Russian billionaire and businessman Andrey Melnichenko likes to commission yachts that are unlike anything that have ever been built before.
Sailing Yacht A. Credit Andi S
He started with a striking, 390-foot superyacht that was designed by Philippe Starck and built by Blohm + Voss in Germany. It was launched in 2008, was rumored to cost roughly $300 million dollars, and is simply called A. It has room for 14 guests and up to 37 crew.
Motor Yacht A. Credit Wikipedia
But Motor Vessel A is actually quite “small” compared to Melnichenko’s latest Starck-designed statement yacht.
Sailing Yacht A. Credit Andi S.
Sailing Yacht A was recently launched in Germany and is staggering in its proportions and price tag (reportedly well over $400 million dollars). It measures 468 feet long, its three, free standing masts are well over 300 feet tall, and as you can see, it’s quite a…sight. In fact, once they set the sails (that will roughly cover the size of a football field on A’s three masts) it’ll technically be one of the largest sailing vessels in the world for Melnichenko and up to 20 guests to enjoy.
According to published reports in the Daily Mail and other publications, Sailing Yacht A has eight decks, a glass observation pod in the bottom of its hull, a helipad, a submarine, and countless other luxuries that only a yacht like this could provide. And it blows other famously large privately owned sailing yachts—like Maltese Falcon which is 298ft and weighs 1,367 tons—completely out of the water. By comparison, Sailing Yacht A is reported to weigh well over 12,000 tons and her masts are way too tall to fit under any bridge.
Although it will have room for a crew of around 54, the Sailing Yacht A is reported to have a digital control system on the bridge that will allow the crew to raise and lower the sails, and even drop anchors with a touch of a button.
The question is: Can any yacht that costs roughly $1 million dollars per foot, and a staggering $20 million dollars per guest be worth it?
