Yes, you read that right: Oceanco has reportedly signed a contract for a sailing superyacht, to be named Solar, which will measure 354 feet (108 meters). When delivered in 2015, Solar will rank as the world’s largest sailing yacht.
Only the briefest details are available presently, all from Moran Yacht & Ship, which represents the buyer. (At presstime, Oceanco had not replied to our request for information.) Moran Yacht & Ship states that the megayacht will accommodate 12 in the owner’s party in six staterooms. In addition, the brokerage firm reveals, at one point the project was known as Black Pearl.
The more impressive fact, though, is the fact that Solar will feature a DynaRig, an interpretation of a square rigger famously employed aboard Maltese Falcon. When the sails are deployed, there are no gaps between them and the yards, giving the impression that they’re all one piece mounted on each mast. The DynaRig concept dates to the 1960s and has proven to be more aerodynamically efficient.
Speaking of efficiency, Moran Yacht & Ship hints that Solar will also be a highly “green” megayacht, due to technical systems and solar power.
When more details are released, we’ll update the story. For now, to put Solar’s size into better perspective, consider some of the largest sailing yachts presently afloat. There’s the 316-foot (96-meter) Sea Cloud, the 289-foot (88-meter) Maltese Falcon, and 271-foot (nearly 83-meter) Eos. You’d have to add the length of Sea Cloud’s bowsprit to her overall measurement to come close to Solar.
UPDATE, NOVEMBER 30, 2012: Nuvolari-Lenard has revealed that it is serving as both the exterior stylist and interior designer for Solar. It also states the LOA is 348 feet 106 meters) and beam is about 45 feet (15 meters). Solar will further have a steel hull and fall under the 3,000-gross-tons regulations.
Ywain
Is it not the case that the largest sailing yacht will, in fact, be Dream Ship Victory’s 141m Dijkstra design?
Diane M. Byrne
Ywain, the Dream Ship Victory project won’t be ready until after the Oceanco project is finished.