Maltese Falcon

[Bill]

The 289-foot sailing yacht Maltese Falcon - modestly described as "the most incredible, influential and ground breaking yacht the world has ever seen," sailed into the San Francisco Bay this Saturday (9-27-08). It’s owned by Silicon Valley venture capitalist Tom Perkins, who had it built in Turkey two years ago. The yacht did a tour around the central Bay and then moored out near Sausalito in Richardson Bay. A deep water slip was not available . .

The Falcon’s sails are mounted on three carbon fiber masts and furl at the touch of a button. One person can sail the yacht, but the Falcon has a crew of 20, mostly, as Perkins says, "to keep the hotel humming." It accommodates 12 guests in luxury, including two large VIP suites, private gyms, 50-inch movie and TV screens in the main salon and the latest in electronics.

The Maltese Falcon was offered for sale earlier this year for $169 million, but Perkins has since taken it off the market. At one point, she was available for charter in Med for $550,00 a week! Perkins will has not indicated the cost of construction, but told 60 Minutes TV that the cost was more than $150 million, but less than $300 million.

The following photographs were shot from the 2nd floor dinning room and deck at the St Francis Yacht Club. Terrific location for viewing such events, and this time, I remembered to bring my camera! When the tall ships sailed in last Spring, I was so eager to get to the club to see them, that I left my camera at home

The awesome size of this yacht is only partially caught in the photos. Just remember that the escorting yachts ranged into the 40 and 60 foot range . . .

[Bill]

Her masts cleared the Golden Gate Bridge by only twenty feet at mean low tide! Oh yes, and there were more boats out there to meet the Falcon than I've ever seen on the Bay!

[ebb]

Briefly profiled on the Maltese Falcon website, the inventor's oriiginal concept for those masts and sails was for them to be used on freighters to cut fuel costs. Awesome engineering and simple operation.
But as Bill points out with the MF, there is a height problem isn't there? Mounting significant masts on a freighter would pose the same - and maybe that's why we haven't seen them on our local container ships.
The next challenge is to make those carbonfibre masts telescoping!
Those spars in their making must be totally awesome. They have to be carefully wound under tension their whole length, then vacuum bagged, epoxy infused, and autoclaved. Not your everyday backyard project. Are they stepped to the keel? What's their dimensions?

MF draws 20', has a 42' beam, and is yea long. Looks an spear-point from a seagull's view. Have doubts it would be much fun in a blow. Not only are the masts unstayed but the yards are permanent. Significant windage and flex, wouldn't you say?

This yacht is a sail-assist concept, has no sails, like our jibs, for steering help. It's hard to imagine the Maltese Falcon able to maneuver without at least two diesel plants and some equally important bow and stern thrusters.

It does carry a couple launches that could double as yawlboats.
PBS or Discovery has already profiled the 'flying submarine' that she will soon have on board. See the MF website.

Conspicuous consumption provides entertainment and a huge range of jobs to support the ship. Care to guess what it costs PER DAY to keep her bristol?
Website introduces us to an all-white crew including foxy stewardesses.

Be a fantastic setting for a modern Sam Spade caper!
If Dashell Hammet could have guessed!

[Al Lorman]

Don't you love these modest displays of wealth?

[c_amos]

She was out sailing this afternoon. I was up in the hills in Berkley, and looked out and was suprised to see her distinctive sails.

Had gone down to take a look at her on Wednesday, she really is something else! I took a picture, but it was kind of hazy out today.

That is some ship!

[Ed Ekers]

I guess not everyone has an appreciation for her.................
http://lyonsimaging.smugmug.com/gall...86640349_WnE6n

[Ed Ekers]

Here is a link to a little more info on the MF.
http://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/...0-06&dayid=177