Luxury megayacht sails into Auckland
The biggest sailing megayacht to come to New Zealand is due in Auckland this morning and has a Kiwi coskipper.
The 86m ultra-luxury Aquijo is one of the world’s largest private sailing ketches. Its 91m masts would tower more than 25m over the Auckland Harbour Bridge’s highest span.
Auckland’s Southern Spars designed the masts which are some of the tallest in the world and mean Aquijo is unable to pass under the bridges over the Panama and Suez Canals, so the vessel has to go around Cape Horn and Cape of Good Hope on world voyages.
The Dutch-built yacht will undergo maintenance in Auckland before cruising the coast during summer.
Launched in 2016, Aquijo can accommodate up to 12 guests (plus two owners) in seven cabins and they’re pampered by a crew of 17.
Yachting World says the sociable main deck includes the dining room and main saloon, linked to the outside deck by an inside-outside bar.
“The yacht’s real showcase feature is the ‘beach club’ on the lower deck, which includes a Jacuzzi, sauna, hammam/Turkish bath, rainfall shower, and room for gym equipment, with [a] walkway through to the transom swim platform.”
It was built for a European businessman in 2016 but is available for charter starting at $800,000 a week.
Its co-skipper Luke Hoskins is originally from Matakana and has been on the vessel since last year.
He said it was a “dream come true” to bring the vessel to New Zealand.
Work would be carried out at Orams Marine over the next couple of months and sails serviced in the Auckland loft of North Sails.
Aquijo’s arrival marks the start of the superyacht season with about 20 superyachts expected before April next year.