Many a megayacht makes ambitious plans for cruising. Those looking to do so should borrow a page from The Big Blue. The expedition yacht is in the midst of a yearlong global cruise. In fact, the 137’8” (42-meter) The Big Blue has been taking her owners, the Mayer family—mom Delisa, dad Tony, and their three kids—on the adventures of a lifetime.
There’s a good backstory to The Big Blue. She was commissioned by another owner from Troy Marine in Turkey, but wasn’t finished. The Mayers acquired her and had her taken to Derecktor Florida for extensive refitting and completion. Fifteen months of work involved overhauling a variety of systems, adding a helideck, and changing the general arrangement and decor. Everything done to the yacht was in preparation for taking The Big Blue on her own bottom everywhere. Equally important, the family wanted space for the kids to learn along the way, and for all of them to spend quality time together. They further spend time together with their loyal dog, pictured below.
As much as the Mayers enjoyed transiting the Panama Canal and visiting some terrific tropical locales, a favorite place so far is New Zealand. The Big Blue arrived there early this year. The Mayers learned a lot about where to go and what to do by tapping local knowledge, as you’ll find out in the video above.
The video was created in conjunction with the Destination New Zealand program. It’s an initiative of NZ Marine and the New Zealand tourist board, aimed at megayacht owners and charterers. NZ Marine says the Mayers generously agreed to share their experiences so that other cruisers can be inspired. They comment not only about the destinations, but also about the support services that are readily available. The latter, of course, is a key consideration for any cruising region to be considered.
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