Nobiskrug A

Sailing yacht A, designed by Philippe Starck and built by Nobiskrug, is a vessel of staggering proportions. The 470-foot “sail-assisted motor yacht,” which many now call the world’s largest sailing vessel, has 40,332 square feet of sail area, a mast that rises 330 feet above the water, and a beam that measures 82 feet at its widest point. Its eight decks (connected by elevators and staircases) include quarters for 54 crew members. These arresting numbers would be remarkable for any motor yacht, but its ability to sail, and sail well, makes A a true technical breakthrough. The three composite freestanding masts, designed to withstand winds as strong as 90 knots, carry incredible loads under sail. One of the yacht’s coolest features is below the waterline: a see-through pod built into the hull for underwater observation.