Netscape cofounder Jim Clark is no stranger to the high seas.

The 70-year-old serial entrepreneur — who's now worth $1.4 billion after investments in Apple, Facebook, and Twitter — owns two massive super yachts that he uses to compete in long-distance races.

However it's his brand-new boat, named "Comanche," that's grabbed the attention of the yachting world. 

Comanche is a 100-foot monohull sailboat that can reach speeds of up to 40 mph. According to CNN, it took Clark's team a year to finish it.

The tech billionaire told CNN that the primary goal is for Comanche "to be a record breaker" and "go really, really fast."

The yacht will get its first chance with an upcoming race that takes competitors 630 nautical miles from Sydney, Australia to Hobart, the capital of Tasmania. It will be the first outing for Comanche.

"I wish Sydney-Hobart wasn't the first race, in fact you couldn't choose a worst race for our first race. It's like we've gone straight from the gym to the heavyweight championship of the world,"  Ken Read, Comanche's skipper, said to CNN." And it could end up like an F1 car blowing its engine on its first outing on the track."

Comanche and its 22-person crew have already set sail for Australia, where they will prepare for the Hobart race, which usually starts just after Christmas.

Clark's other boat, the 295-foot "Athena," is currently for sale for $75 million.

Check out this video that shows how fast Comanche can really go.

SEE ALSO: 10 Amazing Boats You Can Rent On Airbnb

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The first example from Benetti’s new fast displacement range of semicustom megayachts was launched at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. The Veloce 140 is equipped with a new displacement-to-planing hull that allows it to reach relatively high speeds while still retaining the stability of a traditional displacement hull when cruising at lower velocities. Driven by two 3,500 hp MTU engines—the most powerful Benetti has ever employed—the 140-foot yacht can reach a top speed of 21 knots.

Its spacious sundeck offers guests 829 square feet of space and is equipped with a hot tub and a long bar. The upper deck has an open layout that seamlessly transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces. At the bow on that deck, an intimate lounging area features sun beds and a second, deep hot tub. The forward portion of the main deck is dominated by a large, full-beam gym outfitted with Technogym equipment, while the aft section houses the yacht’s 12-person dining table and main saloon. Below-deck accommodations include the owner’s cabin, two double-bed cabins, and two additional cabins equipped with twin and Pullman beds.

Subsequent examples of the Veloce 140 line are currently under construction, with the second yacht in the series expected to launch before year’s end.

SEE ALSO: Mega-Yachts Are Great — But How About An Even Bigger Giga-Yacht?

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The world's super-rich spend $22 billion on yachts every year, according to UBS and Wealth-X's annual World Ultra Wealth Report for 2014.

A yacht is the pinnacle of luxury and decadence.

But more so, a personal yacht offers something you can't get with most large vessels: privacy.

Here's more from the report:"For ultra high net worth (UHNW) individuals, many luxury items and experiences are part and parcel of their lifestyle and are not necessarily considered a “luxury”. For example, UHNW individuals with private jets use their aircraft not only for leisure, but also for business purposes. On the other hand, while yachts, and particularly superyachts, are usually a non-necessity, many UHNW individuals lead very public lives, and the privacy of a family holiday on a yacht is a very special treat."

On average, each of these UHNW individuals, or people with net assets worth $30 million and above, spends about $1.1 million on luxury items every year. Combined, they make up about 19% of the global luxury market.

But their spending on yachts takes a whopping 88% of the luxury market.

The report says that luxury spending is increasingly experiential, meaning that the super rich are spending more money on intangible things like privacy. Private jets also take a chunk of the share of the luxury market for UHNW individuals, at 82.1%.

In September, a Wealth-X report showed that Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich owns the world's most expensive yacht called Eclipse. It's a 536-foot long boat with two helipads, a cinema and a restaurant. It is worth $1 billion.

The global population of UHNW individuals is a record 211,275 people. Here's the breakdown of everything else they spend their money on.

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Gamma Yachts builds its most customised Gamma 20 with smart design from Vripack, for renowned opera singer Andrea Bocelli.

Gamma Yachts has announced the delivery of 22.1m M/Y Libertas, the third in its Gamma 20 ‘mini’ superyacht series to be completed to date.

With innovative design by Dutch company Vripack, the yacht has impressive guest space for its length overall, as well as excellent fuel efficiency. The owner of M/Y Libertas, is the celebrated opera singer Andrea Bocelli.

Both built and designed in Holland, the yacht combines the precision and technical capabilities of the Dutch with world-class interior furnishings and materials from Italy. Although the traditional threshold for a superyacht starts at 30m in length, Gamma Yachts CEO Guido Bonandrini comments that the degree of customization available to an owner in the Gamma 20 is much closer to that of a superyacht than any other vessel in this size range. “The main elements of the Gamma 20 that are dictated to a client are the hull and superstructure shape; almost all other aspects can be adapted to the client’s tastes, much like you would expect on a yacht of a larger size. Particularly to the exterior fly bridge, we have seen major variations in each of the vessels delivered so far."

For this yacht’s exterior, Bocelli specified a table and sofa to be placed forward of wheelhouse to offer true immersion into the surroundings, particularly when underway. There is also a custom-built diving board on the extended fly bridge to jump off the uppermost point of the yacht, and the hull is painted in an eye-catching metallic electric blue.

Making full use of the volume provided by the wave-piercing bow with quarters for two crew, the Gamma 20 offers 170 sqm of living space including the lower deck, main deck, fly bridge and walk-around. The addition of a fourth cabin in this yacht increases the accommodation to up nine guests, and the windows in the master cabin have been increased to let in more light and views of the surroundings. Double-glazing insulates the interior, allowing the piano and recording studio equipment to be used in the main salon. For the interior finishes, the owner chose matte oak panelling with natural oak floors. The galley is fitted out with white Parapan and grey stained oak flooring.

The award-winning designers from Vripack carried out extensive testing and modeling to ensure the Gamma 20 matches up to the expectations of an owner looking for a superyacht experience in a more compact vessel. Vripack worked on the noise and vibration testing with Dutch firm Van Cappellan Consultancy, which also provided the insulation; and stabilisers from Naiad offer guests equal comfort whether at anchor or docked in a marina. As well as adding additional space for crew accommodation forward, the bow shape also provides excellent fuel economy for the yacht, which has a range of 1,270nm on 5,500L of fuel.

“There are a number of striking features that prove the power of such holistic thinking,” says Bart Bouwhuis of Vripack. “For instance, the lack of steps and obstructions: each deck is truly on one level, preventing the risk of tripping. This is combined with fast displacement hull lines that are used specifically for comfort at anchor and at sea. The approach goes as far as the actual structure of the yacht to minimise the build time, applying our proprietary Smart Kit building technology. This allows the boat to be built faster as well as for a more rigid end product, which reduces noise and vibration to improve the guests’ experience.”

Andrea Bocelli, who has previously owned several vessels in this size range, comments that the newly delivered Gamma 20 is by far his favourite: “I love the way space has been arranged so that our large extended family can be together, enjoying closeness and intimacy, while at the same time respecting everybody’s privacy. A yacht must meet precise needs and be able to make us feel at ease; it must comply with – and express both architecturally and technically – the same priorities as those living on it. Coziness, warm materials, safety, low noise levels and comfort: these were my needs, and they have been fully met. I needed a solid, safe and comfortable boat, and I am very happy with my choice in the Gamma 20.”

SEE ALSO: This Yacht Can Cut Through The Waves At 24 MPH — And That's Fast For A Yacht

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Although the Aeroscraft airship was designed to revolutionize long-range cargo transport, its remarkable capabilities excite the imagination well beyond such practical applications.

Designed and built by the Aeros Corp. of Montebello, Calif., the Aeroscraftis longer than two football fields and about as tall as an 18-story building.

Its cargo area is more than 1 million cubic feet, and it can transport as much as 250 tons (compared to about 150 tons for an Airbus A380, the world’s largest jetliner). 

For this gift, the designers at London’s Andrew Winch Designs (which specializes in private aircraft, megayachts, and interiors) have conceived a version of the colossal craft that would serve as an incomparable private residence.

“We’re talking about something four times as large as even a big superyacht,” says Jim Dixon, head of aviation projects at Andrew Winch Designs. He notes that the living area would have floor space totaling more than 43,000 square feet—just shy of 1 acre.

By comparison, the 285-foot-long motor yacht Ace, launched by Lürssen in 2012 and designed inside and out by Andrew Winch Designs, has 10,000 square feet of living area. With so much space, the flying home could include a wraparound walkway, as many as 20 suites and bedrooms, multiple grand saloons and dining rooms, work and conference spaces, a spa, a cinema, a ballroom, and more. 

All of these features and rooms would be contained in a two-level, ring-shaped living area—a “halo” is what Dixon calls it—that surrounds the cargo bay. The cargo bay would be spacious enough to accommodate a megayacht as large as about 180 feet (depending on its weight) and a helicopter. Or it could hold several smaller watercraft or a fleet of cars.

The halo and the vehicles in the cargo bay could be lowered (and raised) from the airship onto water or land with a system of motorized cables. The Aeroscraft’s inflatable landing pads allow it to land and remain stationary on just about any terrain or even water. The halo, which would be buoyant like a yacht, would feature transparent floor sections—like those on the viewing stations at the Grand Canyon and atop Chicago’s Willis (formerly Sears) Tower—so that when it was lowered onto the water, the residents and their guests would have incredible views of the sea life underfoot. 

With a flight ceiling of 12,000 feet, the Aeroscraft does not need to be pressurized. And because the craft can fly as low as local airspace restrictions allow, the design for this gift includes open-air observation terraces along the perimeter of the halo. “This vessel will provide a completely new perspective on the world,” says Dixon. “You could fly directly over cities or mountaintops, to largely uncharted territories of the oceans, or to the North and South Poles—all with unrivaled views.”

The Aeroscraft has a rigid internal structure containing Aeros’s patent-pending ballast system, which uses a series of internal compressed-helium envelopes to make the craft heavier than air for grounding and lighter than air for flight. This design allows the aircraft to hover in place, and its rotating motors enable vertical takeoff and landing. The motors are positioned far enough from the cockpit and what would be the living area that passengers would not hear any noise from them. 

Aeros says that the vessel is about eight times as fuel efficient as a large jet and has a range of nearly 6,000 miles and a cruise speed of 130 mph. The version for this gift would include lightweight composites for the frame, structure, and outer skin; honeycomb-cored glass for the windows and floors; carbon-fiber furnishings; and the latest touchscreen and mobile technology for the cockpit and living spaces.

A 266-foot-long prototype of the Aeroscraft first flew in August 2013 and received certification from the FAA. (The gift version would be subject to the necessary certification processes.) Two months later, the warehouse containing the prototype collapsed, essentially destroying the airship. But the company is currently building two Aeroscraft for commercial use, a 66-ton version and a 250-ton version. 

The Andrew Winch Designs version of the Aeroscraft will take at least 10 years to deliver. The salaries of pilots and crewmembers, hangar space, and supplementary vehicles (including a megayacht) are not included.

SEE ALSO: These Amazing Color Photos Of The Hindenburg Zeppelin Show What Luxury Air Travel Was Like 80 Years Ago

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The Xhibitionist is a superyacht inspired by the shape of an automobile and the brainchild of renown Swedish-based designer, Eduard Gray. 

The inner spaces of the yacht can be rearranged into a car showroom, a retail space or a luxury lounge. The hood of the yacht opens to release solar panels that can provide power to the vessel. The panels are also sturdy enough to act as helipad, or a performance space. The yacht also comes with a custom supercar known as the Xhibit-G.

Produced by Devan Joseph. Video courtesy of Gray Design.

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The Xhibitionist is one of the most over-the-top superyacht concepts we've seen in a while.

Designed by the team at Gray Design, the renderings show that the adaptable hull could house a Steinway piano, rooftop Jacuzzi, and even a Swedish sports car.

Plus, the deck would have space for three helicopters on its solar-panel-covered roof to provide extra power for the ship. 

You've got to check out the designers' wild ideas for this yacht to believe them.

Meet the Xhibitionist superyacht, a ridiculously ostentatious boat designed to maximize luxury and adaptability.

It was envisioned by Swedish super-car designer Eduard Gray of Gray Design, and its automotive design language is plain to see.

This isn't your typical billionaire's yacht, though. It's made to be used by corporate entities and comes with a fully adaptable 229-foot-wide hull.

Earlier this year, Admiral Sail — a division of the Italian Sea Group, which owns the shipyards Admiral and Tecnomar — introduced the Wave series of all-aluminum sailing yachts. Developed by the noted naval architect Philippe Briand, the Wave series will comprise yachts that range in length from 125 feet to 200 feet. Currently, the company has only released details about 125-foot version of the yacht, which is equipped with a carbon-fiber mast and furling boom.

Briand’s design features an especially wide beam that lends the yacht an abundance of deck space. The cockpit is protected by a hard top with a sliding Bimini element, as well as sliding glass side panels that can completely isolate it from the elements. At meal times, the cockpit can be converted into a dining area. Below deck, the boat is equipped with two guest rooms and an owner’s cabin, as well as a space that can be used for a salon, office, gym, or cinema, or converted into a third guest cabin. The owner’s cabin opens on to a large aft terrace with a protected sunbathing platform and access to the water.

SEE ALSO: This Yacht Can Cut Through The Waves At 24 MPH — And That's Fast For A Yacht

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The multihull 210 Sunreef Power Trimaran superyacht is 210 feet long and has over 10,000 square feet of living space.

The massive yacht can accommodate up to 12 guests comfortably in six guest cabins, all with their own private bathrooms and queen-size beds. An outstanding master suite offers a panoramic view and is outfitted with his-and-hers closets, toilets, and study areas. The lower deck is outfitted to accommodate a 12-person crew.

Video courtesy of Sunreef Yachts

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This 288-foot superyacht — with an infinity pool, art gallery, and hair salon on board — was purchased earlier this year and is headed to the Middle East.

The broker, Moran Ship & Yacht, would not disclose the sale price, but the yacht was previously available for charter for $1.29 million per week.

The Quattroelle, built last year by Lurssen, has five spacious decks and a number of outdoor social areas perfect for soaking up the sun. 

The streamlined exterior and lavish interior were both designed by Nuvolari Lenard and can accommodate up to 12 guests in six spacious suites, with space for a crew of 29.

Additional reporting by Liz O'Connor.

[An earlier version of this post was written by Alex Davies.]

Designers at Nuvolari Lenard didn't want the Quattroelle to look like a small cruise ship — instead they wanted it to look "sporty" and designed the exterior as such.

The owner's deck, seen here, has ample space for entertaining. It's the largest and most luxurious of the five decks with three cabins, four full bathrooms, a day head (small bathroom), an office, a pantry, and two outdoor terraces.

Thirteen different types of stones were used when designing the interior of the ship. A sparkling white double vanity can be seen here in one of the yacht's many bathrooms.

Everyone needs to take a vacation every once in a while, especially during the holidays.

But vacation means something a little different when you're a millionaire or billionaire.

From massive island retreats to private superyachts, these tech executives' second homes take luxury vacations to the next level. 

Facebook billionaire Mark Zuckerberg recently bought a 750-acre property on the North Shore of Kauai. He paid a reported $100 million for the property, which includes a white-sand beach and former sugarcane plantation.

Source: Forbes

When Microsoft billionaire Paul Allen isn't cruising the high seas on one of his superyachts, he can relax at one of his many luxurious retreats. In addition to an island in Washington and a beachfront Hawaiian estate, Allen owns a hilltop mansion on the Côte d'Azur called the Villa Maryland. He employs a staff of 12 and counts Bono and Andrew Lloyd Webber as neighbors.

Source: Curbed

Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff loves all things Hawaii. He wears Hawaiian shirts to work and even named his dog "Koa," after a type of Hawaiian tree. He also owns a 5-acre estate on the Big Island, which he purchased for $12.5 million in 2000.

Source: Wall Street Journal, Honolulu Magazine

When the 70th Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race gets underway just after 1pm today, keep an eye out for Comanche, owned by 70-year-old Texan billionaire Jim Clark, founder of US tech companies such as Silicon Graphics Inc. and Netscape, and his Australian supermodel wife Kristy Hinze-Clark.

The 100ft supermaxi – the maximum size allowed for boats in the Sydney to Hobart – only hit the water two months ago after a one-year build in Maine, USA, and this is the state-of-the-art boat’s first major race.

There are five supermaxis in this year’s Hobart, including last year’s winner, Wild Oats XI, veteran Sydney yachtsman Syd Fischer’s Ragamuffin 100, last year’s bridesmaid, Perpetual Loyal and Rio 100, the former Lahana, extensively modified and lengthened and now owned by US computer tech magnate Manouch Moshayedi.

Together, the boats are worth well north of $100 million. How much Clark spent on Comanche is unknown, but he’s said it’s like “building a Formula One car from scratch although hopefully not quite as expensive”.

He’s said of the investment “You are not going to ever get anything back from it, except enjoyment”.

Clark has build the boat with the aim of winning a number of big international races, starting with the Hobart, before selling it in a couple of years. One of his other boats, the 47m triple-masted schooner Athena is currently on sale for around $AU93 million or can be chartered for $AU555,000 a week.

Comanche’s design is in part inspired by Perpetual Loyal (formerly called Speedboat), owned by accountant Anthony Bell, whose goal is to beat Wild Oats XI. America’s Cup navigator Stan Honey, who was on Perpetual Loyal last year, has swapped to Comanche for the 2014 race.

Comanche is skippered by top US sailor Ken Read, with a crew of 21, including Australians such as World Sailor of the Year James Spithill, who won the America’s Cup in 2013 skippering Oracle Team USA.

While Kristy Hinze-Clark skippered the boat during some of its trial races, the mother of two, aged four months and three years, has decided against competing in the Hobart this year with tough conditions forecast.

The big boats will face their first challenge as they turn south in the 630 nautical mile race to Hobart, with 30-knot southerly winds predicted for Friday night.

Despite their size, the big boats are designed to be downwind flyers and pushing into the breeze in heavy seas is a challenge for boats that are build like thoroughbreds and just as susceptible.

There are 117 boats competing in the 70th Rolex Sydney to Hobart. The weather is expected to favour boats half the size of the supermaxis as the breeze swings back to a northerly over the weekend and strengthens on Monday, giving the 40ft boats a big advantage to win the handicap honours.

SEE ALSO: Here's Where Tech Billionaires Are Escaping to This Holiday Season

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A painter who worked on a remodel of "Senses," a 193-foot superyacht belonging to Larry Page, has filed suit against the Google CEO after suffering ongoing medical problems. 

According to documents filed in Alameda County Superior Court, painter James Grupinski experienced troubling symptoms including vomiting and bleeding from the eyes and ears while working 12-hour days aboard Page's yacht. 

He claims that the yacht lacked proper ventilation and that his supervisor failed to provide him with the safety equipment he needed for his work. 

The suit, filed against Page, Modern Mud, and HF Interior on December 23, alleges that Grupinski was told by a supervisor to "drink some milk" and "stop being a baby" after he asked to be taken to the hospital.

He claims he collapsed on the deck after using Parks Pro Liquid Paint Stripper without the proper safety gloves or filters. That particular product was discontinued more than a decade ago because it contains highly toxic ingredients.

Grupinski says that he continues to receive medical treatment for seizures, neuropathy, neurotoxicity, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, supra-umbilical hernias, and early-onset Alzheimer's disease. He is seeking compensatory and punitive damages for the injuries he suffered. 

Page was not present during the alleged violations, which court documents say occurred in May 2014. Page purchased the Philippe Starck-designed "Senses" for $45 million in 2011.

SEE ALSO: Google Plans To Build An Enormous New Campus In Colorado — And Residents Are Worried About Gentrification

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Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen certainly seems to have enjoyed the holidays.

On New Year's Eve, Allen, worth an estimated $17.1 billion, tweeted a photo of himself ringing in 2015 aboard his 414-foot yacht, "Octopus." 

Allen reportedly celebrated the New Year with an over-the-top party on Octopus, which had been anchored in Sydney Harbor. A spectacular fireworks show was among the highlights. 

The yacht, which has 40 guest suites, a glass-bottom pool, two helicopter pads, and its own submarine, was spotted in Sydney several times over the past week.

Allen's extravagant yacht parties are well known in the tech and entertainment worlds. During the Cannes Film Festival, he hosts a party for actors, musicians, and other celebrities, and he often plays guitar during a live set with his band.

He usually docks in St. Barts for New Year's Eve, but he reportedly changed locations because "Russians have taken over" the island, a source told the New York Post.

NOW WATCH: Mark Cuban: Here's The Hardest Part Of Being A Billionaire

SEE ALSO: Google's Larry Page Is Being Sued By A Painter Who Was Injured While Working On His Yacht

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The futuristic new Iris concept-yacht series from the Miami yacht-design firm Eramotive include a dazzling array of over-the-top amenities.

The series comprises three different sizes: a 148-foot, three-deck version; a 246-foot, five-deck version; and a massive 418-foot, seven-deck version.

Each yacht’s top surfaces and retractable awnings are lined with solar panels—broader solar-panel coverage is optional— that can collect enough energy to allow the boat to cruise at 10 knots (for the 418-foot version) without releasing any emissions.

In addition, the layout can be customized to include a hydroponic garden, making any Iris yacht even more self-sustaining at sea.

Further customization options can include (depending on the chosen size) an eight- to 48-seat cinema, a library, a ballroom, a sushi bar, squash and basketball courts, and even a nine-car garage. In addition to its 6,028-square-foot master suites, the 418-footer features 20 guest suites, some of which are equipped with their own saunas.

It also includes plenty of space for toys and tenders, among them two included DeepFlight Super Falcon submarines. (eramotive.com)

Check out the designs:

SEE ALSO: YACHT OF THE WEEK: This 87-Foot Beauty Will Have A Hybrid Engine

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"Venus," a 256-foot yacht designed for the late Steve Jobs, was spotted in the British Virgin Islands over the weekend.

New photos snapped by the Cape Cod-based Woods Hole Inn and first reported by Gizmodo give a close look at the boat, plus a quick glimpse of its interior.

Though the yacht has been photographed in the wild, these shots are the best we've seen.

Jobs reportedly approached French designer Philippe Starck for help bringing his dream yacht to life. Jobs had spent several summer vacations sailing on friend Larry Ellison's yacht, and he wanted one for himself.

Work on "Venus" wasn't complete until 2012, a year after Jobs' death.

The final product is made of aluminium and steel, with simple, sleek lines reminiscent of an Apple product. 

According to a Vanity Fair interview with Starck, the yacht has six bedrooms and a complex home automation system. 

"Steve wanted to be sure that the teenagers could be set up in the front of the boat when he was at the back and vice-versa. He was obsessed with silence,"Starck said. "In his home, children did not make noise, nor the dog, nor his wife … no one made any noise, ever."

"Venus" is currently owned by Jobs' widow, Laurene Powell Jobs.

SEE ALSO: Google's Larry Page Is Being Sued By A Painter Who Was Injured While Working On His Yacht

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Super-luxurious megayachts are great, but they're not exactly self-sustaining. That's what makes architect Margot Krasojevic's new yacht concept such a revolution.

The trimaran combines self-harvested energy, a mast made out of carbon fiber, hydrofoils, and an out-of-this-world futuristic design to create one of the most innovative, eco-concious, and eye-catching yachts ever.

For starters, the boat's huge mast is motorized, allowing its sail to catch as much wind as possible at the best possible angle. It wraps around to form a part of the center hull as well.

The retractable wing-like sail attached to the mast is made from Kevlar, a high-strength synthetic fiber. And it doesn't just catch the wind — it catches the sun as well.

Tiny solar cells cover the sail, allowing it to soak up the sun's rays and convert it to energy used to power the yacht.

Though the sail is quite large, it probably wouldn't collect enough of the sun's energy on its own to power the ship in the event of no wind.

To aid in the collection of the sun's rays, the ship's two hulls feature super-reflective Fresnel lenses and holographic film to reflect as many of the rays as possible to the huge sail. Additionally, if there is no wind blowing at all, the entire sail can fold upward, directly toward the sun, to soak up as much sunshine as possible.

Combining all that power from those two sources, the Krasojevic says the boat can operate almost completely self-sufficiently.

Krasojevic isn't stopping there with the boat's eco initiatives. She told the Daily Mail that she is looking into designing a way for the boat to also use kinetic energy derived from the ship's movement.

The three-hulled trimaran style of the ship can transition into a monohull mode, ideal for cruising. When in this mode, a set of hydrofoils (similar to an airplane's airfoils) can lift the boat above the water, reducing water resistance by up to 80% and allowing the boat to be much more efficient with the energy it harvests. 

Krasojevic aims to start construction on the yacht in April of this year. 

SEE ALSO: The World's Most Expensive Yachts (And The Billionaires Who Own Them)

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As you've probably heard, China has gotten really rich, really fast.

You can see it in the number of absurdly wealthy people the People's Republic now holds. 

According to GQ, which analyzed the Hurun Report list of Chinese billionaires, there were three billionaires in China in 2004.

By 2014, there were 354.

That's an 11,700% increase.

America still has the most billionaires in the world, at 492. But the American growth rate is much slower than China's. The US had 274 billionaires in 2004, representing an increase of about 80% in the past decade.

The rise of China's ultrarich is due to a range of factors. China is now a place of high-growth startups, the most splashy of which is Jack Ma's Alibaba, which had a history-making initial public offering last year— to the point that Ma made more money than anybody else in 2014. Like many of the world's superwealthy, China's newly wealthy spring from industries including real estate, private-business ownership, and finance. 

Even with China's economic slowdown, GQ estimates that China will overtake the US in billionaire count within two years.

What will the Chinese megarich buy with all their money? Probably a megayacht or two.  

NOW WATCH: How To Pack A Suit So You're Not A Wrinkled Mess When Traveling

SEE ALSO: Most Of The World's Billionaires Made Their Money In These 5 Industries

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Behold, the world's largest aluminum sailing yacht.

The 210-foot long vessel was sold in November 2014, for around $25 million.

Christened "Felicita West" when she was built in 2002, the yacht features luxury accommodations for up to 14 guests in her 5 cabins.

She was renamed "Spirit of the C's" when sold last year.

She is manned by a crew of 14 and tops out at a leisurely of 15 knots (17 mph).

Perini Navi, the ship's builder, envisioned a yacht that would provide the perfect combination of sailing excitement and cosseted luxury. Based on these breathtaking pictures, we believe they executed their vision flawlessly.

The yacht was the brainchild of legendary naval architect Ron Holland and Italian design firm Nuvolari-Lenard.

Originally constructed in 2003, it underwent an extensive refit in 2011.

It comes equipped with two Zodiac tender motor boats.