"Orient Express Silenseas": Accor hotel group plans world's largest sailing yacht
Max Gasser
· 17.01.2023
The French hotel group Accor and the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard are planning the largest sailing yacht in the world. It is not yet known when the construction of the two planned sister ships with a length of 220 metres will start. However, the maiden voyage is already planned: it is due to sail to the Caribbean in 2026, and bookings can already be made next year.
The futuristic luxury cruiser will be home to 54 suites with an average size of 70 square metres. The 1,415 square metre presidential suite stands out in particular, but the other guests will also enjoy luxury and comfort with wellness, restaurants and their own amphitheatre on board. Accor speaks of the "quintessence of luxury, absolute comfort and dreams".
The quintessence of luxury, absolute comfort and dreams"
Technically, the luxury liners are to be state-of-the-art. According to the plans, they will not have foils, but what are known as solid sails. The fixed profiles on three approximately 100 metre high masts provide a sail area of 1,500 square metres.
"Orient Express Silenseas" is a hybrid
Strictly speaking, this luxury cruise ship is more of a hybrid than a sailing yacht. Only under optimal conditions can 100 per cent of the propulsion be generated from wind power.
Maxime d'Angeac, a renowned architect, will be in charge of the interior design and décor of the project. Stirling Design International from Nantes is responsible for the exterior architecture. Hetland Maritime supported Accor in the development of the project and in the ongoing negotiations with Chantiers de l'Atlantique. The entire project is 70 to 80 per cent financed by commercial banks, with the remainder coming from Accor and a majority shareholder.
"Orient Express Silenseas" over 70 metres longer than the previous record holder
With a planned length of 220 metres, "Orient Express Silenseas" would represent a quantum leap. The largest sailing yacht in the world to date measures just over 142 metres. The mega yacht "A" also has a considerable gap to the second-placed "Black Pearl" with a length of only 106 metres. All other sailing yachts in the world are less than 100 metres long.
While the current record holder is a private yacht, the new contender aims to be a luxury cruise ship under sail. Such ships already exist; the Hamburg-based company Sea Cloud Cruises offers sailing cruises. Three windjammers are available for this purpose, which can accommodate between 64 and 136 passengers. Guests on the next cruise from San José to Panama City will spend eleven nights on board, with prices ranging from 7,395 to 13,535 euros per person.
Viral turtle yacht "Pangeos"
The idea for the "Pangeos" "terayacht" sounds just as spectacular as the plans for the "Orient Express Silenseas". The design went viral on social media and many high-profile news portals on the internet in November 2022. The futuristic, polarising design of the idea of a modern "Noah's Ark" for the super-rich fascinated millions. It is wider than it is long (550 m x 610 m), has an incredible 30 metre draught and each of the nine electric motors is said to have an output of 16,800 hp. Properties on "Pangeos" can even be purchased virtually.
