| Name: | Sailing Yacht A |
| Length: | 143 m (468 ft) |
| Guests: | 20 in 10 cabins |
| Crew: | 20 in 10 cabins |
| Builder: | Nobiskrug |
| Designer: | Philippe Starck |
| Interior Designer: | Philippe Starck |
| Year: | 2017 |
| Speed: | 21 knots |
| Engines: | MTU |
| Volume: | 12,558 ton |
| IMO: | 1012141 |
| Price: | $ 600 million |
| Annual Running Cost: | US$ 50-75 million |
| Owner: | Andrey Melnichenko |
| Captain: | Pls send info! |
Sailing Yacht A is one of the most extraordinary private yachts ever built. Originally developed under the project name White Pearl and yard number 787, she was delivered by the German shipyard Nobiskrug in 2017.
Measuring approximately 143 meters, or 469 feet, Sailing Yacht A is widely described as the largest private sailing yacht in the world. Her futuristic profile, three towering masts, hybrid propulsion system and bold Philippe Starck design have made her one of the most recognizable yachts afloat.
The yacht was built for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, who is also known for the iconic Motor Yacht A. Since March 2022, Sailing Yacht A has been under administrative seizure in Trieste, Italy, following EU sanctions imposed on Melnichenko.
Sailing Yacht A is not a traditional sailing yacht. She is often described as a sail-assisted motor yacht because of the way her advanced sailing system works alongside a powerful hybrid diesel-electric propulsion setup. Her size, volume and engineering place her in a category of her own.
The yacht has an overall length of approximately 142.81 meters, which is commonly rounded to 143 meters. She has a beam of about 24.88 meters and a gross tonnage of around 12,558 GT. These dimensions give her the scale of a major superyacht rather than a conventional sailing vessel.
Sailing Yacht A has multiple decks and offers accommodation for up to 20 guests. Crew figures are often listed at around 54 crew members, reflecting the complexity of operating a yacht of this size and technical sophistication.
Her estimated value is often stated at around US$600 million. Annual operating costs for a yacht of this size can be extremely high, with estimates commonly placed in the tens of millions of dollars per year. Crew, insurance, maintenance, technical systems, fuel, mooring and security all contribute to the cost of keeping such a vessel operational.
Sailing Yacht A is powered by a complex hybrid diesel-electric system. Her setup includes MTU diesel engines, electric motors and controllable-pitch propellers, giving the yacht a high level of maneuverability for a vessel of her size.
The yacht can reportedly reach a top speed of around 21 knots. Her cruising speed is generally listed between 14 and 16 knots, depending on operating conditions and source estimates. She also has a reported range of more than 5,000 nautical miles, allowing for long-distance cruising.
While her sail plan is one of her most visible features, the propulsion system is equally important. Sailing Yacht A was designed to combine sail-assisted performance with modern mechanical reliability. The result is a vessel that blends yacht design, naval engineering and experimental technology on a remarkable scale.
Sailing Yacht A was designed by renowned French designer Philippe Starck, who also worked on Melnichenko’s earlier Motor Yacht A. Like that yacht, Sailing Yacht A has a bold, minimalist profile that divides opinion but is instantly recognizable.
Her design includes a sharp, futuristic hull shape, a long open foredeck and three enormous masts. These masts are among the largest freestanding composite yacht masts ever built. The tallest mast is often described as being close to 100 meters high, making the yacht’s silhouette visible from a great distance.
The yacht’s interior has not been widely published, but she is known to include extensive guest areas, technical spaces, crew accommodation and highly customized private facilities. One of her most talked-about features is an underwater observation pod, reportedly fitted with a thick glass viewing panel that allows guests to look beneath the surface of the sea.
Sailing Yacht A was built by Nobiskrug in Germany, a shipyard known for complex custom superyacht projects. Nobiskrug has also been associated with yachts such as ARTEFACT and SYCARA V.
The project involved a large international team of naval architects, engineers, designers and specialist suppliers. The yacht’s naval architecture has been linked to Nobiskrug and Dykstra Naval Architects, while Philippe Starck was responsible for the exterior and interior design concept.
Sailing Yacht A was launched in 2017 and delivered that same year. After leaving Germany, she underwent additional trials, testing and finishing work, including time at the Navantia shipyard in Cartagena, Spain. The scale of the vessel, the height of her masts and the complexity of her systems made her one of the most technically ambitious yacht projects of the modern era.
One of the defining features of Sailing Yacht A is her three-masted sailing rig. The yacht’s freestanding rotating masts were built using advanced composite materials and carbon fiber technology. These masts support a large automated sail plan designed to assist propulsion and improve efficiency.
The total sail area is reported at approximately 3,747 square meters. This makes the sailing system one of the largest ever installed on a private yacht. The scale of the sails, the automated handling systems and the structural demands of the rig required highly specialized engineering.
The yacht’s masts and rigging are not just decorative. They represent an experimental approach to applying large-scale sailing technology to a modern superyacht. Sailing Yacht A remains one of the most important examples of how traditional sailing concepts can be reinterpreted through advanced materials and automation.
Although the full interior of Sailing Yacht A remains private, several major features have been widely reported. The yacht includes guest suites, owner’s areas, lounges, technical spaces, crew quarters and extensive onboard systems.
One of the yacht’s most unusual features is the underwater observation pod. This viewing area is designed to give guests a direct look beneath the yacht through thick glass. It is one of the features that helped establish Sailing Yacht A as more than just a large sailing vessel; she is also a technological showcase.
The yacht is also believed to include a swimming pool, tender storage, large open deck spaces and sophisticated navigation and control systems. Like many ultra-large private yachts, the most private interior details have not been released publicly.
Sailing Yacht A has faced several legal and operational challenges since her delivery. In 2017, the yacht was temporarily held in Gibraltar over a reported payment dispute connected to the shipyard. The matter was later resolved, and the yacht continued operating.
A much larger issue began in March 2022, when Italian authorities seized Sailing Yacht A in the port of Trieste. The seizure followed EU sanctions imposed on Andrey Melnichenko after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Reuters reported at the time that the yacht was valued at around €530 million, or about US$578 million.
Since then, Sailing Yacht A has remained one of the most visible seized Russian-linked superyachts in Europe. Reports in 2025 and 2026 indicate that the yacht has continued to remain in Trieste, creating ongoing questions about maintenance costs, legal responsibility and the long-term future of frozen luxury assets.
The yacht’s situation is complicated because a frozen asset generally must be preserved rather than abandoned. That means the vessel requires security, technical care, insurance, crew or watchkeeping arrangements, and regular maintenance to prevent deterioration.
Sailing Yacht A is most closely associated with Trieste, Italy, where she was seized in March 2022. Reports in 2026 continue to describe the yacht as remaining in Trieste, either in drydock or at anchorage depending on the period reported.
Because yacht locations can change, the most accurate way to check her current position is through AIS-based vessel tracking services or yacht-tracking platforms. However, due to the legal restrictions surrounding the yacht, she has not been operating like a normal privately used vessel since the seizure.
Sailing Yacht A was built for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. He is known for his business interests in fertilizers, coal and industrial assets, including associations with EuroChem and SUEK.
Melnichenko is also known in the yachting world for commissioning two of the most distinctive superyachts ever built: Motor Yacht A and Sailing Yacht A. Both yachts were designed by Philippe Starck and both have become icons of unconventional yacht design.
Following EU sanctions in 2022, Sailing Yacht A became one of the most high-profile luxury assets frozen in Europe. Legal disputes and ownership-related questions have continued since the yacht’s seizure.
Sailing Yacht A is commonly valued at around US$600 million. Reuters reported a value of approximately €530 million when the yacht was seized in Italy in 2022, which was close to US$578 million at the time.
The final value of a yacht like Sailing Yacht A is difficult to calculate precisely. Factors include the original build cost, technical systems, depreciation, maintenance condition, legal restrictions, market demand and the uniqueness of the vessel. Because she is a one-off custom yacht with unusual technology, there are very few comparable sales.
Her annual running costs are often estimated at around US$50 million to US$60 million, although actual costs can vary significantly depending on use, crew levels, maintenance requirements, insurance and legal status.
Sailing Yacht A is generally valued at around US$600 million. When she was seized in Italy in 2022, Reuters reported a value of about €530 million, equal to roughly US$578 million at the time.
Sailing Yacht A has remained associated with Trieste, Italy, since being seized by Italian authorities in March 2022. Recent yacht-industry reports in 2026 continue to describe her as being in Trieste.
Sailing Yacht A was built for Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko. The yacht became subject to Italian seizure following EU sanctions imposed on Melnichenko in 2022.
Sailing Yacht A measures approximately 142.81 meters, commonly rounded to 143 meters, or about 469 feet. She has a beam of around 24.88 meters and a gross tonnage of about 12,558 GT.
Sailing Yacht A is often described as a sail-assisted motor yacht because she combines a large sailing rig with a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system. She has three enormous masts and automated sails, but also relies on powerful engines and electric propulsion technology.
Sailing Yacht A can reportedly reach a top speed of around 21 knots. Her cruising speed is usually listed between 14 and 16 knots, depending on the source and operating conditions.
Sailing Yacht A was designed by Philippe Starck, who also designed Melnichenko’s earlier Motor Yacht A. Naval architecture has been linked to Nobiskrug and Dykstra Naval Architects.
In March 2022, Italian authorities seized Sailing Yacht A in Trieste after Andrey Melnichenko was placed under EU sanctions. Since then, the yacht has remained frozen while legal and political issues continue.
Sailing Yacht A is unique because of her size, three freestanding composite masts, hybrid propulsion system, futuristic Philippe Starck design and underwater observation pod. She remains one of the most technically ambitious private yachts ever built.
boatinternational.com – Sailing Yacht A specifications and yacht profile
superyachttimes.com – Sailing Yacht A overview and technical data
reuters.com – Italy seizes Andrey Melnichenko’s Sailing Yacht A
megayachtnews.com – Seized Russian-owned yachts and current status
yachtbuyer.com – S/Y A yacht features and technology
yachtharbour.com – Sailing Yacht A dimensions, engines and performance
charterworld.com – Sailing Yacht A propulsion and technical description
superyachtfan.com – Sailing Yacht A profile
superyachtfan.com – Andrey Melnichenko owner profile
superyachtfan.com – Sailing Yacht A photos and videos
superyachtfan.com – Sailing Yacht A location
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Sailing Yacht A, owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, is regarded as a highly innovative vessel. Designed by Philippe Starck, its interior reflects both advanced engineering and the owner’s personal preferences. While complete interior details are largely private, available information provides insight into a space that departs from the minimalist design of Melnichenko’s earlier Motor Yacht A.
Although official interior photos have not been widely released, Sailing Yacht A is known to have a warmer, more classic style than Melnichenko’s previous yacht.
Andrey Melnichenko’s personal involvement shaped many aspects of the yacht’s interior, reflecting his interest in classic elements combined with modern comfort.
Beyond its interior design, Sailing Yacht A incorporates several distinctive features.
Despite its size and amenities, Sailing Yacht A is also built for capable sailing.
The collaboration between Melnichenko and Philippe Starck resulted in a yacht that combines engineering innovation with personal customization.
Sailing Yacht A isn’t just renowned for its breathtaking size and design; it’s also equipped with four exceptional tenders that complement its grandeur. Designed by the legendary Philippe Starck and built by the esteemed Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders in New Zealand, these tenders are feats of engineering and luxury in their own right.
Located in the heart of New Zealand, Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders has a reputation for delivering custom-built vessels that combine innovative design with impeccable craftsmanship. With decades of experience, they specialize in constructing high-quality tenders, yachts, and specialist vessels using advanced composite materials. Their collaboration with Philippe Starck on the tenders for Sailing Yacht A showcases their ability to execute visionary designs to perfection.
Imagine cruising the pristine waters in a sleek, carbon fiber speedboat designed exclusively for the yacht’s owner, Andrey Melnichenko, and his wife. Tender 1 is not just a boat; it’s a personal escape vessel that doesn’t require any crew to operate.
Tender 2 is the epitome of luxury transportation on water. Designed to operate in both warm and cold climates, it’s the perfect vessel for ferrying guests from the main yacht to the shore or other nearby destinations.
Offering a different kind of luxury, Tender 3 is all about the views. With expansive panorama windows, passengers can soak in the stunning surroundings while traveling in comfort.
While details about the fourth tender are less known, it’s believed to be a versatile vessel that supports the yacht’s operations.
The partnership between visionary designer Philippe Starck and Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders resulted in tenders that are not only functional but also works of art.
By delving into the world of Sailing Yacht A’s tenders, we uncover the meticulous effort and craftsmanship invested in every aspect of this superyacht experience. From the visionary designs of Philippe Starck to the unparalleled expertise of Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders, each tender embodies a commitment to excellence that matches the grandeur of Sailing Yacht A herself.
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