Giant gin palaces go match racing

By NICK PERRY

The two largest single-masted yachts in the world, together worth more than $140 million, will slug it out on the eve of the America's Cup in a mega-millionaire's grudge match.

The duel between American property baron John A. Williams on his newly repainted 48.4m Georgia and Netscape boss Jim Clark on the boat Georgia was built to outsize, the 48m Hyperion, will involve 40 crew and rage for three hours on the Hauraki Gulf.

Hyperion captain Lucien Shiltz says the techniques used during the "gentleman's match race" will be a far cry from those expected from Prada and Team New Zealand the following day.

"We don't have any coffee-grinders, we just push a button. But the headsails are so huge, and have so much loading on them, we have to furl them before we tack, otherwise the force would destroy them."

Mr Shiltz says the Hyperion has reached 171/2 knots, although it is designed for cruising rather than racing.

"The bigger the boat the faster it goes. You can travel at 15 knots in this boat and not feel a thing. It can also turn on the spot."

It is unclear if there will be money on the outcome, although it is understood Mr Williams has put tens of thousands on similar races, with the winnings going to charity.

Last month, just days before Mr Williams was to take delivery of his new boat, the Georgia needed a $200,000 touchup after its gearbox jammed and it crunched into a dock.

Its rival, the Hyperion, has so much electronic wizardry on board the fittings are rumoured to be worth as much as the boat. It has a temperature-controlled cigar-storage area and a wine cellar which holds 600 bottles.

The Friday race will take place two days after the world's largest superyacht regatta, the Millennium Cup, which will see the two boats compete against more than 40 other luxury craft.

Organisers say the total value of the boats entered in the official race is $1 billion. All are over 30m.

After racing from Devonport Wharf on Wednesday, the superyachts will moor overnight at Kawau Island, where the owners and entourage will attend a 900-person banquet.

Dishes will include ostrich, greenshell mussels and other fresh seafood, to be followed by handmade European chocolates, local cheeses and, of course, pavlova. The food will be washed down with top New Zealand wines.

The boats will race back to Auckland on Thursday under handicap, and a mass finish is expected some time in the late afternoon.

Meanwhile, a three-day regatta of vintage yachts starts today on the Waitemata Harbour and inner gulf. More than 85 restored classic yachts will race from 10.30 am.