image of 106-metre sailing yacht black pearl

16 images

Credit: Tom Van Oossanen

Black Pearl: Exclusive first look inside the world's second-largest sailing yacht now available for charter

24 October 2024 • Written by Georgia Boscawen and Holly Margerrison

As the 105-metre Oceanco sailing yacht Black Pearl joins the charter market ahead of her appearance at the Antigua Charter Show, BOAT gets an exclusive look at her interior, revealed for the first time.

The 105-metre yacht Black Pearl is now available for charter with Superyacht Connections. Holding the title of the second-largest sailing yacht on the water, Black Pearl took the industry by storm with her ground-breaking sail configuration – the world’s largest Dynarig, set over three 70.6-metre carbon masts, setting 2,934 square metres of sail which can unfurl in under seven minutes. This propels her to speeds over 20 knots under sail and means she can complete a transatlantic crossing with zero fossil fuel emissions.

Credit: Tom Van Oossanen

Delivered in 2018, Black Pearl was built by Dutch shipyard Oceanco with her Dynarig system developed by Dutch naval architect Dykstra. Naturally, she had quite the design package, with further naval architecture from the board of Lateral Naval Architects, design by Nuvolari Lenard and Ken Freivokh, and input from Villate Design on the interiors. Divergent Yachting acted as the owner's representative.

Nuvolari Lenard worked with Villate Design to realise a vision that has been described as "Louis XVI".
Credit: Superyacht Connections
Details of Black Pearl's interior have never been shared with the public until now.
Credit: Superyacht Connections

Since her delivery, Black Pearl’s interiors have been shrouded in secrecy, but have now been shared exclusively with BOAT International. Designs are laced with neoclassical details, including ornate wooden details, gold accents and silk carpets – a tribute to the style of Louis XVI. The layout is unconventional, with the owner placing emphasis on the main saloon and a huge private study, rather than his stateroom, which is situated on the lower deck.

Credit: Superyacht Connections
Credit: Superyacht Connections

Accommodation is found on the lower deck for up to 14 guests across five cabins, including a full-beam master cabin with a king-size berth and a lounge that leads to a private balcony. There are a further two private VIP suites – one port facing, one starboard facing – again with king-size berths, lounge areas and adjoining en suite marble bathrooms, as well as one twin and one double cabin.

Credit: Superyacht Connections
Credit: Superyacht Connections

Charter guests may also retreat to the wellness area on the lower deck, which converts to a night lounge and where they can find a massage room, gym, Hammam and beach club. When in night lounge mode, its twinkling lights are meant to resemble the night sky – specifically "a replica of the constellations above Rotterdam from the evening of her launch in 2018", according to her central agent.

Meanwhile, the main deck hosts a formal dining room, where rich mahogany adds to the grandeur of the space and shell doors open onto balconies for sunset views. Black Pearl also boasts a remarkable 4,000-bottle wine cellar and tasting room from which guests can choose their liquid complement.

Credit: Superyacht Connections
Credit: Superyacht Connections

Black Pearl's exterior spaces are also worth highlighting. Guests can relax on the main deck by the jet stream pool or dine on either side of the deck with tables that rise and fall to allow for both formal and informal dining experiences. The pool floor also lifts to transform the space into a dance floor, which is elevated by the onboard sound system. There is also direct access from this level to the night lounge. Meanwhile, the upper deck provides further space for unwinding with a Jacuzzi and a large exterior cinema screen on a sailing yacht mizzen mast of 9x14m.

The tender garage is positioned on the foredeck, accommodating twin custom tenders, including a ten-metre Pascoe limo. Above it, the bulwarks fold down to transform into a touch-and-go helipad.

Credit: Superyacht Connections
Credit: Superyacht Connections

One of the core pillars for the project was energy efficiency; a parameter set out by her former owner, the late Oleg Burlakov, who expressed the clear goal of minimising the yacht's eco footprint. Subsequently, Black Pearl has several trailblazing components that meet this brief, such as her hybrid propulsion system with a vast battery bank designed by Lateral Naval Architects.

Credit: Francisco Martinez

Under sail, Black Pearl’s propellers counter-rotate, generating up to 480kW of power for use and storage on board. She therefore can operate silently for extended periods of time. Producing great deals of energy while under sail at approximately 12 knots, the 105-metre yacht could theoretically cross the Atlantic without burning any fossil fuel.

Of course, it’s not just her systems and sail configuration that allow Black Pearl to gain commendation as one of the most advanced vessels of her time. She features a wave-piercing reverse bow designed by Dykstra, that doubles back into a traditional point. This means that under electric power, she can reach 17.5 knots, with her maximum sailing speed to date being 24.5 knots.

Credit: Tom Van Oossanen

In terms of her charter opportunities, Superyacht Connections pointed out that the 2864GT yacht will work well for family and corporate charters, as well as sailing regattas and special events. Black Pearl won an award in the 2019 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards for "Best Technical Achievements Overall", as well as being the winner in the "2019 Sailing Yachts 60m and Above" category at the 2019 World Superyacht Awards.

Credit: Superyacht Connections

Toybox and tenders

  • SUP (four solid and two inflatable)
  • Fliteboard
  • Four two-person kayaks
  • Water skis
  • Wakeboards
  • Two Cayago SeaBobs
  • Two Waverunner Jet Skis
  • Snorkelling equipment
  • 10.4-metre Pascoe Limo tender 
  • 9.8-metre Pascoe Beachlander tender
  • 5.6-metre Williams open tender

Credit: Superyacht Connections

In November 2022, Black Pearl paid a visit to Adriatic42, a new superyacht repair and maintenance shipyard in Montenegro. Looking ahead, Black Pearl has a busy few months, where she will sail first to the Caribbean for a short winter season to attend the Antigua Charter Show (4-9 December). She will then be available in the Caribbean from 15 December through to 1 March 2025, when she will return to the Mediterranean to prepare for the summer season. The luxury sailing yacht will then be available for her summer charter season from 10 May.

Black Pearl is available to charter with Superyacht Connections for a weekly rate starting from €1,200,000. When in ECO mode – meaning when she is mostly sailed, with the option to use the engines at a maximum speed of 10 knots – this rate includes all fuel costs. When in non-ECO mode, the charter rate is €1,200,000, plus fuel and all other standard items. In this mode, guests may choose to use the main engines with speeds up to 17 knots.

Read More/Iconic yachts: The story of Black Pearl, the sailing yacht that changed everything

Sign up to BOAT Briefing email

Latest news, brokerage headlines and yacht exclusives, every weekday

By signing up for BOAT newsletters, you agree to ourTerms of Useand ourPrivacy Policy.

Sponsored listings