USA Today reports that Star Clippers is to build the largest sailing ship ever. It will be 518 feet long and weigh 7,400 tons. This is 48% larger than Royal Clipper which is currently the world’s largest fully rigged sailing ship. This barque will carry 296 passengers and 140 crew. The rig will rise 217 ft from the waterline and their will be 5 masts with 37 sails. The beam is to be 61 feet allowing for an open sun deck of 8,000 sq. ft. Passengers will have 3 pools to choose from. One of the pools will have a glass bottom, allowing light to filter down into the piano lounge and dining room. The aft pool, meanwhile, will feature a swim tube that extends down into the dive/sports bar and into the library.

A two-level dining room will hold all 296 passengers in one seating. There also will be a private dining room for smaller groups, a piano lounge, a two-level “tropical bar,” a dive/sports bar, a forward observation lounge, library, spa and gym. There will even be a retractable marina on the stern for access to watersports, snorkeling and diving. The ship is expected to be launched in 2010.

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