ANTIGUANICE YACHTING INSIDER NEWSLETTER

Maltese Falcon under sail.  Photo by Onne van der Wal – www.vanderwal.com.

The 49th Antigua Charter Yacht Show will host many exciting super yachts from the 6th to the 11th of December.  The biggest and perhaps most exhilarating of these is the 88 metre (289 feet) Maltese Falcon.  Launched in 2006 and refitted in 2008, this is one of the most unique and spectacular super yachts in the world today.

Commissioned by American Tom Perkins, Maltese Falcon was built by Perini Navi in Tuzla near Istanbul, Turkey, and is one of the largest privately-owned sailing yachts in the world.  She is unique in that while she is technically a clipper sailing yacht, she is effectively a modern-day square-rigger.  Her rig is a DynaRig design which is now commonly known as the Falcon Rig.  Instead of the numerous yardarms (booms) moving around the mast as with traditional square-riggers, Maltese Falcon’s yardarms are fixed to three separate free-standing carbon fibre masts which rotate to get maximum benefit from wind angles.

With a total sail area of 2,400 square metres and over 3,600 hp of diesel engines, Maltese Falcon cruises at a speed of fourteen knots and has a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles allowing her to cross the Atlantic Ocean in as little as 10 days.  Up to 12 guests are accommodated in one master cabin, one VIP cabin and four queen cabins which can be converted into two additional VIP suites.  With a crew of up to 18 on board, guests are assured of unrivalled service at all times.

Maltese Falcon’s interior layout.

Interior design is by Ken Freivokh Design and includes a three-story atrium with a circular staircase flooded by natural light through transparent floors.  Amenities include everything a guest could possibility dream of on a private sailing yacht – huge plasma televisions throughout with satellite TV, a fully-equipped gym, a lovely formal dining room and several comfortable lounge areas.  Toys include two large RIB tenders, a jet tender, dive and snorkeling gear, Laser sail boats and water skis.  All of these luxuries and amenities add up to complete comfort for charter guests enjoying a quick Atlantic crossing.

The spectacular three-storey circular staircase.

Maltese Falcon’s computerized data collection systems which constantly feed data to the yacht’s captain afford exceptional control of the yacht at all times.  She has been seen to sail on and off her mooring at Antigua Yacht Club Marina on many occasions over the past few years.  Maltese Falcon did not grace the docks of Falmouth Harbour with her presence last season, so we are delighted to see her back so early in the 2010/2011 season under the new ownership of Elena Ambrosiadou who reportedly purchased her in 2009.  Welcome back!!   

Maltese Falcon sailing off the dock in Falmouth Harbour.  Photo by Kathy Lammers.

Article written by Kathy Lammers.