Throughout yachting history, few superyachts have ever developed the international recognition from which the Maltese Falcon benefited ever since her delivery in 2006. Built for the late venture capitalist, Tom Perkins, the 88-meter yacht was until recently a contender for the title of largest sailing yacht in the world.
Even though her claim to the crown was recently overtaken by the 106-meter Black Pearl, the Maltese Falcon remains to many one of the most iconic yachts ever built. Sold to Elena Ambrosiadou at an asking price of €70 million in 2009, the 88-meter is also one of the largest yachts available for charter with a rate starting at $400,000 per week.
Commissioned in 2000 by Tom Perkins, the Maltese Falcon took nearly six years to complete and was eventually launched in 2006. Built by Perini Navi, the Italian shipyard now famous for their sailing yachts, the 88 meter's most innovative attribute became her sails that could rotate based on the direction of the wind. This was a first for the yachting industry.
The project was initially based on an incomplete 88-meter hull that Perini Navi had at a facility in Turkey following a canceled order. Interestingly included as an owner supplied item in the building contract, the masts and sails' design initially originated from a fuelling crisis. "While looking into the possibilities I came across the Dynarig ?- a square-rig concept developed by the German government during a fuel crisis to reduce the fuel consumption of merchant ships." recalled Perkins in 2013 with BI.
"This rig inspired me and I looked into its possibilities with the naval architect Gerry Dykstra. I went to his studio and listened to his ideas for applying modern technology to the original primitive concept, using three unstayed carbon fiber masts, each fitted with elegantly curved, fixed yards that would allow the yacht to sail upwind. I was impressed with his ideas and said, ?'Fine, let?'s do it,'? and left.? After the meeting, Dykstra looked at his team in some alarm and said, '?My God, where do we go from here?"
This innovative system that allows the Maltese Falcon to even sail against the wind also gives her advanced cruising abilities. During her first sea trials, she achieved a cruising speed of 16 knots on. In a storm in the Gulf of Lion, France she achieved a top speed of 26 knots under sail alone, with the equivalent of 7,500hp generated through her Dynarig set up.
Three years into his ownership of the Maltese Falcon, Perkins, however, sold her to hedge fund manager, Elena Ambrosiadou at an asking price of €70 million, reportedly at least breaking even on the sale.
"The high point of my ownership was entering San Francisco harbour, when literally tens of thousands of well wishers turned out to see the Maltese Falcon sail beneath the Golden Gate." Perkins explained BI.? "But that was just about the furthest she ever got from Istanbul. ?She was in such demand as a charter yacht and commanded such high fees that I simply couldn't refuse. But this meant keeping her in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, and I soon got bored with that.? So, in 2009, after three years, this remarkable yacht was sold."
Designed by Ken Freivokh, the Maltese Falcon was extensively refurbished in 2015/2016 during a refit. One of the most active yachts on the charter market, she accommodates up to 12 guests.
The 88-meter yacht's main deck serves as communal space for the guests' entertainment. Aft of the deck is a large, outside dining room with a bar and cocktail space flowing into the Falcon's main salon.
Split with the outside world by a circular bar, that can be closed off in the middle for part of it to remain inside, which is particularly useful during long crossings, the formal main salon acts as a lounging space for guests.
Featuring three comfortable sofas and windows on either side of the yacht, the main salon leads directly onto the staircase that connects each one of the decks.
Forward of the main deck are two formal, separate lounges that can act as a private study, a space for business meetings or simply a nice spot to play cards. These two areas open up to a formal dining area located towards the bow of the yacht.
A more formal location, mainly used in times of bad weather, the dining room located forward of the main deck sits twelve, similarly to the outside dining table found aft of the main deck.
Forward of the dining room are two doors that allow guests to exit onto the deck.
Accommodating up to 12 guests, the 88-meter sailing yacht features four cabins on the lower deck with an additional, convertible one. Designed with clear wood and black & white panels, the reoccurring theme of the Falcon is found in a fashion or another in every room on the yacht.
Although the yacht's main VIP cabin is located aft of the lower deck, an additional VIP cabin can be created by combining two regular cabins forward of the deck through the use of a sliding wall. The forward cabin then transforms into a lounging space for its guests, further creating a his and hers bathroom layout thanks to the additional space.
Stretching across the full beam of the yacht, the original VIP cabin occupies more space than even the master's cabin on the upper deck. Featuring a large bathroom and a lounging space aft of the cabin, the VIP lies aft of the lower deck and is decorated with precious works of art, as are most of the rooms on the Maltese Falcon.
Even more impressively, the master cabin is located on its own deck, up on the upper deck. With a clear view opening from the stateroom's bed onto the Maltese Falcon's aft deck, the stateroom features a private, outdoor lounging area.
On this private deck, which also doubles as a sundeck are several lounging chairs located all around the space. In the middle of the deck is an outdoor, circular, casual dining table. A large, square Jacuzzi completes the sundeck's layout towards its aft.
Amongst the long list of the Maltese Falcon's impressive amenities is its ability to transform the lounging space located towards the bow of its sundeck into a cinema. Installing lounging chairs forward of the sundeck and projecting movies onto the bottom part of her forward sail transforms the Falcon into one of the most theatres on the water.
A popular charter yacht, the Maltese Falcon also boasts a long list of toys for its more dynamic guests. In addition to the two large tenders that it carries on her bow, the Falcon features an inflatable water slide, deployable from its sundeck.
"Irrespective of his amazing achievements before and after, Maltese Falcon remains Tom’s most defining moment." Ken Freivokh told BI in 2013. "He once confided that he would not go down in history for his corporate successes, such as having set up the most successful Venture Capital company ever, a firm that takes credit for the establishment of Los Angeles’ Silicon Valley and the technology that has poured from it, but for having built the Maltese Falcon."
Born in New York in 1932, Thomas Perkins passed away in June 2016 at the age of 84. Haing graduated from MIT and Harvard, Perkins' first key career move came as he helped develop Hewlett-Packard under Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard.
In 1973, Perkins founded Kleiner Perkins together with his former colleague, Eugene Kleiner, hence establishing one of the first venture capital firms on Sand Hill Road. His firm became one of the most succesful VC funds in history, leading investments into Compaq, Google, Amazon and Netscape. In 2014, Forbes estimated his net worth at $8 billion.
"Tom was a pioneer in the venture capital industry." commented Frank Caufield, a partner at Kleiner Perkins at the time of Perkins' death. "He defined what we know of today as entrepreneurial venture capital by going beyond just funding to helping entrepreneurs realize their visions with operating expertise. He was there at the start of the biotech industry and the computer revolution."
Perini Navi, the shipyard under whose brand the Maltese Falcon was built, had a long standing relationship with Perkins prior to starting on the construction of the 88m yacht.
After starting up with a series of small sailing boats, Perkins was introduced to Fabio Perini and ultimately commissioned the 43-meter Andromede la Dea from him. The sailing yacht was delivered in 1987 and became the second yacht ever built by the Italian shipyard. Now known as Paz, the sailing yacht was a turning point for the sector in general.
Three years into his ownership of the 43-meter, Perini brought the designs of a larger scale project to Perkins, who decided it was time for an upgrade. The 47-meter Andromeda La Dea was delivered by the Italian shipyard in 1990. Onboard her, Perkins explored destinations such as Antartica and Alaska.
Shortly prior to his sale of the Maltese Falcon to Elena Ambrosiadou, Perkins decided to look into a new side of yachting and bought a personal submarine. The underwater Falcon could reach depths of up to 400 meters and basically fly underwater.
In order to have a suitable yacht for using the Falcon following his sale of the 88-meter sailing yacht, Perkins purchased a 37-meter Japanese training ship and had it converted at a shipyard in the Philippines. Amongst the adventures of the newly refitted Dr No was following whales in Tonga even underwater thanks to the Falcon.
The Maltese Falcon's new owner, Greek hedge fund manager, Elena Ambrosiadou first saw the sailing yacht near the Greek island of Delos. Together with her ex-husband, Ambrosiadou founded Ikos, their own fund, in 1990 with $600,000 in assets under management.
By 2004, the fund was managing several billion using its math-based strategies and moved over half of its staff to Cyprus for tax purposes. Around the same time, as she purchased the Falcon, the two partners started splitting up with the rights to their trading algorithms widely debated in courted and, reportedly, through corporate espionage within the firm. "There is something extraordinary about the IT at Ikos... Ikos is designed to remove human emotions from trading decisions." one of Ikos' employees told Business Insider.
Was the Falcon really the largest sailing yacht?
Following her delivery and at the time of her sale in 2009, the Maltese Falcon was hailed by international media as the largest yacht in the world. Within yachting, however, this claim always led to vicious debates.
Indeed, whereas it is clear that 180-meter Azzam is the longest yacht in the world and Dilbar is the most voluminous, both of these are motor yachts. With sailing yachts, the ranking is however much more opaque due largely to the measurement that is used.
Loaded waterline length, known as LWL, is the measurement of the length of a vessel from the points where it sits in the water. On the other hand, length overall, abbreviated as LOA, is defined as the maximum length of a yacht's hull, which for sailing yacht also includes the bowsprit, a key factor when measuring a sailing yacht and part of the difficulty in this ranking.
The Maltese Falcon's claim rested on its LOA measurement of 78.21-meters and the fact that she did not have a bowsprit to offset calculations. The 90-meter Athena, built for Jim Clark, Founder of Netscape in which Kleiner Perkins was an investor, was longer in absolute length but had a long bowsprit, which led to long debates.
The main contender to the title, other than the Falcon, was however the 93-meter Lurssen, EOS. Built for Barry Diller, the sailing yacht topped the rankings both in LOA and LWL. Since the yacht had a bowsprit, some argued that her length at waterline should be used (83m) whereas the Falcon should be measured in total length (88m), hence putting her on top.
Recently, this debate was rendered moot by the launch of the 106-meter yacht, Black Pearl by Oceanco. Designed by Ken Freivokh and with naval architecture by Dykstra, the sailing yacht features a Dynarig system, similar to the one found on the Maltese Falcon.
Whereas the Maltese Falcon may no longer be the largest sailing yacht in the world, her build has inspired many of the innovations later found on sailing yachts. As a testament to her popularity, she remains in high demand for charter, over 10 years after her initial delivery.
From today until February 28, over 100 yachting professionals are gathering in Bangkok for the 18th edition of Convergence, an annual training event organized by the Ferretti Group. The event focuses on innovation, safety, and future prospects within the yachting industry.Held in the vibrant Thai capital, Convergence provides attendees with three days of technical updates, discussions, and team-building activities. Officially opening on February 26, the event will highlight the group's recent achievements, showcase new models, and delve into the latest product innovations. An afternoon team-building exercise involves a guided tour of the Grand Palace, a historically and culturally significant site in Bangkok.The training program for 2025 centers on yachting safety, exploring topics such as emerging risks, new technologies, and changing scenarios. Notable speakers include Andrea Venturelli from RINA, Enrico Della Valentina from MARIN, Steve Clinch from Clinchmaritime Ltd, and Ulrich Heinemann from Heinemann Yacht Assessment, with Lucy Dunn moderating the discussion. In addition to the educational sessions, participants will engage in various team activities, exploring Bangkok's famous landmarks, bustling local markets, and other iconic attractions. Supported by esteemed sponsors including RINA, Sleipner, Volvo Penta, and Xenta, as well as technical partners Amare, Asea, MTU, Nanni, and Seakeeper, the event promises to foster meaningful connections and knowledge exchange within the industry.Ferretti After-Sales Services will also be present, offering attendees comprehensive information regarding their customer services tailored specifically for the group's captains. "For us, Convergence is an essential occasion to come together and learn," said Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi. "Our captains represent the backbone of the Group, and we are deeply grateful for their professionalism and expertise. Events like this help us provide better tools and services to meet their evolving needs."The event concludes on February 28, leaving participants with enhanced skills, updated knowledge, and renewed enthusiasm for the future of yachting.Credits: Ferretti Group
February 25, 2025
SantaSevera is gearing up for a landmark 2025 with several key international events and fresh model introductions. Following the successful world premiere of the SantaSevera 52 at Boot Düsseldorf in January 2025, the yard is now turning its attention to establishing itself as a prominent player in the luxury yachting industry.Designed by renowned naval architect Francesco Guida, the SantaSevera range is defined by its elegant blend of contemporary design, spacious interiors, and superior performance. The SantaSevera 52 serves as the flagship model, catering to the growing demand for weekend getaways and chase boats. Its sleek aesthetics and meticulous craftsmanship reflect the hallmark qualities of Italian shipbuilding.Recognizing the importance of international exposure, SantaSevera plans to participate in several major exhibitions in 2025. From September 10th to 15th, the SantaSevera 52 will feature prominently at the Cannes Yachting Festival, followed by the Genoa International Boat Show from the 19th to the 24th. Later in the year, the brand will cross the Atlantic, with the third hull of the SantaSevera 52 slated to appear at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in October.Production-wise, SantaSevera is currently working on four units of the SantaSevera 52, while preparations are underway for the unveiling of the SantaSevera 40 — a more compact model — at the Cannes event. This demonstrates the shipyard's unwavering commitment to innovation and adaptability in addressing diverse market needs.Additionally, SantaSevera has been actively bolstering its sales network, positioning itself to compete effectively in a dynamic marketplace. By emphasizing unparalleled quality, precision, and innovation, the brand is poised to attract discerning buyers who appreciate fine craftsmanship and stylish design.With a bold vision for the future and a burgeoning lineup of products, SantaSevera looks forward to cementing its reputation as a leading force in the global luxury yachting arena. 2025 promises to be a transformative year for the shipyard, marked by significant milestones and expanded market presence.Credits: SantaSevera
February 25, 2025
Sialia Yacht is making waves with its range of advanced, all-electric performance cruisers. These yachts, ranging from 40 to 100 feet, combine style, performance, and comfort with a strong commitment to environmental responsibility. Central to Sialia's innovative approach is its revolutionary electric drivetrain, developed by its sister company, Ampros.Sialia 45Ampros has created an electric system that incorporates a proprietary Ship Management System (SMS), a groundbreaking feature that elevates the functionality, safety, and longevity of the yachts. The SMS allows for features like extended battery operating parameters and remote monitoring, and predictive maintenance. This dedication to innovation, coupled with the yachts' construction using lifecycle-assessed and recycled materials, ensures that Sialia Yachts are not only environmentally friendly but also retain high resale values. Furthermore, Sialia Yachts backs its confidence in its technology by offering up to a 10-year warranty on its Ampros drivetrain and batteries.At the heart of Sialia's success is the collaboration between co-founder Stanislav Szadkowski, a veteran in green mobility with over two decades of experience in battery manufacturing, and Tomasz Gackowski, the founder and CEO of Ampros. Together, they have developed the most advanced systems in the industry. According to Milvio Ricci, Chief Operating Officer at Sialia Yachts, Ampros functions as a system integrator, having developed what is arguably the first truly practical and functional all-electric drivetrain in the marine market.The proprietary SMS acts as the "brain" of the drivetrain. Ricci explains that the SMS ensures the safety and optimal performance of the system by monitoring operations and enabling predictive and preventative maintenance. This capability is a key reason Sialia can offer extended warranties on its systems, including the batteries. The SMS also maximizes battery output, similar to how a performance map enhances a car engine's ECU. By safely accessing extra bands of capacity, the SMS allows Sialia yachts to utilize a greater percentage of the battery's potential. This capability has been proven by Sialia Yachts' first model, the 17.6-meter Sialia 57 "Deep Silence," which has lost only 2% of its total battery capacity over three years of extensive operation.The system also features a user-friendly graphical interface (GUI) that provides real-time information about the yacht's performance, range, and system status. The GUI also allows operators to monitor the status of pumps, cooling systems and battery systems, switch on the optional renewable-diesel range extender and more. Sialia has prioritized safety in its battery pack design. The batteries are engineered to prevent fires, with IP67-rated cases that discharge quickly if water intrusion occurs. Additionally, the batteries are installed in banks, ensuring continued operation even if one battery experiences a problem.The Ampros system at the core of Sialia Yachts is fully upgradeable, future-proofing the yachts as battery technology evolves. Owners can easily swap in new battery packs with higher capacity, instantly increasing range. The SMS also supports over-the-air (OTA) updates, allowing for on-the-fly improvements to system performance and efficiency. These features, along with the minimal maintenance needs of the electric drivetrain, ensure that Sialia Yachts will hold their value far longer than traditional yachts with combustion engines.Sialia 57 Deep Silence. Photo by BlueiprodEstablished in 2017, Sialia Yachts, owned by Silent Straits, is a company focused on sustainability and ocean-friendly innovation aiming to set new standards in yachting, with designs that inspire both enthusiasts and experts. The company offers the following models: 45, 59, and 80 Explorer. Sialia Yachts is based in Warsaw, Poland, with a team that includes members in the Netherlands and Italy.Credits: Sialia Yachts
February 25, 2025
The Italian Sea Group has announced the successful launch of Fantasy, the fourth 58-meter Perini Navi motor yacht. The vessel, constructed from steel and aluminum, features an exterior design by Philippe Briand, the renowned French architect behind Vitruvius Yachts. The launch ceremony occurred last week at the Group’s shipyard in La Spezia, fully revealing the yacht's distinctive lines for the first time. Camper & Nicholsons’ New Build Division played a crucial role in the project, providing technical surveying and project management to ensure the owner's vision was realized.The interior of Fantasy was meticulously designed by Tara Bernerd & Partners. With a beam of 9.8 meters and a volume of 800 GT, the yacht offers ample space across four decks, accommodating six guest cabins and up to eleven crew members. "Fantasy" embodies the superyacht design and naval engineering of the Vitruvius Yachts fleet, which includes notable vessels like the 50-meter M/Y Falco Moscata (formerly Exuma), the 55m M/Y Galileo G, and the 73m M/Y Nautilus (formerly Grace E).In related news, The Italian Sea Group has announced the development of a new Perini Navi motor yacht line, designed by its Centro Stile. This innovative project aims to blend the elegance of sailing yachts with the comfort and performance of motor yachts. The new line will include models ranging from 33 to 60 meters, with 40-meter and 50-meter versions also planned.Giovanni Costantino, Founder & CEO of The Italian Sea Group, stated, "We decided to continue with the product strategy of the previous Perini Navi ownership, maintaining a vision that blends the timeless elegance of sailing with the comfort and performance of motor propulsion. This new motor yacht line represents a natural evolution of the brand. As always, our focus remains on technology and innovation, integrating low environmental impact propulsion solutions, in line with our vision of sustainability and excellence.”The new Perini Navi motor yacht line will be officially presented at the next Monaco Yacht Show.The Italian Sea Group is a global operator in the luxury yachting industry, listed on Euronext Milan (“EXM”) and active in the construction and refit of motor yachts and sailing yachts up to 140 meters. The Company, led by Italian entrepreneur Giovanni Costantino, operates on the market with the brands Admiral, renown for elegant and prestigious yachts, Tecnomar, Perini Navi, and Picchiotti; the Company has a business unit, NCA Refit, that manages the maintenance and refit services for yachts and mega yachts with a length over 60 meters. Credit: The Italian Sea Group
February 25, 2025
Azimut Yachts has solidified its presence in the burgeoning Middle Eastern market following a successful showing at the Dubai International Boat Show. The Italian yacht builder announced an expansion of its partnership with Elite Yachts, now extending their dealership to include Saudi Arabia. This strategic move is bolstered by the introduction of the exclusive Azimut Concierge Service, designed to enhance the ownership experience for its clientele.The Dubai International Boat Show proved a fruitful event for Azimut, who participated alongside Azimut Yachts Gulf, their exclusive dealer for the Gulf region. The Middle East represents a significant growth opportunity, fueled by recent investments in infrastructure, including state-of-the-art marinas tailored for luxury yachts, thus fostering the development of nautical tourism.Azimut's success in the Middle East is evident, with a remarkable 25% year-over-year increase in turnover. This growth is attributed to a well-defined strategy that seamlessly integrates product innovation and superior service, essential for both attracting and retaining yacht owners.Azimut's diverse yacht range caters to a variety of lifestyles, offering pioneering technology and design innovations. Supporting this, Azimut Yachts Gulf plays a vital role, now managing the Saudi Arabian market to reinforce its position as a key partner for Azimut and its owners, expanding the brand’s footprint across the region. To further enhance customer engagement, Azimut Yachts Gulf plans to launch five new boutiques in key cities like Dubai, Doha, Jeddah, and Kuwait, offering an immersive Azimut brand experience.Azimut Yachts Gulf provides continuous support throughout the purchase and ownership journey. The recently launched Azimut Concierge Service offers a dedicated, multilingual team available 24/7 to address every client need, whether on land or at sea, delivering a personalized and seamless experience. Furthermore, leveraging a highly qualified team and advanced resources, the company offers top-tier assistance to owners and will soon open a new Service Centre in Dubai to ensure swift and efficient support."We are delighted to expand our dealership agreement with Elite Yachts to include Saudi Arabia," stated Enrico Chiaussa, Chief Commercial Officer EMEA-APAC of Azimut. "This strengthened relationship allows us to introduce the Azimut Concierge Service, a targeted and exclusive offering for our customers in the region. Saudi Arabia is a highly promising market in the Middle East, with a growing demand for luxury yachts, including larger models. Thanks to the professionalism and vision of Elite Yachts, we are confident in our ability to fully capitalize on these opportunities and further solidify our leadership in the region."Ahmad Al Ameeri, CEO of Al Ameeri Group Holding, owner of Elite Yachts, added, "This marks a significant milestone in our decade-long successful partnership with Azimut, built on shared values of excellence, innovation, and commitment to delivering world-class experiences. As we embark on this new chapter, we are excited to bring Azimut’s unparalleled craftsmanship and luxury to the dynamic Saudi market. We thank Azimut for their continued partnership and look forward to contributing to their global expansion, setting new benchmarks for success in this vital region."Azimut Yachts is an Azimut Benetti Group brand. With its Atlantis, Magellano Flybridge, S, Verve and Grande collections, Azimut offers the widest range of 10 to 40 meters.Credits: Azimut Yachts
February 25, 2025