-
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 decisively from traditional yacht forms. Conceived by Philippe Starck, the hull adopts a wave-piercing profile with a pronounced reverse bow, creating a long, continuous line from stem to stern and a silhouette that remains unmistakable even at distance.
The reverse bow is not a visual gesture alone. Its shape reduces vertical motion in head seas and limits wave impact along the forward sections, contributing to steadier progress offshore. Combined with the yacht’s narrow waterline and fine entry, the hull favours efficiency and directional stability over sheer volume.
Above the waterline, the yacht tapers sharply as it rises, with strong tumblehome and minimal external ornament. This geometry demanded exceptional precision during construction, particularly across the curved steel plating and tight tolerances of the superstructure. Despite the narrowing profile, the design avoids a sense of confinement by relying on long sightlines and broad expanses of heat-reflective glazing to pull light deep into the interior.
Glass plays a structural role in the yacht’s appearance. Continuous horizontal bands of dark glazing wrap the superstructure, visually lowering the mass and reinforcing the forward drive of the design. Circular portholes punctuate the hull sides, adding contrast to the otherwise linear composition.
Outdoor leisure is integrated without interrupting the form. Two exterior pools sit flush with surrounding decks, one configured for swimming against a current and the other as a whirlpool. Additional spa pools are positioned on the aft bridge deck and within the main saloon, distributed to preserve deck flow rather than dominate it.
Interior Design
The interior design of M/Y A was conceived by Philippe Starck as a deliberate rejection of conventional superyacht layouts. Rather than dividing the yacht into a sequence of enclosed rooms, Starck created broad, continuous spaces with clear sightlines, allowing movement through the interior to feel fluid and uninterrupted.
This open-plan approach prioritises spatial clarity over ornament. Circulation routes remain obvious, rooms bleed into one another, and boundaries are softened through mirrored surfaces and reflective finishes. The result is an interior that feels calm and expansive despite the yacht’s narrow hull form.
Materials are restrained and consistent throughout. Floors are finished in oiled teak and ash, while en-suite bathrooms use marble extensively. Leather wall panels appear in selected areas, adding texture without visual weight. These materials anchor the interior and provide continuity across decks, allowing Starck’s more expressive details to sit within a controlled framework.
Decorative elements reference Starck’s wider design language, but in measured doses. Sculptural forms, subtle Baroque cues, and abstract shapes appear as focal points rather than dominant themes. The interior avoids excess, favouring balance and usability over display.
A defining feature is the central staircase, carved with wave-shaped scallops and finished in silver leaf. It functions as both circulation and sculpture, reinforcing the yacht’s maritime identity while acting as a visual anchor between decks.
The main saloon is arranged around full-height glazing and mirrored walls, drawing natural light deep into the space and reinforcing the sense of openness. A spa pool sits within the saloon itself, integrated without disrupting flow. Aft, a concealed bar opens to reveal mirrored panels and custom glassware designed by Starck, displayed individually on metal plinths.
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 34 in the YB100, our exclusive list of the World's Biggest Yachts by Gross Tonnage. It has held this distinguished position for 5 years, 4 months, showcasing its unmatched true size.
This yacht also entered the traditional Top 100 Longest Yachts in 2011 at 13 and is now ranked 35, holding a spot in the table for 15 years 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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