Rebooted and ready to reclaim its crown, the Maltese Falcon boasts high-tech sails, an auto-pilot mode, and a sundeck cinema…
Winning 18 design awards since its launch in 2006, the footy field sized (289 foot) Maltese Falcon was once the world’s largest sailing yacht – until it was bested by Jeff Bezos’s 417 foot Koru.
Now rebooted and vengeful, improvements include the hull being repainted in Perini Blue, the teak deck being replaced, and interiors refurbished with lighter woods and cream panels. Delivering a top speed of 46 km, the enormous masts and sails are made from weapons-grade carbon fibre, deploying up to 24,756 square feet of sail in six seconds – the time it takes to tie your shoe. Sensors in the sails measure loads, wind speeds, and tidal currents – all from a centralized control centre that can sail on auto pilot if needed.
One of the standout features is the outdoor cinema projected onto the lower sail – the world’s largest, which the guests can watch from the flybridge or the sundeck. Since the refit, there is now also an indoor cinema, with wood paneling and comfy sofas that deliver a real Zen vibe. Need vitamin D? A new circular sunbed rotates with the sun to deliver maximum tanning goodness and continuous panoramic perving.
The interior goes industrial chic and high tech – with leather, glass, wood, and steel all represented. Here the three-deck atrium with spiraling stairs remains a showpiece while the master suite has a new bed, his/her Jacuzzis, and a television that rises from the floor. During downtime when the sails are down, the water toys on offer are include paddleboards, jetsurfers, and efoils. This Maltese Falcon yacht was inspired by the 1941 American film noir of the same name, which featured a black bird symbolizing extreme wealth. The emblem of the bird appears throughout the yacht, on the sails, the linen, and on a bronze sculpture – it’s only fitting.
By Bill Varetimidis
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