$200 Million Black Pearl: The Revolutionary Sailing Yacht Caught in a $3.7 Billion War

This is the story of the Black Pearl, a 2018 Oceanco megayacht that was named after Captain Sparrow's sailing yacht in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise and which has since become a legend in its own right.

This was possible because of its hybrid propulsion and revolutionary sailing rig and, perhaps against the will of all those involved in the build, because it ended up at the center of a $3.7 billion inheritance war.

Black Pearl, the gorgeous, highly innovative, and luxurious sail-assisted megayacht, is still caught in that war. At least it's not sanctioned or seized, one could say if one was of a less pessimistic inclination.

The Cement King and the bitter estranged wife

It's been a couple of years since the inheritance war began with the death of Russian oligarch Oleg Bourlakov, also known as the Cement King and one of the most secretive and richest Russian oligarchs. Russian oligarchs are known for being secretive, so for Forbes to stick this label to Bourlakov gives you an idea of just how private he was.

Bourlakov passed away in late 2021, presumably from Covid, though certain members of his family believe a more sinister plot was involved. His death kicked off the ongoing war, with his estranged wife Lyudmila Bourlakova and one of his daughters on one side and his sister and brother-in-law on the other.

The former team claims they've been cheated of what would have rightfully been theirs and are asking a London court to hold valid a 2008 will naming them beneficiaries. The latter duo is asking for the lawsuit to move to the U.S., insisting a 2014 handwritten will should be held as Bourlakov's wish for the division of assets.

According to a recent report on the matter, the latest development in the ongoing saga means the lawsuit will go ahead in London, with a judge granting Bourlakova's request to add other claimants as she sees fit.

The report also offers a more accurate appreciation of what's at stake besides the $200 million megayacht. Bourlakov also left behind a Monaco house estimated at $100 million and valuable artwork, and they're all being disputed.

The Black Pearl, a megayacht like no other before

Even without those other multi-million assets, the Black Pearl would be a coveted "prize."

It's appropriately dubbed one of the most beautiful vessels in the world – so beautiful that it even bewitched Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos into commissioning a similar one, down to the glimmering black hull and white masts. His Oceanco megayacht, which he named Koru, is bigger, more luxurious, and more expensive, with an estimated value of $500 million, and that amount doesn't include the cost of the shadow yacht.

But the Black Pearl is the OG and, until Koru, was the world's second-largest sailing yacht. Total length is 350 feet (106 meters), with three 229-foot (70 meters) carbon masts part of a DynaRig system – the first application of one on a privately owned luxury vessel of this size. As gorgeous, luxurious, and controversial as Black Pearl is, nothing beats the fact that it's a highly innovative vessel.

The sailing rig on the megayacht allows it to cross the Atlantic with zero fuel and offers incredible ease of use. Deploying the 2,877 square meters (30,900 square feet) of sail takes under 10 minutes and just one press of the button, and the masts can pivot in place, so the three squared sails join to form a single area, improving efficiency and speed. According to Oceanco, the Black Pearl can hit top speeds of 30 knots (34.5 mph/55.5 kph), an impressive achievement even for a boat of smaller dimensions.

Though often referred to as a sailing yacht, Black Pearl is a sail-assisted yacht. The innovation here is that propulsion is hybrid, diesel-electric, thanks to twin MTU 12V2000M72 diesel engines and two 400kW electric motors. Without making use of its sails, Black Pearl cuts through water at a maximum speed of 17.5 knots (20.1 mph/32.4 kph), which is still solid performance but more on par with other, more traditional builds.

Accommodation onboard is for 12 guests across five cabins, with separate quarters for an unspecified number of crewmembers. With all the innovation the Black Pearl has made possible and the media coverage it got, the interiors were never shown to the public – and not many specifics were revealed, either.

Inside, a single-level engine room layout allows for maximum use of space for the guests. Nuvolari Lenard did the exterior design but also worked on the interiors with Gerard P. Villate and Valentina Zannier, aiming for a style that would bring to mind the styling of the era of France's last king, Louis XIV.

Amenities range from a multi-level atrium with a glass elevator to an expansive beach club that converts into a cinema, a raised pilothouse, and a superyacht sundeck.

Right now, the Black Pearl is in Tivat, Montenegro, but it hasn't traveled much since the inheritance war started, which makes sense: ownership is being disputed. Its travels were a mystery before, to such an extent that Bourlakov wasn't confirmed as owner after his death when court documents leaked.