Rich ahoy on party race day

By Nick Perry

You could picture the Havana cigars flying into the Beluga caviare and the Dom Perignon being indecently shaken ... $1 billion worth of superyachts were leaving behind lazy harbour moorings for a taste of salt and sailing action.

More than 40 superyachts set sail in winds ranging up to 25 knots yesterday when the starter's gun sounded for the Auckland to Kawau Island Millennium Cup - the official race and party for the fabulously wealthy.

In the glamorous 100ft-plus class it was the 70-year-old J-class Velsheda that led much more modern and expensive yachts past North Head, where more than 200 spectators braved showers to watch.

Velsheda unsuccessfully raced in the America's Cup challenge of 1934, before falling into disrepair and then being restored five years ago by its present owner, a Dutch businessman.

Age eventually gave way to youth, however, as the 1998 Mari Cha III, built from carbon fibre by Auckland firm Sensation Yachts, pipped Velsheda for line honours.

On board Mari Cha was American-born, Hong Kong-based owner Robert Miller, who started the Duty Free Shoppers chain.

But the eagerly awaited clash between the American mega-millionaire owners of the two largest single-masted yachts in the world turned into a fizzer.

The Georgia, owned by property baron John A. Williams, got off to a shocking start and appeared to have problems with its headsail, before it cruised up to Kawau near the back of the field.

Meanwhile, its arch-rival the Hyperion, owned by Netscape boss Jim Clark, worked its way through the fleet, and took third place on the line. The two boats meet for their own private duel tomorrow.

The boats moored off Kawau Island last night in what Itasca skipper Allan Jouning said was possibly the biggest and most spectacular meeting of superyachts yet.

"You have Antigua, the South of France, and the bucket of Nantucket, but I don't think I've ever seen a gathering like this."

Helicopters and boats took 950 VIPs ashore for cocktail hour on the beach, followed by a feast of fresh seafood, ostrich, European chocolates and pavlova in a marquee next to Mansion House.