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A multi-million-dollar luxury launch owned by one of the embattled Blue Chip founders has been sold to Olympic equestrian hero Mark Todd.
Bob Bangerter, co-founder of Blue Chip with Mark Bryers, has sold his 22m cruiser Nirvana to Champagne Corporate Charters, of which Todd and his wife, Carolyn, are half-shareholders.
The Herald on Sunday understands Nirvana sold for $1.5million.
With three double bedrooms and a master room, each with an ensuite, Bangerter would wine and dine Blue Chip clients on the luxury motor launch while cruising the Waitemata Harbour.
Nirvana can host up to 40 guests and was chartered out for corporate cruises, complete with a personal chef to prepare five-course meals. The directors of the recently formed Champagne Corporate Charters, who asked not to be named, confirmed the purchase and said the original staff had been kept to operate the cruises.
Double Olympic gold medalist Todd, voted Rider of the 20th Century, has recently come out of retirement and hopes to qualify for the Beijing Olympics.
Todd, competing in a three-day event in Manukau this weekend, could not be contacted for comment.
