propulsion,” Kloosterman says.

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Course info.

• Prof. Jerome Milgram

Departments

• Mechanical Engineering

As Taught In

• Mechanical Design
• Ocean Engineering

Learning Resource Types

Sailing yacht design (13.734), course description.

This subject teaches students, having an initial interest in sailing design, how to design good yachts. Topics covered include hydrostatics, transverse stability, and the incorporation of the design spiral into one’s working methods. Computer aided design (CAD) is used to design the shapes of hulls, appendages and decks, and is an important part of this course. The capstone project in this course is the Final Design Project in which each student designs a sailing yacht, complete in all major respects.

The central material for this subject is the content of the book Principals of Yacht Design by Larssson and Eliasson (see further description in the syllabus ). All the class lectures are based on the material in this book. The figures in the book which are shown in class (but not reproduced on this site), contain the essential material and their meaning is explained in detail during the lecture sessions. Mastery of the material in the book and completing a design project provides the desired and needed education.

This course was originally offered in Course 13 (Department of Ocean Engineering) as 13.734. In 2005, ocean engineering subjects became part of Course 2 (Department of Mechanical Engineering), and this course was renumbered 2.996.

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A Look at Oceanco's Largest Sailing Yacht: Project Solar

The Dutch shipyard Oceanco has recently launched its largest sailing yacht, Project Y712, named Solar. The 106 meter sailing yacht was set into the water near Rotterdam, and to date, it is the largest yacht to be constructed in the Netherlands. The luxury 2,700 GT superyacht, Solar was designed with a wide variety of green technologies in an effort to show Oceanco’s continued support and concerns for our waters. Oceanco has surpassed all expectations with Solar, and although not all the details are available about Solar, enough is known to know that she already has the yachting world mesmerized and in awe.

How was Solar built?

Both the interior designer and exterior stylist for Solar Nuvolari-Lenard, one of the most well-known and respected yacht design firms based in Italy, which explains Solar's noticeable Italian style. With Oceanco's use of their naval architecture team, Solar was designed with innovation in mind. Her bow was designed with a radical wave-slicing stem, also known as a Pacman bow, as well as she sports a steel hull, aluminum superstructure and a sleek and lustrous body style that was customized with precision to hide the yacht’s extraordinary 2,700 GT volume. Onboard, Solar boasts of beautiful all-Teak decks that set the tone for elegance and luxury throughout. Solar is currently recognized as the largest privately owned sailing vessel on the water, measuring an impressive 106 meters (347.77ft), yet it still falls under the 3,000 gross-tons regulations.

Although not much is known about the specific features and design of the interior of Solar, you can guarantee it is nothing short of awe inspiring and luxurious. What we do know are some of the basic yet unique details that were incorporated into this exclusive yacht. You will find a swimming platform onboard Solar, a Beach club, Jacuzzi on deck, a tender garage, underwater lights and air conditioning. Some of the other features of Solar include:

• Green technologies

Solar features a wide array of green technologies, making it an eco-friendly yacht with her ability to operate with the use of green energies. All of these technologies are ultimately emphasized by Solar’s remarkable ability to operate strictly on solar power. Solar is an impressive picture of our innovative technology today and our ability to construct such

This unique way of rigging dates back to the 1960’s. When the masts are fully deployed it gives an interpretation of a large, square rigger. When all of the sails are deployed on their masts there are no gaps, instead, this outlay of masts deploys congruently giving the impression of one large mast. It is truly an impressive, elegant sight. This is not only an impressive an elegant sight, but it is a more ergo and efficient way to sail that does not leave a footprint on our waters due to the lack of need for gas-powered engines. It is believed that Solar is able to cruise at a speed of 18.5 knots comfortably.

Along with Solar’s massive length at 106 meters, the beam that extends 45 feet (15 meters), is equally as impressive as her mass and her sleek and elegant body style.

Although not much is talked about with the interior of the luxury superyacht, Solar, we do know that the yacht was built to accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 luxurious staterooms. With a vessel this large, there will obviously be need of a large crew which will all have deluxe accommodations as well.

Launching Solar

Once Solar was launched and her masts were stepped, she left the shipyard and is not able to return due to the size of her massive masts and the bridges that separate the waterway and the shipyard. All yachts are thoroughly tested for their sea worthiness and once she is deemed complete, she is delivered to her owner. Solar's launch was a complete success and in the spring of 2016 she was successfully delivered and became known as the largest, privately owned luxury megayacht made in Holland, to sail the waters.

Solar’s selling price?

It’s not surprising to anyone that a yacht like this would cost a fortune, but just how much of a fortune did Solar’s owner pay for this luxurious yacht that also ranks as the largest sailing vessel to-date? At the end of completion it was said that Solar’s price was an impressive 175 million euros. This revolutionary vessel, Solar, is currently believed to be for private use only and not a charter yacht.

About Oceanco

Founded in 1990, Oceanco has become a leader in building world class, ultra-luxury yachts in the 80-140 metres range. Each yacht is meticulously built at Oceanco’s shipyard which is located in Alblasserdam, near Rotterdam in the Netherlands. The shipyard operates off of its own private harbor and is equipped with a climate-controlled shed that allows for the construction and re-fitting of yachts up to 140 metres.

Oceanco prides itself on quality rather than quantity which is why Oceanco only take-on a small number of yachts each year. They are constantly pushing the boundaries on innovative and unique designs for both the interior and exterior of every build. The realize every yacht owner has a vision of their perfect yacht, and in order to build perfection every time, their team of experts must give their full attention to every detail in order to deliver a unique and luxurious yacht worthy of the name Oceanco.

Oceanco uses cutting-edge technology to maximize the use of solar energy, heat recovery and batteries to help reduce the imprint their superyachts leave on the water. Oceanco uses their own team of designers, but they often join forces with other world-class yacht designers when needed to make sure every visionary of each yacht owner is met.

Life after launch is Oceanco’s policy that ensures everything about every superyacht they build, works correctly and forever. Oceanco doesn’t just lend support in the engineering of their yachts after launch, but with everything from the mechanical components to electrical, hybrid propulsion system and the entertainment systems as well.

Written by  Garrett Parker

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A closer look at tankoa's t500 tethys, a closer look at x-yachts new x49e electric sailing boat, check out camper and nicholsons international's 120 ft tecnomar superyacht "lucy", sirena's new fully customizable 78-foot yacht, what boat characteristics make it a yacht.

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A Brief History of Superyachts

And how they explain the world..

Tim Murphy January+February 2024 Issue

James Clapham

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When the US targeted Russia’s oligarchs after the invasion of Ukraine, the trail of assets kept leading to our own backyard. Not only had our nation become a haven for shady foreign money, but we were also incubating a familiar class of yacht-owning, industry-dominating, resource-extracting billionaires. In the  January + February 2024  issue of our magazine, we investigate the rise of American Oligarchy—and what it means for the rest of us. You can read all the pieces  here .

The luxury yacht may be the world’s most exclusive form of transportation. But there are only a hundred-some that meet the definition of a gigayacht—a pleasure craft 295 feet or longer. Their opaque ownership records offer a glimpse of modern wealth and power: Over two dozen are linked to Gulf royals, businessmen, or states, and 20 to citizens (past or current) of the former Soviet Union. At least 23 have reportedly belonged to Americans, including founders of Microsoft, Netscape, Amazon, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. The widow of a German retailer who thrived under Hitler owned one; a UK tax exile and a Formula 1 dad still do. Yugoslav strongman Tito’s old yacht makes the list; Dominican dictator Trujillo’s does too. Take a cruise through the history of the vessels and their—somewhat—more modest sister ships.

1895: Nineteen years before World War I, the future King Edward VII of England punches his nephew, Kaiser Wilhelm II, in the face, after the German’s 121-foot yacht, Meteor II , defeats the royal Britannia in a race off the Isle of Wight.

1954: Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis ushers in an era of postwar one-upmanship with his 325-foot Christina O . It features a pool that converts into a dance floor, furniture made from whale foreskin, and pornographic carvings.

1963: During his final birthday party aboard the presidential yacht Sequoia , JFK chases future Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee’s wife, Antoinette, into the bathroom and gropes her. “I guess I was pretty surprised, but I was kind of flattered, and appalled, too,” she says later. The ship’s visitor logs are destroyed after Kennedy’s assassination.

1984: King Fahd of Saudi Arabia builds the record-breaking 482-foot Prince Abdulaziz .

1987: Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.) drops out of the presidential race just before photos emerge of him with model Donna Rice aboard the yacht Monkey Business .

1988: Donald Trump acquires Nabila , which previously belonged to the Saudi arms dealer Adnan Khashoggi and was featured in the James Bond film Never Say Never Again . He renames it Trump Princess , adds a disco, and changes the helipad’s “H” to a “T.”

1991: After one of Trump’s casinos files for bankruptcy, he sells Trump Princess to his bank—which flips it to a Saudi prince. A new yacht, the Trump Princess II , which he boasted would be “something in excess of 400 feet long, closer to 500 feet,” is never built.

British publisher Robert Maxwell’s body is found in the Atlantic Ocean, where he had been cruising on a 180-footer named for his daughter—the Lady Ghislaine . The vessel is eventually resold to Anna Murdoch, Rupert’s second wife.

1994: At a cocktail party on the oligarch Petr Aven’s yacht in the Caribbean, Boris Berezovsky meets Roman Abramovich, calling him a “nice boy who wanted to discuss commercial projects.” He and Abramovich begin working together to acquire Sibneft, a Russian state oil company.

1997: Construction ends on The Limited and Victoria’s Secret owner Les Wexner’s ­316-foot Limitless . The project was overseen by his good friend Jeffrey Epstein.

1999: Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison buys the 191-foot Izanami from a Japanese seller. He changes the name to Ronin , he said later , after “the local newspapers started pointing out that Izanami was ‘I’m a Nazi’ spelled backwards.”

2001: Months before Enron files for bankruptcy, former CEO Jeffrey Skilling asks a company executive for advice on finding a yacht broker. “This industry is known for crooks and thieves,” he warns Skilling.

2002: House Majority Whip Tom DeLay (R-Texas) promises to strip “corporate kingpins of their ill-gotten gains,” after scandals rock Enron and WorldCom. “We’re coming after the yacht.”

2003: DeLay charges donors $500,000 a pop for tickets to a yacht cruise.

2005: Ellison shoots down rumors he issued orders midconstruction to have his newest yacht, the 454-foot Rising Sun , extended to outdo Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen’s recently launched 414-foot Octopus .

Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) pleads guilty to federal bribery charges after being caught living rent-free on a yacht, called the Duke-Stir , that was moored in Washington, DC, and owned by a defense contractor.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s 531-foot Dubai surpasses Prince Abdulaziz as the world’s longest yacht.

2006: Media mogul Barry Diller reveals the world’s longest sailing yacht, the 305-foot Eos , whose prow features a 9-foot-tall sculpture of his wife, Diane von Furstenberg.

2007: Diller opens a Manhattan corporate headquarters­­ at a Frank Gehry­–designed building that itself has been likened to a sailboat . It’s across the street from where Eos ties up.

2008: George Osborne, the No. 2 official in the UK’s Conservative Party, relaxes on Russian aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska’s yacht while vacationing with his family in Greece. He denies an accusation that he solicited funds, explaining in a statement that they discussed “Russian history” and drank tea.

2009: As his marriage falls apart, Tiger Woods retreats to a 155-foot yacht called Privacy .

2010: Abramovich’s new ship, Eclipse , surpasses Dubai as the world’s longest yacht. The 533-foot vessel features a submarine, anti-missile systems, and lasers to thwart paparazzi .

2011: During an unsuccessful suit seeking $5 billion he believed Abramovich owed him from the sale of Sibneft, an exiled Berezovsky claims that his former partner helped purchase the yacht Olympia for Vladimir Putin. When the BBC publishes a supporting account from another Russian businessman five years later, Abramovich’s lawyers dismiss the allegation as “a rehash of speculation and rumours.”

2012: As GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney faces criticism for holding investment funds in the Cayman Islands, his campaign invites donors to party on Cracker Bay . The ship, owned by the founder of The Villages retirement community, flies the Cayman Islands’ flag.

2013: UAE leader Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan launches the 593-foot Azzam , surpassing the Eclipse .

2014: The Wall Street Journal reports that Ellison has basketball hoops on “at least two of his yachts” and had someone follow in a smaller boat “to retrieve balls that go overboard.”

2016: Allen’s Tatoosh drags its anchor through a protected zone in the Cayman Islands, destroying 14,000 square feet of coral.

2017: After leaving office, Barack and Michelle Obama retreat to the South Pacific aboard David Geffen’s yacht, where they’re joined by Oprah, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen.

Abramovich’s business partner, Eugene Shvidler, blocks views of the Statue of Liberty while anchoring his 370-foot Le Grand Bleu in New York Harbor for a month.

Addressing the national Boy Scout Jamboree, Trump tells an anecdote widely assumed to allude to sex parties on a yacht belonging to the developer of the Levittown suburbs. “You’re Boy Scouts, so I’m not going to tell you what he did,” he said. “But you know life.”

Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) buys a yacht and on the same day votes to cut taxes on yachts.

2018: Rupert Murdoch is airlifted to UCLA after collapsing on a yacht trip with his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. “He kept almost dying,” a source tells Vanity Fair .

Republican Florida Gov. Rick Scott designates a billionaire donor’s marina as a special anti-­poverty opportunity zone.

Someone unties Seaquest , a superyacht belonging to Trump administration Secretary of Education (and billionaire) Betsy DeVos, causing it to crash into a dock on Lake Erie.

Businessman Jho Low, who financed The Wolf of Wall Street , is accused of taking part in a $4.5 billion scheme to siphon Malaysian state development funds and using some to purchase a $250 million yacht.

2019: Actress Lori Loughlin is arrested in a college admissions bribery scheme . Her daughter, USC student Olivia Jade, is vacationing in the Bahamas— on a yacht belonging to USC board of trustees chair Rick Caruso.

Following an investigation into corruption in the Nigerian oil industry, the US government auctions off businessman Kolawole Aluko’s Galactica Star , six years after Jay-Z rented out the vessel for Beyoncé’s 32nd birthday. A former Enron unit attempts to claim a portion of the proceeds.

Clarence Thomas visits an Indonesian preserve for Komodo dragons with billionaire Harlan Crow on the conservative megadonor’s Michaela Rose .

ArtNet reports that a $450 million (reputed) da Vinci that was supposed to be in an Abu Dhabi museum has been spotted hanging in Mohammed bin Salman’s personal yacht, Serene .

Kylie Jenner holds her 22nd birthday party on Low’s yacht, now under new ownership.

2020: “[I]solated in the Grenadines avoiding the virus,” Geffen writes on Instagram from Rising Sun , which he purchased in 2010. “I’m hoping everybody is staying safe.”

Steve Bannon is arrested off the coast of Connecticut by US Postal Police while aboard the fugitive Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui’s 150-foot Lady May .

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. dresses up as a character from the TV show Trailer Park Boys for a costume party aboard a NASCAR mogul’s yacht. He later posts a photo of himself to Instagram with his fly unzipped and his arms around his wife’s assistant.

2021: NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre testifies that he took refuge on Illusions , a Hollywood producer’s yacht, after the Newtown and Parkland mass shootings. “I remember getting there going, ‘Thank God I’m safe, nobody can get me here.’”

During a bitter divorce, the Daily Mail reports that Tatiana Akhmedova, wife of the Russian Azerbaijani billionaire Farkhad Akhmedov, hired a team of British special forces veterans to seize his yacht, Luna , in an effort to enforce a Marshall Islands court ruling. They settle instead, and he keeps the boat.

Port Azure , dubbed the world’s first harbor designed exclusively for megayachts, opens in Gocek, Turkey. It bills itself as a place where “problems big and small go away.”

2022: Amid reports a historic bridge will be dismantled so Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ newly built Koru can leave Rotterdam’s shipyards, residents threaten to pelt the sailboat with eggs . The city changes plans.

A Ukrainian mechanic is arrested in Mallorca for attempting to sink a vessel owned by his boss, a Russian arms dealer.

Biden promises oligarchs he’s going to “take their ill-begotten gains” after the invasion of Ukraine. “We’re going to seize their yachts.”

Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder avoids a congressional subpoena on the team’s misogynistic culture while cruising the Mediterranean on his yacht, Lady S .

Missing Russian superyachts are spotted waiting out sanctions at Port Azure.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) criticizes Joe Biden for vacationing in Delaware while vacationing on a luxury yacht in Italy.

After sailing through Fiji on his yacht Aquarius , briefly retired Disney CEO Bob Iger tells friends he misses his wife and is bored with life.

New York Republican congressional candidate George Santos brokers a $19 million deal to sell a superyacht called Namaste to a Long Island car dealer.

Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX reveals in court filings that founder Sam Bankman-Fried’s hedge fund once spent $2.5 million on a yacht, which a top executive named Soak My Deck .

2023: Bezos takes possession of Koru . The $500 million, 417-foot sailboat comes with a bust that resembles his fiancée Lauren Sánchez—and its own second, 246-foot “shadow” support yacht with crew quarters and a hangar for the helicopter she pilots.

After divorcing Jerry Hall, Rupert Murdoch vacations on the Christina O with Abramovich’s ex-mother-in-law.

As TV and movie writers and actors strike, the Wall Street Journal reports that Iger, now back at work, has been regaling visitors to his Burbank office about the new, longer yacht he’s building.

Measuring Contest

Iconic gigayachts through the years

1931: Sea Cloud , Marjorie Post: 359 ft.

1981: Atlantis II , Stavros Niarchos: 380 ft.

2003: Octopus , Paul Allen: 414 ft.

2005: Rising Sun , Larry Ellison: 454 ft.

2010: Eclipse , Roman Abramovich: 533 ft.

2013: Azzam , Sheikh Khalifa: 593 ft.

Illustrations by Anthony Calvert

The Few, The Loud

Some famous faces aboard gigayachts

Steven Spielberg reeled out his anchor off Cannes.

A part of Katy Perry got stuck exiting a dinghy on her way to Barry Diller’s yacht.

Mohammed bin Salman purchased his yacht, Serene , just hours after he saw it.

Jerry Jones made a draft pick aboard his Bravo Eugenia to deepen the Cowboys’ bench.

Mariah Carey was engaged to a gigayacht owner, before the fantasy ended.

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Reporting by Lisa Shumaker; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Josie Kao and Tom Hogue

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Lisa's journalism career spans two decades, and she currently serves as the Americas Day Editor for the Global News Desk. She played a pivotal role in tracking the COVID pandemic and leading initiatives in speed, headline writing and multimedia. She has worked closely with the finance and company news teams on major stories, such as the departures of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and significant developments at Apple, Alphabet, Facebook and Tesla. Her dedication and hard work have been recognized with the 2010 Desk Editor of the Year award and a Journalist of the Year nomination in 2020. Lisa is passionate about visual and long-form storytelling. She holds a degree in both psychology and journalism from Penn State University.

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Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan will visit the United States on May 9, a Turkish security official said on Friday, setting the stage for his first White House meeting during the Biden Administration.

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