Admittedly, the naming in "Black Pearl" is not necessarily a sign of exuberant creativity. After the success of the Hollywood smash hit, it is probably one of the most frequently used English names among yachts. However, the 106.80-metre steel (hull) and aluminium (superstructure) yacht was extremely innovative when it was launched in 2018 at Oceanco near Rotterdam with hybrid propulsion and hydrogeneration. The 2500-tonner is primarily intended as a sailing yacht. Not a matter of course in the gigasailer segment. The 143 metre long "Sailing Yacht A" is registered as a motor yacht with sail assistance. In this respect, "Black Pearl" is the second longest sailing yacht after the 125 metre "Koru" by Jeff Bezos as the second largest sailing yacht in the world.
One week on "Black Pearl" for 1.2 million euros
A total of 2934 square metres of cloth roll out of the free-standing DynaRig carbon masts, which rise 70.60 metres into the sky. The advantages of the electrically rotating square rig: no stays, no sheets running across the deck and the sails extend and retract at the touch of a button. The concept of "Black Pearl" was conceived by Ken Freivokh, the designer of the DynaRig pioneer "Maltese Falcon" (88 m). The final design bears the stamp of the Italian design studio Nuvolari Lenard. Those who book on board via Superyacht Connections - the weekly rate is around 1.2 million euros - can bring up to 13 people with them and take the helm themselves on the flybridge. The crew certainly won't be pushing the colossus to a record speed of 24.5 knots, but it should still be fun.
Across the Atlantic without fossil fuel emissions
Last year, "Black Pearl" crossed the Atlantic in twelve days, almost exclusively under sail at speeds of up to 20 knots and largely without fossil fuel emissions. Generators are usually always running on sailboats of this size. When the blades of the two controllable pitch propellers are unfurled, the 107 metres make slightly slower progress. Instead, the generators are idle and electricity is generated by two 400-kilowatt electric motors and stored in batteries, which satisfy the energy hunger of the sailing systems and the hotel load. "Black Pearl" also relies on a sophisticated heat recovery system, and all the connections are in place for the originally planned solar panels on the sails and superstructures.
"Black Pearl" with an interior à la Louis XVI
The British charter company describes the design of the lower deck areas as an homage to the taste of Louis XVI. The pompous interior was conceived by Valentina Zannier from Nuvolari Lenard and the French architect Gerard P. Villate, who worked closely with the client. Ten to 14 guests can expect a glass lift, a spa area and a cinema on the lower deck and one in the fresh air. What is probably the largest outdoor cinema at sea is created when the crew stretches a 9 x 14 metre screen on the lowest yardarm of the cross mast.
Three projects under construction with DynaRig
The free-standing, rotating square rig has been marketed as DynaRig by New Zealand mast builders Southern Spars and British composite professionals Magma Structures since the end of 2020. It was invented back in the 1960s by Wilhelm Prölß, when it was still called Dyna-Rigg, short for "dynamic rig". The German naval architect demonstrated his system on a model of a freighter in 1968, but it never took off under sail. Southern Spars is part of the North Technology Group, the parent company of North Sails and Hall Spars, among others.
Three DynaRig projects are currently under construction. Greenpeace has ordered a 75-metre-long ship with 2000 square metres of sail area and hydrogen technology, which will be built at Freire in Galicia by 2027. The second format with DynaRig is a 56 metre catwhich Echo Yachts is building in Western Australia. No details are known about the third fully automatic square-rigger.
Charter enquiries for "Black Pearl Superyacht Connections against.
