New Zealand’s maritime heritage is grounded in strength, and for good reason. The tempestuous Tasman Sea and unrelenting westerlies off the Southern Pacific Ocean batter the country, with the disheveled Cook Strait bisecting the two main islands. Craft that frequent these waters need to be able to tame the strong Roaring Forties winds, and then some.
These conditions have inspired everything from Kiwi explorer Sir Edmund Hillary’s adventures to the roof of the world, to the carbon-fiber, foiling monohulls of the reigning America’s Cup champions. They also inspired New Zealand builder Circa Marine’s latest series of explorer yachts, co-developed by Circa and LOMOcean Design.
Based in Whangarei on the country’s, Hull No. 1 of its 24m model. With a sleek, efficient hull form, dual-point davit system and shimmering, fish-scale finish, the boat caught the eyes of long-range cruising cognoscenti. Even before saw the brine, the company began construction on Hull No. 2.
