World's biggest maxi yacht made in NZ

by NZ's Stuff on 4 Oct 2003 The world's biggest maxi yacht was unveiled in Wellington last week, where it has been built for a prominent Wellington businessman to compete in the gruelling Sydney to Hobart race.


Boat builder Paul Hakes said he was extremely proud of Zana, the 30m yacht, built under cloak-and-dagger conditions in a refurbished boat yard near the airport on Wellington's south coast.

'We don't want competitors getting a look,' Mr Hakes said as he shepherded photographers away from any vantage point identifying it's state-of-the-art design features.

The boat was to be launched in three or four weeks, at which time the owner would be officially revealed.

'The man behind Zana has a real passion for yachting but he doesn't want to end up with egg on his face and seem like he was full of hot air by hyping up himself at this stage.'

However, Yachting media web site's said Wellington yachtie and businessman Stewart Thwaites was Zana's owner.

The web site said the partnership between Mr Hakes and Mr Thwaites had flourished and resulted in the construction of the giant maxi as well as a yard set up to produce racing yachts on a continuing basis.

Mr Thwaites would not comment yesterday.

In addition to being a contender for the Sydney to Hobart race, Mr Hakes said Zana – worth between $5 million and $10 million – transformed Wellington's boat building industry.

'The fact that we got the contract to build what is the world's largest mono hulled super maxi here in Wellington meant we had to set up what is a spectacular facility to make boats, which has to be good for the future.'

He had employed 'a lot of good people' including skilled boat builders who previously had to leave Wellington to get work.

'Everything (about Wellington) seemed to fit. There's a real history of great sailors and a lot of skilled labour.'

And he's committed to staying.

'In the short-term we've been reliant on investors in the super-maxi but we've already got a full calendar booked for next year and have a contract to build Z39 40ft keel boats, so we're here to stay and build boats.'

Valued at $465,000 each, the Z39s are lucrative business. Mr Hakes expects to sell between six and 10 over the next two years and 10-20 in the three years after that.

Hakes Marine employs 16 fulltime staff and nine subcontractors. It expects to employ more as business increases.