Letters from America
Thursday 14 March 2019
This week I could see from my balcony the tops of two incredibly tall masts rising up out Sydney Cove. I couldn’t see what they belonged to so walked down yesterday to have a look. Coming round the West facing edge of Mrs Macquarie’s chair, looking out across the current Opera on the Harbour set for West Side Story, was an enormous ketch. I took a snap, including the dinghy in the foreground on the left for scale.
I searched the web when I got home for “maxi cruising ketch”. After a bit of clicking around I discovered that this is Aquijo, the largest ketch in the world at 85 metres. She is currently cruising the South Pacific and was most recently visiting New Zealand. Her masts and rigging were designed in New Zealand and she was built in the Netherlands in 2016.
I don’t want to be boorish about boats, but this was pretty special.
A couple of links:
https://www.yachtingworld.com/extraordinary-boats/aquijo-10478 https://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/central-leader/107444289/one-of-the-largest-sailing-superyachts-docks-in-auckland–and-for-800k-you-can-charter-itxx MG
Gregory Hall
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Dear MG; boorish about boats? Not even close to being a boor. You didn’t kvetch about the ketch.
You praised it. I get it. Me and Ratty have a bit in common about boats. Nothing is worth doing half so much as simply messing about in boats.
Good to see you back. I enjoy your musings and observations. Hoping life is happy and safe for you. I took no joy in your recent news apropos the stalker. Shades of Klute.
Best regards
Gregory Hall
MG
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Hi Gregory, thanks for the good wishes. I am with Ratty 🙂
Things have changed with escorting work. I have taken other work and so have much more limited availability and less time for regular posts alas. The stalker is not a client so I am still happy with what I do, but it has changed things for me overall.
xx MG
Rob
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Not boorish at all MG great bit of detective work thanks for sharing. Beautiful boat looks fantastic with sails up and powering through the swell. Love to get a gig on board. What have you been sailing on. Cheers.
MG
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Hi Rob, I was lucky to get the photo – next day she was gone. It would be quite an experience to be on board under sail I agree. I have been on a few charter boats in the Harbour here and for longer in the Whitsundays a couple of times – Catalina, Beneteau, Jenneau. Otherwise just smaller craft round about 🙂 belonging to friends who can sail.
xx MG