For those finding life aboard their super yacht is becoming a little dull, SuRi, berthed in Otago Harbour for the last five weeks, is ever-ready to sail to the rescue.
The 1009-tonne, 52.7m motor yacht, said to be worth more than $40 million, is available to pull alongside the super-rich and offer a selection of equipment designed for fun.
First mate Anthony Vanwilles, speaking to the Otago Daily Times at the Birch St wharf this week, described the ship as a "carrier of toys".
Websites refer to such vessels as "shadow boats" that act as tenders to super yachts with too little room to carry many of their own "toys".
The "toys" on board SuRi include numerous jet skis, a "game boat", a four-person hovercraft, beach buggies, an 8.5m landing craft, a Squirrel helicopter (at present in Nelson), kayaks, rowing shells, bicycles and diving gear.
Perhaps the most exotic of the toys is a slim, 11m, mahogany Stancraft "cigar boat", with an 8.1-litre V8 engine. The crew refer to it as the "mahogany missile".
Mr Vanwilles said it was used only in good conditions - its interior is lined with green velvet that does not react well to water.
SuRi has spent the past year in New Zealand and much of that time in Whangarei, where a large top-deck lounge was added.
Described before the addition as "the most good-looking shadow boat" available, SuRi was yesterday described by a long-standing Otago harbour watcher as the ugliest ship he had seen.
Mr Vanwilles agreed the ship did not look "pretty", but the new lounge provided a spectacular view. He declined an ODT request to go on board.
The elderly owner lives in California, but used the ship as a base in Fiordland earlier this year when he walked the Milford Track and went diving.
Mr Vanwilles said the 11 crew on board were mostly Fijian, with skills in hospitality, diving and fishing. One of the New Zealanders on board was a "mad hunter".
The ship was built in 1978 and was used for crab fishing in the North Sea. It featured in the first television series of "Deadliest Catch".
Mr Vanwilles said "a lot of money" was spent converting it, three years ago, and it required a great deal of maintenance - particularly on its 32-year old Detroit diesel engines.
He estimated five or six charters were required a year to cover costs, but there had been no charters in the past year while it was being worked on in New Zealand.
SuRi differs from other "shadow boats" in that it also has five luxury cabins for guests.
Mr Vanwilles said the ship had a cruising speed of 20kmh. He said it was very solid, had a "big stomach" and was "a beautiful sea boat".
SuRi would leave Dunedin when the weather improved but he had no idea when that would be or where the vessel would be going.
SuRi
• 1009-tonne, 52.7m motor yacht.
• Said to be worth more than $40 million.
• Built in 1978; used for crab fishing in North Sea.
• Cruising speed of 20kmh.
"Toys" on board
• Jet skis.
• A "game boat".
• Four-person hovercraft.
• 11m, mahogany Stancraft "cigar boat".
• Beach buggies.
• 8.5m landing craft.
• Squirrel helicopter.
• Kayaks.
• Rowing shells.
• Bicycles.
