The world ranking of the largest sailing yachts has changed greatly in recent years, with six of the ten entries delivered in the last decade. By 2026, we can anticipate even more changes to the leaderboard. There are four serious large sailing yachts currently in build – three of which are under construction in the Netherlands at Royal Huisman.
As it stands today, the global list of the largest sailing yachts is a contentious topic. The point in question is the 142.8-metre behemoth SAILING YACHT A. Some argue that Nobiskrug’s sail-assisted motor yacht does not classify as a sailing yacht, while others do. We fall in the latter camp – she has sails, so she’s made our list!
Here is the rundown of the world’s ten largest sailing yachts:
142.81m | SAILING YACHT A | Nobiskrug | 2017
The world’s largest sailing yacht is German. Built by Nobiskrug to a design by Philippe Starck, with naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects, SAILING YACHT A is a true icon in the superyacht fleet.
SAILING YACHT A is huge; she boasts an epic 12,558 GT of interior volume. To put that into perspective, SAILING YACHT A is more voluminous than KORU, BLACK PEARL, EOS, ATHENA, MALTESE FALCON, and AQUIJO combined! Accommodation is available for 20 guests and 54 crew, and power is drawn from twin MTU hybrid engines for a top speed of 21 knots. Her carbon fibre masts are 100 metres tall.
127m | KORU | Oceanco | 2023
At 127 metres in length, KORU is not only the second largest sailing yacht in the world, but she’s also the largest private yacht ever built in the Netherlands, overshadowing even the largest Dutch-built motor yacht, LAUNCHPAD, by nine metres.
Built by Oceanco to a design by Dykstra Naval Architects for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, KORU was kept a closely guarded secret throughout her build. Still, very little is known about the superyacht, aside from the fact that her timeless and contemporary interiors are the work of the residential and commercial design house Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi. The studio has just one other yacht in its portfolio: the 52.69-metre Feadship ADVENTURE.
The name KORU is Māori and means ‘new beginnings.’ KORU offers accommodation for 18 guests and 36 crew. Key highlights include three Jacuzzis and a swimming pool. She is believed to have nearly 3,500 GT of interior volume.
106.7m | BLACK PEARL | Oceanco | 2018
BLACK PEARL is the third-largest sailing yacht in the world, recently ousted from the second spot when Oceanco delivered the 127-metre KORU. She is also one of the very few sailing yachts designed by the award-winning Nuvolari Lenard. The Italian studio partnered with sailing yacht expert Ken Freivokh Design for the exterior lines and solely managed the interior spaces. BLACK PEARL’s naval architecture is by Dykstra Naval Architects.
BLACK PEARL is teeming with innovations, including a sophisticated energy-generation solar system and a high-tech DynaRig setup. She has a hybrid propulsion system, and highlights include a convertible beach club that doubles as a cinema. With six staterooms, up to 12 guests can be accommodated onboard.
92.92m | EOS | Lürssen | 2006
The German shipbuilder Lürssen has delivered just two sailing yachts, and true to nature, the most recent build ranks as one of the largest in the world. Lürssen built EOS for the venture capitalist and CEO of Twentieth Century-Fox, Barry Diller. EOS was designed by Langan Design Partners with interiors by Francois Catroux.
EOS has sailed the world, clocking up more than 200,000 nautical miles since her delivery. In 2011, following a refit at Royal Huisman, disaster struck when a fire broke out onboard while cruising the Norwegian fjords. She swiftly returned to Huisman for repairs. EOS has been regularly maintained and recently undertook substantial work at Lürssen Yacht Refit & Services.
90m | ATHENA | Royal Huisman | 2004
ATHENA, Royal Huisman’s flagship sailing yacht, was built for the US software developer Jim Clark. With three enclosed decks, ATHENA rivals motor yachts of the same size for interior space. Her exterior lines and clipper bow are the work of Pieter Beeldsnijder Design, while Rebecca Bradley Interior Design undertook the mammoth task of curating her 1,103 GT of interior volume.
Dykstra Naval Architects beautifully engineered ATHENA to ensure strong performance even in light conditions. Accommodation is available for 10 guests and 18 crew. She has been impeccably maintained, with regular refit appointments at Huisfit, a subsidiary of Royal Huisman, MB92, and Lürssen.
88m | MALTESE FALCON | Perini Navi | 2006
Commissioned by the late venture capitalist Tom Perkins, MALTESE FALCON is a towering feat of engineering. This sailing yacht is built to perform; she regularly competes in some of the world’s most esteemed regattas. Her performance comes from three free-standing rotating carbon-fibre masts, with a 25,800-square-foot sail plan.
MALTESE FALCON was delivered in 2006 and still, nearly two decades on, remains Italy’s largest sailing yacht to date. Designed by Ken Freivokh Design, with naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects, this super sailing yacht is high-tech and fashioned with industrial chic. Accommodation is available for 12 guests across six gorgeous staterooms. MALTESE FALCON is one of the most sought-after sailing yachts for charter.
86m | AQUIJO | Oceanco | 2016
When AQUIJO first hit the water in 2016, she was Oceanco’s flagship sailing yacht and the second-largest built in the Netherlands. Since then, Oceanco has superseded AQUIJO not once, but twice, with the delivery of BLACK PEARL and then KORU.
AQUIJO is the result of a collaboration between Oceanco and Vitters. The two Dutch shipyards worked together on this performance-driven sailing yacht, which still stands as the largest ketch-rigged yacht in the world. Her design and naval architecture are by Tripp Design Naval Architects, while Dölker + Voges GmbH oversaw her interiors. AQUIJO offers accommodation for 12 guests and draws power from twin Caterpillar engines.
81m | SEA EAGLE | Royal Huisman | 2020
SEA EAGLE, delivered in 2020, is the most voluminous superyacht built by Royal Huisman to date. The 81-metre vessel was designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design, with the latter also responsible for her interiors. The three-masted schooner boasts an impressive 2,580 square metre sail plan, and her carbon Panamax rig was constructed by the company’s sister firm, Rondal.
Before the keel was laid, Dykstra Naval Architects spent an intense year planning her engineering and design, optimising her waterline length for speed and handling. SEA EAGLE has six staterooms, accommodating 11 guests, and can host up to 14 crew members. This sailing yacht is built for unvetted freedom; she can cruise anywhere in the world and offers all the amenities one could desire on long, extended trips. SEA EAGLE is the world’s largest full aluminium sailing yacht.
77.6m | M5 | Vosper Thornycroft | 2004
When Southampton’s Vosper Thornycroft delivered M5 (formerly MIRABELLA V) in 2004, they underscored the revival of British shipbuilding. At 77.6 metres in length, M5 is not only the nation’s flagship sailing yacht; she is, in fact, the world’s largest sloop.
The super sailing yacht was designed by Ron Holland and built for Joe Vittoria, an American yachtsman who built his empire in the rental car business. However, it wasn’t until he sold her in 2014 that M5 achieved her current length. In 2013, M5 underwent a major refit at Pendennis, which, amongst the long list of works, included a stern extension of 3.2 metres. M5 offers accommodation for 16 guests and 17 crew and her unmissable feature is the towering 88.3-metre mast that can carry approximately 3,700 square metres of sail.
70m | BADIS I | Perini Navi | 2016
The second-largest Perini Navi sailing yacht was born from an ambitious commission by the lawyer-turned-software entrepreneur Bill Duker. While Duker is a serial yacht owner, this was his first new build – and he didn’t do things by half measures. When launched in 2016, BADIS I (then known as SYBARIS) was the world’s eighth-largest sailing yacht. After nearly a decade after delivery, she remains one of the 10 largest sailing yachts.
Her original name refers to the Ancient Greek civilisation of the Sybarites, famed for their self-indulgent lifestyle. In an interview with SuperYacht Times, Duker explains that the name is tongue-in-cheek, saying: “Sybaris is, if nothing else, a self-indulgence.”
Perini Navi designed the superyacht’s exterior, consulting with Philippe Briand for the naval architecture and sail plan. The Miami Beach-based design company PH Design curated the interior spaces. BADIS I has a total interior volume of 870 GT and offers accommodation for 12 guests and 11 crew. Twin MTU 16V 2000 M72 diesel engines deliver a top speed of 17.5 knots and a range of 5,000 nautical miles at 12.5 knots.
