-
Guests
14
-
Cabins
7
-
Crew
35
| Length | GT | Built |
|---|---|---|
|
119m
|
5,959 GT | 2008 |
| Beam | Draft | Top Speed |
| 18.87m | 5.15m | 23 Kts |
The multi-award winning 119m motor yacht M/Y A was delivered to her owners in 2008 by German shipyard Blohm + Voss. Her interior design and exterior styling comes from the drawing boards of Philippe Starck, while Blohm + Voss is responsible for her naval architecture.
Key Features
- Eye-catching reverse bow and tumblehome design
- Named "A" to appear first in shipping registries
- Secret room below mirrored panels
- Almost 24,000sq/ft of interior space
- 7 guest suites can be converted into four cabins
- Owner’s suite spans 2,500sq/ft
Design & Construction
Designed around a displacement steel hull and an aluminium superstructure she features a 18.87m beam and a 5.15m draft. The yacht has an internal volume of 5,959 GT (Gross Tonnes). The design also incorporates a heli-pad.
Construction started in early 2006 with the keel laid under the project name 'Sigma; SF 99'. The yacht was designed and constructed in compliance with the Lloyds Register technical standards. Launched in January 2008 this yacht undertook sea trials over the following months. She was delivered to her owners in June 2008.
Exterior Design
The exterior design of A breaks from traditional yacht forms. Conceived by Philippe Starck, the hull adopts a wave-piercing profile with a pronounced reverse bow, creating a long, uninterrupted line from stem to stern and a silhouette that is recognisable at any distance.
The reverse bow is also functional, not just decorative. Its geometry reduces vertical motion in head seas and limits wave impact along the forward sections, supporting steadier offshore progress. Combined with a narrow waterline and fine entry, the hull favours efficiency and directional stability over maximising internal beam.
Above the waterline, the superstructure tapers sharply with pronounced tumblehome and minimal external detailing. The curvature of the steel plating and the tight tolerances required across the superstructure demanded high construction precision. Despite the narrowing form, long sightlines and extensive heat-reflective glazing prevent the profile from feeling visually compressed.
Glass is central to the yacht’s visual identity. Continuous horizontal bands of dark glazing wrap the superstructure, lowering the apparent mass and reinforcing the forward movement of the design. Circular hull windows punctuate the otherwise linear composition, introducing rhythm without ornament.
Outdoor leisure areas are integrated into the architecture where two exterior pools sit flush with surrounding deck surfaces, one arranged for counter-current swimming and the other as a whirlpool. Additional spa pools are positioned on the aft bridge deck and within the main saloon, distributed carefully to preserve deck flow and maintain the yacht’s controlled geometry.
Interior Design
The interior of Motor Yacht A is one of the most discussed aspects of the yacht and remains closely guarded. Designed by Philippe Starck, the layout rejects the compartmentalised approach typical of large superyachts in favour of open, sculptural volumes and long, uninterrupted sightlines.
Rather than dividing the yacht into a sequence of enclosed rooms, Starck structured the interior around broad, flowing spaces. Boundaries are softened through mirrored wall panels, reflective finishes and floor-to-ceiling glazing, allowing light to move deep into the hull despite the yacht’s relatively narrow beam.
The owner’s suite occupies much of the superstructure and is often described as a loft-style apartment at sea. Ringed by large windows and connected to a private aft terrace, the space is arranged with minimal internal partitioning. One of its most distinctive features is a rotating bed, designed so the sleeping position can adjust with the yacht’s orientation. Several guest suites are also fitted with rotating beds, reinforcing the yacht’s focus on experience rather than convention.
Oiled teak and ash flooring run throughout guest areas, while marble dominates the en-suite bathrooms. Leather wall panels add texture without visual weight, and crystal washbasins and bespoke furnishings introduce moments of contrast within an otherwise controlled palette.
A defining interior feature is the central staircase, carved with wave-shaped scallops and finished in silver leaf. It operates as both circulation and sculpture, linking decks while echoing the yacht’s maritime form.
The main saloon runs wide and open beneath full-height glazing, with mirrored wall panels stretching sightlines across the beam and out to sea. A spa pool sits directly within the saloon volume, not hidden on a lower deck or pushed outside, and becomes part of the living space rather than a separate feature. Concealed bar panels slide back to reveal custom glassware displayed individually on metal mounts, and the effect is closer to installation design than traditional yacht joinery.
Accommodation
M/Y A accommodates up to 14 guests across seven cabins, supported by a professional crew of 42. The layout reflects Philippe Starck’s preference for flexibility and spatial flow rather than fixed, conventional cabin arrangements.
The owner’s suite sits apart from the guest accommodation and includes one of the yacht’s most talked-about features: a rotating bed that allows the view to shift with the vessel’s orientation. Four additional guest cabins are also fitted with rotating beds, a rare feature that reinforces the yacht’s emphasis on experience rather than tradition.
Each cabin follows the same restrained material palette seen elsewhere on board. Teak and ash flooring, marble en-suite bathrooms, leather wall panels, and crystal washbasins create continuity across the accommodation decks. Decorative detailing remains subtle, with engraved mirrors and sculptural forms used sparingly to avoid visual clutter.
A distinctive aspect of the guest layout is its adaptability. Double connecting doors between three guest cabins on both port and starboard sides can be opened, allowing these spaces to function either as individual cabins or as larger, interconnected suites. This approach mirrors the yacht’s wider interior philosophy, favouring open volume over rigid separation.
Performance & Capabilities
M/Y A is a steel monohull motor yacht built around a wave-piercing hull form, defined by its pronounced reverse bow. This bow geometry reduces lift and wave resistance, particularly in head seas, allowing the yacht to maintain consistent forward momentum and strong seakeeping at speed.
Propulsion comes from twin MAN diesel engines producing a combined output of approximately 9,000 kW. This conventional diesel setup was selected in place of a diesel-electric system to avoid additional weight and to preserve maximum speed potential. As a result, M/Y A is capable of exceeding 23 knots at full power while maintaining dependable performance characteristics.
The yacht’s long, slender hull plays a central role in its hydrodynamic efficiency. The reduced beam-to-length ratio contributes to lower drag and smoother motion through the water, although it presented challenges during construction. The narrow hull form and tower-like superstructure required careful integration of machinery spaces, technical systems, and guest areas within a relatively lean volume.
To support comfort underway, M/Y A incorporates stabilisation measures tailored to her hull design. Storm shutters on the main deck and raisable spray breakers integrated into the foredeck structure help manage spray and reduce the likelihood of a wet ride, a known consideration with wave-piercing profiles.
Leisure & Entertainment
The yacht features a tender bay, likened by Starck to a "museum of modern art", which is a masterpiece in its own right. Completely teak-lined, the garage can be exposed on three sides when the two side shell doors and the large transom platform are opened. The two custom tenders housed within, also designed by Starck, are as special as the mothership itself, providing a fitting complement to the yacht's groundbreaking design.
Air conditioning offers increased on-board comfort, while underwater lights create a dazzling light display when the sun goes down and an elevator makes the yacht fully-accessible.
Member of the World's Biggest Yachts Club
This yacht is proudly ranked at 36 in the YB100, our exclusive list of the World's Biggest Yachts by Gross Tonnage. It has held this distinguished position for 5 years, 7 months, showcasing its unmatched true size.
This yacht also entered the traditional Top 100 Longest Yachts in 2011 at 13 and is now ranked 36, holding a spot in the table for 15 years, 3 months due to its extraordinary length.
To understand the difference visit our page on the World's Biggest Yachts.
M/Y A Yacht is not For Sale
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