Throughout yachting history, few superyachts have won the international recognition that the “Maltese Falcon” deserved from the moment of its creation in 2006. Built for venture...
Throughout yachting history, few superyachts have won the international recognition that the “Maltese Falcon” deserved from the moment of its creation in 2006. Built for venture capitalist Tom Perkins, the 88-meter yacht was until recently vying for the prize of the world's largest yacht.
Despite losing the crown from the 106-meter “Black Pearl”, the “Maltese Falcon” remains one of the most iconic yachts ever built. The 88-meter beauty is also one of the largest yachts available on charter with a starting price of $400 thousand per week.
Commissioned by Tom Perkins in 2000, the creation of “The Maltese Falcon” took almost six years, launching in 2006. It was built by the Italian shipyard Perini Navi, famous for its sailing yachts. In fact, the most innovative attribute of the Falcon is its sails, which can rotate relative to the direction of the wind. This is the first such innovation in the yacht industry.
The project started with an unfinished 88-meter hull in Perini Navi warehouses in Turkey after a cancelled order. An interesting detail specified in the construction contract is that the masts and sails were inspired by a historical fuel crisis.
“While looking at different options, I came across Dynarig, a square platform concept developed by the German government during a fuel crisis to reduce the fuel consumption of commercial ships,” says Perkins.
“This platform inspired me and explored its possibilities with naval architect Gary Dixtra. I went to his studio and listened to his ideas for applying modern technology to the original primitive concept, using three unstable carbon fiber masts, each with elegantly curved, fixed spathes that would allow the yacht to sail in the wind. I was impressed with his ideas and I said, “Okay, let's do it” and left. After the meeting, Dykstra looked at his team with some trepidation and said, “My God, what are we going to do now?” The innovative system that allows the “Maltese Falcon”
to sail even against the wind,
provides him with additional cruise opportunities. During his first sea trials, he achieved a cruising speed of 16 knots. During a storm in the Gulf of Lyon, France, the yacht reached a top speed of 26 knots with sail alone, with the equivalent of 7,500 horsepower generated by her Dynarig.
Three years after the creation of “The Maltese Falcon”, Perkins sold it to hedge fund manager Elena Ambrosiadou at an announced price of $70 million.
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“The most special moment for me was entering the port of San Francisco, when literally tens of thousands of spectators had gathered to see the Maltese Falcon pass under the Golden Gate Bridge,” Perkins explains. “This is her farthest journey from Istanbul. It was so in demand as a charter yacht and at such high prices that I simply could not refuse. But that meant keeping her only off the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean, which quickly bored me. So in 2009, after three years, this remarkable yacht was sold. In 2015-2016, the “Maltese Falcon” was extensively renovated according to Ken Freewoch's design.
The main deck serves as a common space for entertaining guests. At the back of the deck there is a large outdoor dining area with a bar and space for cocktails. From there you go to the main salon Naskola. A large round bar divides the space inside and out. It can be locked in the middle, and part of it can remain inside. This is especially useful on long trips, when the formal main lounge is used as a lounge space by guests. With three comfortable sofas and windows on either side of the yacht, the main lounge leads directly to the staircase. It connects each of the decks.
You will find the complete material about one of the largest and most impressive yachts in the world in our first issue.
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