Simply Abu Dhabi XXXVI

propulsion, solar-electric power and sustainable materials have led to a raft of state-of-the-art vessels that can deliver the best of both worlds: a significantly reduced carbon footprint in the lap of luxury. Scooping the top spot for largest DynaRig sailing yacht in the world, Black Pearl built by Dutch yard Oceanco in 2016 is a tri-deck sailing yacht with a world-leading hybrid propulsion system. She offers true zero-emissions cruising, which is unheard of for a boat of her magnitude. Most sailboats require a combustion engine to manoeuvre when not under wind power, but not Black Pearl. When building the 350-foot superyacht, Russian owner Oleg Burlakov – who sold his natural gas company Burneftegas for US$1 billion in 2014 – requested a “zero impact” yacht, and that is most certainly what he got. Controllable pitch propellers feed power back into the boat via a pair of shaft generators, providing enough power to support the yacht's hotel load (that means no combustion engine required for air conditioning, lighting, cooking facilities, etc.). Her environmental onboard systems include a waste heat recovery system and solar flexi-panels on her sails, and we’re not talking any old sails, here. She boasts three revolutionary 70m DynaRig carbon masts, and 2,900sqm of highly distinctive black sails that can be set in a rapid seven minutes, and all at the push of a button. Much like her namesake, Black Pearl is a rarity. Of course, it’s not just sailing superyachts that are setting the 1 7 3 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I