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Motor Yacht A

Motor Yacht

Built by Blohm + Voss in 2008, the 119m superyacht ‘A’ is considered one of the finest yachts on the water. Designed by Philippe Starck, ‘A’ is a truly unconventional superyacht with her upside down hull and unique exterior aesthetics.

The luxury yacht features a whole range of unique features from her innovative engineering and design to her three swimming pools that create currents to swim against. Motor yacht 'A' also features two unique 11m tenders, the Open and the Limo models, also designed by Starck.

Motor yacht ‘A’s interior is a modern and masterfully designed environment, featuring excellent use of space, wood furnishings and numerous other details such as a glass roof looking up into one of the swimming pools.

Powered by twin 6035hp MAN RK280 Diesel engines, superyacht ‘A’ is and is capable of reaching up to 23 knots with a range of 4250nm. ‘A’ features all of the latest navigation and entertainment equipment, prepared and equipped for whatever owner may need aboard his luxury cruise. She offers unparalleled comfort and handling with advanced stabilizers and bow thrusters.

‘A’ can happily accommodate 14 guests in one owner's suite and six guest suites. She can also accommodate up to 37 crew members onboard.

• Yacht Builder Blohm + Voss No profile available
• Exterior Designer Philippe Starck No profile available
• Interior Designer Philippe Starck No profile available

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Sailing Yacht A

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80 m / 262 ft

143 m / 468 ft

73 m / 239 ft

73.5 m / 241 ft

68 m / 223 ft

60 m / 196 ft

67 m / 219 ft

92.5 m / 303 ft

LOA: 142.81 m

Beam: 24.88 m

Draft: 8.00 m

Interior: Philippe Starck

Exterior: Philippe Starck

Hull: Steel

Superstructure: Steel / GRP

Max. speed: 21 knots

Cruising speed: 16 knots

Gross tonnage: 12.558

Project number

“Born from the desire of the owner to push the boundaries of engineering and challenge the status quo of the industry, ‘SAILING YACHT A’ is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects NOBISKRUG has ever been involved in.”

SAILING YACHT A is the ultimate embodiment of German superyachts built for the 22 nd century.

She is unique.

She is the largest of her kind. She is a masterpiece in every detail. Her name: SAILING YACHT A. She will draw eyes the world over, as no other superyacht has ever done before.

She is sophisticated.

Measuring almost 143 m and a gross tonnage of about 12.600, she became one of the most impressive PYC superyachts in the world in terms of design and technology.

She is innovative.

She is one of the world’s largest and the most advanced superyachts with unique features such as an underwater observation pod, hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and state-of- the-art navigation systems. The luxury sailing yacht's three masts are the tallest and most highly loaded freestanding composite structures in the world. The mainmast towers 100 m above the waterline.

The smooth, lustrous, silver-metallic surfaces…

…and nearly invisible windows give this yacht a futuristic look. World-renowned Philippe Starck created this unconventional design, which challenges the expectations of conventional aesthetics. NOBISKRUG high-tech building technology made this fascinating design possible.

Steel hull and steel superstructure with high-tech composite fashion plates that can be formed into any shape or size, a technology NOBISKRUG has developed during the past 15 years in co-operation with classification societies and special subcontractors.

Thanks to her striking looks and innovative technology SAILING YACHT A definitely changes the upcoming landscape of the NOBISKRUG fleet as well as the future of supersail.

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This is all we can tell you!

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31.12.03 - Design

Motor Yacht A

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SAILING YACHT A – World’s Biggest Sailing Yacht – $600 Million

SAILING YACHT A measures 143 meters making her the world’s biggest sailing yacht.

SAILING YACHT A is far more than a luxury vessel. She is a masterpiece of design and innovation combining sleek metal surfaces with futuristic naval architecture that took over two years to complete.

Launched in 2017, both the interior and exterior of this mega sailing yacht were designed by Phillippe Starck, who calls SAILING YACHT A one of his most high-profile projects.

The superyacht has taken on voyages all around the world and was most recently spotted sailing off the coasts of Gibraltar and Cyprus.

SAILING YACHT A interior

Both the interior and exterior of SAILING YACHT A were designed by Philippe Starck , a French architect known for his wide range of design projects.

He famously worked on the impressive MOTOR YACHT A, and the two iconic vessels share a lot of similarities in their layout and specifications.

Both yachts look incredibly futuristic and are sure to attract attention wherever they go.

While no exact details are known about the interior of SAILING YACHT A, it is rumored that she has an underwater observation pod with 30 cm (1 ft) thick glass located in the keel of the vessel.

This is one of the few parts where design mockups are publicly available, and the style of the interior can be examined.

The observation pod appears to have cream upholstery that stretches across the floor and ceiling of the cabin.

Two large symmetrical glass windows allow guests to view the breathtaking underwater world without even having to leave the yacht.

A third window is located at the bottom of the pod, which lets it feel like a true 360-degree experience and is almost comparable to a submarine.

A small floating side table provides guests with a space to place drinks or snacks in the pod and enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience in this unusual location.

Since the pod is located at the keel of the yacht, the large propellers are most likely visible from the windows suggesting it is most commonly used at anchor.

The superyacht has ten cabins that can accommodate 20 guests as well as a further 54 crew member.

Paparazzi photos and the work of yacht spotters provide a rare glimpse into the interior of SAILING YACHT A.

No official footage of cabins or salons has been released, although Starck’s past work suggests that the yacht would be furnished with opulent elements that perfectly combine luxury with style.

Silver and metal decorations play a large role and tie the interior design of the yacht together. 

However, SAILING YACHT A was launched much later than her motorized companion suggesting her interior might be more modern with minimalistic elements rather than lavish furnishings.

Occasional photographs shot through open doors, and portholes show expensive art pieces decorating the interior of the yacht and rather absurd design choices like a set of chairs shaped like large human heads.

The yacht appears to feature a large, open salon with an elevated seating area and symmetrical arches on either side.

While details aren’t known to the public, it is rumored that SAILING YACHT A features a luxurious spa area, a sizable gym as well as an owner’s suite with several rooms that is only accessible via fingerprint.

The massive private area is said to feature a 60-inch television that disappears into the floor as well as a rotating bed. 

Considering she is the largest sailing yacht in the world, it is surprising that SAILING YACHT A can only host 20 guests.

This suggests that there are spacious entertainment areas located on board, including several saloons and ample below-deck space for crew members.

Due to her large size and a small number of cabins, it is assumed that SAILING YACHT A can welcome a large number of day guests onboard for special events and celebrations.

Biggest sailing yacht controversy

It has been the topic of debate that SAILING YACHT A is not the largest yacht in the world but instead the ‘largest sail-assisted motor yacht.

Depending on the definition used, that would make BLACK PEARL the biggest sailing yacht in the world.

The most expensive sailing yacht

SAILING YACHT A is the most expensive sailing yacht in the world and cost an estimated price of US $600 million – a relatively “affordable” price considering her large size and tonnage.

A calculated US $48,000 per ton is considered low in the yachting industry, where European yachts are usually priced at US $60,000 per ton and over.

This average price would bring the value of SAILING YACHT A up to nearly US $800 million. However, due to the fact that the official sales price has not been released to the public, these numbers are mere estimates and cannot be validated officially.

Since the yacht is a custom project and one of a kind, it can be assumed that the total value of SAILING YACHT A lies far higher than her initial price.

In addition to any cost for the crew, supplies, and docking fees, she has annual running costs of US $50-75 million.

SAILING YACHT A is currently not available for sale or charter.

Specifications

SAILING YACHT A is incredibly large for a sailing yacht, and even compared to the longest motor yachts in the world, she would rank in the top ten.

Paired with her unusual futuristic design, this mega sailing yacht has a length of 143 meters (469 ft), a beam of 25 meters (82 ft), and a draft of 8 meters (26 ft) making her a more than an impressive vessel.

SAILING YACHT A was built by Nobiskrug , a German superyacht builder at their Kiel shipyard, and launched in 2017 after more than two years of construction.

To date, SAILING YACHT A is the largest yacht ever built by Nobiskrug and remains their flagship.

It is considered the most complicated project to ever be completed in the sailing industry and gained international media attention on its launch date. It has a total volume of 12.558 tons and is powered by hybrid diesel-electric engines. 

SAILING YACHT A is considered the longest sailing yacht in the world and is more than 36 meters (118 ft) longer than BLACK PEARL, which ranks in second place on the list.

Coincidentally her project name was WHITE PEARL which is a reference to her brilliant white exterior, although it couldn’t have referred to BLACK PEARL since she was only launched in 2018, a year after Melnichenko’s masterpiece.  

Her three-carbon masts stand at an impressive 100 meters (328 ft), making them some of the largest in the world and taller than Big Ben in London.

However, her large size is sometimes also limiting as she struggles to fit underneath most bridges and is therefore constrained to certain routes.

She once passed under the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with only 20 feet to spare between her masts and the bottom of the famous bridge.

She is rumored to have an electric gimbal crow’s nest, which allows for remote operation and advanced wind measurements. Her sails are all white, and her masts have nearly sickle-like shapes, which add to her striking futuristic appearance.

It is noteworthy that she is commonly photographed with her sails down, which suggests she might be using her support engines more frequently than true wind power.

With a sail area of more than 3.700m^2 (40.000 square ft), she can reach top speeds of up to 21 knots which is supported by her twin 4895 Horsepower MTU engines .

Her average cruise speed lies at 16 knots, and her total range is estimated to lie at 5320 nautical miles. She features a state-of-the-art sail system that is able to raise and lower the sails and anchors at the touch of a button. 

SAILING YACHT A has a steel hull and composite steel superstructure, which is unusual in the superyacht industry as most shipyards choose aluminum to reduce weight and keep the vessel light.

She currently sails under the flag of Bermuda, which is common for prominent sailing yachts.

During construction, SAILING YACHT A was called project WHITE PEARL, a fitting name for this sizable vessel.

Like her interior, the exterior of SAILING YACHT A was designed by Philippe Starck, although the Dutch studio Dykstra Naval Architects played a role in the naval architecture of the vessel.

They specialize in sailing yachts of all sizes and have been involved in many prominent projects in the industry over the years.

She features eight teak decks with a large swimming pool located in the center and several elevators spread across the yacht.

She is even said to carry a submarine. The main pool is lowered into the deck allowing for additional privacy for the owners.

Her hull has 24 shell doors, which are used to access equipment and provide additional deck space if needed. She is accompanied by four tenders also designed by Philippe Starck and built by Lloyd Stevenson in New Zealand.

Their sleek and elegant design matches that of the main vessel, and they are used for transporting guests and taking them on excursions.

One of the tenders of SAILING YACHT A is a carbon fiber speedboat especially reserved for the owner who can operate the vessel autonomously whenever required without the aid of crew members.

This allows Melnichenko, who is a fan of driving high-speed cars to be independent when staying aboard his luxury yacht. The tender is small but powerful, reaching speeds of up to 53 knots.

The larger tenders can seat up to eight passengers and feature panoramic windows ideal for sightseeing and exploring but are much slower at only 30 knots. 

The aft features a large garage used for storing jet skis, tenders, and other equipment.

High-profile artists such as Snoop Dogg are rumored to have performed here, although detailed evidence of such concerts remains unknown.

Whenever the aft isn’t used for performances or parties, it can be transformed into a swimming platform designed in the yacht’s iconic futuristic style. 

However, despite her cutting-edge design features, SAILING YACHT A surprisingly also includes classic nautical elements. She has a wooden steering wheel that is reminiscent of a pirate ship, although it is not operational.

The captain of the vessel can instead use modern technologies to operate the massive yacht via a small joystick and touchscreen.

There are symmetric extendable balconies that protrude from the bridge of the yacht and allow the crew to have a better view to be able to gauge the dimensions of the immense vessel.

Of course, SAILING YACHT A has a modern underwater lighting system that illuminates the vessel perfectly at night.

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Motor Yacht A: Everything You Want To Know

Motor Yacht A, sometimes just called MYA or simply “A”, is a superyacht that was designed by Philippe Starck, interior designer and architect, along with naval architect Martin Francis and built by the yacht makers Blohm Voss. The yacht was ordered back in 2004 and it took four years to come through with delivery of the massive vessel. It is famous today for being one of the biggest yachts on earth and also for the controversial look and design of the yacht.

What Did Motor Yacht A Cost?

Although most owners of these massive superyachts play numbers close to the chest, the number most frequently circulated when discussing Motor Yacht A is $300 million. So not only would that make the boat one of the largest in the world , it’s also in the rankings for one of the most expensive as well. 

The actual price has never been confirmed, however, so it’s worth noting that this might not be correct, it’s just that the owner never stated otherwise. There have sometimes been other figures tossed around that are a little higher or a little lower but no one seems to have a source for any of them. Even the widely accepted $300 million seems to mostly be speculation based on educated guesses and a bit of insight into how the ship was designed and what it features. In any event, it’s safe to say it was quite an expensive vessel.

Motor Yacht A Interior

According to Starck, he was not really given a brief for the design of the yacht. Instead, he was told how long it needed to be, more or less, and that the buyer wanted six cabins. Everything else was up to him. Some initial stories said Starck designed the entire vessel in just a couple of minutes. That sounds impossible but also that’s what Stark is known for – producing fully realized designs in just minutes, sort of like a freeform design process where he puts everything on the paper right away. However, he later admitted the entire process was about a month long, so take from that what you will.

The yacht is 394 feet long so clearly there’s a lot more than just six cabins on board.  The interior covers a massive 24,000 square feet of space. It takes a staff of 35 to keep it all running. The master suite alone is 2,500 square feet. To give that perspective, the average square footage of an apartment in New York City is 866 square feet, and it’s been that size since the year 2000.

Starck designed a secret room for the suite as well, hidden behind a mirror. It’s meant for couples to have some privacy, if you follow our meaning. Mirrors and crystals are used everywhere on board, even in the furniture. There’s a hidden cabinet in the living room area that opens up to reveal a massive bar that is nearly all crystal, mirrors and glass.  There are seven guest cabins but there is a modular wall system that allows for them to be merged into four larger rooms.

Where mirrors aren’t being used you can find animal skins. One guest room has walls made entirely from white stingray leather.  There’s even a custom designed chair somewhere made from alligator hide and kudu horns. 

Electronics are included stealthily, like the 60 inch TV that can rise up into the ceiling to be hidden away when not in use. 

Even simple features are more elaborate than you might expect. The walls lining a staircase are made of scalloped silver. The handrail is hand carved and cost $60,000. The shower faucets were custom designed to fit the silver trim and even patented. They cost $40,000.

Like many of the large superyachts, the deck is outfitted with a helipad for transport to and from the yacht at sea. There are also three swimming pools in total including one that has a glass bottom and was built above a disco so you can dance and watch people swim, or vice versa, though the glass bottom is only over a fairly small area so you’d most likely just be looking up at someone treading water. That pool is also a massage pool with his and hers massage chairs. 

The tender garage on Motor Yacht A features three launch boats and a lot of open space. So much space, in fact, that if the launch boats are cleared out, the space doubles as a party room with a large dance floor. 

Most Russian billionaires opt for some serious yacht security and things were no different with Motor Yacht A. Though many of the details were kept under wraps it was rumored that the yacht had been outfitted with 44 mm bomb-proof glass on all the windows. There’s also supposedly an escape pod of some type that can be used to flee the yacht in case of emergencies but details on what that means are pretty hard to come by. In addition to that there are rumored to be dozens of security cameras, motion centers and fingerprint keypads to enter secure spaces.

How Fast is Motor Yacht A?

The ship runs on a pair of MAN RK280 diesel engines. These supply around 9,000 kW (12,000 hp). The top speed is around 23 knots with a cruising speed of 19 knots. With a 750,000 L/200,000 gallon fuel capacity, Super Yacht A has a range of 6,500 nautical miles. 

Who Owns Motor Yacht A?

At the time the yacht was commissioned back in 2004, no one knew who the buyer was. In fact, it took the entire four year construction process before it became public knowledge who owned the vessel, this after much incorrect speculation.

The true owner of the yacht was Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. He made his fortune in coal and chemicals and was one of the richest people in Russia at the time. 

Why is it Called Motor Yacht A?

Most boats have creative names. The naming of any vessel is part of the fun, after all. Even serious vessels like military ships and cargo vessels have names, so why would a billionaire give a luxurious superyacht such a plain, boring name? It’s actually a bit of a sneaky, vanity thing. It’s called “A” so that it always features at the top of boat registries. No matter where it’s listed, it’s going to be first. 

What was the Controversy Over the Luxury Yacht A?

As mentioned in the intro, there was some controversy regarding the look of the yacht when it made its debut, at least in boating and yacht circles. Nothing serious, of course, just among traditionalists and more avant garde boat fans who disagreed about the design. 

There were some boating journalists and yacht owners who thought A was the ugliest boat they had ever seen, in particular because of the axe bow. And it’s true that the exterior design is very unusual for a yacht. It has lines more reminiscent of a submarine that has surfaced as opposed to a traditional yacht. That, combined with the price tag, made critics feel like it was a massive waste or misuse of money. Other people, however, were excited by such an unusual design and innovative engineering shaking up what was otherwise kind of a stagnant design field. Plus, when the unique interior was factored in, it really makes A a standout vessel. 

What is Sailing Yacht A?

Launched in 2015, Sailing Yacht A is the sister yacht to Motor Yacht A. It is also owned by Andrey Melnichenko and it was also designed by Philippe Starck. At 469 feet, it is larger than Motor Yacht A and it’s also the largest sailing yacht in the world. 

The Bottom Line

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko commissioned the A back in 2004 and took possession in 2008. As far as anyone knows, it cost about $300 million. The vessel has an incredibly unique exterior design as well as many luxurious interior features that make it a standout mega yacht. At around 390 to 394 feet (sources differ on the exact length) it’s also one of the largest yachts in the world and currently ranks at about the 29th largest as of 2022.

My grandfather first took me fishing when I was too young to actually hold up a rod on my own. As an avid camper, hiker, and nature enthusiast I'm always looking for a new adventure.

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84 Luxury Yacht Interiors: Bedroom, Galley and Salon Pictures

Posted on Published: April 13, 2022  - Last updated: June 13, 2022

A yacht is really just a luxury floating home . When you’re talking 70 feet and larger, they’re a lot nicer than my house. As you’ll see in the luxury yacht interiors below, the quality and aesthetics are simply gorgeous. And we merely feature a small handful of such boats. There are thousands and thousands of these worldwide.

Our epic yacht interiors article is split into 5 galleries:  staterooms, guest bedrooms , salons and dinettes, kitchens and bathrooms. The point of this article is to merely give you a glimpse inside these ultra expensive boats… expensive to buy, run and maintain. Be sure to also check out our yacht decks galleries .

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Yacht Primary Bedrooms (Staterooms)

We kick off our yacht interiors gallery with the stateroom. When it comes to the primary bedroom on these boats, no expense is spared. They are large, comfortable and stunning in design. These bedrooms are bigger than our primary bedroom.

[su_divider]

Yacht Guest Bedrooms (2 Beds)

Many guest bedrooms on a yacht have two beds so that it can accommodate more people. However, they are, as you’ll see below, still very, very luxurious. These are certainly cozy sleeping quarters.

Salon and Dinette Photos

My favorite room on the boat is the salon and/or dinette area. In many cases, the dinette doubles as the living room. Mega yachts have dedicated salons and dining areas. I love these superb lounge designs below in the cabin as well as the upper lounge areas.

I must admit that kitchens on these super yachts are fairly small. I guess the cooking is done by the staff and yacht owners prefer to have more space for bedrooms, deck space and lounge space. That makes sense given there really is limited space. Nevertheless, these kitchens are gorgeous and the yacht designers certainly didn’t skimp with respect to quality.

Most boats dedicate very little space to bathrooms. Not these. The primary bathrooms below are incredible. The smaller bathrooms are guest bathrooms. These luxury yachts are so large and spacious that even the bathrooms are both beautiful and comfortable to use.

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Exclusive: pushing the boundaries of technology, Sailing Yacht A

Andrey Melnichenko is a man with exceptional vision. Where other yacht owners like to blend into the background, he wants his superyachts to push the boundaries of design, creativity and technology as well as make a statement. His first superyacht, Motor Yacht A , rocked the superyacht world with its radical design and now he’s done it again.

With an insatiable appetite to drive change he has put together a highly skilled team to build his new creation, currently under construction in Germany. Boat International was given exclusive access to the yacht, and we can reveal for the first time its name, Sailing Yacht A , and that this huge new project is a “sail-assisted motor yacht”.

This is the second yacht in Melnichenko’s portfolio. His first, Motor Yacht A , split opinion, but today stands as one of the most talked about and recognisable yachts in the world. But Sailing Yacht A is a much bolder move and Melnichenko has raised the stakes even higher with a radically designed yacht that introduces new technologies and techniques never before used in the shipbuilding industry. He also broke down barriers by creating his own project team to undertake the build from start to finish. Sailing Yacht A is a monument to invention.

Philippe Starck , who created Motor Yacht A , and from there went on to design Venus for the late Steve Jobs, is working once again for Andrey and Aleksandra Melnichenko on the project. “I am honoured and happy to bring to life the owner’s dream of what will be the summit of high technology and poetry,” says Starck.

Sailing Yacht A is a unique story that began as far back as 2008 when eight of the world’s leading designers were invited to submit their ideas for a huge project – the creation of one of the world’s biggest sail-assisted private yachts. Initially, French designer Jacques Garcia was chosen for his designs, but later there were concerns about the progress of design development, and the owner decided on a change of direction.

Sailing Yacht A is slated for delivery in 2016, although her masts were not stepped when Boat International was invited on board in July. The interior was also under wraps, but here we can take a look at some of her incredible statistics.

She is a three-masted, 142.81 metre (LOA) sail-assisted motor yacht, with a moulded beam at the widest point of 24.88 metres, an eight metre encapsulated keel and a gross tonnage of approximately 12,700GT. For a vessel of this size it was a challenge to find a shipyard that had the capacity, knowledge and skills to put together the naval architecture and engineering for the motor yacht side of the project. The one chosen, given its skills in building large yachts, was Nobiskrug in Germany.

For the sailing design, rig and keel, and associated structural engineering, Dykstra Naval Architects  in The Netherlands was appointed for its advanced technical abilities demonstrated on various world-class sailing yachts. Aloft Sailing Yacht A carries three of the largest and most highly loaded composite freestanding structures in the world produced by Magma Structures in the UK. The custom booms were made by Future Fibres in Valencia, and the custom sails by Doyle Sails in the USA.

With a hull and superstructure predominantly constructed of steel and incorporating composite and accents of carbon fibre, in order to keep the weight and draught to an acceptable level, Sailing Yacht A is the highest classified vessel of her type: (Maltese Cross) 100A1 Passenger ship Sail Assisted, (Maltese Cross) LMC UMC and (Maltese Cross) 100A1 Yacht Mono G6.

Propulsion comes from a customised hybrid diesel-electric package made up of two MTU 3,600kW diesel engines, and two 4,300kW electric motors, driving shafts ending in highly skewed five-bladed Andritz controllable pitch propellers. She is expected to cruise under power at 16 knots with an expected range of 5,320 nautical miles and will have a top speed of 21 knots.

With her uninterrupted shard-like appearance she carries her eight decks aft along the sheerline, which slopes up towards the stern, reaching a full beam width of 24.88 metres at the widest point. All her machinery is hidden within the hull structure, and as you can see, everything, including the windows, are flush. The bridge control centre for propulsion and sailing systems is on deck seven and there is a touch-and-go helicopter pad on deck six. There is accommodation available for up to 54 crew.

There are many more technical advances, innovations and surprises throughout her hull, decks and keel, which Boat International will reveal, in detail, in an exclusive feature in the November issue.

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