Snub for squillionaire's superyachts

Photo / Martin Sykes

Big-spending overseas millionaires' superyachts are being turned away from Auckland because of lack of decent berths, losing the city potential business and star attraction.

As the 66m Triple Seven arrives in Auckland Harbour today, an industry source has condemned Auckland City Council for a lack of facilities that had forced the port to turn away five similarly luxurious vessels.

Yesterday, Mayor John Banks acknowledged the problem: he said the new Supercity should live up to its name by building a superyacht marina by the city's Bledisloe container terminal.

One of the superyachts that was unable to stay was the 60m, triple-decker Vive la Vie.

The yacht, registered in Georgetown in the Cayman Islands, accommodates 12 guests and 12 crew and won a major superyacht design award last year. But it was forced to leave Princes Wharf last month, because there was no suitable berth for it to remain in.

And, in a letter obtained by the Herald on Sunday, one captain has written to Auckland yachting industry representatives, decrying as "a shame" the city's inability to accommodate more superyachts.

"For my next call of Auckland I hope berthing options will become a little better for yachts as they get bigger and bigger," the skipper said.

"It is a shame Auckland as a modern cosmopolitan city has just one 60m berth and not the facilities to accommodate more ships of this size or bigger.

"It would be easy to extend Viaduct Harbour. The location and scenery are perfect and I am sure more owners would base their 'toy' in the City of Sails or come for a visit."

Boats larger than 50m have to be berthed at Ports of Auckland facilities such as Princes and Wynyard wharves, which the industry source said was a far from ideal situation because of security concerns and lack of privacy.

"They haven't upgraded the Viaduct for so long and there are more boats over 50m touring the world these days."

In addition, the four berths in Viaduct Harbour for big yachts up to 50m in length were almost always fully booked.

"It's the most frustrating thing we've ever come across," she said. "All these boats want to come to New Zealand and there's nowhere for them to go."

The crews and owners of superyachts, like Oracle founder Larry Ellison, brought a huge amount of revenue into the city, and Auckland "really missed out" if they did not come.

She added that many superyachts owners were now choosing to go to Denarau in Fiji, rather than Auckland, as the facilities there were far superior.

Nigel Skeggs, chief executive officer for Denarau Marina, said the Fijian facility could accommodate up to seven superyachts at once.

"It's an emerging market for us," he said. "We are working on the theory that if we build it, the [superyachts] will come."

Auckland City Mayor John Banks said the lack of accommodation for superyachts in Auckland "certainly is an issue, and in the context of this growing business we need more accommodation".

Banks is proposing the new Supercity council - which he is seeking to lead - could build a marina for the giant yachts at the "finger wharves" next to Bledisloe Wharf.

"It's all about how we can accommodate these floating American Express Gold Cards."

Heart of the City chief executive Alex Swney said Auckland was not living up to its name as "the City of Sails" if superyachts were turned away.

"This is one of Auckland's key economic markets, and to not be able to accommodate this core business is unacceptable," he said.

The Triple Seven - which sails in from Denarau marina this morning - is expected to restock while in Auckland.

Nigel Skeggs said the owner had flown out of Fiji this week - presumably bound for New Zealand.

Previously owned by Russian oligarch and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich, the Triple Seven was reportedly sold to a New York businessman in 2008. It is not known who the owner is.

The yacht's Auckland agent, 37 South, would not confirm Triple Seven was arriving but the Ports of Auckland website says it is scheduled to dock at Wynyard Wharf this morning.

The yacht will be docked in Auckland for 24 hours, returning on February 1 when it will spend 28 days moored on the Auckland waterfront.