Superyacht makes a splash

By WAYNE THOMPSON

The first superyacht to come out of the controversial boatyard at the former Hobsonville Airbase was launched yesterday at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.

The 41m Sovereign Lady was built by Sovereign Yachts, a company owned by Bill Lloyd, a New Zealander who established the company in British Columbia, Canada.

He had the hull of Sovereign Lady brought from the Canadian factory and it was finished at his Hobsonville sheds over 17 months.

Up to 90 people worked on the boat, including 60 Sovereign staff and subcontractors.

Mr Lloyd built Sovereign Lady "on spec" to show wealthy visitors during the America's Cup regatta what New Zealand can make.

"It's a beautiful job," he said.

The vessel is believed to be for sale for about $30 million but is first being used by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron as an official regatta vessel.

It will closely follow the racing yachts and Mr Lloyd said this would show off the Sovereign product to an international audience.

Sovereign Lady can accommodate 10 guests in five staterooms and up to eight crew. It has two large areas for entertaining and its jacuzzi takes eight people.

Mr Lloyd said the next project for his Hobsonville sheds was a 36m vessel, which has already arrived as a hull from Canada.

It would be followed by a 42m vessel.

He said he had hoped by now to be building 45m craft from scratch and employing 150 workers at Hobsonville.

But Hobsonville was limited by inadequate launching facilities for bigger craft.

Plans to remedy this with a $200 million development, which promised to bring dozens of marine industries to a world-class facility, were on hold, said Mr Lloyd.

But he said he would "keep fighting for Hobsonville" although the Government was now looking what it could get out of the land rather than back his and Waitakere City Council's ambition to have the marine industry cluster.

In November the Government announced Housing New Zealand would develop 165ha land at the base - except for the 4ha which Mr Lloyd had already bought from the land's original owners.

Mr Lloyd said he needed to exercise an option with the original owners to buy 62ha in order to carry out his housing and marine development.

Missing from the launch function yesterday was Economic Development Minister Jim Anderton, whose office helped fast-track the sale of the 4ha to Mr Lloyd.

But Mr Anderton sent congratulations to Mr Lloyd on producing a vessel of international class which vindicated his commitment to New Zealand.

"I am firmly of the view that if the country is to reach its ambitious growth targets the Government must play its part in supporting the efforts of entrepreneurs like you," said Mr Anderton.

"I was pleased to play a part in facilitating your return to New Zealand and in the establishment of a superyacht facility at Hobsonville."