THE BES T OF
Splashed in late 2015, the new A is by far the largest sailing yacht in the world, even though she doesn’t much look like any sailing yacht we have ever seen. Built at Nobiskrug in Germany, her length measures a staggering 468 feet (142 meters). A is broadly believed to belong to Andrey Melnichenko, the Russian owner who also built and owns 390-foot (119-meter) Blohm+Voss motoryacht A. Both As bear unusual and controversial exterior styling by Philippe Starck. Dykstra Naval Architects designed the yacht’s massive carbon rig, and Magma Structures in the United Kingdom built it. The rotating masts weigh about 50 tons and can reportedly handle bending loads of more than twice the load on the wing of a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Much secrecy still envelops this yacht, so we have no testimonials from anyone who has actually been aboard. For new racer/cruisers, Nikata— the 115-foot (35-meter) Baltic-built yacht designed inside and out by Nauta with naval architecture by judel/vrolijk & co.—is hard to beat. Launched at the end of 2015, she hit a speed of 28 knots during her first 3,000-nautical-mile Atlantic crossing from Finland to the Caribbean. She also won the Superyacht Division in the RORC Caribbean 600. Built of carbon pre-preg laminate with foam core, Nikata is light and fast. Her lifting bulb keel and long waterline enhance her performance on all points of sail. Hermes-orange cockpit cushions offset her slate-gray hull and silver deckhouse. She has a comfortable interior with accommodations for eight guests plus crew. For creature comforts, she has a 200-bottle wine cellar, and the stern opens to create a swim platform. At 279 feet (85 meters) in length, Aquijo is not only the largest sailing yacht to have been delivered this year, but she is also the largest ketch in the world. Her two masts stand upward of 295 feet. Built in a unique partnership between two Dutch superyacht builders, Oceanco and Vitters, she benefits from the technical expertise and skilled craftsmanship of both yards. Master Yachts, the owner’s representative, closely supervised the project. Tripp Design Naval Architecture played a large part in ensuring that Aquijo would not be a motoryacht with masts. Having sailed on her several times since delivery, Bill Tripp says, “Aquijo has all of what a 1,600-gross-ton motoryacht would have, while being a sailing boat first and foremost. With a sail plan to match her enormous size, yet easy to get sailing
Unfurled is a 151-foot (46-meter) masterpiece designed by Frers Naval Architecture & Engineering and built at Vitters, with the influence of a hands-on, experienced owner who is definitive about what he wants. It is hard to get the design right when an owner desires a luxury sailing yacht used most often for cruising, and occasionally to race. Unfurled fulfills both functions extremely well. She came in first in her class in the 2016 St. Barths Bucket—her first race ever. She also had the distinction of being the overall winner of that regatta, against stiff competition. She has the latest high-tech gear, including a carbon rig and roller-furling system with her downwind sails stowed in drums on the foredeck. She is also equipped with retractable propulsion pods.
Unfurled’s interior, by Stirling & Co., is similar to that of her predecessor, the Royal Huisman-built yacht of the same name. The décor is clean, modern and minimal, but not short on appealing details such as book-matched paneling. The owner’s modern art collection adds a touch of whimsy to the austerely beautiful interior.