By Diane M. Byrne

Tatoosh (#12) Photo: Janet Germano  More of this Feature • Top 100: Part 1 • 1-9 • 10-19 • 20-29 • 30-39 • 40-49 • 50-59 • 60-69 • 70-79 • 80-89 • 90-100 • Yacht Spotter
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10. Limitless 315'7" · 1997
While Limitless isn’t the largest American-owned yacht, she is the largest to fly under the Stars and Stripes. Some yacht-watchers credit her and her owner, Victoria’s Secret chief Leslie Wexner, with taking the competitive spirit to a new level. They claim that when she was delivered seven years ago, other owners and owner-wannabes decided that they should also commission yachts exceeding 300 feet in length. (Take a look at the recent deliveries in our top ten here and judge for yourself.) Limitless has nearly 3,000 square feet of teak planking, 15 tons of window glass, the same amount of decorative marble, and more than 5,500 running feet of decorative polished stainless steel piping. A few months ago the yacht underwent some work at HDW-Nobiskrug in Germany, receiving a major reconfiguration of the diesel-electric propulsion system, including a change to her variable-pitch propellers. She also gained a gym on her sundeck due to an extension.
B: Lürssen, Germany; N: Builder; H: Steel; E: 2/7,268-hp Caterpillars (diesel-electric drives)

11. Evergreen 302'4" · 1997
We’re still about a year away from the delivery of the larger Evergreen that Yung-Fa Chang, chairman of shipping company Evergreen Marine Corporation, has commissioned. In the meantime, he reportedly still has this lady for sale at an undisclosed price. Her interior features a cinema, hair salon, karaoke lounge, and hospital suite.
B: Hayashikane, Japan; N: Diana Yacht Design; H: Steel; E: 2/6,598-hp Wartsilas

12. Tatoosh 301'8" · 2000
Here’s the second of the three yachts on our list that are owned by Paul Allen (see no. 1). He’s certainly kept Tatoosh busy since acquiring her from American cellular magnate Craig McCaw a few years ago; the yacht used to host the annual cable-industry party that Octopus just did in New Orleans in May. Tatoosh has kept up the pace this year; in February she was spotted in Bora Bora and Moorea, where the sailboat she totes as a toy got some quality time in the water, and in May she played host to a few celebrities during the Cannes Film Festival. In fact, actress Cameron Diaz, actor Jack Black, and singer Justin Timberlake were photographed boarding the yacht. And they reportedly had quite a jam session in the onboard music studio. (Allen is a music fan and even funded the Experience Music Project museum in Seattle.) We say: Rock on.
B: H.D.W. Nobiskrug, Germany; N: Kusch Yachtagentur; H: Steel; E: 2/1,018-hp Deutz-MWMs

13. Nahlin 300'0" · 1930/2003
This steam-powered yacht was supposed to wrap up a major restoration around the time our August issue went to press last year, but it turns out that didn’t happen. We’ve been unable to determine what the delay was and when work was finally completed. What we do know is that much of the project involved removing asbestos, restoring her masts (strictly for cosmetic purposes), and repairing her engines. Nahlin had been moored to the banks of the Danube River in Romania for three decades, serving as a restaurant, when a British citizen acquired her several years ago. But apparently he’s offering the yacht for sale, though the price hasn’t been disclosed.
B: John Brown & Co., Scotland; N: G.L. Watson; H: Steel; E: 4/Brown-Curtis steam turbines

14. Asean Lady 289'0" · 2003
After undergoing sea trials last September, Asean Lady headed to her homeport of Singapore earlier this year. She’s the prized possession of Brian Chang, CEO/chairman of Yantai-Raffles Shipyard (not coincidentally, her builder). She’s arguably the most unusual yacht you will ever see, since her design is based on the proas (outrigger-equipped canoes) that have been plying South Pacific waters for hundreds of years. The outrigger is 138 feet long and serves as a stabilizing force, yet if you see Asean Lady from straight on her port side, you won’t see the outrigger and would probably conclude that she’s a traditional motoryacht. Among her interior features are an enormous carved block of Duan Mu, a Chinese wood that took one month to complete, and 12 stone panels that were also carved and depict 12 different scenes.
B: Yantai-Raffles Shipyard, China; N: Ian Mitchell; H: Steel; E: 1/2,000-hp Caterpillar

15. Arctic P 288'7" · 1969/1995
Aussie Kerry Packer reportedly spent $20 million to convert this ice-class tug, five years after having a major heart attack. In 2000 he told the BBC, “I’ve been to the other side, and let me tell you, there’s nothing there.”
B: Schichau-Unterwasser A.G., Germany; N: Claus Kusch (conversion); H: Steel; E: 2/4,400-hp Deutz-MWMs

16. Ecstasea 282'0" · 2004
While (much to our chagrin) the Feadship team has resisted the temptation to break the strict confidentiality agreement covering this yacht, someone associated with Ecstasea has been spilling information. That’s how we know her owner is Roman Abramovich (see nos. 5 and 6) and that her interior has an Asian theme to it. And that’s why newspapers from England to Singapore have printed stories about her since she emerged from the Royal Van Lent yard in May. Though we’ve yet to get up close to her ourselves, every photo we’ve seen gives the impression that her nameboard is cast in two different silver tones, with “Ecsta” in one and “sea” in the other. We’ve also seen photos of her gas turbine—large enough for an average-size adult male to stand in. It’s widely held in yachting circles that Abramovich bought Le Grand Bleu (see no. 6) while waiting for Ecstasea to be delivered and will, for the most part, keep all of his yachts in different locations.
B: Royal Van Lent Shipyard, Holland; N: De Voogt International; H: Steel; E: unknown

*Ecstasea was expected to join Roman Abramovich’s other yachts in Portugal in early July, marking the first gathering of his entire fleet.

17. Kingdom 5KR 281'9" · 1980
Unlike some of his fellow Saudi royals, Prince Alwaleed, who holds dual citizenship in Saudi Arabia and Lebanon, has never been shy about owning a yacht. In fact, the nephew of King Fahd did an interview with CNN aboard his yacht in 2002, responding to rumors that he wanted to become prime minister of Lebanon one day. The prince purchased this Benetti after she was put up for sale in 1991 by American tycoon Donald Trump. The prince named her after his investment company (“Kingdom”), his lucky number (“5”), and his children’s initials (“K” and “R”).
B: M&B Benetti, Italy; N: Jon Bannenberg/builder; H: Steel; E: 2/3,000-hp Nohab Polars

18. Annaliesse 279'8" · 2004
Upwards of 36 guests can enjoy this new charter yacht, owned by Liveras Yachts of Greece and purpose-built to handle large parties. The owner’s suite comprises more than 360 square feet, with a private deck. The guests can take advantage of a spa/beauty salon with a Roman bath, but we’ll take bets that the handful of saunas, steam rooms, cold plunge pools, cinema, and library will also be high on their list of spots to spend time. Should any medical emergency arise, there’s also a hospital with satellite links to medical personnel on land.
B: Neorio Syros Shipyards, Greece; N: unknown; H: Steel; E: 2/2,722-hp Caterpillars

*Annaliesse’s vast accommodations come at a price: $840,000 per week for charterers.

19. Golden Odyssey 265'7" · 1990
Last year Golden Odyssey was listed for sale for $70 million. We’ve been unable to determine if she sold, however. She’s the largest of three “Golden”-named yachts owned by Saudi Arabia’s Prince Khaled, the country’s deputy defense minister, and has a coral reef aquarium visible beneath a pool, giving swimmers the impression that they’re in the ocean.
B: Blohm & Voss, Germany; N: Platou; H: Steel; E: 2/2,992-hp Deutz-MWMs

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