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Jeff Bezos’ New Yacht Is Finally Ready to Set Sail

Amazon’s founder has been spotted on Koru, a massive schooner with a design that evokes the golden age of sailing in the early 20th century.

By Kevin Koenig

Just in time for the high season of yachting in the Mediterranean, when multimillion-dollar megayachts descend on ports like Monte Carlo and St. Tropez, Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been photographed with his partner Lauren Sánchez on his new boat, Koru, off the coast of Spain.

Mr. Bezos’ vessel is a sailing yacht, a departure from the diesel-powered, floating palaces popular with other billionaires. But it is still massive. At 417 feet, Koru is the world’s largest sailing yacht, according to Boat International , and it cost an estimated $500 million to build, Bloomberg reported . (Parsifal III, the boat featured on Bravo’s reality series “Below Deck Sailing Yacht,” is 177 feet long — less than half the length of Koru — and cost $18 million , according to the website SuperYachtFan.)

A spokesperson for Mr. Bezos did not comment for this article; neither did Oceanco, Koru’s builder. Here is what to know about the boat.

For traditionalists, Koru is refreshing. At a time when yacht design skews outrageous — see the lizardlike, 262-foot Artefact or the otherworldly 463-foot Yas — Koru stands out as a schooner, a sailing vessel with two or more masts. Photos reveal a large sailboat with three masts, an on-deck pool and a voluptuous mermaid on the bow, that bears a resemblance to Ms. Sánchez. But otherwise, the sleek, classic lines suggest the patrician age of yachting in the early 20th century, said Robert B. MacKay, author of “The Golden Age of Newport Yachting: Between the Wars.”

“With the clipper bow and the dark hull and the masts,” Mr. MacKay said, referring to Koru’s concave, pointy forward section, “it reminds me of a boat built in 1930 for J.P. Morgan Jr., Corsair IV. It is almost like a reincarnation. It’s certainly at odds with the stuff the oligarchs are building — those look like bloated Clorox bottles.”

Compared with the world’s very largest motor yachts — built for sheer size and the accompanying bragging rights — Koru could almost be considered quaint. Azzam, one of the world’s largest motor yachts, is nearly 200 feet longer.

The Experience

Koru will be propelled primarily by the wind. “Sailboats are usually greener than most powerboats,” said Don Anderson, a former captain of M5 , the world’s largest single-masted sailboat, at 256 feet. “I’d like to think that Koru will be one of the most ecological yachts out there, with its sails and also with the technology that will be aboard.”

“When you’re on a sailboat, you’re more in touch with the wind and the waves than on a powerboat,” he continued. “You’re more susceptible to the elements, too. But you can leave California, and once you get past the Catalinas you can basically surf downwind all the way to Hawaii. All you need to do is run with the waves.”

Mr. Bezos has been a guest on similar boats, according to Bloomberg: In 2019, he was spotted on Eos , a 305-foot sailing yacht owned by Barry Diller and Diane von Furstenberg.

Bill Tripp, a Connecticut-based naval architect, said the appeal of this type of boat is clear: “When you are on a powerboat, you ask, ‘Are we there yet?’ and on a sailboat, you’re enjoying the ride and the ocean so much that you don’t ask that question.”

Koru will be trailed by Abeona, a 246-foot support vessel. Superyachts often have support vessels following along behind them. These “shadows,” as they are colloquially known, are for the “toys” — the ATVs, supercars, seaplanes, motorcycles, smaller boats, scuba gear, personal submarines and even helicopters that pleasure boaters might bring on a trip. According to its builder, this model of boat can carry these gadgets along with dozens of crew members. (Ms. Sanchez flies helicopters, and the couple was recently photographed taking a helicopter to board Abeona and then Koru.)

Abeona, a motor yacht, will have enough range to follow Koru from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean — a common course for yachts — on a single tank of gas.

The Kerfuffle

Koru set off a controversy last year — before it was even completed — in a face-off with the Dutch city of Rotterdam. The boat was built at Oceanco’s facility in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands, and needed to pass the historic Koningshaven Bridge, known as “De Hef,” in Rotterdam, to undergo testing in the North Sea.

When the city announced it would dismantle the bridge to allow the boat and its mainmast — an estimated 230 feet tall — to pass through unscathed, locals were angry. They planned a protest to throw eggs at the yacht as it cruised by. In the end, the bridge was not taken apart, and the yacht was towed to a different location to have its masts attached.

Koru is Maori for “coil” or “loop” and refers to the unfurling of a fern frond. The koru design is common in traditional Maori art, where it symbolizes new life, growth and peace. Mr. Bezos included a photo of a koru frond in an Instagram post on Jan. 1, 2022.

Brad Stone, who was the first to report on Koru, in his 2021 book “Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire,” said the name was “consistent with where we see him today.”

“He is no longer this single-minded tech guy,” Mr. Stone said. “He’s in media and Hollywood and has a new relationship.”

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Sailing yacht KORU: What we know so far about Jeff Bezos’ 127 meter yacht

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By Nina Done   15 December 2022

Recent footage showcasing the vast proportions of the Amazon founder’s new 127m (417ft) Oceanco sailing yacht KORU , known throughout her build as Project Y721, has provided some valuable insight into one of the yachting industry’s best-kept secrets.

The megayacht’s specifications and amenities had been kept completely under wraps until she was forced to move from the Dutch yard’s primary facilities in Alblasserdam to get her masts fitted elsewhere in order to avoid dismantling the Koningshaven Bridge after huge public backlash. 

In August, the yacht was spotted in the Port of Rotterdam after her trio of masts had been successfully stepped, with pictures barely doing justice to the monolithic proportions of the sailing spars, reportedly up to 70-80 meters tall.

World yacht rankings

KORU will replace Oceanco’s BLACK PEARL for second place in the world's largest sailing yacht rankings behind Nobiskrug's 143m (469ft) sailing yacht A .

Oceanco's newest yacht is understood to have an internal volume of 3,300 GT and will undoubtedly offer a wealth of luxurious accommodation and amenities. Although we have scant information about the yacht's features, we do know that she will have an aft dip pool along with a further Jacuzzi on her sundeck and variety of alfresco social spaces. She also has a crow's nest attached to her central mast, offering lofty panoramic views for her more adventurous guests.

From the pictures we can see KORU also benefits from full-length windows across her superstructure allowing plenty of light to infuse her interiors. 

Design inspiration

Built with a steel hull and aluminum superstructure with teak decking, she reportedly takes her design cues from the 93-meter Lürssen sailing yacht EOS , perhaps inspired by the entrepreneur’s visits to this yacht in previous years. 

Showcasing a midnight-blue hull with a distinctive red stripe running along her waterline, KORU’s exterior styling mirrors this traditional schooner style, with an elongated bowsprite and canoe stern. Another similar style yacht is the 90m (295ft) Royal Huisman sailing yacht ATHENA . 

Kinetic energy technology

As expected from a tech entrepreneur, known for pushing boundaries and driving innovation, sailing yacht KORU will be trialing a prototype for a new kinetic energy recovery system. This is based on a conversion of wave induced motion, heave, pitch and roll into electric energy, with initial tests showing early promise. 

With a nod to her green credentials, this will provide an additional power source for the yacht allowing for more sustainable cruising.

Tenders and toys

Access to sailing yacht KORU will be via folding passerelles, discreetly hidden in the yacht's hull on either side. Rescue and work tender launches will likely take place further forward, as per regulations. Recent pictures show a large hatch opening in her lower deck aft, which may contain further tenders and toys, but may also double as a beach club. 

Sailing yacht KORU comes complete with a support vessel built by Damen Yachts, reportedly known as 75 meter (247ft) yacht WINGMAN .

Once delivered, it is understood that she will act as an official support boat for the sailing yacht , carrying the larger toys, including a submarine for thrilling excursions beneath the waves, plus a helicopter and landing pad. She is also believed to play host to an array of PWCs, with rumors of a speed boat and luxury car adding to the fleet, as well as providing accommodation for additional crew and staff.

When is sailing yacht KORU expected to be delivered?

From here she will undertake the all-important rounds of sea trials before being delivered to her owner sometime in the new year. It is understood that the yacht will be officially christened KORU upon delivery, and will operate under the Cayman Islands' flag. It is not believed that superyacht KORU will be available to charter. 

If you'd like to learn more about chartering a yacht, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . Alternatively, view all superyachts available for charter .

Large sailing yachts available for charter

88m Perini Navi 2006 / 2023

86m Oceanco 2016

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65m Camper & Nicholsons 1927 / 1985

64m Van der Graaf 2010

64m Segel Masten Yachten 2011 / 2021

63m Holland Jachtbouw 2010 / 2023

57m Aegean Yacht 2009

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Koru is a 127-metre sailing yacht currently delivered from Oceanco in the Netherlands. Reportedly commissioned for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos , the superyacht is a three-masted schooner built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. The yacht is the world’s largest sailing yacht and the longest yacht built in the Netherlands. The yacht was constructed at Oceanco’s Alblasserdam facilities and later moved to Rotterdam where she waited to complete sea trials at a dock in Eemhaven.

The yacht was delivered to Mallorca in April 2023. The price of Koru has never been disclosed. She is expected to have a gross tonnage of 3300 GT. The yacht is powered by kinetic energy generated by the sails, but like most sailing yachts, she will have engine power as well.

She will join five other Oceanco yachts measuring over 100 metres and ten other superyachts built in the Netherlands measuring over 100 metres.

Koru main features

Koru has a navy hull, red bootstripe, and double-deck wooden coach house. Her profile is characterised by a long bowsprit and a classic canoe stern which will provide enhanced privacy while the yacht is in port. There is also a sizeable dip pool visible on the aft, as well as a crow’s nest on the mizzenmast.

Koru and the De Hef bridge

In 2021, the yacht was the subject of considerable controversy when it emerged that the historic Koningshaven Bridge, also known by the name De Hef, would need to be dismantled to allow the masts to pass under. However, in August 2022, one of the yacht’s masts was seen being transported along the Nieuwe Maas to be stepped elsewhere and the bridge remained untouched. The height of the mainmast is thought to be between 65 and 85 metres.

Koru's secondary yacht

Koru will be accompanied by a support vessel which is thought to be built by Damen Yachting, another Dutch yachtbuilder, which specialises in ocean-going shadow vessels and explorer yachts This yacht will be used to carry toys, tenders and additional crew.

In 2019, there were a number of rumours speculating that Lürrsen’s 136 metre Flying Fox was built for Jeff Bezos; however an Amazon spokesperson refuted the claims.

About KORU , brought to you by BOATPro

KORU, a 125.82 m Sail Yacht built in Netherlands and delivered in 2023, is the flagship of Oceanco .

Her power comes from two MTU diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 18 guests in 9 staterooms, with 36 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 3493.0 GT and a 16.95 m beam.

She was designed by Dykstra Naval Architects , who has designed 20 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database.

The naval architecture was developed by Lateral Naval Architects (6 other superyachts architected) and Dykstra Naval Architects (28 other superyachts architected), and the interior of the yacht was designed by Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi , who has 4 other superyacht interiors designed in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

KORU is in the top 5% by LOA in the world. She is one of 4 sailing yachts longer than 100m.

KORU is currently sailing under the Cayman Islands flag, the 2nd most popular flag state for superyachts with a total of 1414 yachts registered. She is currently located at the Navantia refit yard, in Spain, where she has been located for 1 week. For more information regarding KORU's movements, find out more about BOATPro AIS .

Specifications

• Yacht Type: Sail Yacht
• Yacht Subtype: Classic Styled Yacht
• Builder: Oceanco
• Naval Architect: Lateral Naval Architects , Dykstra Naval Architects
• Exterior Designer: Dykstra Naval Architects
• Interior Designer: Mlinaric, Henry & Zervudachi
• Refits: 2023,2023,2023,2024

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Jeff Bezos’s New 417-Foot Superyacht Is Now Undergoing Sea Trials

"koru" could be sent back to the shipyard for final tweaks before being delivered to the amazon billionaire., tori latham, tori latham's most recent stories.

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Reports from earlier this month suggested that Jeff Bezos was finally getting his hands on his new $500 million superyacht . But it seems the Amazon founder is going to have to wait just a little bit longer for his new toy.

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During sea trials , a ship is tested to ensure that everything is working as it should be. Depending on what happens during this go-round, Koru could be sent back to the shipyard for final adjustments before making its way to Bezos, a person familiar with the boat’s travels told Bloomberg, requesting anonymity to discuss private matters. (An Amazon spokesperson didn’t respond to Bloomberg’s request for comment.)

As yacht fans surely know already, Koru is a pretty big deal in the maritime world: It’s currently the largest sailing yacht afloat, and one of the biggest ever built by the Netherlands-based Oceanco . On board, among other amenities, you’ll find a large pool and more than a few outdoor lounges. One feature that’s missing, though? A helipad. Because the sails of the ship are so large (they’re the same height as the Great Pyramid of Giza, for some perspective), there wasn’t room for landing a helicopter. As such, Bezos has commissioned a support boat for the task. That vessel is currently crossing the Atlantic and heading for Gibraltar, according to tracking data cited by Bloomberg.

Koru ’s size has created more than one headache for Bezos so far. Along with the helipad issue, the boat was going to cause a historic steel bridge in Rotterdam to be dismantled . The city initially acquiesced to Oceanco’s request, but there was enough public outrage over the demand that the shipbuilder ended up retracting its ask. Instead, Koru was pulled out to sea without its massive masts.

Tori Latham is a digital staff writer at Robb Report. She was previously a copy editor at The Atlantic, and has written for publications including The Cut and The Hollywood Reporter. When not…

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