TALL ORDER

At 86m LOA, the Dutch-built Aquijo is so large that she is unable to sail under the Harbour Bridge – her 91m carbon fibre masts rise more than 25m over the bridge’s central span. Those masts – carrying some 5000m2 of sail – were built by Southern Spars.

Her 3Di mainsails – weighing around two tonnes each – had to be lifted off the vessel by crane and are being serviced by North Sails. Her 200-tonne lifting keel is the largest ever designed and has an 11.6m draught (5.2m when retracted). Even when moving her into position alongside her berth at Orams at high tide, she cleared the mud bottom by just 200mm.

Launched in 2016, Aquijo can accommodate up to 12 guests in seven cabins. She has a crew of 17 from all corners of the globe – South Africa, Australia, England, Estonia, Barbados, Brazil, the US, Canada, the Netherlands – as well as three New Zealanders.

Her website says she is available for charter at €450,000 per week (low season) or €550,000 per week in high season.