This Is a Sailboat??
From Latitude 38:
A appears to be massive in this photo, compared to one of 'grandpa's mega motoryachts' as seen in the background. But in this case, appearance is reality, as A is 390 feet long and 60 feet wide.
Photo Latitude / Richard
© 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc.
Looking at the photo of A, some of you are probably saying to yourself, "If A is a sailboat, where are her mast(s)?" Well, A is one of the new Transformer series of maxi sailboat designs that are able to switch from maximized powerboat to maximized sailboat and back. The reverse bow - a style that has become oh-so-popular these days - triple flips aft and under to become the keel when sailing. And three 195-ft masts - just short enough to make it beneath the Bridge of Americas in Panama - telescope out of the deck to create a Dyna Rig system as pioneered on Tom Perkins' 289-ft Maltese Falcon. The twist is that the massive yards flop into position transformer-like. It's a miraculous bit of engineering that owes a huge debt to the design of toys. As you might imagine, there have been teething issues, but isn't that true with all boats?
 Thanks to today's incredibly efficient systems, A and her 14 guests only require 42 crew. And thanks to her telescoping masts, A only carries 200,000 gallons of fuel, making her a real 'green machine'. Photo Latitude / Richard © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
 The width and steep incline of A's transom make it an ideal waterslide. Photo Latitude / Richard © 2010 Latitude 38 Publishing Co., Inc. |
- latitude / rs