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By Humphrey Carter A 50-strong fleet of megayachts is currently assembling in the Port of Palma ahead of this weekend's Superyacht Cup 2007 and the New Zealand Millenium Cup but yesterday, two of the world's longest and largest private yachts slipped into port.

The Christina O, once owned by Aristotle Onassis, is one of the longest private yachts at 325 feet while the state-of-the art 289.1 feet Maltese Falcon is one of the largest privately-owned sailing yachts in the world and is owned by the American centimillionaire Tom Perkins.

Christina O was originally a Canadian River Class Frigate launched in 1943. Onasis bought and fully restored her after WWII and left the yacht to his daughter when he died.

In 1998 she was bought by the Greek ship owner John Paul Papanicolaou.
In complete contrast the Maltese Falcon is one of the most advanced yachts afloat and made her maiden voyage in July last year. Perkins, the man credited with developing Hewlett Packard's computer empire, has had the yacht fitted with the very latest computer and technological advances although the highly sophisticated computers are not permitted to actually sail the yacht. She is available for charter: 325'000 euros per week.