Superyacht launch highlights commitment to businesses at Hobsonville Point to businesses at Hobsonville Point

The launch in Hobsonville Point in Auckland saw the 33.5m cruising sloop transported from its shed early Saturday morning down the recently built Launch Road, and then barged up harbour in the afternoon to Silo Marina in Wynyard Quarter.

The vessel has been built by New Zealand-based Yachting Developments Ltd (“YDL”) a foundation tenant of the Airfields residential and mixed use precinct being developed on 20 hectares of Auckland Council-owned land.

Panuku Director of Development, Allan Young says while housing is now a key focus for the Airfields site, businesses like YDL are a key part of its future.

“We fully appreciate it’s been a tough few years for the superyacht manufacturing industry. While it became increasing clear a marine industry precinct was not viable at Hobsonville Point, we’ve been committed to finding a way to ensure YDL remained and provide a space to construct vessels like these for the international market.”

“That’s what makes today’s launch even the more special and we congratulate YDL in being able to achieve this feat. Our focus is now on ensuring more success stories like these from the Airfields mixed use zone in the future.”