The scientific research vessel-luxury yacht visited Dunedin on Sunday for the day, where its owner United States billionaire hedge fund investor Ray Dalio had dinner with a select group at Larnach Castle, before heading south for Bluff.
The group included Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull and a group of international scientists, including University of Otago scientists Associate Prof Liz Slooten, of the department of zoology, and Dr Will Rayment and Marta Guerra, of the department of marine science.
Prof Slooten said the vessel had just returned from a three-week research trip studying sperm whales in the Kaikoura Canyon, off the Kaikoura coast.
The three Otago scientists had joined the research trip, led by a team from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, although Prof Slooten was with the group for only its last week.
They were were part of a team of scientists collaborating on the study tracking and recording the sounds of the sperm whales, and expected to be working with the team on the preparation of a report from the study for some time yet.
Prof Slooten said it was great opportunity to be part of the study and said the Alucia was both luxurious and well fitted-out for research work.
Although privately-owned, the vessel was often used by the Cape Cod institution for research work.
She understood it was rare for a superyacht to be used for both private and research purposes, but Mr Dalio and his wife Barbara were both interested in marine research and conservation.
The couple joined the yacht in the last few days of the study last week.
It then sailed to Akaroa, with the scientists heading south by road, before sailing to Dunedin. Mr Cull said he found Mr Dalio to be personable and clearly engaged and interested in finding out more about Dunedin.
''I think it's great someone who is interested in environmental issues is showing an interest in our area.''
It is understood Mr Dalio is on holiday and Alucia will leave Bluff for Stewart Island and Fiordland.
