The world’s largest privately owned sailing yacht, Maltese Falcon, is definitely in a class of its own. Completed in 2006, the 88-meter yacht features three free-standing carbon-fiber masts that rotate to fill 15 sails. In a recent interview with 60 Minutes the boat’s owner, Tom Perkins, said he was embarrassed by its cost (rumored to be around $150 million), but happily admitted that he simply wanted the biggest boat.

You’re not alone if you want to charter this magnificent vessel; not even close. According to Edmiston, the yachting company that manages Perkins’ other yachts, the yacht is booked through January 9, 2009. “The larger and more expensive it is, the higher the demand we have,” said Diego Marroquin, Edmiston’s Vice President for the Americas. The builder of Maltese Falcon, Pernini Navi, manages it for charter.

What does she cost to charter?

Maltese Falcon can sail with 12 guests for €350,000 (or $513,000) per week. The charter minimum is one week, but high seasons like Christmas and the Monaco Grand Prix command a two-week minimum. When demand is especially high during July and August, the minimum charter period can be up to a month.

Marroquin advises clients should be prepared to be flexible. “All of the [Edmiston-managed] yachts are privately owned,” explained Marroquin. “Depending on the yacht, clients might have to accommodate themselves to the owner’s schedule.” Edmiston has a program of when and where the owner will be using his yacht and then charters the free time to clients. The program also determines where the yacht will be. For example, on January 9, 2009, Maltese Falcon will be in Rio di Janeiro, so a request to charter it in the Mediterranean at that time would be impossible.

Rest assured that a charter contract is legally binding. Yacht owners face significant penalties if they change their itinerary. Just make sure to mark your calendars, so that in two years you won’t forget to set sail.