Family hilariously sail 20ft boat into Russian billionaire’s £360million mega-vessel

Sorry, didn’t see your 469ft superyacht! Family hilariously sail their 20ft boat into Russian billionaire’s £360million mega-vessel – then scrape along the side of it

  • Little boat was blown towards ‘Sailing Yacht A’ off Spain’s Atlantic coast Sunday 
  • Father seen frantically trying to turn around as children yelled at him in Spanish
  • Eventually he was able to start motor and reverse but not before scraping yacht
  • The mega yacht is owned by Russian industrialist Andrey Melnichenko, 48 

A family have been filmed hilariously crashing their 20ft sail boat against a Russian billionaire’s £360 million mega-vessel.

They had sailed out to get a better look at Andrey Melnichenko’s colossal 469ft ‘Sailing Yacht A’ when it was moored off Galicia, Spain, at the weekend. 

But wind and waves pushed their little ship against its hull which has reportedly caused a scratch measuring several feet to the fury of the mega-yacht’s captain. 

Footage shows children aboard the pleasure craft yelling at their father in Spanish as he frantically yanks on the starter rope of the backup petrol engine.  

The little boat was seen dragging along the hull of the 469ft ‘Sailing Yacht A’ off the coast of Galicia, Spain, on Sunday

The boat, one of around 50 small vessels which went out to get a better look at the yacht, was seen scraping along the hull of the £360 million boat

The boat, one of around 50 small vessels which went out to get a better look at the yacht, was seen scraping along the hull of the £360 million boat

Other small boats are seen close to the yacht taking pictures and filming as the family are seen in the distance getting too close to the massive boat

Other small boats are seen close to the yacht taking pictures and filming as the family are seen in the distance getting too close to the massive boat

The boat (pictured in Monaco in June, 2019) spanning 468ft in length is owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, who is known for commissioning ground breaking ships

The boat (pictured in Monaco in June, 2019) spanning 468ft in length is owned by Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko, who is known for commissioning ground breaking ships 

As the little boat scrapes against the sleek white hull of the colossal vessel two crew members are seen peering downwards to watch the family struggle.

Eventually the motor starts and the father is able to reverse away after the mast of their boat collided with an open launch door in the side of mega yacht’s the hull. 

According to La Voz, the captain of yacht intends to file a report to the Maritime Captaincy of Vigo because the collision has resulted in a scratch measuring several meters along the huge vessel’s side.

It is estimated that around 50 smaller boats flocked around the spectacular vessel to get a closer look when it was moored off Galicia over the weekend.  

The enormous boat is owned by the 48-year-old Russian industrialist Melnichenko who is worth an estimated $17.9 billion (£13 billion) by Forbes.

He owns a majority stake in fertiliser producer Eurochem and coal energy firm SUEK.

His magnificent vessel spans the length of more than one and half football pitches and has three masts taller than London’s Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, at 328ft.

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko with his wife Aleksandra at Hampton Court Palace, London, in June, 2009

Russian billionaire Andrey Melnichenko with his wife Aleksandra at Hampton Court Palace, London, in June, 2009

Powered by a ‘hybrid diesel-electric package with controllable pitch propellers,’ the ship is designed to accommodate 20 guests and a crew of 54.

The vessel was designed by Philippe Starck and has eight floors, a helicopter pad, a full size swimming pool and an underwater observation room on board.

Belarus-born Melnichenko lives a glamorous, jet-setting lifestyle with his wife, Aleksandra, a former model and pop star from Serbia.  

He owns another huge vessel, the 390ft ‘Motor Yacht A,’ which was also a designed by renowned French architect and designer Philippe Starck.

Melnichenko’s sailing yacht is believed to be the 11th biggest yacht in the world. 

The 590ft, £435 million Azzam is currently the world’s largest yacht and is owned by Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the president of the United Arab Emirates.