International Living has just published its annual Quality of Life Index for 2011. Topping the Index this year is the United States of America.

In the influential publication’s 2011 Quality of Life index, last year’s winner France slipped to fourth place out of the 192 countries surveyed.

It is the first time in five years that France, described last year as a place where “life is savored,” hasn’t held top spot.

The Maltese Falcon, a clipper luxury yacht owned by U.S. venture capitalist Tom Perkins, sails out of Valletta’s Grand Harbour July 5, 2009.

The 88-metre yacht evokes the nostalgia of the old sailing clippers, but it is packed with technology, including sophisticated radar, navigation and steering equipment .