Gustavia and Maltese Falcon.

I wanted to see Maltese Falcon and I finally did.

Very early it swept around the point, under full sail, a simply magnificent sight. It's 289', the largest privately owned sailboat in the world. Fast too: can do 18knts. The masts have no spreaders (at least in the traditional sense) nor backstays. The sails furl inwards into the mast. It's totally computerised such that, in theory, it can be sailed by one person. Till it breaks of course.

It's owned by Tom Perkins, an American venture capitalist. I dare say he had little change from half-a-billion bucks, but it is a technological masterpiece, and it's pretty striking when you see it fo' real! Under the central mast is a three story atrium with glass windows: you can look upwards from the lower deck right to the top of the mast.

I presume Perkins is a megalomaniac. I'd still love to go for a sail! Maybe there's something to be said for being a megalomaniac. I must look into that.

The other photos are of St Barts and the Port of Gustavia.