Robb Report
« Corinthian », the world’s largest sailing yacht, is cruising from Saint Nazaire to the French Riviera, ahead of her inaugural season in the Med.
It’s official: Orient Express Corinthian, the world’s largest sailing yacht, is now cruising the seas, marking the beginning of a new era of ocen travel.
The 722-footer was christened at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard in Saint-Nazaire, France, on Thursday, after which it set sail for the French Riviera. From May to October, the ship will journey around the Mediterranean and the Adriatic, before crossing the Atlantic to spend the fall and winter in the Caribbean.
A decade in the making, Corinthian is not only one of the biggest yachts on the water, but one of the most advanced, too. She is the first cruise ship to be equipped with SolidSail propulsion system developed by Chantiers de l’Atlantique. Her three towering masts, which stand at approximately 328 feet and support over 16,000 square feet of rigid sails, can be rotated a full 360 degrees to maximize the wind, thereby reducing fuel consumption, lowering operating costs, and increasing efficiency. Sea trials conducted in February showed that in 20 knots of wind, Corinthian can hit 12 knots under sail alone – a first for a ship of this size, according to Orient Express. The masts can also tilt 70 degrees, making it easy for the vessel to clear low bridges.
Corinthian can cruise silently and emissions-free using wind power alone, but the engines will kick in if more grunt is required. The hybrid propulsion system will be powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG), which produces fewer emissions than standard marine diesel.
« For more than 160 years, Chantiers de l’Atlantique has been building ships that define their era, » Laurent Castaing, CEO of the French shipyard, said in a statement. « Orient Express Corinthian is the latest proof of this: 720 feet, 15,000 tonnes carried by the wind, three SolidSail sails… the fruit of 10 years of research and development. it is a concrete, technical response to the decarbonisation challenges facing maritime transport. »
Tech and size aside, Corinthian is an aesthetic marvel. Orient Express, founded in 1883 and part of the Accor Group since 2022, has embued the behemoth with the old-world glitz and glamous synonymous with its famous trains. Designed by Orient Express artistic director Maxime d’Angeac, the lavish interiors pay tribute to the golden age of rail travel and legendary ocean liners while incorporating chic contemporary design. Every inch is a show of Gallic craftsmanship, with close to 2,000 French artisans and ateliers working on the project.