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As Far As You Can Sea: World’s Largest Superyachts

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts.

by Emma Treagus Published on February 2, 2024

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With onboard swimming pools, cinemas, helicopter landing pads, and spas, the world’s largest superyachts have more facilities than your ‘average’ five-star hotel.

Owned by some of the world’s wealthiest people—along with a few anonymous owners who’d prefer to keep their luxury transport a secret—these mega yachts redefine the word “boat” into something indescribably sleek, stylish, and seriously impressive. 

If superyachts are your thing, you’ll want to read on for all the facts and figures on all of the largest yachts in the world.

The 26 largest yachts in the world

Multimillion-dollar mega yachts: our ranking methodology.

A superyacht or mega yacht is typically a motor yacht or sailing yacht with a length of 30 meters (100 feet) or more. For this ranking, we looked at the superyachts and luxury expedition mega yachts that are used privately or made available for charter. We excluded so-called ‘residential superyachts’ (think Njord and The World), which are essentially luxury apartment buildings at sea where people own private residences inside the superyacht rather than the whole yacht. By researching diverse, reliable sources like Wikipedia and the Superyacht Times, we compile a list of the largest yachts in the world.

Curious about other striking superlatives? Check our round-up of the most expensive cars in the world and the most expensive private jets in the world . They are both perfectly good alternatives to owning a yacht. And if you prefer to stay home, we’ve ranked the biggest homes and the most expensive houses in the world to give you some inspiration too.

26. Y721 (aka Koru) | 417 feet—127m

Ever wonder where Jeff Bezos spends his downtime? As of today, we’re predicting it to be on his $500 million superyacht. Y721—nicknamed Koru—is 127m long. And featuring three sky-high slender masts, Koru is said to be the largest sailing yacht in the world . 

With dark exteriors and natural wooden decks, Koru is inspired by another one of Bezos’ yachts—the Black Pearl. The clean lines and classically curved bow speak to an understated elegance despite the yacht’s mammoth size. While a long line of portals indicates at least 9 guest cabins. In light of all the secrecy surrounding Koru, we doubt Bezos will ever charter her out, but we can still dream.

25. Al Mirqab | 436 feet—133m

Adorned with cascading chandeliers and gold accents, Al Mirqab is renowned for its unrivaled interiors. Surrounded by suspended glass artworks, a grand staircase floats throughout the four floors. And inspired by authentic Arabian styles, the magnificent superyacht is reminiscent of a magic carpet ride through the seas . 

Built for the former Prime Minister of Qatar, Peterswerft-Kusch spared no expense in delivering Al Mirqab to an impossibly high standard for luxury. The large swimming pool is a standout feature as it opens up into the sea, creating the ultimate playground for adults. Al Mirqab has a capacity for up to 60 guests and is manned by an equal number of crew. Although you have to be invited by the politician himself as Al Mirqab isn’t available for private charter.

24. Serene | 439 feet—134m

Adeptly named, the magnificent superyacht embodies the serenity of a life at sea. Serene was built in Italy for a Russian owner in 2011. She was leased to Bill Gates for the Summer in 2014 for $5 million per week. 

Designed by Reymond Langton, the 134m mega yacht marries elegant sophistication with state-of-the-art technologies. The seven decks leave ample space for guests to soak in scintillating views. While the underwater viewing room—nicknamed the Nemo room—is a permanent gallery of resplendent sealife. The real-life snow room makes up to four inches of snow. And whilst this may seem odd when your billionaire boss asks for snow—you make it snow.

23. Crescent | 445 feet – 136 m

Yet another Lurssen masterpiece, Crescent pays homage to classic naval designs with traditional architecture and elegant interiors. Formerly named Project Thunder, she was built in Germany and delivered to Igor Sechin in 2018. The Russian oligarch’s superyacht was seized by Spain after sanctions were placed on Russia in 2022. 

Crescent features low bulwarks and full-height windows to maximize the view from the center of the boat. Her distinctive wing station provides unrivaled views for up to 18 guests. But don’t get your hopes up—Crescent is strictly for private use only and isn’t available for charter. 

22. Savarona | 446 feet – 136m

Savarona is the second-largest yacht built by Blohm & Voss and spends most of her time in the Mediterranean. This luxury superyacht is one of the oldest in the market — a perfect fusion of traditional charm and modern facilities. 

Previously named Gunes Dil, Savarona was designed by Cox & Stevens, with interior design carefully handled by Donald Starkey. She’s available to charter on a weekly basis and has been refurbished over the years. Back in the day, her cost price was $4 million, and in 1989, she was chartered by Kahraman Sadikoglu, owner of the Turkish Sadikoglu Group, who spent an estimated $50 million on refurbishing her from top to bottom.

21. Flying Fox | 446 feet – 136m

Flying Fox is known as the most expensive charter yacht in the world , and a week aboard will set you back around $3 million. Chartered by the one and only power couple Beyonce and Jay-Z in 2021, it’s filled to the brim with all of the luxury facilities you could ever possibly want. 

The Flying Fox is rumored to be owned by Jeff Bezos, although that’s a claim that’s never been totally certified. She spends most of her time in the Mediterranean, specifically Cannes, Capri, and Sardinia, although she’s recently visited Norway, too. She can accommodate the largest helicopters on the market, and it reportedly took more than 50 meetings with her owner for interior design to be completed.

20. Rising Sun | 454 feet – 138m

The Rising Sun’s original owner, Larry Ellison, CEO of Oracle Corporation, sold her in 2010 as he considered her too large. Famously used by David Geffen for self-isolation, Rising Sun has also been a popular hang-out spot for celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Beatrice, the Princess of York. 

She’s a Superyacht with impressive attention to detail like interiors kitted out in teak and onyx and endless features like a full gym , a large wine cellar, a sauna, and a spa. She’s got a full-size basketball court that doubles up as a helicopter landing pad and a private cinema for those long evenings spent at sea.

19. Al Salamah | 457 feet – 139m

Al Salamah is part of the Omani Royal fleet and started her very secretive life in Genoa. Known as the world’s biggest superyacht right up until 2016, she’s a sleek masterpiece of a ship, with a distinctive cream color and beach club design. 

Al Salamah does everything in multiples, from the five galleys onboard (the main galley, a bakery, a crew galley, an owner’s diet galley, and an Arab galley), three hospitals (one for the owner, one for guests, and one for the crew) and 2,000 sqm of floor space. She was put on sale briefly for $280 million USD, before being delisted and instead given as a gift to the Crown Prince of Bahrain. 

18. Solaris | 458 feet – 139m

Everything about Solaris was supposed to be kept a secret when she was being built—a secret that didn’t last long when her huge size was spotted undergoing sea trials in the North Sea. One of this Superyacht’s main attractions is her beach club on the top floor: the perfect spot for relaxation during those long days out at sea. 

That beach club comes complemented with endless other stylish amenities, like a large helipad, sun deck, and a crane to launch tenders, toys, and subs. Interior design is largely unknown, but, if it’s anything as sleek and white as its exteriors, it’s sure to be impressive.

17. Scheherazade | 459 feet – 140m

Two helicopter landing pads, two outdoor Jacuzzis, and two outdoor fire pits: Scheherazade doesn’t hold back with not only the essentials but also the luxuries. Previously named Lightning, “Scheherazade” is mostly associated with a female character in the Middle Eastern folk tales in the series One Thousand and One Nights. 

Not much is known about this superyacht, and even her birth and building process were referred to under a codename: Project Lightning. No one involved in her creation, even Lurssen, has revealed anything about her interiors or her owner. All that’s really known is that she sailed from Germany to Norway initially after completion. 

16. Ocean Victory | 460 feet – 140m

Ocean Victory has traveled all over the world, from Europe to Southeast Asia and back again. Owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov, she’s the upgraded vessel to follow his purchase of the 76-meter Ebony Shine. 

She’s one designed with pure luxury in mind, from the six individual swimming pools onboard to the 300-square meter spa area. She’s beautiful both inside and out, with a unique concept designed by Espen Oeino and interior designer Alberto Pinto. The largest superyacht ever built in Italy, Ocean Victory shows some of the finest in the world when it comes to premium quality adventures at sea.

15. Yas | 463 feet – 141m

Yas is known best for its seamless and rather unusual design — one that’s a little different from most superyachts out there. The owner of Yas wanted a yacht that lived up to his own heritage; one with a backbone reminiscent of the navy and with abstract lines throughout. 

He chose an existing boat in Abu Dhabi, which was deconstructed within the region before being shipped off and renovated into the wonder that it is today. The Yas yacht was originally a Dutch navy frigate, which you’d never guess from strolling around onboard today.

14. Nord | 465 feet – 142m

Nord’s distinctive bow design has never been seen before on a yacht. That’s one of the first things you’ll notice about her. The next thing you’ll notice is her unusual design, which verges on battle-esque and has been called “ a warship wearing a tuxedo ” by Dan Lenard of the Italian design studio Nuvolari-Lenard. 

She’s one of the best superyachts out there for fun, with a sports and diving center on the lower deck, a swimming pool higher up, overlooking the ocean, and a fleet of tenders. She was designed for global exploration: a yacht that will calmly cruise her way all across the world.

13. Sailing Yacht A | 469 feet—142.8m

Challenging the status quo and pushing design boundaries, Sailing Yacht A is an enigma. The sail-assisted superyacht was built in Germany and delivered to Russian tycoon Andrey Melnichenko in 2017. However, she was seized by the Italian police force, Guardia di Finanza, in 2022 after sanctions were placed on Russian businessmen following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Distinguished by soaring rotating carbon fiber masts, Nobiskrug’s hybrid approach to superyachts makes Sailing Yacht A more eco-conscious than other luxury yachts of her size. The u nderwater viewing pod molded into the keel speaks to her unrivaled innovation. And many balconies are enclosed by some of the largest pieces of curved glass ever made. 

12. El Mahrousa | 478 feet – 146m

El Mahrousa had a few different names in her time, ranging from the translated “The Protected” to El Horreya, which in Arabic translates to “Freedom.” It’s not surprising that she’s had more than one name when you take into account her age. As the oldest superyacht in the world, she’s undergone a lot of restoration over time, including multiple lengthenings and faster engines. 

She was renamed back to El Mahrousa in 2000 and gained even more recognition for being the first ship to cross the new Suez Canal extension in 2015. Back in her original days, she was built on the River Thames and took her first trip in 1867.

11. OK | 479 feet—146m

Delivered in Japan in 1982, OK is one of the largest and most unique superyachts in the world. Sprawling over 479 feet, the water giant is engineered to submerge almost seventy percent. This is accredited to the work done by Karmarine Shipyard. While the majority of the vessel was built by Oshima Shipping, it was privately converted to a semi-submersible yacht in Turkey. 

The superlative finishing on OK superyacht was designed by Timur Bozca, winner of the Younger Designer of the Year award in 2015. The blueprint being as many games as possible. The extraordinary vessel has the uncanny ability to hold over seventy toys, including a sailing yacht, a sea plane, tenders, buggies and even a tennis court.

10. Opera | 480 feet—146.4m 

Like many of the most majestic water titans, Opera was delivered by Lurssen in Germany and built for Abu Dhabi royalty. This time, the owner is Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, son of the founder of the United Arab Emirates. And while it may not be quite as astronomical as Lurssen’s previous builds—Azzam, Blue and Dilbar—the streamlined vessel is equally impressive onboard. 

The three-story superyacht proves large enough for a pair of helipads and two swimming pools, amongst many other toys, while simultaneously making room for up to 48 guests and 80 crew members. When it comes to the interior, details are sparse, but we do know that it was designed by Terence Disdale, a London firm renowned for creating bespoke luxury spaces. 

9. Prince Abdulaziz | 482 feet – 147m

The Prince Abdulaziz’s yacht was ordered by King Fahd, who named her after his son Prince Abdul Aziz. Now, she’s owned by his brother, Abdullah. Just one of the yachts owned by the Saudi royal family, she’s spotted frequently throughout Europe, especially in Cannes, where the royal family owns a property. 

She’s been redecorated once — in 2007 — in a project that took 15 months to complete, without even taking into account the rest of the ship’s upkeep. The Prince Abdulaziz is known for its combination of bold colors and fusion of traditional and modern design, thanks to its influence from the late David Hicks.

8. A+ | 483 feet – 147m

What do you do when the name “A” is already taken for your superyacht? Choose the next closest thing: A+. Previously named Topaz, this superyacht was the world’s fourth-largest luxury yacht when she was built, before being stripped of that particular title only a few years later. 

Nevertheless, she’s a seriously impressive superyacht, with endless facilities like a large jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pads, a swimming pool with a swimming platform and underwater lights, as well as a fitness hall, cinema, and a large conference room. She’s also well equipped with water toys, like jet skis, inflatable boats, a catamaran, and even a mini-submarine.

7. Al Said | 508 feet – 155m

Another Superyacht built, shrouded in secrecy, Al-Said was referred to as “Project Sunflower” the entire time she was being created, right up until she was delivered to her owner in 2008. Not much is known about Al Said, from her movements through to her amenities — although she is known to have a huge concert room with space for a full 50-person orchestra. 

Currently, she’s flying the flag of Oman and has spent a lot of time in its surrounding waters. Her interior was styled by British designer design house RWD, with exterior design being credited to Espen Oeino. When she was delivered to the Sultan of Oman, she replaced a previous ship of a smaller size. 

6. Dilbar | 511 feet – 156m

Dilbar, or Project Omar, as it was originally known as, is another superyacht designed with the help of exterior expert Espen Oeino, but with interiors strikingly designed by Andrew Winch. Dilbar is famously known as the world’s largest yacht by gross tonnage (interior volume) but as the fifth-longest superyacht in the world. 

She’s home to a spa pool and beach club, as well as a large private cinema, spacious cabins set high on the main deck, a spacious dining room, and a salon with its own piano. She’s just as classy and beautiful on the inside as she is on the outside.

5. Blue | 527 feet—160.6m

Sunday blues simply cease to exist on one of the world’s most extravagant superyachts. The elegant behemoth was built for member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi and billionaire, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2022. Valued at over $600 million, Blue is one of the most expensive superyachts in the world. And with a strong emphasis on the environment, this superyacht is also one of the most sustainable. 

Blue strives to be as environmentally friendly as possible. She is equipped with a highly efficient Diesel-Electric Hybrid Propulsion Concept developed by Lürssen’s own engineering specialists. And the wastewater treatment plant allows water to be disposed of in drinking water quality.

4. Dubai | 531 feet – 162m

Dubai had multiple names in the planning stages—including Panhandle, Platinum, and Golden Star. Owned by the ruler of Dubai, it was aptly named after its home country and comes with all of the luxurious amenities you’d expect from such a name. 

The Dubai comes complete with a huge swimming pool and two jacuzzis. Further down, you’ll find a large dining room with striking blue and burgundy decor and space for up to 90 guests. Dubai usually spends her time moored at Sheikh Mohammed’s private island in front of his summer palace in Dubai. She’s basically the definition of a floating palace.

3. Eclipse | 533 feet – 162.5m

It took around five years for Eclipse to be built from start to finish. While she was always designed to be a huge, luxurious Superyacht, the focus was more on decking it out appropriately rather than breaking any records. An award-winning superyacht, she’s incredibly spacious, with endless rooms to explore and a sleek, neutral color palette running through. 

The Eclipse’s owner, Roman Abramovich, was more focused on facilities: he wanted more than one helicopter pad and a large swimming pool, too. Other than that, designer Terry Disdale had free reign for the rest of the superyacht. It’s just as much a clean piece of architectural styling as it is a stunning experience on deck.

2. Fulk Al Salamah | 538 feet – 164m

Fulk Al Salamah translates to “Ship of Peace” and that’s something that sounds like a given when you’ve taken a look at this superyacht’s incredible layout. Developed under the codename Project Saffron, Fulk Al Salamah is more of a support vessel than she is a typical superyacht. 

While she might still come complete with all of the necessities for a particularly relaxing voyage, she’s more so known for being a transport ship for the Royal Navy of Oman. She’s also used as a sort of friendship boat — pun intended — and is often sailed across the world with the intention of strengthening ties with the Sultanate. In some ports, influential people are welcomed onboard.

1. Azzam | 590 feet – 181m

Most superyachts in the top 10 category have a few mere inches between sizes, but the Azzam shoots far ahead with a large amount of extra length. The largest superyacht in the world, she was never designed to win the title — rather just to be a sleek and elegant vessel. Azzam was crafted backward, with the plans for her interior confirmed long before her exterior was fully signed off. 

Her length only came to be as such to incorporate everything required for the interiors, which added an extra 35 meters to her overall size. She’s also designed to look smaller than she actually is, with a blend of indoor and outdoor living. It took more than 4,000 people to build Azzam , clocking up six million man-hours over a period of four years.

The largest yachts in the world: Conclusion

The largest yachts in the world are:

• Azzam—590 feet
• Fulk Al Salamah—538 feet
• Eclipse—533 feet
• Dubai—531 feet
• Blue—527 feet
• Dilbar—511 feet
• Al Said —508 feet
• A+—483 feet
• Prince Abdulaziz—482 feet
• Opera—480 feet
• OK—479 feet
• El Mahrousa—478 feet
• Sailing Yacht A—469 feet
• Nord—465 feet
• Yas—463 feet
• Ocean Victory—460 feet
• Scheherazade —459 feet
• Solaris—458 feet
• Al Salamah—457 feet
• Rising Sun—454 feet
• Flying Fox—446 feet
• Savarona—446 feet
• Crescent—445 feet
• Serene —439 feet
• Al Mirqab—436 feet
• Y721 (aka Koru)—417 feet

The most expensive yacht in the world

The fact that the History Supreme, the world’s most expensive superyacht, comes coated in gold, is only part of the reason for its high cost. A superyacht with a real-life Midas touch, it was sold to an anonymous Malaysian businessman for $4.8 billion. 

Robert Kuok, the richest Malaysian businessman, is the rumored owner of History Supreme, but no one has confirmed for sure. The History Supreme also comes with plenty of other impressive touches: a master bedroom decked out in platinum, a wall feature made from meteoric stone, and a genuine T-Rex dinosaur bone, to add to the list. 

She took three years to build from scratch and comes with 10,000 kilograms of solid gold and platinum. Other seriously luxe features are her 68 kilograms 24-carat gold Aquavista Panoramic Wall Aquarium and a liquor bottle adorned with a rare 18.5-carat diamond . The base of the vessel comes wrapped in gold, too.

Frequently asked questions about the world’s largest yachts

The largest yachts in the world are owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, Roman Abramovich, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and Alisher Usmanov. Our guide tells you more about all the biggest yachts in the world .

At 417 feet (127 m), Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ sailing yacht, Koru (formerly Project Y721), is one of the world’s largest yachts.

The 181-m (590 ft) Azzam is the world’s longest yacht in length, but the 156-m Dilbar has a much larger internal volume (measured in Gross Tons) at 15,917 GT (Gross Tons) versus 13,136 GT for Azzam. As such, Dilbar is the world’s largest yacht in volume. Read our full guide to discover the largest yachts in the world .

The biggest yacht in the world is the Azzam , which has an estimated cost of $600 million. She’s owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is not currently for sale.

In terms of the number of megayachts, the largest superyacht-owning country is the United States. Nationality-wise, beyond American, an increasing percentage of superyacht owners are Turkish, Greek, Emirati, German, Australian and Dutch.

About the author

Emma Treagus

Women’s fashion & travel editor.

A former fashion assistant and budding entrepreneur who calls the world her home, Emma writes many of Luxe Digital’s women’s style and travel stories, drawing on her passion and experience for slow fashion alongside an appreciation for current trends. When she’s not getting her way with words, you’ll find her exploring a new city (at quite a walking pace)—locating the nearest sushi restaurant or devouring a book on the beach.

Learn more about Emma Treagus

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Despite the pandemic, the superyacht world continues to welcome new entries. These are the world’s biggest yachts by length.

Even in a pandemic, the size of the global superyacht fleet keeps on growing. The top 25 largest yachts in the world now total a combined 11,849 feet, with the smallest yacht on the list,  Maryah , measuring a whopping 410 feet. Built by shipyards all over the world—from the Netherlands to the United Arab Emirates, Italy, Turkey, Greece and the United Kingdom, to name just a few—new launches and refits are delivered each year. The 2021 newcomers hail from Lürssen, Dream Ship Victory and Lloyd Werft. With many new gigayacht builds in the pipeline, the list will be much more competitive in the coming years. Here are the world’s top 25 yachts by size, from  Maryah  to  Azzam.

25. ‘Maryah’ (410 feet, 1 inch), Neorion

Neorion’s  Maryah  Photo: Manuel Hernández LafuenteWATCH

This former Russian research vessel was originally launched by the Szczecinska yard in Poland. In 2010, it underwent a five-year rebuild at the Elefsis yard in Greece. The stodgy research vessel that went in reappeared in 2014 as a thoroughly modern custom-built superyacht. The UK-based  H2 Yacht Design  did both the interior and exterior, incorporating all the luxuries one would expect in a yacht this size. The swimming pool, spa, contemporary decor (including custom furniture, signature joinery, and bespoke details like fixtures and lighting), and generous interior space turned the ugly duckling into a swan.  Maryah , which reaches a top speed of 18 knots powered by a twin azipods propulsion system, has accommodation for 54 guests.

24. ‘Octopus’ (414 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Octopus  Elizabeth Withe

Originally built by Lürssen for Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen, eight-decked  Octopus  is the world’s largest expedition yacht. Allen kept all the luxurious features of a superyacht, but wanted  Octopus  to be able to set anchor at the ends of the earth for exploration. The Lürssen, delivered in 2003, has storage for two helicopters, seven tenders, a large SUV and an internal dock that extends through the hull holding two submersibles. A glass-bottomed observation lounge makes for spectacular viewing when cruising. The yacht has been involved in multiple exploration discoveries, aided by its onboard dive centre and hyperbaric chamber. Espen Øino drew the exterior, including a full-sized basketball court on the aft deck, while Jonathan Quinn Barnett did the interior. The yacht underwent a refit in 2019. It reaches a top end of 20 knots.

23. ‘Al Mirqab’ (436 feet, 4 inches), Kusch Yachts

Kusch Yachts’ Al Mirqab  Photo: Shutterstock / PitK

Launched in 2008,  Al Mirqab  was built for Qatar’s former prime minister under the supervision of  Kusch Yachts  in the  Peters Werft shipyard  in Wewelsfleth, Germany. The Tim Heywood exterior includes a long, navy-blue hull with a white superstructure. The yacht’s diesel-electric propulsion involves an azimuth pod drive and gives the 436.4-footer a top end of 21 knots. Its interior by Andrew Winch won several awards, with images showing Arabic-influenced motifs on the marble floors of large social areas. The yacht’s centerpiece is a stunning, complicated floating staircase encircled by custom-made glass panels.  Al Mirqab  has staterooms for 36, and crew quarters for 45.

22. ‘Serene’ (439 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Serene  Photo: Nick Wells

Serene  was  Fincantieri ’s launch into the superyacht segment, and what a debut it was. The largest yacht ever launched in Italy when it was delivered in 2011 (surpassed three years later by  Ocean Victory ), the Espen Øino seven-deck design features a long, sleek blue hull, crowned by a white superstructure. The somewhat racy curves serve as a nice counterpart to the more serious-looking sections of the yacht, which include cutouts along the main and upper decks to allow strong visibility from the saloon and staterooms. The curved balconies on three levels are a nice touch that work aesthetically—and practically for better views. The open stern area has a winter garden (enclosed glass house) that allows dining in all seasons.  Serene  also has two helipads and a hangar, a big swimming pool, and a tender garage large enough for a submarine. Pascale Reymond of Reymond Langton Design created the 43,056-square-foot interior for the Russian owner, though its details have remained closely guarded.

21. ‘Crescent’ (443 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Crescent  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Espen Øino’s dark hull and tiered superstructure was one of the most exciting launches of 2018. Custom-built Project Thunder, as it was called internally at Lürssen, features cut-outs along the hull sides that allow full ocean views from the saloon on the primary deck, as part of  Crescent ’s distinctive curved superstructure. Its most noteworthy feature is the jaw-dropping bank of three-deck-high windows in the center of the yacht. This architectural feature serves as the centerpiece of a very compelling design. The yacht has accommodations for 18 guests in nine staterooms. Little is known about the François Zuretti-designed interior, other than Lürssen describes it as being “traditionally styled.” If it lives up to  Crescent ’s brash exterior, the complete yacht promises to be an entirely groundbreaking design.

20. ‘Savarona’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Savarona  

Launched in 1931,  Savarona  was built for American heiress Emily Roebling Cadwallader. The yacht was eventually acquired by Turkey to be the presidential yacht of Kemal Atatürk, founder of modern Turkey.  Jane’s Fighting Ships  described the yacht in 1949 as “probably the most sumptuously fitted yacht afloat.”  Savarona  was later converted to a training ship for the Turkish Navy and, in 1978, destroyed by fire. The yacht laid in tatters for 10 years. A Turkish businessman spent around $45 million refurbishing  Savarona , commissioning Donald Starkey for the interior and replacing the original steam-turbine engines with modern Caterpillar diesels. The yacht’s interior was refitted again in 2013, once again becoming the official presidential yacht in 2014.  Savarona  features a swimming pool, Turkish bath, 280-foot grand staircase, a movie theater, and a library dedicated to Atatürk.

19: ‘Flying Fox’ (446 feet, 2 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Flying Fox  Photo: Courtesy of SuperYachtTimes/Youtube

Delivered jointly by Imperial and Lürssen in 2019, 446.2-foot  Flying Fox  is the largest yacht available on the charter market. Key features of the Espen Øino-designed exterior are a curvaceous dove-gray hull and a 3.7-foot swimming pool that runs athwartship on the main aft deck, the largest ever found on board a yacht. A two-decked spa also gives guests access to a cryosauna, hammam and relaxation room with a fold-down balcony at sea level. Packed to the rafters with the latest amenities, the yacht holds a diving center, decompression chamber and two helipads.  Flying Fox  is PYC compliant and can accommodate 25 guests.

18. ‘Rising Sun’ (454 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Rising Sun  Photo: Courtesy of Lürssen

Designed by the original guru of yacht designers, Jon Bannenberg,  Rising Sun  was built by Lürssen for Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, and is currently owned by billionaire David Geffen. The yacht was delivered in 2004 and last refitted in 2011. Defined by banks of windows across the superstructure,  Rising Sun  has 86,000 square feet of living space in 82 rooms. It can accommodate 18 guests in nine cabins, with the capacity to carry up to 46 crew. The interior by Seccombe Design includes a gym, cinema, and wine cellar. The rear cockpit deck was designed as a basketball court. Geffen received a global media backlash in 2020 for his “tone deaf” social media posts that pictured himself on board his yacht during Covid-19 lockdown.

17. ‘Al Salamah’ (456 feet), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Salamah  Lürssen

When Lürssen launched  Al Salamah  in 1999, it was the third-largest yacht in the world. Its ranking at number 14 shows how much has changed in the last 20 years. Code-named MIPOS, or Mission Possible, the yacht was designed by  Terence Disdale . The large imposing exterior is primarily protected space, with an upper deck exposed to the elements.  Al Salamah  has staterooms for 40 guests, including two owner suites, 11 VIP staterooms, and eight twin cabins. The yacht can carry up to 96 crew and has a top speed of 22 knots.  Al Salamah  was last refitted in 2009.

16. ‘Scheherazade’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Scheherazade  Photo: SuperYacht Times/YouTube

The owner of 459.3-feet Lürssen-built  Scheherazade  (formerly known as Project Lightning) finally took delivery of the mega yacht in June 2020 after it was pictured during sea trials in November 2019. What can so far be deciphered from available photography includes two helipads, forward and aft, and a large beach club aft, as well as a reported seven-foot beam. Very few details have yet been released of the highly private vessel, including even the names of designers or naval architects involved with the build.

15: ‘Ocean Victory’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Fincantieri

Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  Photo: Trevor Coppock / TheYachtPhoto.com

The largest motoryacht ever built in Italy, Fincantieri’s  Ocean Victory  was delivered to its owner in 2014. The seven-deck exterior by Espen Øino includes two helideck platforms and a hangar belowdecks, as well as exceptional outdoor social areas, and a floodable tender dock.  Ocean Victory  has accommodations for 28 guests as well as quarters for 56 crew.  Ocean Victory  also has six pools, a 3,300-square-foot spa, and an underwater observation room. The interior by Alberto Pinto remains a secret.

14: ‘Solaris’ (459 feet, 3 inches), Lloyd Werft

Solaris  by Lloyd-Werft Courtesy Lloyd Werft

The 476-foot  Solaris  is one of the largest yachts to deliver in 2021, and yet still little is known about it. The highly private, vast explorer is built by German shipyard Lloyd Werft and undertook sea trials in the North Sea. The eight-deck exterior is by Australian designer Marc Newson and features a displacement steel hull with bulbous bow and steel superstructure with teak decks. Reportedly owned by Roman Abramovich, it houses a large helipad, sun deck and spacious beach club aft. Lloyd Werft built the Russian billionaire’s previous explorer yacht  Luna , which he reportedly sold for $360 million to his close friend Farkhad Akhmedov in 2014.

13. ‘Yas’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Abu Dhabi Mar

Abu Dhabi Mar’s  Yas  Photo: Harvey Barrison

As a converted yacht,  Yas  is one of the most interesting vessels on this list. The dolphin-like exterior was originally a former Dutch Navy frigate that launched in 1978 and eventually sold to the navy of the United Arab Emirates, where it was renamed  Al Emirat . The yacht underwent its dramatic conversion in a facility in Abu Dhabi’s main port, emerging as a gleaming superyacht in 2011, with one of the most interesting profiles on the water. It was eventually delivered four years later. The design by the Paris-based Pierrejean Vision, defined by massive glass surfaces, can accommodate 60 guests and 58 crew members. Mated to a steel hull, the superstructure is the largest composite edifice ever built.  Yas  is capable of a 26-knot top speed and was last refitted in 2019.

12. ‘Dream Symphony’ (462 feet, 6 inches), Dream Ship Victory

Dream Symphony  by Dream Ship Victory Courtesy Dream Ship Victory

Sailing yacht  Dream Symphony  is a magnificent 462.7-foot schooner built by the Turkish shipyard Dream Ship Victory. When delivered in 2021, she will become the largest private sailing yacht in the world, knocking current largest sailing yacht,  Black Pearl , off the podium. Featuring naval architecture by Dykstra Naval Architects and an exterior and interior by Ken Freivokh, she reunites the same team who were behind the legendary  Maltese Falcon ’s ground-breaking Falcon dynarig.  Dream  Symphony’s hull is being built in wood – glued and laminated using the latest epoxy and composite techniques. Wood, carbon and stainless-steel run throughout the contemporary interior, while the rig includes Hoyt booms for maximum control.  Dream Symphony  boasts a fully private owner’s duplex, with master suite, salon, and office at main deck level, and a further spa, gym and treatment rooms on the lower deck. A sheltered open deck between the owner’s facilities and the guest deck house can be closed off to bad weather, creating concealed channels for full protection. And when the sun is shining, a double-height glass swimming pool features a rising floor that can doubles up as a touch-and-go helipad or dancefloor.

11. ‘Nord’ (466 feet),  Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Nord  (Project Opus) Photo: SuperYacht Times/Youtube

Nord  (Project Opus) has been a long time coming. She was announced in 2015 but didn’t hit the water until November 2020 when she conducted sea trials in the Baltic Sea. The 466-foot yacht features interior design by Italian studio Nuvolari Lenard and is Lürssen’s first yacht launched from its newly upgraded floating shed at its facility in Vegasack. Boasting many top tier amenities, the yacht includes a sports and diving center on the lower deck, multiple tenders ranging in size up to 50-feet and a large swimming pool. The two helipads support the yacht’s long-range cruising capabilities for autonomous remote exploration and a retractable hangar means the helicopter can slide neatly into the superstructure for storage when not in use. A generous 20 staterooms accommodate 36 guests across six decks, while a sleek aft-sloping superstructure gives Nord an individual profile on the water.

10. ‘A’ (468 feet, 5 inches), Nobiskrug

Nobiskrug Sailing Yacht  A  Photo: Courtesy of Nobiskrug

Delivered in 2017, the futuristic look of sailing yacht  A  includes smooth, silver-metallic surfaces and windows that look nearly invisible, three composite masts that bend slightly, and a deck hidden by high bulwarks. The Philippe Starck-design is a wild fantasy yacht of the future. The 468-foot sailing yacht is a technical victory for German yard  Nobiskrug , which developed composite fashion plates to create the unusual shapes, without any compromises in strength or fluidity. It has the tallest freestanding composite masts on any sailing vessel, a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system and state-of-the-art navigation systems. The boat also reportedly has an underwater viewing platform in the keel. “Sailing yacht  A  is undoubtedly one of the most visionary projects Nobiskrug has ever been involved in,” said Holger Kahl, the firm’s then managing director. Starck’s interior remains a secret. The yard reports the yacht has a top speed of 21 knots. She remains today the world’s largest sailing yacht three years after her launch.

9. ‘El Mahrousa’ (478 feet, 1 inch), Samuda Brothers

Egypt’s royal yacht,  El Mahrousa  Screengrab

El Mahrousa , which means “the protected” in Arabic, is currently Egypt’s presidential yacht, though the 478.1-footer has a separate history as that country’s royal yacht. The London-based Samuda Brothers began the build in 1863, and it was launched in 1865. It was originally built for the Ottoman governor of Egypt, Khedive Ismail, and later carried three Egyptian kings into exile. The yacht was also at the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The world’s oldest superyacht features external design by the British naval architect Sir Oliver Lang, and has had multiple modifications over the years, including a lengthening by 40 feet in 1872 and another 17 feet in 1905. During the second refit, the owners replaced its paddle-wheel engines with turbine-driven propellers. The yacht, in care of the Egyptian Navy, occasionally goes to sea for a day or two. In 2015, it was used to inaugurate the new Suez Canal.

8. ‘Prince Abdulaziz’ (482 feet, 3 inches), Helsingør Værft

Helsingør Værft’s  Prince Abdulaziz  Photo: Shutterstock / Artesia Wells

This custom yacht, launched by Helsingør Værft in Denmark in 1984, was most recently refitted in 2005. The 5,200-tonne  Prince Abdulaziz  is one of the Saudi Royal family’s yachts, its first owner being King Fahd. Designed by Maierform, the yacht was the longest and tallest in the world at the time of its launch. At 482.3-feet,  Prince Abdulaziz  held the title for 22 years until  Dubai  launched in 2006. The late David Nightingale Hicks, known for his use of bright colors, was the interior designer. The lobby is said to be a replica of the  Titanic . Last refitted in 2005, it is rumored to be carrying surface-to-air missiles, though that may be an urban legend.

7. ‘A+’ (483 feet, 1 inch), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  A+  Photo: Klaus Jordan

Very little is known about  A+  (formerly  Topaz) , which was launched by Lürssen in 2012, other than it is the fourth-largest yacht ever built by the German shipyard. Tim Heywood Designs did the exterior, which features helipads on the foredeck and amidships on an upper deck. A lower aft deck includes a swimming pool. The German yard has not released any images of the Terence Disdale interior. Reported to be owned by Manchester City Football Club owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al Nahnan – Emirati royalty and deputy prime minister of the UAE –  A+  has a top speed of 22 knots, and can carry 62 guests and up to 79 crew.

6. ‘Al Saïd’ (508 feet, 5 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Al Saïd  Courtesy of Shutterstock

Another 500-plus-foot yacht from Lürssen, the original Project Sunflower gained its official name of  Al Saïd  following its launch in 2016. Espen Øino’s exterior is akin to a classic cruise liner, complete with the twin exhaust stacks in the center of the superstructure. Owned by the Sultan of Oman, six-decked  Al Saïd  can carry 154 crew and, according to some sources, 70 guests. Lürssen says  Al Saïd  has a top speed of 22 knots. The London-based Redman Whiteley Dixon studio designed the interior, which includes a concert hall that can hold a 50-piece orchestra.

5. ‘Dilbar’ (511 feet, 8 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Dilbar  Photo: Josep Baresic

The 2016 launch of  Dilbar  gave Lürssen the distinction of not only building the longest yacht ever ( Azzam ), but also the largest in terms of volume. Espen Øino designed the exterior, creating a full-bodied superstructure of long, flowing decks, along with two helicopter pads.  Dilbar  also has an 82-foot swimming pool that can hold an incredible 6357-cubic-feet of water, and according to Lürssen, is the world’s longest on a yacht. The interior by Winch Design is defined by its “rare and exclusive luxury materials,” says the builder, declining to go into detail. Lürssen added that the world’s largest motor yacht was one of the most complex and challenging yachts ever built, because of its dimensions and technology. Despite  Dilbar ’s volume, the designers did a masterful job making the yacht look relatively svelte, with no obvious bulges along the length of the light ivory and bronze-accented hull. In June 2020, Dilbar returned to Lürssen for a significant refit, the details of which are yet to be revealed.

4. ‘Dubai’ (531 feet, 5 inches), Platinum Yachts

Sheikh Al Maktoum’s yacht,  Dubai  Bigstock

This Andrew Winch design was originally commissioned for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei as a joint project between Blohm+Voss and Lürssen, before it was halted in 1998 with just a bare hull and skeletal superstructure. The hull was sold to the government of Dubai, and, under the direction of the country’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, work on the 531.5-footer began again, though this time by Platinum Yachts.  Dubai  delivered in 2006 and is now the sheikh’s royal yacht, with accommodations for 24 guests and quarters for 88 crew. The seven-decked yacht has an impressive 70-foot-wide atrium, landing pad for a Black Hawk helicopter, submarine garage, disco, and cinema. Full certification was obtained from Lloyd’s Register in October 2006, and it can reach a top speed of 26 knots.

3. ‘Eclipse’ (533 feet, 1 inch), Blohm+Voss

Blohm+Voss’s  Eclipse  Photo: Shutterstock / R_Pilguj

Stately  Eclipse , the 533.1-foot yacht delivered to billionaire Roman Abramovich, took five years to design and build. When it left the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg in 2010, it was the world’s largest yacht. The interior has 17 staterooms and a palatial master suite, with the capacity to carry 85 crew. Both the interior and exterior are designed by Terence Disdale. A proportional profile is defined by tiered decks that sweep upward and bend ever so slightly at the aft ends.  Eclipse  has a 185-foot-long owner’s deck and, at the time of its launch, the largest swimming pool on any superyacht (the bottom raises and converts to a dance floor). Other features reflecting its stature: the capacity to hold three helicopters, including one in its belowdecks hangar, a sophisticated stabilization system, six tenders, and an enormous spa, gym, and beach club. Hybrid diesel-electric engines are connected to Azipod drives that give  Eclipse  a top-end speed of 21 knots, with a range of 6,000 nautical miles.

2. ‘Fulk Al Salamah’ (538 feet, 1 inch), Mariotti Yachts

Mariotti Yachts’  Fulk Al Salamah  Screengrab

Little information has ever been released about the world’s second-longest superyacht, custom-built  Fulk Al Salamah , and it has been shrouded in mystery since first announced in 2014. Even the overall length of 538.1 feet has been estimated from AIS data. However, built and delivered by Italian builder Mariotti Yachts in their Genoa shipyard in 2016, the imposing vessel is believed to be owned by the Omani royal family. Exterior design is by Studio de Jorio, and it is considered by some to resemble more of a support vessel than a superyacht. Nonetheless, aerial photography shows an impressively large helideck, raked masts and a bathing platform.

1: ‘Azzam’ (592 feet, 6 inches), Lürssen

Lürssen’s  Azzam  Screengrab

It’s not surprising that the world’s longest yacht hails from a shipyard with 13 out of the 25 top builds in the superyacht arena. Unfortunately,  Lürssen  could never really boast about  Azzam  after its launch in 2013 because of the owner’s penchant for privacy. Mubarak Saad al Ahbabi directed a team of designers and engineers who started with the bare concept, worked through the technical challenges of what might be the most complex superyacht ever, and finished with an unusually large vessel that can top the 30-knot mark. Nauta Yacht’s exterior features a long, sleek forward area, with well-proportioned tiers moving up to the skydeck. Lürssen describes the interior by Christophe Leoni as “sophisticated, with luxurious decor inspired by the Empire style of the early 19th century.” Its gas turbines, connected to water jets, push  Azzam  to more than 30 knots, giving it the ability to operate at high speed in shallow waters. She also boasts an impressive build time for a yacht of her size, with construction taking only three years after one year of engineering.  Azzam  was last refit in 2020 at MB92 in Barcelona.

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SuperYachts released their predictions for the Top 100 largest superyachts in the world earlier this year, with the in-process REV currently anticipated to be the largest yacht in the world upon completion in 2021, but little yet is known about its features. We selected 19 of our favorite yachts on this list that represent leisure and opulence as its finest, many of these being considered “megayachts” (greater than 200 feet long). From helipads to palatial beach clubs, discover some of the world’s most expensive yachts and the fabulous amenities they have to offer.

This 457-foot yacht was built by Lurssen in 1999 with exterior and interior design from Terrance Disdale. Al Salamah is equipped to accommodate 40 guests and 96 crew members for the ultimate yachting experience. The boat features a gym, swimming pool and platform, beauty room, elevator, medical suite, and study spaces for both the owners and guests.

One of the newest ships on this list, Crescent was built by Lurssen in 2018 and is just less than 445 feet long. This sleek ship's exteriors were designed by French yacht design firm Zuretti and its interiors by Monaco's Espen Oenio. It can house up to 18 guests and 24 crew and features a two-level glass atrium, a helicopter hangar, and a glass-bottomed pool.

Prince Abdulaziz

This stunning megayacht is part of the Saudi family's royal fleet of yachts. It was built in 1984 at 482 feet, making it the largest yacht built in the 20th century, and held the spot as world's largest until Dubai was launched in 2006. Its interiors took 15 months alone to craft under the direction of the one-and-only David Hicks, who designed the space to suit 64 guests and 65 crew. The yacht is used for both business and pleasure and is rumored to house missiles and an underwater surveillance system.

This 416-foot megayacht was the passion project of Microsoft's cofounder Paul Allen and is currently owned by his wife, Jody Allen. The groundbreaking exploration yacht has the ability to travel to the world's mot remote and otherwise inaccessible locations. It was built by Lurssen in 2013 with exterior design by Espen Oenio and interiors by Seattle-based yacht designer Jonathan Quinn Barnett, housing 26 guests and 63 crew. A spa, library, multiple lounges, alfresco dining spaces, and a basketball court are just the beginning of Octopus's array of amenities.

Al Mirqab was built in 2008 by Peters Schiffbau and is owned by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, who is Qatar royalty, a businessman, and a politician. Its exteriors were designed by Kusch Yachts and its award-winning interiors by Winch Design. Al Mirqab measures 437 feet and houses up to 60 guests and crew each. The yacht features a grand staircase with sides made from hand-cut crystal panels, cinema, spa, beach club and a lower deck swimming pool that can be opened up to the sea.

Launched in 2012, the yacht formerly known as Topaz stretches 483.1 feet long and reaches speeds up to 19.5 knots. And with interiors by the renowned Terrence Disdale , you know this behemoth is as spectacular on the inside as its exterior. It’s equipped with an on-deck Jacuzzi, double helicopter landing pad, swimming pool, fitness center, cinema room, and a snazzy conference room. A+ is reportedly owned by Sheikh Mansour, deputy prime minister of the UAE, and can accommodate up to 62 guests and 79 crew members.

One of the world’s largest “gigayachts”—measuring a whopping 456 feet—is also one of the newest, as it is currently undergoing trials in the Baltic Sea. This sleek structure, formerly known as Opus and Project Redwood, technically launched in January 2019 but came back to Lurssen for more fine tuning and upscale additions. The interiors and exterior are both by Nuvolari Lenard , and the yacht will reportedly sleep up to 36 guests. Some of the ultra-fabulous amenities include a beach club, fitness center, spa and sauna, Jacuzzi, swimming pool, elevator, two helipads, and an impressive study.

Katara was launched in 2010 and measures 408.2 feet long and reaches speeds up to 20 knots. The yacht’s interiors were reportedly done by Alberto Pinto and comfortably accommodate 34 guests and 95 crew members. Much of Katara remains a mystery, but we do know it belongs to either the former Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani, or Sheikh Nawaf bin Jassim Bin Jabor Al-Thani, chairman of the Katara Hospitality Group, and docks in the city of Dohu. Katara also reportedly has its own beach club with sea terraces.

Savarona is the oldest yacht on this list, as it was originally launched in 1931 and refitted in 1999. The 446-foot yacht boasts interiors by Donald Starkey, room to sleep 34 guests and 48 crew, and luxe amenities, like ample spa facilities, a spacious study, oversize media room, and plenty of fabulous deck space for lounging.

This sleek yacht belongs to Roman Abramovich, billionaire businessman, politician, and owner of the Chelsea Football Club. Some of the likely amenities on board include a three-person submarine, a 52-foot pool that can be converted into a dance floor, and an exterior fireplace. Eclipse is believed to accommodate 36 guests and 70 crew members.

Eclipse Yacht Interior

Eclipse 's interiors were designed by world-renowned Terence Disdale Design in London.

Dilbar is owned by Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov and is considered the largest yacht in the world by gross tonnage and interior volume. Usmanov named this Lurssen masterpiece after his mother. Some of this boat’s amenities include a 82-foot indoor swimming pool, sauna and massage room, movie theater, and underwater lights. Dilbar accommodates 40 guests and 80 crew members.

Dilbar Yacht Interior

Andrew Winch of Winch Design Group , a London-based design group for luxury homes, yachts, and planes, designed the interiors of Dilbar .

The 590-foot Azzam is considered the longest yacht in the world and is reportedly owned by the royal family of Abu Dhabi. Built in 2013, this Larsson yacht made yachting history for not only its size, but its ability to reach top speeds of more than 30 knots.

French designer Christophe Leoni spearheaded the interior design of this boat that accommodates 36 guests and 60 crew members.

This megayacht was constructed by Platinum Yachts for Prince Jefri Bolkiah of Brunei and now belongs to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, ruler of Dubai and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates. The yacht took 10 years to perfect and is widely considered one of the most luxurious yachts in the world. Dubai boasts a mosaic-tiled swimming pool, multiple Jacuzzis, disco, and a squash court. Its dining room alone can hold up to 90 guests, and the boat has room for 88 crew members.

Dubai Yacht Interior

The interiors of Dubai were designed by Andrew Winch of Winch Design .

Fulk Al Salamah

Fulk Al Samanah was assembled by Mariotti in Genoa, Italy, and is the world's second-largest superyacht. It is believed to belong to the Omani Royal Fleet. Notable amenities include a beauty salon, beach club, and conference facilities, and it requires 130 crew members for optimal ventures. Little information about the Fulk Al Samanah is known, but the boat's exterior was designed by Studio de Jorio.

This stunner belongs to billionaire and entertainment mogul David Geffen and has likely hosted a favorite celebrity (or 10) of yours over the past few years—even the Obamas. Complete with a gym, sauna, pool, and underwater lights, what more could you ask for in a party venue? This Lurssen yacht holds 18 guests overnight and up to 45 crew.

Rising Sun Yacht Interior

There isn't much out there about the interiors of Geffen's yacht, but we do know it was designed by Bannenberg and Rowell .

Ocean Victory

Ocean Victory was built in 2014 by Fincantieri and is owned by Russian billionaire Viktor Rashnikov. It holds 26 guests and 50 crew. Notable amenities include six pools, a beach club, and an underwater observation room.

Little is known about the interiors of this ship, except that it was designed by Alberto Pinto and Laura Sessa Romboli, so you know it has to be absolutely fabulous.

Lauren Wicks is a freelance writer and editor based in Birmingham, Alabama. Before going on her own, Lauren worked for brands such as VERANDA, EatingWell, and Cooking Light , and she covers all things lifestyle from interior design and luxury travel to wine and wellness.

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Sea Eagle II: The inside story of the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht

• June 17, 2020

Rupert Holmes talks to the build and design teams behind the 81m Royal Huisman flagship Sea Eagle II, which recently completed her sea trials off the coast of the Netherlands

Royal Huisman has an enviable track record of producing superlative sailing superyachts , with hundreds of projects completed to date. Yet the latest vessel to leave the shipyard is extraordinary even by these standards. She is the world’s largest aluminium yacht and is one of the top ten biggest sailing yachts ever built. 

Sea Eagle II is a magnificent 81m/266ft three-masted Panamax schooner, created by the same Dykstra and Mark Whiteley Design collaboration that produced the stunning 56m/186ft Royal Huisman ketch Aquarius just over a year ago. 

Her very experienced owner has sailed all his life and spent a lot of time at sea. “ Sailing around the world in the weekends is a phrase often used to outline his days on board,” says Royal Huisman project manager Arjo Spans. He is also a repeat client – the original Sea Eagle is a 43m/143ft Frers/Rhoades Young design launched by the Dutch yard in 2015. 

Sea Eagle II is due to be delivered to her owner in July 2020. Photo: Tom Van Oossanen

Initially the brief for the new boat was for a more classical yacht, similar to the 79m/259ft three-masted gaff schooner Athena , which Royal Huisman built for Silicon Valley mogul Jim Clark in 2004. However, the owner quickly realised he would prefer a more modern yacht: a fast-looking hull shape with straight lines, long waterline and plumb bow. The concept of Sea Eagle II was born. 

“Having worked with him to build the original Sea Eagle , we understood the owner’s priorities from the start,” says Spans. “These are: low maintenance, functionality, and safety, including ease of moving around the yacht, even when heeled at sea.

“For each of the key aspects of the boat he asked for three proposals, he would then choose one of them and leave us to implement it,” Spans adds. “He put a huge amount of trust in the shipyard and in our craftsmanship.”

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The scale of this yacht is nothing short of astounding. The sleek hull lines belie the 4m/13ft freeboard and the two-tier deckhouse, including a half-raised bridge, looks entirely in proportion. The main deck-level accommodation has a huge expanse of glass, with the 360º view interrupted only by minimal mullions. There are also acres of cockpit space, with room left over for a long sweep of uncluttered aft deck.

Mark Whiteley was responsible for developing the interior and refining the exterior styling. He created a simple and modern style for the interior, with straight lines. Lacquered Alpi walnut wall panels, brushed natural oak floors and dark stained wenge trims are complemented by light colour leather handrails and upholstered wall panels.

Part of the brief was for the yacht to be able to host business meetings – the forward part of the superstructure therefore includes a large saloon with expansive seating, plus a 16-seat table for formal dining.

The largest winches are capable of a tremendous 18-tonne pulling load. Photo: Rondal

A technical challenge 

Dykstra Naval Architects drew a narrow and efficient hull shape with a maximum beam of only 12.4m/40ft, while displacement has been kept down to a relatively light 1,050 tonnes at full load. The final shape was achieved following extensive computational flow dynamics (CFD) calculations, velocity prediction programming (VPP), and testing in both tow tanks and wind tunnels. These all helped to determine sail balance, keel position and predicted rudder angles.

The plumb bow is balanced by a modest, but graceful, stern overhang, with a contemporary, relatively wide transom at deck level. Twin knuckle lines extend aft from near the bow, merging into one amidships and then forming a chine aft. Right aft the hull has negative curvature on the flare below the chine, which gives interesting reflections in the gleaming paintwork.

The lead naval architect, Dykstra’s Erik Wassen, told me he introduced the knuckle lines to give the hull “a bolder and more interesting shape.” The owner liked the concept and Mark Whiteley helped to refine the detail. Wassen describes the underwater shape as being: “a very modern round bilge shape, with a nice slender hull that gives good sailing capabilities.” Appendages are a conventional fin keel and balanced rudder.

Photo: Priska van der Meulen

The latter presented an interesting technical challenge, according to Wassen. Initially they looked at fabricating the rudder stock in steel, but that alone would weigh three tonnes. Screening a number of alternatives led to a decision to use carbon for the stock, with a foam core section clad in a relatively thin composite skin for the blade. 

The result is what it’s producer, Royal Huisman’s sister company Rondal, believes to be the biggest ever carbon rudder, weighing only 1,250kg, which helps to keep weight out of the ends of the boat. The weight saving here also enabled the intended fore and aft trim to be achieved with the ballast in its optimal location.

The rudder includes load sensors to record and verify torque, side forces and bending moment while sailing. “There is not much load data available for rudders of this size of sailing yacht, so it’s very conservatively engineered,” says Spans. Fibre-optic sensors are incorporated to enable a database to be created that will help with designing future composite rudders for very large yachts.

Due to the distance of the helm stations from the rudder, the steering is via an electric-hydraulic system, which means there’s no feedback from the helm. The plan is to investigate whether data from the sensors can be used in a feedback system to give a more natural feel to steering the boat under sail. 

Structural engineering

This is one of the most interesting elements of yacht design, yet is all too often under appreciated. Extensive modelling showed a couple of unexpected problems that needed clever solutions during Sea Eagle II ’s design and engineering. 

Instead of the hull flexing smoothly under load, like an I-beam, the presence of a forward intermediate deck introduced hard spots in this area, resulting in stress concentrations at the forward end of the superstructure. This required a lot of design work to create a smooth transition of stress from the lower deck to the intermediate one and then on to the upper deck.

Structural engineering was extensively modelled for Sea Eagle II

The roof of the superstructure also posed a challenge, in that the inside surface of a beam needs to become shorter as it flexes. But the original plan for the aluminium roof wasn’t able to accommodate this, with the result the modelling showed stresses concentrating in the corners of the mullions and in the glass itself. 

The solution was to avoid welding the top of the mullions to the roof, opting instead for a flexible joint that allows for movement when necessary. Wassen likens it to the joints in large buildings that need to be included to allow for thermal expansion and contraction.

Whiteley also helped to refine the exterior styling. In addition to the detail of the knuckles, his input helped to refine the shapes – particularly curves and softening corners – in the superstructure.

COVID-19 restrictions meant her delivery date had to be pushed back by 3 months. Photo: Crea Fragma / Rondal

Panamax rig

The requirement to be able to clear the Bridge of the Americas at the Pacific end of the Panama canal called for the schooner rig with three equal masts. All are of carbon and are made by Rondal, with integrated sail handling systems and Carbo-Link carbon standing rigging.

Each mast has in-boom furling, while the aft two have staysails for use when reaching. The tank and wind tunnel testing was used to verify different headsail options, particularly to determine the differences between a large blade jib versus a large staysail or yankee.

“Obviously you have better windward performance with a large blade,” says Wassen, “but as soon as you bear away the yankee is much more forgiving in trimming, so we decided that made more sense.” A further advantage is that when the yankee is part furled the sheeting point remains the same. 

Rondal’s Integrated Sailing System consists of the three carbon Panamax masts with furling booms, hydraulic boomvangs, headsail furling systems, deck winches and equipment, captive winches and continuous solid carbon standing rigging by Carbo-Link, all equipped with load sensing capabilities. Photo: Rondal

In addition, a blade jib requires much higher sheet loads to maintain leech tension. Even though Sea Eagle II is a three-masted yacht, the yankee sheet loads are still predicted to reach 18 tonnes – but this still allows standard-size captive winches to be used, rather than larger custom-made units.

The Panamax limitation obviously poses the question as to whether sail area needed to be compromised to fulfil this criteria. However, this is clearly not the case for Sea Eagle II . Hull speed is close to 20 knots and the yacht is clearly capable of surfing at much higher speeds, despite being designed as a pure cruiser. This role, of course, suggests keeping heel angles to a maximum of 10-15°. 

Nevertheless, the VPP figures suggest potential boat speeds of 17-18 knots in 16 knots of true breeze with a true wind angle of 70°. “As soon as you can ease the sheets a little bit, we have a lot of sail area,” says Wassen, “so on a beam reach, I wouldn’t be surprised if a steady 20 knots is possible.” 

Specification

LOA: 81m (266ft) Air draught: 62m (205ft) Hull: Aluminium Guest accommodation: 11 Crew accommodation: 14 Exterior styling: Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design Naval Architecture: Dykstra Naval Architects Interior design: Mark Whiteley Design Classification: Lloyd’s MCA (LY-3)

First published in the April 2020 edition of Supersail World.

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Boat of the Week: This 171-Foot Super-Luxe Sportfishing Yacht Is the Largest in the World

The epic vessel is a super fast "battlewagon" designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish. it's also decidedly lavish., howard walker, howard walker's most recent stories.

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To hook the world’s biggest fighting fish, in the words of Chief Brody in the classic 1975 movie Jaws , “You’re going to need a bigger boat.”

Privately owned fishing boats won’t come any bigger than this astonishing 171-foot super-luxury sportfisherman, set to claim the title of “World’s Largest Sportfish Superyacht.”

Designed by Dutch naval architects Vripack , and soon to start construction at the Royal Huisman yard in the Netherlands, Project 406 as it’s currently codenamed, will be a fast “battlewagon,” designed to chase marlin, swordfish and sailfish to the ends of the earth. “Project 406 is a sportfishing machine on steroids,” Vripack co-creative director Bart M. Bouwhuis told Robb Report . “It has the proportions of a typical American sportfishing yacht, with a long, flaring bow and open foredeck, and raked-back superstructure. It’s just bigger in every way.”

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Tiara’s New 54-Foot Yacht Has a Deck That Transforms Right in Front of You

Like every sportfishing boat, the focus is the cockpit, with a fighting chair in the center and multiple rocket launchers. The decks above are for ringside views of the action.  Courtesy Vripack

Bouwhuis is quick to point out “this is a sportfisher first, and superyacht second. While she will have the luxury of a true superyacht, she’ll set a new benchmark in the world of big-game fishing boats.”

Renderings from Vripack show a towering, six-deck fishing machine with the sleek proportions of smaller battlewagons from American builders like Viking, Hatteras and Jarrett Bay.

To shave weight, the hull and superstructure will be made of Alustar aluminum, a super-strong, high-tensile alloy. Bouwhuis won’t reveal the yacht’s power, though the word “huge” comes out in the conversation. “You can’t fool nature if you want a 171-foot boat to go this fast,” he says. “It will have significant horsepower.”

Designer Vripack kept the proportions similar to traditional American sportfishing designs, though those smaller battlewagons don’t have six decks.  Courtesy Vripack

The yacht has been commissioned by an experienced owner who is passionate about big-game fishing. “There are yachts out there that label themselves ‘sportfishermen,’ but they tend to be big motoryachts with a small fishing cockpit on back. Project 406 stays true to the traditional proportions.”

That means an oversized stern cockpit that’s low to the water, with a classic varnished-wood fighting chair takes center stage. Each of the decks above it will face the stern to give guests a front-row view of the sportfishing action below. For thrill-seekers, the very top deck, high above the flybridge hardtop, will provide stunning 360-degree views of the water. Perfect for spotting leaping marlin.

When the fish aren’t biting, Project 406 will offer guests plenty of places to kick back and relax. On the bow is an expansive, sunken sun-lounging area with oversize pads and sofas. The yacht’s fourth-level sky lounge will serve as an extraordinary “theater” for watching big-game fish leap out of the water. At night, it will have the relaxed ambience and stunning views of a boutique hotel penthouse.

When not in sportfishing mode, the outer decks can be used for socializing, especially the open area in the bow.  Courtesy Vripack

“It has been a steep learning curve for the whole Vripack team, discovering what makes a great sportfishing boat and understanding what kind of features are needed—from the rods, to the baitwells, the icemakers and fish boxes,” says Bouwhuis. “But it has definitely been an exciting challenge.”

It’s hard to understand the unbridled passion for fishing, especially when discussing the world’s largest sportfishing boat.  But actor Lee Marvin summed up the feeling nicely: “I only make movies to finance my fishing.”

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Trump Confuses Biden With Obama, Again—Here Are 8 Other Recent Times

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Former President Donald Trump appeared to confuse former President Barack Obama with President Joe Biden during a rally Saturday night, the latest in a series of gaffes from Trump as the age and mental well-being of both top presidential candidates remains a concern for voters.

During a campaign rally Saturday night, Trump appeared to mix-up Obama with Biden, again.

The gaffe came when Trump was discussing Vladimir Putin and said the Russian president “has so little respect for Obama that he’s starting to throw around the nuclear word.”

Video of the event shows the crowd going silent after Trump’s reference to Obama, before Trump then names Biden, and calls him “a fool.”

In at least seven other instances, Trump has seemed to confuse Obama with Biden.

Last week, when referencing Putin at the Conservative Political Action Conference Trump made another Putin-related gaffe, saying he agreed with the Russian President that he’d rather see Biden as president.

Over the course of just several months last fall, Trump seemed to confuse Biden with Obama seven different times . In a November speech, recounting a speech by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, during an Oct. 1 rally in Iowa, twice on Oct. 11 during a Fox News Radio interview, and then three more times on Sept. 15, during a speech to faith leaders in Washington. Trump’s near-obsession with Obama tracks back many years, long before he ran for president, when he was spreading false information about Obama’s birth country.

Key Background

Saturday’s mistake is not the first from the 77-year-old former president. Last week, he appeared to refer to his wife Melania Trump as “Mercedes” during his CPAC remarks. The week before that he told Michigan voters to vote on the “very important date” of November 27, though the state’s primary election was on February 27. Trump has tried to defend himself by saying he “sarcastically” interchanges Obama and Biden “as an indication that others may actually be having a very big influence in running our Country.” Biden, 81, has had a run of bad public-speaking mishaps amid increased scrutiny. The Justice Department’s report, released last month by Special Counsel Robert Hur, found Biden “willfully” retained classified materials while a private citizen, but chose not to bring criminal charges, saying as Biden can appear as an “elderly man with a poor memory.” Then, in defending himself the day of the report, Biden made yet another mistake, erroneously calling Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi the “president of Mexico.”

42%. That's the percentage of people who say they at least somewhat agree Trump is too old to be an effective president, according to a new New York Times/Siena College poll out Sunday. Some 73% said the same about Biden.

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The 20 largest yachts built in the USA

With nearly 96,000 miles of coast teeming with ports and harbours, the United States has been a proud shipbuilding site for more than 250 years. In an Independence Day special, we take a look at the largest and finest yachts constructed across the pond...  

Builder : Swiftships Length : 91.4m Year : 1997

Originally launched by US yard Swiftships in 1997, the 91.4-metre explorer Voyager spent the first two decades of her life as a 63-metre supply ship called Candy Trader , used for commercial works. That all changed in 2016 when she arrived at Dania Cut in Florida to start a three-year conversion into an explorer yacht. When she emerged in 2019, blinking into the East Coast sunshine, Voyager became the largest conversion superyacht ever in the US. She features a bathing platform and helipad, while her five decks host a huge crew of over 70 members.

Builder : Derecktor Shipyards Length : 85.6m Year : 2010

Launched in time for the 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show from Bridgeport, Connecticut, the 85.6-metre superyacht  Aquila  (formerly Cakewalk ) is a full displacement, oceangoing superyacht with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. Her refit in 2016 secured her the title of the largest yacht to be refitted in the UK and gave her the added 'wow' factor of a bespoke chandelier from Czech company Preciosa, comprised of more than 850 pieces of hand-blown glass. The chandelier is a staggering 11.2 metres long, cascading through four of Aquila ’s five decks.

SS Delphine

Builder: Great Lakes Ew Length: 78.6m Year: 1921

This motor yacht was a familiar sight around Detroit and Chicago in the 1920s. Automobile manufacturing mogul Horace Dodge named  SS Delphine   after his daughter and designed an unusual quadruple steam expansion engine for the vessel, which gave her an impressive top speed of 15 knots. During World War II she served as the flagship of Admiral King, the Commander-in-Chief of the US Fleet. Laid up in 1962, she was bought by the Seafarers International Union for use as a headquarters ship but fell into disrepair in the early 1990s. She was later acquired by a Singapore company which planned to convert her into a mini-cruise liner for Asian waters, but this sale fell through. Happily, she was purchased by a Belgian buyer, Ineke Bruynooghe, and a thorough restoration and conversion brought both the yacht and her original steam engines back to new condition.

Builder : Trinity Yachts Length : 73.8m Year : 2013

Built to ABS class in steel and aluminium, Cocoa Bean was launched in 2011 as the largest yacht to hit the water in North America at the time. Owned by the late Ali Ghandour, her name presumably refers to one of the Ghandour Company’s best-selling confectionaries - chocolate. In 2020, she emerged from a three-year refit courtesy of Astilleros de Mallorca with her upper deck brows extended, her mast restyled and a freshly-painted red bootstripe. Twin 2,575hp Caterpillar engines give her a range of 6,000 nautical miles and a top speed of 15.5 knots.

Builder : Delta Marine Length : 73.2m Year : 2006

Built in the Pacific Northwest, Laurel  has a steel hull and composite superstructure and is the fourth-largest yacht to be built in North America since the Great Depression. Her sun deck extends fore and aft of a central observation room, the forward part being a belvedere terrace and the aft offering a gym, spa pool and sunbathing. Tenders are stored on the lower deck and launched through doors to port and starboard. Another highlight is the diving room, which opens to a large bathing platform created by opening the stern door.

Builder : Delta Marine Length : 72.2m Year : 2016

Launched from Dakota Creek in September 2016, Albatross is the second-largest yacht from this American yard to date and has since only been used as a private vessel. She sports an exterior by Espen Oeino International and a Francois Zuretti interior with a volume of 2,066 GT. Equipped for exploring, she is capable of 7,400 nautical miles and is fitted with a helicopter landing pad and a large 13-metre beam tender garage. On deck, leisure highlights include an al fresco dining area accompanied by a chef station, a BBQ, oven and a raised eight-person Jacuzzi.

DSSV Pressure Drop

Builder : Tacoma Boat Building Length : 68.3m Year : 1985

The 68.3-metre DSSV Pressure Drop was described by owner and explorer Victor Vescovo as being "not a yacht, and not luxurious". Used as a support vessel for Vescovo's host of deep submersibles, the yacht was originally delivered in 1985. A full refit in 2015 courtesy of Stabbert Maritime saw DSSV Pressure Drop transformed into what it is today, able to accommodate 47 people – including 19 crew and 12 technical specialists. The yacht also features dry and wet science labs, full ocean-deep sonar and an 11.2-metre Triton 36000/2 submersible .

Builder : Bender Length : 67.1m Year : 1982

Described as a "sport utility" vessel by the yard that converted her, Global owes her rugged commercial appearance to her former life as an oil rig support vessel. Formerly known as Allure Shadow , she is half yacht and half toy carrier, offering six double guest cabins with balconies, a saloon, a dining room, a sky lounge with panoramic views opening to a forward observation deck, an eight-metre freshwater swimming pool, a cinema, a games room that also functions as a library and a full gymnasium complete with a spa. Her huge decks can carry, among other toys, a helicopter and its full logistical needs plus a large sport fishing vessel. If all that doesn't impress, Global also has the capacity to host events for 200 people.

Builder : Candies Shipbuilders Length : 67m Year : 1980

Explorer  has lived many lives, starting out as Clipper Cap Haitien and later being converted to a Shadow Marine vessel. In 2011, she had a major hull extension that brought her from 51.8 metres to her current length of 67 metres. The latest refit was undertaken in order to add an additional deck dedicated to the owner’s use, which comprises the owner’s cabin, private lounge, gym and spa. Other refit work included creating a movie theatre and upgrading all the audio-visual and IT systems. Moving the helipad also allowed the creation of a new open sun deck, providing ample entertaining spaces. An elevator was also installed to serve all decks.

Blue Shadow

Builder : Campbell Length : 66.8m Year : 1994

Blue S hadow is best known through her previous owner, HRH Prince Khaled bin Sultan of Saudi Arabia. A keen oceanographer, Prince Khaled made the yacht available for scientific purposes worldwide in support of the Living Oceans Foundation. The yacht carries Golden Eye , an amphibious 10-seater Cessna 208 with Wipair floats, as well as many special-purpose tenders, and offers a range of scientific laboratories and accommodation for up to 11 visiting scientists and pilots. Blue Shadow  was built in the USA by the now-defunct San Diego builder Campbell Industries to the design of Martin Francis and was refitted in 2006.

Builder : Delta Marine Length : 65.5m Year : 2013

Previously known as  Project Invader , Delta Marine's  Invictus is built with an ice-strengthened steel hull and a composite superstructure which was penned by  Delta Design . With such a long-distance cruising range of 7,000 nautical miles and features such as a pool on the sundeck, a theatre and a gym, this boat is designed to keep its guests entertained on long-haul voyages. She was officially delivered in Seattle, Washington to a North American client, but the key is her remarkable 1,945GT volume, which leaves ample space for an innovative layout.

Builder : Palmer Johnson Length : 64m Year : 2013

Lady M is Palmer Johnson's 64-metre flagship and is the largest all-aluminium boat ever built in the United States. Her narrow profile and characterful vertical bow are shared by her much smaller SportYacht sisters, which start at around the 36-metre mark. Outstanding features include a hot tub and large open teak decks that flow into contemporary beachy interiors, courtesy of Italian design house Nuvolari Lenard . Powered by twin diesel MTU engines, Lady M boasts a transatlantic range and top speeds of 28 knots.

Builder : Halter Length : 63.4m Year : 1978

Formerly known as Fierce Contender, this vintage expedition yacht's greatest claim to fame is a stint on the popular television show Deadliest Catch, where it was used as a crabbing vessel. S uRi has since undergone a series of refits after braving the treacherous seas around Alaska's Aleutian Islands. The most substantial was in 2011 at California-based Bay Ship & Yacht Co., which saw 11 metres added to her mid-body. Benefits of this extension included a larger al fresco dining area, sunning and shade areas. A glass-enclosed guest lounge in the existing lounge was also added, which can either be closed and fully climate-controlled or opened up for the indoor-outdoor effect on balmier nights. Following a 2016 refit, this 1,355GT displacement yacht now features new timeless interior décor by Krilloff & Associates .

Builder : Delta Marine Length : 62.8m Year : 2018

Built at the Seattle shipyard in 2018, this 63-metre superyacht is allegedly owned by US billionaire Jay Alix of Alix Partners. All exterior and interior stylings were completed in-house and Satori has since remained very resolutely out of the public eye. Interior photos and amenities have not been released, with exterior photos revealing a helipad on the sundeck, a spacious swim platform and a lateral-opening tender garage and balcony.

According to BOATPro , Satori seems to be spending July 4 cruising along Savusavu Bay in Fiji.

Mia Elise II

Builder : Trinity Yachts Length : 60.4m Year : 2012

With a length of 60.4 metres and a relatively small draft of 2.4 metres, Mia Elise II  is one of the largest yachts still capable of accessing shallow anchorages in the Bahamas and Caribbean. This 916GT yacht was designed by the yard’s in-house team and has a bright, airy interior owed to  Patrick Knowles . The full-beam upper deck houses a sky lounge, an office, a VIP cabin and the master suite forward with a private foredeck, meaning that owners can enjoy unimpeded, secluded ocean views.  Mia Elise II accommodates a total of 13 guests in a master, a VIP and five double cabins including four on the lower deck. 

Builder : Trinity Yachts Length : 59.7m Year : 2009

The first Trinity yacht designed by the Bannenberg and Rowell studio, Bacarella  began life at 55 metres and was extended to her current length mid-build. She features four very large guest cabins on her lower deck and a full-beam main deck master with a large his-and-hers en suite forward. Her 1,052GT volume gives Bacarella  a vast interior, offset by a dramatic interior palette of unusual materials and pale colours. Notably, Bacarella suffered some damage in 2017 after a helicopter crashed into her off the coast of Bergen, Norway. She was refitted most recently in 2020.

Grand Rusalina

Builder : Trinity Yachts Length : 59.6m Year : 2006

Damaged by fire during her construction in 2002 and subsequently rebuilt in Brisbane, Australia, Grand Rusalina (ex- Ulysses ) is a solidly-constructed explorer-type yacht capable of traversing the world’s oceans with ease and in the greatest of comfort. She can accommodate 14 guests and now has a range of 6,000 nautical miles, allegedly boasting upwards of 8,000 in her heyday. This self-sufficient superyacht is MCA compliant and able to stow a vast array of equipment, including several tenders, jet skis, an inflatable dock and pool and a helipad.

Builder : Palmer Johnson Length : 59.4m Year : 1998

Pearl  is the largest yacht to emerge from the Wisconsin-based shipyard and has since sailed under multiple owners (and names). She was launched as  La Baronessa  for a Singaporean owner and was renamed  Frequency  when acquired by a Turkish businessman with an interest in cell phones. She later became Shubra II  and was again renamed, this time becoming Pearl . Naval architecture is by New York-based Sparkman & Stephens , while her styling and interior design are by Italian design house Nuvolari Lenard .

Builder : Trinity Yachts Length : 58.8m Year : 2016

Launched in 2016, the 58.8-metre Imagine is hull number T062 in the Gulfport-based yard's impressive fleet. The exterior styling for this tri-deck motor yacht was created by long-time collaborator  Geoff Van Aller , with both the hull and superstructure built from aluminium to AB classification. Power comes from a pair of 3,386hp Caterpillar engines and her total interior volume is believed to be in excess of 800GT. The yacht also has a bonus cabin that doubles as a massage room – imagine that. 

Builder : C. Welding Length : 58.3m Year : 1950

This 58.3-metre motor yacht was built for American shipping and real estate tycoon Daniel K. Ludwig under the name Argo . Designed by John H. Wells , Hasabi II is a hardy vessel, with a maximum range of 5,300 nautical miles and exterior stylings that have been left relatively unchanged across her impressive 73-year tenure. She has not had a major refit since 2006. According to BOATPro , she was last sighted today at the Corfu Town Yacht Harbour in Greece.

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The cars with the largest engines ever made

Posted: December 21, 2023 | Last updated: December 21, 2023

Forget downsizing.

Here are some of the biggest-engined cars ever built. With this collection of behemoths, size really does matter .

If you though the current crop of supercars were big capacity hitters, take a look at our list of the best big bore motors, arranged in ascending order of size.

Lamborghini Aventador (6.5-liters)

Every Aventador comes with Lamborghini’s 6.5-liter V12 engine. The 6498cc motor does without turbo- or supercharging, relying instead on capacity for its prodigious power output that can range up to 770 hp in the SVJ model.

This is only Lamborghini’s second V12 engine design, the first used in the 350GT and it lasted all the way into the Murcielago. The Aventador’s 60-degree V12 was all-new for this model and is known by its codename, L539. It uses a different firing order to the original Giotto Bizzarrini-designed unit, but the newer motor can rev more freely and has variable valve timing.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow (6.75-liters)

Rolls-Royce’s L Series V8 made its first appearance as a 6230cc engine in the Silver Cloud II of 1959 . This increased in 1968 to 6750cc and has remained the same ever since, with the engine still in production today in Bentley’s Mulsanne . It’s estimated this engine has powered 70% of Rolls-Royce cars ever made.

The secret to this engine’s long life was it started out very under-stressed and has been gradually increased in power over time, with the help of turbocharging from 1982-on in most Bentley models. The all-aluminum motor was deliberately designed to fit in the long, narrow bay of the Cloud II, which is why the motor’s ‘V’ between each bank of cylinders is so deep.

Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 (6.8-liters)

Ignore the 6.9 in the title of this Mercedes Q-car sedan, its M100 V8 displaced 6.8-liters. It was still the biggest engine available in any car the from the German manufacturer at the time and cramming it into the S-Class sedan was an inspired decision. To maintain the S-Class’ reputation for unburstable reliability, each 6.8-liter V8 was bench-tested for four and a half hours before being installed in the car.

The engine block was iron, but the cylinder heads were aluminum and used sodium-filled valves. There was also Bosch K-Jetronic fuel injection , which was very unusual for the time, and it helped the M100 produce 290 hp . It also generated 405 lb-ft of torque, which made the 450SEL 6.9 capable of 140mph and endeared it to 7380 buyers when new.

Lister Storm (7.0-liters)

The Jaguar V12 that was first offered in the E-type in 1971 with 272bhp finally peaked with the Lister Storm in 1993. By then, Lister had grown the engine to 7.0-liters for use in its road and race cars , which competed at the Le Mans 24 Hours .

To get to 7.0-liters, the engine had its bore and stroke increased, with the road cars delivering 554 hp . This made them capable of 0-60mph in 4.1 seconds . Well regarded for its performance, handing and rev-happy engine, the Storm faltered on its £220,000 (around $400,000 at the time) list price and only four road cars were ever built.

Plymouth Barracuda (7.2-liters)

In the battle for muscle car bragging rights, Plymouth outdid all of its rivals with the arrival of its 440 Super Commando V8. This 7.2-liter motor was bigger than any other car of this class in period and made it very quick on the drag strip even in standard form.

All of this came at a price, however. The big block motor filled the engine bay so completely there was no room for much-needed power steering . Nor was there space for a brake servo to help stop the Barracuda. Still, 375 hp was more than enough to tempt plenty of buyers who wanted the biggest and fastest muscle car on offer.

Dodge Charger R/T (7.2-liters)

Dodge first fitted the 440cu in (7.2-liter) big block V8 to the Charger in 1967 as an option in the original series. Called the Magnum , it gave 375bhp with a single 4-barrel carburetor and the engine was known as a ‘ wedge’ motor because of its wedge-shaped combustion chambers.

When the second-generation Charger arrived, so did the R/T, which stood for Road/Track. It used the 7.2-liter engine as standard and customers could opt for the smaller 426 Hemi V8 (7.0-liter). Although smaller in size, the 426 had more power as it delivered 425 hp out of the factory to make it the quicker car.

Aston Martin One-77 (7.3-liters)

Given its rarity and £1.4 million price tag when new, it’s understandable Aston Martin went all out with the One-77 and its V12 engine. The engine mounts are machined from solid billets of aluminum and the 7.3-liter motor itself was handed over to Cosworth to develop and build. Their brief was to create a motor with at least 700bhp and an all-up weight 10 per cent lower than the standard V12 it was based on.

Cosworth came up trumps with 760 hp and shed 15 per cent of the weight by ditching the standard unit’s shrunk-in cylinder liners in favor of a spray-on coating for the bores. Compared to a DBS, the One-77’s engine had variable valve timing and is also positioned further back and a whole 4 inches lower in the chassis for better weight distribution and handling. It also gained a rear-mounted gearbox for the same reason.

Pagani Zonda S (7.3-liters)

Pagani has sourced its engines from Mercedes-AMG since the beginning and the biggest of the lot is the M297 V12 in 7.3-liter capacity. This is a development of Mercedes M120 V12, which arrived in the early 1990s and was the motor used in the top of the range S- and SL-Class models. Pagani wanted a lot more and got it with this engine when it delivered 555 hp for the S and Roadster models in 2002.

The ante was upped for the 7.3-liter V12 when it grew to 650 hp for the Zonda F Clubsport and the 678 hp for the Cinque models. Yet Mercedes-AMG was far from done and increased power again to 800 hp for the HP Barchetta in 2017. All of this from an engine that started out with 400 hp in 1992.

Lincoln Continental (7.6-liters)

Lincoln’s 1961 fourth-generation Continental was smaller than its predecessor but heavier and this meant a bigger engine was needed. To do this, Ford extended its 7.0-liter V8 to 7.6-liters in 1966, creating the biggest  car engine the Blue Oval had ever produced up to this time.

However, the 7.6-liter engine enjoyed only a brief life in the Continental and was replaced by the all-new and slightly smaller capacity 7.5-liter 385-series V8. Even so, the 7.6-liter unit that was built at Ford’s Lima plant in Ohio remains the most sought-after by classic car fans for its rarity and appeal as the grandest engine used in the Continental.

Rolls-Royce Phantom II (7.7-liters)

The Rolls-Royce Phantom II was the pinnacle of luxury motoring at the start of the 1930s and came with an equally regal engine. The 7.6-liter straight-six might not have had the cylinder count of the later but smaller capacity Phantom III’s 7.3-liter V12, but it was an impressively smooth , refined engine befitting of this car and its clientele.

To achieve such smooth running, the engine had seven main bearings and also featured a one-piece cylinder head cast in aluminum. Dual ignition was standard practice for this model thanks to Rolls-Royce’s aero -engine experience and desire for reliability. For those choosing the Continental model, racier camshafts were an option to increase power, though the factory never disclosed outputs for either version of the motor.

Bentley 8-Litre (8.0-liters)

The Bentley 8-Litre was the hypercar of its time in the early 1930s. It earned this position not only because a mere 100 were built, but because its huge 7982cc six-cylinder engine was so far removed from those motors used in most mainstream cars.

Everything about this engine was of the highest grade, so the iron block was made in a single piece with non-detachable cylinder head for strength. The crankcase was formed from Elektron magnesium alloy and there were four valves per cylinder. Twin spark ignition came courtesy of a coil and magneto, while the engine had rubber mounts that were unusual for the period. Even more out of the ordinary was the 8-Litre’s 220 hp power that made it one of the most powerful road cars available in 1931.

Bugatti Veyron (8.0-liters)

An engineering tour de force, at the heart of the Bugatti Veyron and its enormous top speed was the 8.0-liter W16 engine. The engine’s basic design came from two narrow angle V8 engines joined to a common crankshaft. This gave the unusual ‘W’ configuration and the 1000 hp needed to propel the Veyron to 253mph .

With 64 valves, four turbochargers and a DSG dual-clutch gearbox, the Veyron was as technically advanced as its engine was large in size. This required a total of 10 radiators to keep the engine at its optimum operating temperature, including three each for the engine and turbos.

Chevrolet Suburban (8.1-liters)

When you have one of the biggest SUVs to haul around, a big engine is a must and the Chevrolet Suburban has been no stranger to large motors. The biggest of all is the 8.1-liter Vortec V8, or L18 in Chevy-speak, with 340 hp and only offered in the weightier 2500HD and 3500HD models.

During its six-year lifespan that started in 2001, Chevrolet also used this 8.1-liter engine in marine applications and to power a number of large motorhomes thanks to its prodigious torque of 440lb ft from low revs. However, fuel economy concerns killed it off when the 10 th generation Suburban arrived in 2007.

Cadillac Eldorado (8.2-liters)

The Eldorado arrived in Cadillac’s brochure in 1953 and engine capacity steadily grew as it progressed into the 1960s. It reached its zenith in 1970 with the 500cu in (8.2-liter) V8 that produced a relatively lazy 406 hp . This capacity was achieved by using a different crankshaft to increase the V8’s stroke.

This big block V8 then suffered at the hands of 1970s emissions regulations as it was gradually strangled in power to 370 hp and eventually to a measly 193 hp in 1976. Buyers could choose optional electronic fuel injection to boost power back to 218 hp, but its heyday was over.

Dodge Ram (8.3-liters)

Marrying a pick-up truck and the 8.3-liter V10 motor from a sports car might sound like a shotgun wedding, but nobody seemed to mind at Dodge. At a stroke, it created the Ram SRT-10 complete with engine from the Viper. Fittingly for a pick-up, the engine was remarkably simple with only two valves per cylinder and naturally aspirated, so no turbos here.

When it arrived in 2004, the Ram SRT-10 caused a storm as it had over 500 hp on tap and could 154mph flat out. Use the engine’s full potential and it could also cover 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds if you stuck with the lighter regular cab model. This shorter cab version came with a six-speed manual as standard, but the five-seat Quad Cab model had a four-speed auto transmission as its only option.

Dodge Viper (8.4-liter)

There was nothing subtle about the Dodge Viper, so it’s no surprise its V10 engine grew from 8.0-liters to 8.4-liters by the time that fourth-generation version arrived. This development of the V10 used variable valve timing, which was a first for a pushrod engine. It helped to free up 600 hp and 560 lb-ft of torque. By the time the final VX model arrived in 2015, the Viper boasted 654 hp .

An even more powerful version of the 8.4-liter unit was used in GT3 racing, producing 689 hp , though this was pegged back to nearer 600 hp in come series. The engine proved very reliable as was under-stressed even in race tune and helped the Viper win several races and championships.

Bugatti Royale (12.7-Liter)

Everything about the Type 41 Bugatti Royale was big, with the exception of its production number that totaled just six cars. The 12.7-liter engine was derived from a design originally penned for the French Air Ministry but never used, so Bugatti repurposed it for its ultimate luxury car.

The straight-eight motor came with three valves per cylinder and produced some 300 hp . However, these valves needed regularly regrinding and that was an engine out job, making the Royale even more expensive to own for its extremely wealthy owners. The engine drove through a three-speed gearbox that was mounted in the center of the chassis and, depending on the coachwork fitted, the Royale could top 100mph .

Cadillac Sixteen Concept (13.6-liters)

Cadillac went right back to the glitz of its 1920s past for the Sixteen Concept of 2003. On looks alone, it grabbed plenty of attention, but what lay under the hood was the real star attraction. Here was a 13.6-liter V16 engine that was essentially a brace of LS V8s fused together. No official power figures were ever offered, but it’s reckoned the V16 was good for 1000 hp . Not bad for a car weighing 4994 lb .

The 32-valve motor sent its power to the rear wheels via four-speed automatic gearbox and came with Cadillac’s Active Fuel Management that could shut down eight or 12 cylinders to save fuel depending on the load on the engine.

Napier-Railton (23.9-liters)

The Napier-Railton hails from an era when more power meant going bigger, so it employed a 23.9-liter Napier Lion aero engine to achieve a 24-hour record of 150.6mph at Bonneville Salt Flats in 1936. With a reputed 594 hp at just 2500rpm, the 12-cylinder Lion engine had three banks of four cylinders in a ‘broad arrow’ configuration. This made it more compact and it also used other aero industry features such as dual ignition.

To keep the engine fueled, a 65-liter tank sat right behind the driver to deal with the car’s 5mpg thirst. After the Second World War, the Napier-Railton found a second life testing aircraft braking parachutes at high speeds.

The Beast (27.0-liters)

John Dodd was not your average Rolls-Royce owner and his Beast excited as many people as it upset . With distinctly 1970s styling, its huge hood was needed to cover the 27-liter Merlin aero engine that was mounted backwards from its original use so drive was directed to the rear wheels rather than forwards to a propeller .

When Dodd completed the car, Rolls-Royce took exception to his use of the famous fluted radiator grille, but this only served to get the car more attention. Not that it needed much help when Merlin engine made it the most powerful road car ever at the time. Even when it had been stripped of its superchargers, it was claimed to make over 1000 hp and Dodd reckoned he’d driven it at 185mph with more to come.

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