MALTESE FALCON — T
CARLO BERLENGHI
om Perkins of Belvedere, who began sailing the Bay aboard a 17-ft Teak Named after the 1929 Dashiell Lady, has launched "a retirement home" Hammett detective mystery set in San like no other. She's the magnificently Francisco and the 1941 film noir version sleek black-hulled 289-ft clipper yacht starring Humphrey Bogart, Maltese FalMaltese Falcon, the largest privatelycon was launched by Italy's Perini Navi owned sailing yacht in the world. from their Yildiz yard in Istanbul. FalAs you con and her might exunique rig pect, there were subare a lot of sequently big numbers shaken associated down on a with Falsail to Malcon. For inta, which stance, she will be her has a waterhomeport, line of 255 and then feet, disto Antibes, places 1,240 France. tons, draws T h e r e 34 feet with aren't many her board berths that down, and can accommotors at modate a Fabio Perini and Tom Perkins — two quiet and thoughtful guys with 18.5 knots. the intelligence and passion to bring big dreams to life. nearly 300Yet we think ft yacht, so her most impressive number is the it was fortunate that the berth for Paul smallest — one. That's the number of 'Microsoft' Allen's 416-ft motoryacht people needed to set her sails, tack and Octopus was available. Falcon then conwear ship, reef, and furl her nearly 2,400 tinued on to Spezia, Italy for her public sq meters of sail. "debut". The secret is her Dynarig, which alFrom the first sail, Falcon earned lows up to 15 modern square sails to be rave reviews from her owner: "We literset from the yard arms of three unstayed ally sailed every inch from Istanbul to rotating masts. Thanks to unprecedented Malta, either beating to windward or sail and mast control technology, which on close reaches. The wind varied from Perkins was instrumental in developing, Force 3 to Force 7, and we averaged 10 he can singlehandedly set or furl the enknots, occasionally hitting 16 on the tire sail plan in just five minutes. If only close reaches. We rotated our masts and a minor depowering is required, it takes unfurled and furled our sails — mostly just 60 seconds to furl the royals, which the royals and t'gallants, as required by reduces the load on the rig by 60%. the wind strength — literally hundreds Although Falcon is the only boat in of times without a single fault. Christian, the world with a Dynarig, and trimming our athletic spar master, only went aloft the sail plan involves rotating the masts, twice, just to check on things — and Perkins says there is nothing compliprobably also to enjoy the ride 190 feet cated about it. "I could teach anyone to above the waves. We're obscenely proud sail this boat in 10 minutes," he says. of our new clipper yacht!"
LATITUDE/RICHARD
'Falcon's mast and sail trim are controlled from this console. The boat is steered with the little knob in the lower middle rather than a wheel.
O
nce at the Perini Navi-owned Beconcini Yard in Spezia, Perkins welcomed some 100 of his friends aboard, many of whom had travelled from Northern California for the occasion. No part of the boat was off limits, and Perkins, who is casual and friendly, clearly enjoyed sharing the spectacular creation with others. During a dinner he threw that night for all the guests at Porto Venere, Falcon was brought over and anchored off an ancient waterfront church. With her masts and yard
arms illuminated, she had a massive and magnificent presence. Sausalito Knarr sailor Knud Wibroe, one of the dinner guests, told us he re-
