The Windora returned to Dunedin for the first time in nearly 20 years.
The ketch was built by the late Alan Scott at Back Beach, Port Chalmers, over 20 years in the 1960s and 1970s, but was not launched until 1978.
One of the first Dunedin visitors was Mr Scott's widow, Shirley, who is retired in Mosgiel.
"Oh, it was lovely sitting on it again," Mrs Scott (79) said.
"We lived on it for six years. But I like being in a house now. Especially on windy nights."
The 13m yacht's Nelson owners, Phil and Lynda Christieson, were berthed at the Otago Yacht Club on their way back from a cruise to Stewart Island.
"A lot of people seem to know the boat down here. We've been having people come up with photos of it," Mr Christieson said.
After Mr Scott's death, Windora was briefly, and controversially, owned by an American.
"He was a guard on the Mexican border and he was confiscating drugs and then selling them on the side.
He and his wife came to New Zealand, but were extradited back to the States and jailed," Mr Christieson said.
After buying the yacht in Whangarei for $85,000 in 1993, Mr and Mrs Christieson and their children Luke (4) and Cliff (5) left New Zealand on an eight-year trip around the world.
"We never intended to. We were originally just going for a cruise to the Pacific, but one place just led to another," Mr Christieson said.
"We spent around $12,000 a year on the trip, of which about half was spent on the boat.
"So it worked out at about $250 a week for the four of us for eight years."
The boys, now 21 and 23, were schooled by Mrs Christieson aboard the yacht.
Windora will berth at Careys Bay for a week, before the couple head back to Nelson via Akaroa.
Their next big voyage is to Tasmania in December.
"Once you get sailing in your system, it's really hard to settle down again at home on land."
