The 142.8-metre sailing yacht «A» by Russian billionaire Andrei Melnichenko has deployed one of its three giant sails for the first time during sea trials near the German town of Strande.
The total sail area of the «A» sailboat, made by New Zealand's Doyle Sails, exceeds the area of a football field. Her carbon masts, manufactured by Dykstra Naval Architects, are the largest in the world and are designed to withstand a category 2 hurricane.
The sailing yacht «A» will be handed over to the owner in 2017. Earlier last week, Andrey Melnichenko's representative denied rumors that the vessel was stranded in the Baltic Sea because of its size. According to him, the yacht will pass through the Drogden Strait. The draught of the vessel at partly loaded is 7.5 meters, which allows her to cross the strait.
