Cup minus madding crowd

By Mathew Dearnaley

"Devonport Cove" will not have half the pizzazz of the Viaduct Harbour, but it is offering superyacht owners seclusion and privacy far from the madding crowd of America's Cup spectators.

If they do not mind berthing at a naval base, they will also enjoy the high security expected of a military installation, although civilian staff will be employed around the clock to let them in and out.

The utilitarian aspect of a Navy dockyard is little disguised, especially with fabrication workshops looming over the waterfront.

But the dockyard's civilian operator, Babcock New Zealand, has tried to soften the imposing skyline by painting the workshops lilac - a radical departure from the battleship grey everywhere else in the neighbourhood.

Babcock is building 80m of concrete and polystyrene pontoons for seven superyachts, and says it will have room for five more vessels in what will be an off-season for naval refits.

Business development manager Mark Davis said the company was offering berths, fully serviced with power and water supplies, for 20 per cent less rent than across the harbour at the American Express NZ Cup Village.

It had received three bookings, for vessels ranging from 36m to 57m, and had an inquiry from the owner of a 98m pleasure palace.

Mr Davis accepted that a berth at the base would be distinctly less exciting than at the village, but said that was precisely what might attract some superyachties.

They could enjoy the hospitality of the village before "making the most of our seclusion and privacy at the end of the evening."

Babcock would also offer servicing and maintenance, and had formed an alliance with specialist ship providores General Store at 37 South to supply the superyachts.