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Discover the 10 most outstanding yachts

Where Can You Find the World’s Most Exceptional Yachts?

The French Riviera has been attracting the world’s most beautiful yachts for over a century. As early as 1893, the Namouna, a 100-meter yacht owned by James Gordon Bennett, docked in Beaulieu-sur-Mer. There was also Gustave Eiffel’s boat, the Aïda, a 48-meter vessel that local fishermen might still talk about, as well as the yacht owned by the Agnelli family (one of the famous owners of Villa Leopolda). Each yacht competed with the next in terms of size and the luxury it offered to its guests.

Today, as in the past, the most stunning yachts can be found anchored in the roads of Saint-Hospice. Due to the high traffic, they now have to anchor more than 300 meters from the shore, as this area is part of a Natura 2000 site. These yachts are either privately owned or available for charter, which you can rent for a week with a crew, starting from €100,000 for the most modest options!

Some of these yachts sail and make regular stops in the Mediterranean, particularly along the French Riviera. During a sea tour accompanied by a SeaZen guide from Beaulieu-sur-Mer or Juan-les-Pins, we’ll make sure you enjoy the fascinating stories behind these incredible yachts.

If you’re also curious about the mythical villas of the French Riviera, we’ve prepared a special feature on the subject: the most beautiful villas on the Côte d’Azur to admire during a sea tour.

What Are the 10 Most Remarkable Yachts?

Yacht designers, driven by their clients’ ambitions, demonstrate exceptional creativity. We’ve photographed the most iconic vessels. Some of them are truly surprising.

1) Sailing Yacht A: By Far the Most Remarkable

Large modern sailboat with three masts, on blue sea near steep cliff.

📌 Owner: Andrey Melnichenko (Russian billionaire)
💰 Estimated Value: $530 million
📏 Length: 142.81 meters (468 feet)

✨ Description:
The Sailing Yacht A is the largest sailing yacht in the world and an unprecedented technological feat. Designed by Philippe Starck and built by Nobiskrug, this yacht combines futuristic elegance with exceptional performance. This isn’t the first time Philippe Starck has designed a yacht, as he also created the yacht for Steve Jobs. Its three carbon fiber masts (the tallest in the world, standing over 100 meters) and automated sails make it a one-of-a-kind vessel.

🔹 Features:

  • Hybrid propulsion system (sails + diesel-electric engines).
  • Glass-bottom pool on the main deck.
  • Integrated submarine for exploring the seabed.
  • Ultra-luxurious interior with rare materials like vine wood and polished metal.

💬 Anecdote: Its revolutionary design required 8 years of development and a team of over 500 engineers. With its three masts, this “sailing yacht” is supposed to sail. All the sailors on the French Riviera hope to one day see it hoist its sails. The owner of Sailing Yacht A is a Russian billionaire heavily involved in coal and chemicals. Seized by Italian authorities in March 2022 as part of European sanctions following the invasion of Ukraine, it has since been immobilized in the Gulf of Trieste, where it has become an unusual part of the local landscape. The Italian state has spent tens of millions of euros to maintain and secure it against potential attacks.

Photo Sailing Yacht A, © seaZen 2019

2) Eclipse: The Superlative Mega-Yacht

Luxury yacht with multiple decks on open water under a clear blue sky.

📌 Owner: Roman Abramovich (Russian oligarch)
💰 Estimated Value: $1.5 billion
📏 Length: 162.5 meters (533 feet)

✨ Description:
This remarkable 150-meter mega-yacht “eclipses” most other yachts. It is one of the ten largest yachts in the world, as well as one of the most expensive and secure. Built by Blohm + Voss in Germany, it is equipped with cutting-edge technology to ensure the confidentiality and security of its owner.

🔹 Features:

  • Anti-paparazzi system: Lasers to blind cameras and drone detectors.
  • 16-meter pool with a removable floor that transforms into a dance floor.
  • 2 helicopters and a submarine on board.
  • Armor plating and a missile defense system.
  • Movie theater and nightclub with a resident DJ.

💬 Anecdote: Abramovich reportedly demanded that the yacht be longer than his rival’s (Sheikh Mohammed’s Dubai) during its construction. Mr. Abramovich is also known for restoring the Château de la Croë, one of the most beautiful villas on the French Riviera.

Photo Yacht Eclipse, © seaZen 2017

3) Galaxy of Happiness: At the Forefront of Eco-Navigation

A sleek, modern yacht on calm blue water with a distant hilly coastline.

📌 Owner: Unknown (presumed to be Russian)
💰 Estimated Value: Several million dollars
📏 Length: 30-40 meters

The Galaxy of Happiness is a hybrid trimaran capable of running on electric power. It spent almost the entire summer near David Niven’s Villa in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat. It was last seen in France in February 2022, the very day of the invasion of Ukraine. Since then, it has appeared in Dubai or Bodrum, Turkey. If there is a luxury yacht that deserves the title of eco-navigation champion, it is the Galaxy of Happiness! Its remarkable hydrodynamic profile reportedly saves 40% of fossil fuel energy. Additionally, it can run entirely on electric power.

Photo Galaxy of Happiness Yacht, © seaZen 2018

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4) Blade: The Transformable Yacht

Modern yacht with sleek design on calm blue ocean under cloudy sky.

The Blade prioritizes custom charter experiences. This yacht offers a wide range of services thanks to a massive forward hold for storing “water toys” such as jet skis and sea scooters. Additionally, the stern features a remarkable articulated platform that allows guests to step directly into the water. According to the SuperYachtFan website:

“Blade holds the reputation as one of the fastest superyachts in the maritime world, reaching exhilarating speeds of up to 34 knots. This astonishing speed is driven by a Vericor TF50 gas turbine and dual Caterpillar engines. However, despite her power, Blade offers a comfortable cruising speed of 16 knots, ensuring her guests experience a journey that is both thrilling and smooth.”

Photo Blade Yacht, © seaZen 2018

5) U81 : Shadow boat of Mark Zuckerberg

 

How could you miss the yacht “U81”? This vessel serves the yacht Ulysses, providing its passengers with helicopters, submarines, a basket play ground, and tenders, or other luxury toys for cruising the French Riviera. The U81 yachts is reportedly used as a service boat by Graeme Hart’s yacht Ulysses and Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht Launchpad. Unless Ulysses yacht has become the latest Mark Zuckerberg’s yacht. According to the latest news Ulysses yacht is now renamed Metaverse!

Image U81, © seaZen 2025

6) Delphine: The Steam Yacht That Made History

Large white yacht with yellow funnel near rocky coastline under blue sky.

📌 Owner: Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States)
💰 Historical Value: Priceless
📏 Length: 30 meters (99 feet)

✨ Description:
The Delphine is a presidential yacht steeped in history. Built in 1921, it served as a floating residence for Roosevelt during his presidency (1933-1945). Today, it is open to the public for tours and cruises.

🔹 Features:

  • 1920s classic style with mahogany woodwork.
  • Official dining room where Roosevelt entertained dignitaries.
  • Preserved cabins in their original state.
  • Modernized diesel engines for smooth navigation.

💬 Anecdote: What happens to old yachts? Some are fully restored. This is how the SS Delphine still operates on steam but also features a counter-current pool, a gym, and Wi-Fi in every cabin. With a remarkable history, this yacht is said to have been used to prepare for the Yalta agreements between Roosevelt, Stalin, and Churchill. After its last restoration, it was christened by the Princess of Monaco. Roosevelt negotiated historic agreements on board and used it to escape the pressures of the White House.

Photo Delphine Yacht, © seaZen 2018

7) Venus: The Power of Design in Service of Steve Jobs

Modern white yacht on calm water during sunset.

📌 Owner: Steve Jobs (Co-founder of Apple)
💰 Estimated Value: $130 million
📏 Length: 78 meters (256 feet)

✨ Description:
The Venus is a tribute to the simplicity and minimalist elegance cherished by Steve Jobs. Designed by Philippe Starck and built by Feadship, this yacht reflects the creative genius of its owner.

🔹 Features:

  • Sleek design: Straight lines, interiors in light wood and aluminum.
  • Large floor-to-ceiling windows for breathtaking views.
  • Ultra-modern navigation system (inspired by Apple technologies).
  • Rear pool with a swimming platform.

💬 Anecdote: Jobs spent years perfecting every detail, going so far as to redesign the door handles. Philippe Starck designed the Venus yacht in 2007 at the request of the Apple founder. Those who have read Steve Jobs’ biography will recognize the spirit of its founder in this remarkably minimalist design. History tells us that the collaboration between the two design geniuses with oversized egos did not end on the best of terms. Our encounter with the Venus took place in June 2019. We had just learned from the press about Barack Obama and his family’s stay at Bono’s house in Èze. Coincidentally, the Venus was anchored just a few meters from the singer’s home. For the SeaZen crew, this moment was a great opportunity to admire it at sunset.

Photo Venus Yacht, © seaZen 2019

8) Sherpa: The Modern-Day Explorer

Large yacht with two smokestacks on a calm sea, mountains in background.

Sherpa Yacht, © seaZen 2020

Designed in the Netherlands, the Sherpa is an exploration vessel. It stands out from other yachts with its rugged, offshore look. This ship is clearly designed for ocean crossings and hostile seas. On the French Riviera, we see none of this. In fact, this yacht achieved a particularly remarkable feat in May 2020: it was the first and only luxury yacht to anchor off Paloma Beach. We had just emerged from the post-COVID-19 lockdown period. It was surreal to see only this yacht when usually, at this time of year, during the Monaco Grand Prix, hundreds of yachts would be anchored there. What an adventure!

9) Gene Machine: The Floating Laboratory

Illuminated yacht with purple lights on water at night.

Gene Machine Yacht, © seaZen 2019

Owned by Jonathan Rothberg, the inventor of rapid DNA sequencing, the Gene Machine lives up to its name. At 55 meters long, it may seem somewhat ordinary on the French Riviera, but if you sail at night, its lighting creates a spectacular show in the bay. There’s even a giant screen visible at the front top. This boat is even more remarkable when you know it carries a genome identification laboratory for phages. These are the smallest self-replicating organisms on Earth—bacteriophages—which are densely concentrated in seawater.

10) Maltese Falcon: The Return to Sailing

Large, modern sailing yacht with tall masts against a mountainous coastline.

📌 Owner: Elena Ambrosiadou (Russian billionaire)
💰 Estimated Value: $120 million
📏 Length: 88 meters (289 feet)

✨ Description:
The Maltese Falcon is one of the most iconic sailing yachts in the world. Built by Perini Navi, it is recognizable by its three carbon fiber masts and automated sails.

🔹 Features:

  • DynaRig sail system (revolutionary technology for a sailing yacht).
  • Luxurious interior with noble materials (exotic woods, marble).
  • Rear pool and jacuzzi on the upper deck.
  • Range of 4,000 nautical miles.

💬 Anecdote: Its name is inspired by the Maltese Falcon, a symbol of power and freedom. The Maltese Falcon was long considered the largest sailing yacht in the world, with 2,400 m² of sail area. Every time our visitors approached it during our solar boat tours, we noticed that its design was universally admired. Its DynaRig system offers very interesting development prospects. This concept was invented over 60 years ago. Today, the use of lightweight materials, such as carbon, significantly increases the sail area, and the settings are so simple that a reduced crew is sufficient. Not only is this type of elegant rigging very remarkable on super-yachts, but many shipyards have also considered applications for commercial shipping. Let’s hope the Maltese Falcon heralds the future of sailing cargo ships!

Photo Maltese Falcon Yacht, © seaZen 2019

How to Observe These Yachts Up Close?

You need to observe them in their natural environment, anchored at sea. The goal is to get as close as possible to the yachts without disturbing their occupants, who, like everyone else, seek a certain tranquility.

Environmentally respectful—in every sense of the word—our solar boat cruises among the yachts with minimal impact on the “current harmony of the place.” Out of respect for guests who enjoy swimming off the stern of these boats, SeaZen always prefers to pass by the bow (front). If the route passes behind, we always maintain a courteous distance from the yacht’s occupants.

The tour can last an hour and is accompanied by a guide. The presence of all these yachts is seasonal, subject to weather conditions and the navigation schedules of their owners.