Billionaire Andrey Melnichenko who parked superyacht on Thames next to HMS Belfast has futuristic new toy with sails bigger than a football pitch
‘Sailing Yacht A’ - with its 300ft tall masts - left the harbour in Kiel, Germany, for testing ahead of its full launch next year
A RUSSIAN oligarch who sailed his colossal superyacht up the Thames last month looks to have got himself a new toy.
Andrey Melnichenko’s 470ft-long ‘Sailing Yacht A’ was pictured leaving the harbour in Kiel, Germany today.
The futuristic-looking grey boat – which looks like a cross between sailing boat, a battleship and a spaceship – was pictured heading out to sea for testing.
The state-of-the-art superyacht was built specifically for the billionaire at the German Naval Yards in Kiel.
Its masts are nearly 300ft high – the tallest of any yacht in the world.
And they are capable of carrying a sail bigger than a football pitch, according to .
The tycoon’s latest superyacht was styled by the world-renowned French designer Philippe Starck – the same person who designed the vessel which made headlines when Melnichenko sailed it up the Thames in September.
Jaws dropped when £225million ‘Motor Yacht A’ moored next to the HMS Belfast next to London’s Tower Bridge last month.
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The 390ft floating palace – which has luxury cabins for up to 14 guests and accommodation for 42 crew – was almost as big as the decommissioned light cruiser.
But Melnichenko’s new toy would dwarf the former Royal Navy warship – and even looks like it could be heading into battle itself.
Details about the cutting edge superyacht have been shrouded in secrecy since it was commissioned.
But it is due to come into service next year, after extensive testing to ensure it is up to the billionaire’s standards.
Melnichenko is up there with some of the world’s richest men – ranked 139th in the Forbes World’s billionaires list 2016.
The industrialist owned his fortune in fertiliser, coal, power and banking.
He and his family live a glamorous jet-setting lifestyle, hanging out with their celebrity pals.
Melnichenko married Serbian pop star and model Aleksandra in a lavish ceremony in 2005.
The £3million wedding included performances by Whitney Houston, Christina Aguilera and Spanish singing legend Julio Iglesias.
Jennifer Lopez was paid more than £1.5million to perform at Aleksandra’s 30th birthday.
And Snoop Dogg and Lenny Kravitz entertained guests on board Motor Yacht A for the couple’s anniversary in 2008.
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