The Dynarig design of the Maltese Falcon masts incorporates slots in the front of the mast from which the sails are unfurled.

Maltese falcon yacht opening sails. The yachts sophisticated computer detects parameters such as wind speed automatically and features large screens displaying all necessary information for course winds aloft speed depths. During low tide so the yachts 191-foot masts could squeeze under the bridge. A single touch screen directs the whole.

To achieve sailing conditions within the designed safety margins a monitoring application with online link capability was developed. The 289-foot Maltese Falcon had to sail under the monstrous Golden Gate Bridge at around 215 pm. Perini Navi - The 88 meter clipper Maltese Falcon is the largest sailing yacht in the world and in a breeze her immense DynaRig powers her to record shatteri.

The rig is actuated from the base of the mast. The design engineering and concept has proven itself since the yachts maiden voyage in 2006 consistently delivering speed under sail at 16 to 20 knots. The Maltese Falcon is undoubtedly one of the most significant sail yacht builds since the millennium and certainly one of the most talked about.

Click to view the story. The project ranks as amongst the largest privately funded development projects ever - the rig package alone including masts sails yards and control systems accounts for around 200000 man hours. The yacht is easily controlled and has been seen to sail off her anchor and away from berths within harbours.

On board the Maltese Falcon a single person at the futuristic helm can control the entire operation of the sails. It takes just one person to pilot the Maltese Falcon from this centralized control console. 3 self-standing and rotating masts hosting 15 sails for a total sail area of 2400 square meters 25791 ft square handled by the ultimate in Perini Navi Sail Control for unrivalled performance with unmatched safety and manoeuvrability characteristics.

With the success of Maltese Falcon and the research done by Dykstra Naval Architects it would appear that such a rig could have a successful future for large yachts. Perkins sold Maltese Falcon in 2009 to hedge-fund manager Elena Ambrosiadou maintaining the yacht as a private secure sleek sailing adventure for a privileged few. Her revolutionary sailing system - the Falcon Rig - sets a new milestone in yachting history.