Representatives of the Perini Navi flagship, the luxury charter yacht Maltese Falcon, and the historical tall ship Amerigo Vespucci jointly cut the ribbon of the 52nd edition of the Genoa International Boat Show , during its opening ceremony. The event took place on October 6, in the presence of the Italian vice-minister of Infrastructure and Transportation, Mario Ciacca.

Perini Navi charter yacht Maltese Falcon and the historical tall ship Amerigo Vespucci

The two largest Italian sailing ships met for the first time during their function as guests of honour of the most important Italian boat show. Both vessels are over 80 M, with The Maltese Falcon superyacht measuring in at 88 M and the luxury yacht Amerigo Vespucci at 82, and represent the height of Italian sailing of yesterday and today.

The luxury yacht Maltese Falcon, launched by Perini Navi in 2006, is 88 M LOA, has 12.60 M maximum beam, displaces 1,240 tons and has a sail plan of 2,400 square meters that comprises 15 sails. Her rigging technology is unique. Known as Dyna Rig, this system mounts three rotating, self-supporting carbon fibre masts each if which mounts five panels of square sails.

The Maltese Falcon yacht and her rigging represent a quantum leap in the history of sailing technology. Thanks to innovative hydraulic systems her 2,400 square meters of sails can be manoeuvred by a single person in just six minutes. The Maltese Falcon performs well on the water and can sail at over 20 knots. She can cruise by motor at a maximum of 19 knots.

MALTESE FALCON

Maltese Falcon

The Amerigo Vespucci yacht was launched by the Castellamare di Stabia shipyard in 1931. She measures 101 M including her bowsprit, has 16 M beam and displaces 3,700 tons. She too has three masts and a sail plan that counts 24 sails for a total of 2,800 square meters. Her main mast is 54 M high and she requires a crew of 270. She is the oldest and most widely admired vessel in the Italian Navy.

The Vespucci yacht has recently concluded her 78th training course. During this course cadets from Leghorn’s Naval Academy spend a total of 68 days, 45 aboard, learning to sail a vessel of this size and type. They cover 6,000 nautical miles, motoring for 1,000 hours and sailing for 400 and make stops at all of the principal European ports.

The twinning of these two exceptional vessels was subsequently celebrated in the evening at the Yacht Club Italiano in Genoa during the ceremony that was held to assign the Yacht Capital Marina Yachting Award for 2012.