Maltese Falcon Superyacht - Sailing Elegance
The Maltese Falcon superyacht is the most technically ambitious sailing vessel ever built: an 88-metre, 289-foot schooner whose three rotating DynaRig masts redefined what was possible in large-format sailing design. Delivered by the Perini Navi shipyard in 2006 and refitted to a higher standard in 2015, the Maltese Falcon has collected ten prestigious industry awards and earned a reputation among charterers and critics alike as the benchmark for modern sailing superyachts.
The DynaRig: the technology that defines the Maltese Falcon
The three masts of the Maltese Falcon stand 58 metres tall and carry a total of fifteen sails across their rotating spars. The DynaRig system, which originated in a 1960s concept by German engineer Wilhelm Prölss, allows the sails to be set and furled entirely from the cockpit with no crew required to go aloft. Each mast rotates as a single unit, trimming the sail plan to the wind angle automatically. The result is a yacht that can reach speeds in excess of 24 knots under sail and cruise comfortably at 16 knots, all managed by a small professional crew rather than the large sailing teams that traditional square-riggers would have required.
Ken Freivokh's exterior and interior design
Naval architect and designer Ken Freivokh handled both the exterior styling and interior architecture of the Maltese Falcon, ensuring a coherent design language from keel to masthead. On deck, the layout balances formal and informal entertaining across multiple zones, from bow to stern, accommodating groups of any size without the rigid formality of traditional superyacht deck plans. The most celebrated exterior feature is the outdoor cinema: a projection screen positioned behind the lower sail on the main mast allows guests to watch films under open sky, the largest installation of its kind on any superyacht in existence.
Interior: six suites, full-beam master cabin
The interior accommodates twelve guests across six suites. The full-beam master cabin on the lower deck includes two walk-in wardrobes, paired bathrooms, and a Californian king-sized bed. A dedicated reading room, full-beam formal dining room, and main salon are finished in high-quality leather, wood, steel, and glass throughout. The VIP cabin on the bridge deck accesses a private terrace through a large sliding aft door, giving guests a semi-private outdoor space distinct from the main deck zones.
Charter details and current availability are listed at Yacht Charter Fleet. Full technical and historical documentation is available at Superyacht Times and Boat International.
Exceptional watercraft at TheArsenale
The Maltese Falcon represents sailing at its most ambitious. For those drawn to water, TheArsenale offers a curated selection from the elegant to the exhilarating. The SAY29 Runabout Yacht delivers classic lines with modern construction, while the SAY45 RIB Speedster Carbon pushes performance to its limit. For sailing purists, the Reverso Match foldable sailboat brings sailing accessibility to a new level. Explore the complete TheArsenale Boat Collection.
