As if the news about Lone Ranger being offered for sale wasn’t big enough, now comes word that Maltese Falcon is on the market–and for an astounding 115 million euros (just shy of $180 million).
A steep price for sure, but one that shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise for the 289-foot motorsailer, which is centrally listed by Camper & Nicholsons. We’re talking about a yacht that, since the moment she splashed two years ago, has been raising eyebrows and turning heads, given her unconventional design. Take a long look at the sails and masts in the photo here (courtesy of Superyacht Times): No other megayacht in the world has a sailing system like this. It’s called a DynaRig design, nicknamed the Falcon Rig (see brief explanation on the yacht’s Web site). The three rotating carbon fiber masts rise nearly 190 feet into the air, holding a total sail area of about 26,000 square feet. Most conversations about Maltese Falcon concentrate more on these details than the overtly masculine interior, replete with dark tones and modern art, from the card room to the guest staterooms (including the VIP on the bridge deck, which enjoys a private terrace).
But still, with all of these bragging rights at his disposal, why would Tom Perkins, the American venture capitalist who commissioned her, part with her? Well, only he knows, but based on my observations of this industry, my guess is that he’s looking forward to a new challenge. Some owners happen to get just as big of a kick out of the planning and building stages as they do out of using their yachts. Perkins is anything but a bored millionaire with money to burn when it comes to megayachts; he’s a student of design and function.
So while Perkins tests the proverbial waters with his asking price, Maltese Falcon is putting the South Pacific seas to the test. As for the rest of us mere mortals, well, there are still a few copies left of the coffee table book that gives the ultimate inside look at her design, construction, and delivery.
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