Maltese Falcon Yacht – One of a Kind Yacht

The Maltese Falcon was built in 2006 in the Italian shipyard Perini Navi; this iconic yacht comes in at 88 meters (288.7 feet) in length and costs an impressive $150 million to build. Interestingly, the hull of the craft was actually built and launched back in 1989 but it sat waiting for an owner to show interest.

After some time, Tom Perkins, a yachtsman and businessman, proposed a three-mast square rig known as the DynaRig, for the vessel that would be known as the Maltese Falcon. The DynaRig is a concept that was developed in Germany back in the 1960s.

The DynaRig is a propulsion alternative that allows for the operation of cargo ships with minimal fuel use and a nominal crew. For the Maltese Falcon, the three self-standing rotating carbon fiber masts were manufactured and fitted to the yacht in Tuzla; the testing and design took over three years to complete!

The masts measure an astonishing 57 meters (187 feet) above the bottom bearing and are made to allow for aerodynamic flow in both directions. They can rotate around the deck and keel bearings and have symmetrical elongated sections.

Within the spars, there is a fiber optic strain monitoring system that allows for real-time loads when the vessel is under sail. The loads are then transmitted to the monitors on the bridge through the fiber Bragg grating (FBG) system, which is a type of distributed Bragg reflector that reflects specific wavelengths of light and transmits the remaining.

What makes this system so unique is that there are no ropes, sheets or blocks cluttering the deck. It allows for the impression that maneuvering a vessel of this size is simply effortless. The Falcon can actually be sailed by one individual.

Maltese Falcon Yacht Interior and Design

While Perkins supervised much of the mast fittings with the help of Insensys Ltd, it was Ken Freivokh who designed the interior of the vessel. Within the Maltese Falcon are accommodations for 12 guests in six spacious quarters while she also supports a crew of 19 to tend to the guests’ every need.

Inside the spacious yacht are a variety of colorful touches, including Perkin’s own artwork collection throughout. Inside the guest suites and communal space, the furnishes are derived from wood, steel, leather, and glass.

Guests will enjoy use of her reading room and main salon and they will surely appreciate the skylights throughout that allow for natural light to beam through during the day as well as admire the stars twinkling above at night.

Celebrity charterers such as Hugh Grant or Tom Hanks have had the option to select from the following accommodations; the single master cabin, the VIP cabin or one of the spacious double rooms.

The master cabin resides on the lower deck and boasts two walk-in closets, his and her bathrooms, and a California king-sized bed. The VIP cabin includes easy chairs and a private terrace while the double room, that also includes the same entertainment options as the VIP and master suites, are found on the lower deck.

The Maltese is available for charter around the Balearic Islands and offers only the most extravagant and luxurious experience to those fortunate enough to voyage upon her decks. The Maltese Falcon is specifically known for the largest outdoor cinema screen which is positioned just below the lower sail to allow for a magical movie night under the stars.

More About the Maltese Falcon Yacht

She is also well-known for all of her many water sports, including paddle boards, jet skis, scuba diving, and even an inflatable slide. Other amenities include a gym, the al fresco deck, a jacuzzi, and an onboard masseuse to help each guest further relax.

British captain Robert Bell guides his guests and crew around the Spanish Balearic Islands with a smooth sailing cruise speed of 16 knots. With a range of 3,000 nautical miles and a total sail area of 2400 square meters, with winds in her favor, she is capable of breaking record speeds at 18 knots.

It is no surprise that this spectacular yacht has won numerous awards such as the Best Sailing Yacht Interior, the most innovative sailing yacht, both 2017, and the 2010 Palma Superyacht Cup. She has even recently sailed away with the 2018 Perini Navi Cup and has shown no sign of slowing down.