The allure of a luxury yacht lies not only in its magnificent appearance, but also in the name behind it. Often, these names are instructive and are the key to revealing their essence to the world. For example, Mark Zuckerberg's superyacht "Launchpad" was aptly chosen because it propelled the billionaire into the elite circle of billionaires who own luxury yachts. Similarly, the mighty "Koru", named in Māori, which means new vitality, growth, strength and peace, reflects the power of billionaire Jeff Bezos. It grew to become the world's largest sailing ship, bringing endless tranquil treats to the Amazon co-founder and his fiancée, Lauren Sanchez.
Another veritable megayacht is tech mogul Bill Gates' $645 million luxury yacht, aptly named "Breakthrough," a name that will immediately convey the groundbreaking nature of this very special megayacht.
In May, Dutch luxury shipyard Fidistar unveiled its largest and most mysterious project to date, reportedly commissioned by Microsoft co-founder and billionaire environmentalist Bill Gates himself.
The 390-foot yacht is the first of its kind and the first hydrogen fuel cell superyacht in the world to sail with zero diesel, powering the yacht's accommodation loads and facilities with the emission-free energy of green hydrogen. The name "Breakthrough" seems to herald the change it will lead.
Dubbed Project 821 internally by the shipyard, the project embodies the shipyard's blueprint for its journey to net neutrality by 2030. Perhaps even more noteworthy than the innovative features of this megayacht (at least for those of us who read at home) is the news that it is already on sale. The yacht took five years to complete. Bill Gates decided to part ways with it even before it was finished, let alone deliver and start its maiden voyage.
Project 821 is now officially named "The Breakthrough", a name that has never been more suitable for this mega yacht. With the official naming unveiled, Fitstar has released the technical specifications of the newly named innovative superyacht.
The boat is powered by two 3,200 kW ABB azimuth thrusters
According to the shipyard, the boat has an impressive sailing speed of 17 knots and a range of 6500 nautical miles. This means that the Breakthrough can carry its owner on a transatlantic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to Piraeus (about 4,700 nautical miles), a major port near Athens, Greece, and beyond, without needing to refuel en the way. This distance cannot be covered by hydrogen alone, as there is not enough space on the yacht to store it. Conversely, the Breakthrough is capable of running on-board service functions for an entire week at anchor, or cruising at 10 knots (11.5 mph/18.5 km/h) using hydrogen.
Hydrogen generators
Hydrogen GeneratorsThis luxury yacht is a standout feature, which is equipped with 16 185kW PowerCell hydrogen generators. In addition to the 16 hydrogen fuel cell generators that help keep the yacht emission-free, the yacht is equipped with two 900kW MTU generators and three 2500kW MTU generators.
Although the Breakthrough cannot rely entirely on hydrogen, it is the only superyacht in the world that can make extensive use of hydrogen. When the MTU generators are put into operation, they use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which is based on the system developed and perfected by Fertistar for the superyacht "Obsidian", which was delivered in 2023 and demonstrates Fertilis' dedication to environmental protection and innovation.
The development of the Breakthrough was a five-year effort, as well as a concrete response to the owner's inquiry, "What kind of green technologies can you include?" Today, the Breakthrough has completed its mission and awaits a new owner to continue its legacy. Until it finds a new owner, it is still called Bill Gates's yacht – because only a maverick can bring such a breakthrough to the world.
Gates has a net worth of $133 billion, and his support catamaran, the Wayfinder, is now being put up for sale by brokerage firm Edmiston for $59 million. Although the Microsoft co-founder gave up on his two yachts, his sailing dreams and pursuit of green technology have forever remained in people's hearts. Because he knows that the real breakthrough is not only in how luxurious the yacht is, but also in how we use it to explore the unknown and lead the future, but a lucky billionaire is undoubtedly about to make a new "breakthrough".