Spectacular yacht visits Island

An extraordinary vessel was seen by many people in Douglas Bay today.

The privately owned Maltese Falcon is a new class of yacht with a revolutionary sailing system.

The Falcon Rig consists of three self-standing and rotating masts, hosting 15 sails with a total area of 2,400 square metres.

The yacht has a permanent crew of 18 to sail her, an onboard 'hotel' for up to twelve guests, plus four staff, an onboard gourmet chef, stewards and stewardesses.

The Maltese Falcon was built four years ago at a cost of $150 million and, at 290 feet in length, she is one of the largest privately owned sailing yachts in the world.

She was a spectacular sight as she left the bay, in full sail, early this evening.