Biggest NZ-built yacht sold to Aussie

The biggest sailing yacht ever to be built in New Zealand, a 58.4m superyacht called Kokomo, could be a regular sight in trans-Tasman waters this summer as its owner, believed to be an Australian, cruises close to home.

The luxury aluminium yacht, weighing just under 500 gross tonnes and with a mast too high at 74.3m to pass under the bridge over the Panama Canal, was launched by Auckland's Alloy Yachts this week.

It is the third superyacht of the same name to be custom built for this owner by Alloy Yachts, which would not discuss the price of the sleek vessel which has enough cabins for 12 guests and 12 crew, all with ensuites and big screen televisions.

However, BusinessDay understands the owner's second Kokomo, a nearly 52m sloop also built by Alloy Yachts, had a price tag of 28 million (NZ$56m) when it was sold this month in Europe.

The owner will not get the keys to his new fully computerised high-tech vessel until March.

Though the new owner has eight crew, the superyacht could almost be sailed single-handed because it was "so automated", she said.

- © Fairfax NZ News