Eight decks, an underwater observation room and a 30ft high mast: these are just the basics of Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko’s new super yacht.
Superyachtfan.com reports that Sailing Yacht A, which measures at 144 metres in length, will be the world’s largest sailing yacht, and comfortably houses 20 guests with a 54-strong crew.
Melnichenko,43, is apparently no stranger to the super yacht business, and his latest boat is believed to have been designed by Philippe Starck, the man who crafted the Russian billionaire’s Motor Yacht A – a £190m million superyacht.
The boat itself is expected to take its first sea trial imminently in Kiel, Germany, where it was built by German Naval Yards, and has already drawn attraction from locals for its sheer size.
According to Forbes, Melnichenko is worth $9.1 billion, ranking at number 137 globally and number 12 in Russia. He reportedly has a collection of impressionist paintings that includes works by Claude Monet, some of which hang inside his yacht.
Andrey Melnichenko's superyacht Sailing Yacht A
Andrey Melnichenko's superyacht Sailing Yacht A
A spokesperson for Melnichenko told the Daily Mail: that Sailing Yacht A is "a monument to invention".
"This project was a considerable financial risk for for him as he had to fund massive R&D to see if he could achieve his vision," they said.
"But he is a man to always push the boundaries and to challenge the industries he works with to think outside of the box so he can achieve something new and exciting as well as beautiful."
