Santorini - 16th Bavaria 42 Cruiser launched in NZ

by Jane Pares on 2 Oct 2007
It’s that time of year again when sailors start looking out to sea with longing eyes and making regular checks on the weekend weather – summer is lurking round the corner and our thoughts are turning towards warm sailing days.

With the increasing popularity of imported production yachts, getting out on the water is well within reach of many would-be boat owners.

In the past 30 years, yacht buyers in New Zealand have graduated from a limited local choice, to imported yachts from technologically advanced production facilities. The choice and availability of production yachts has grown steadily and is dominated by European and American brands, which are less expensive and can be produced in large numbers, quickly and efficiently.

The success of Bavaria Yachts, as the leading production boat brand in New Zealand, prompted others to jump on the band wagon with other European brands, but none have been able to match the value of the Bavaria Yachts. Market acceptance is now here to stay, as imported production boats have proved to be by far the best buy, with excellent resale value.

So it’s a busy time for International Marine Brokers, Bavaria agents in NZ, as this is when most of their boats arrive in the country for commissioning and launching. Three weeks ago a new B42 and a new B33 Cruiser arrived from Germany and were commissioned in the Viaduct. The B42, Santorini, has just been launched – just in time for a full summer sailing on the Gulf.

It was a perfect sunny day with white clouds scudding across the sky. Ian and Lorraine Hopwood had some of their family around them for the launch and Lorraine launched the boat with her granddaughter – smashing the champagne bottle across the Rocna anchor together.

She’s the sixteenth Bavaria 42 Cruiser on the water in NZ and will be berthed at Pine Harbour, on the shores of the Hauraki Gulf.