Current Ownership and Identity of Sailing Yacht A
Sailing Yacht A is a large sailing superyacht currently owned by the Russian-born Austrian businessman and philanthropist Andrey Melnichenko, who is listed as the registered owner through entities tied to his investment and industrial holdings. The vessel was delivered by the Dutch yacht builder Royal Huisman in 2017, and public records, press reports, and registry documentation consistently identify Melnichenko as the principal owner and user of the yacht.
The yacht is registered in the Cayman Islands and has been documented in maritime databases and superyacht tracking platforms as Sailing Yacht A, with Melnichenko identified as the owner and operator in the most recent publicly available data. The project was developed with a team led by Philippe Starck as the exterior designer and naval architecture input from the builder and specialized designers, and the vessel has been photographed and reported in numerous credible outlets, including coverage by Forbes and superyacht industry sources.
Technical Specifications and Construction Details
Sailing Yacht A is reported to be approximately 142 meters in length overall, with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure, and it features a rotating mast and advanced sailing systems designed by the builder and naval architects to maximize performance under sail. The yacht has a reported capacity for a large crew and guests, with multiple decks, suites, and public areas configured for long-range cruising and high-sea state operations.
Propulsion, Speed, and Range
The vessel combines a high-performance sailing rig with diesel-electric propulsion, and published specifications indicate a top sailing speed and motor-sailing capability designed for transoceanic range while reducing fuel consumption compared with conventional motor yachts of similar size.
Market Value, Cost Estimates, and Industry Context
Exact sale prices for Sailing Yacht A have not been officially disclosed, but industry estimates and superyacht valuation reports have placed the build cost and market value in the range of several hundred million dollars, consistent with the scale of the project, the use of custom engineering, and the reputation of Royal Huisman as a builder of large sailing superyachts.
Sailing Yacht A is frequently cited in lists of the largest and most advanced sailing yachts in the world, and its design and technology have been referenced in coverage by outlets such as Forbes and specialized maritime and financial news sources, which describe the vessel as a flagship example of modern superyacht engineering and a symbol of the growing market for high-tech sailing superyachts among ultra-high-net-worth individuals.
For recent coverage and background on the project and owner, see the Forbes profile and related reporting at forbes.com, and for broader context on large yacht construction and ownership structures, see the Royal Huisman project page at huisman.com.