World’s Largest Sailing Cruise Ship Unveiled
The Orient Express Corinthian is set to redefine luxury cruising as the world’s largest sailing cruise ship. Measuring an impressive 721 feet in length and displacing 25,200 gross tons, this vessel will accommodate just 110 passengers in 54 exclusive suites. With its innovative design and advanced sail technology, the ship promises a unique travel experience on the high seas.
Innovative Sail Technology Enhances Performance
The Orient Express Corinthian features a cutting-edge sail system that maximizes both maneuverability and wind capture. Equipped with three towering carbon-fiber masts, each standing approximately 226 feet tall, the ship boasts a total sail area of nearly 48,500 square feet. This design allows for significant wind propulsion, enabling the vessel to reach speeds of around 14 mph during recent trials in 23 mph winds, a remarkable feat for a ship of its size. Once operational, it is expected to achieve top speeds of approximately 20 mph.
This advanced sail system is the result of over a decade of research and development by Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the ship’s builder. The concept was first introduced in 2009 with the Eoseas project, and since then, the design has been refined to suit large passenger vessels. The sails can rotate a full 360 degrees, and the masts can tilt up to 70 degrees, optimizing wind angles for enhanced performance. Additionally, the vessel’s air draft reaches about 328 feet, but the tilting mechanism allows it to lower its masts when navigating under bridges or other obstacles.
Extensive Testing Validates Next-Generation Sailing Technology
Before implementing this innovative technology on a full-scale cruise ship, Chantiers de l’Atlantique conducted extensive testing over several years. From 2016 to 2019, the shipbuilder utilized a one-fifth-scale demonstrator with 540 square feet of sail area to study aerodynamics, sail control, and structural integrity. This rigorous testing phase was crucial for validating the sail system’s performance and reliability.
To further refine the technology, engineers established a full demonstration rig at the company’s shipyard in Saint-Nazaire. This setup allowed for realistic operational evaluations, ensuring that the sail technology was optimized before being integrated into the full-sized vessel. The construction of the Orient Express Corinthian reached a significant milestone in June 2025, when the ship was floated out for the first time after four and a half months of assembly. By September, the installation of the three masts marked a critical advancement in completing the ship’s distinctive sail system.
