A (sailing yacht)

Sail-assisted motor yacht built in Kiel by Nobiskrug

Sailing yacht A, starboard

History
Name| A
Namesake| A
Owner| Andrey Melnichenko
Port of registry|  Freetown
Ordered| March 2011
Builder| Nobiskrug, Kiel, Germany
Yard number| 787
Laid down| 17 August 2012
Launched| 27 January 2017
In service| 3 January 2017
Identification| IMO number: 1012141[1]
Status| In service, seized by authorities
General characteristics
Type| Superyacht
Tonnage| 12,558 GT
Length| 144.03 m (472 ft 6 in)
Beam| 24.80 m (81 ft 4 in)
Height| 100.00 m (328 ft 1 in)
Draught| 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in)
Decks| 7
Installed power| Variable-speed diesel-electric plant
Propulsion| Lineshaft controllable-pitch twin screw
Sail plan| 3,747 m2 (40,330 sq ft) 3-mast schooner rig
Speed| 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) max
Range| 5,340 nmi (9,890 km; 6,150 mi)
Crew| 54

The sailing yacht A is a superyacht that was launched in 2017.[2] The vessel is a sail-assisted motor yacht[3] designed by Philippe Starck (exteriors and interiors)[4][5] and built by Nobiskrug in Kiel, Germany for the Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko.[3]

## Design and construction

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The vessel was constructed by Nobiskrug at their shipyard in Kiel, Germany with architecture by Nobiskrug & Dykstra Naval Architects and an interior/exterior design by Philippe Starck.[4][6] A measures 12,558 gross tonnage (GT) with a 3,767 net tonnage (NT) and 1,458 tons deadweight (DWT). The vessel has a length overall of 144.03 metres (472 ft 6 in), a length between perpendiculars of 118.63 m (389 ft 2 in), a beam of 24.80 m (81 ft 4 in) and a draught of 8.00 m (26 ft 3 in). The yacht has a moulded depth of 8.9 m (29 ft 2 in) and seven decks.[1][a] The vessel has accommodation for 20 guests and a crew of 54.[6]

Its propulsion consists of a variable-speed hybrid powerplant consisting of two MTU 20V 4000 M73L lineshaft diesel engines creating 3,600 kW (4,800 hp) at 2,050 rpm with a superimposable/clutched diesel-electric transmission controlled by DEIF [dk] systems turning two lineshaft controllable-pitch propellers that is sail-assisted by a three-mast fore-and-aft sailing rig.[3][7] The freestanding, carbonfibre rotating masts were manufactured by Magma Structures at Trafalgar Wharf, Portsmouth, with the mainmast standing 100 m (328 ft 1 in) in height.[3][8] Doyle Sailmakers USA manufactured the three fully automated carbonfibre/taffeta full roach sails. The total sail area is 3,747 square metres (40,330 sq ft).[3] The furling booms were built in Valencia by Future Fibres. The rigging of the yacht was developed partially to be implemented on cargo ships and for commercial use. The vessel features an underwater observation pod in the keel with 30-centimetre (12 in)-thick glass. It is the largest private sail-assisted motor yacht in the world.[3][9]

Electricity is created by four 1,050–2,050 rpm 2,800 kW hotel generators driving two Vacon 4,300 kW lineshaft motors[3] Emissions are treated by four Emigreen diesel particulate filters (soot filtration) on the diesel generators.[10] A has a maximum speed of 21 knots (39 km/h; 24 mph) and a range of 5,340 nautical miles (9,890 km; 6,150 mi) at a cruising speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph).[3]

## History

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Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko sought to move on from his previous yacht project, the motor yacht A, to a new design. Working with Starck and project manager Dirk Kloosterman, development of the yacht began in March 2011 and the keel was laid down on 17 August 2012.[1][3] A was launched on 27 January 2017 and delivered by Nobiskrug on 3 February 2017.[1][9][11][12] The vessel left Kiel on 5 February 2017 and exited the Baltic Sea in light mode on near-empty fuel tanks so to clear the Drogden channel in the Danish straits with minimum draught. It underwent final sea trials and the final fit-out at the Navantia shipyard in Cartagena, Spain. Boat International called it "the boundary pushing superyacht".[3] The yacht is owned by Melnichenko through Valla Yachts Ltd. of Bermuda, and was initially registered there at Hamilton.[13] In December 2021 the yacht was moved to the Isle of Man flag and registered at Douglas.[14]

The yacht was seized by the Italian Guardia di Finanza on 12 March 2022 in the port of Trieste, due to the EU's sanctions imposed on a number of Russian businessmen as a consequence of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A spokesperson for Melnichenko vowed to contest the seizure.[15] While under seizure, the yacht was re-registered in June 2022 at Freetown, under the Sierra Leone flag.[14] As of February 2025[update], the yacht was at an anchorage in the Gulf of Trieste.[16]

## See also

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* List of large sailing yachts
* Black Pearl (yacht)
* Yachts impacted by international sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine

## Notes

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1. ^ The Nobiskrug website gives the dimensions of the yacht as 142.81 m (468 ft 6 in) long overall with a beam of 24.88 m (81 ft 8 in), while Boat International claims the vessel has eight decks.[5][3]

## References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to IMO 1012141.

1. ^ a b c d "SY A (1012141)". LR ships in class. Lloyd's Register.
2. ^ "The best photos of Sailing Yacht A". Boat International. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "6 facts about the build of Sailing Yacht A". Boat International. Retrieved 1 September 2017.
4. ^ a b Hager, Martin (2 November 2015), "Sailingyacht "A" - Ein bau der Superlative" (PDF), Boote Exclusiv (in German), no. 6/15, pp. 8–11
5. ^ a b "Sailing Yacht A | Luxury Sailing Yachts | Nobiskrug". Nobiskrug Superyachts. Archived from the original on 4 February 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
6. ^ a b "Sailing Yacht A". Superyacht Times. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
7. ^ "Diesel Engines for Patrol Crafts and FPBs".
8. ^ The World's tallest freestanding masts (PDF), Magma Structures, archived from the original (PDF) on 10 October 2021, retrieved 21 October 2015
9. ^ a b Jefferies, Chris (3 February 2017), "Exclusive: Sailing Yacht A delivered by Nobiskrug", Boat International, retrieved 30 April 2025
10. ^ Nicholls, Laura (2 July 2020). "Tech 101: How superyacht exhaust after-treatment systems work". Superyacht Times. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 15 March 2021.
11. ^ Blötz, Vesna (3 February 2017), Nobiskrug to deliver sail-assisted superyacht "Sailing Yacht A", German Naval Yards Kiel, archived from the original on 4 August 2020, retrieved 24 February 2017
12. ^ van Rooy, Charl (6 February 2017), "Sailing Yacht A delivered", SuperYacht Times, retrieved 30 April 2025
13. ^ Tognini, Giacomo (12 March 2022). "Italian Police Freeze Russian Billionaire Andrey Melnichenko's Sailing Yacht A". Forbes. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
14. ^ a b "SY A (1012141)". Equasis. Ministry of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
15. ^ Parodi, Emilio (12 March 2022). "Italy seizes Russian oligarch Melnichenko's Sailing Yacht A". Reuters. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
16. ^ Capuzzo, Nicola (28 February 2025). "Il Tribunale Ue respinge il ricorso di Melnichenko: il sailing yacht A rimane a Trieste". SuperYacht24 (in Italian). Retrieved 6 June 2025.