There in Spirit

Ever wondered how large marine vessels get from dry land into the water? This photograph shows the luxury yacht Spirit of Fitzroy dangling from a crane as it meets the sea for the first time. The launch took place at Blyde Wharf, Port Taranaki, on 1 February 2000 just ahead of Team New Zealand’s successful defence of the America’s Cup. The Spirit of Fitzroy was the first cruiser produced by local company Fitzroy Yachts Ltd. Referred to as a “House Cruiser”, it is an impressive twenty-five meters long and has room for seven guests across three cabins. After proving herself on the high seas, travelling from New Zealand to Monaco, the yacht was purchased by the first potential owner to come onboard at the Monaco Boat Show.

The photograph comes from an album depicting the launch primarily from the point of view of the crane driver. The album was recently donated to Puke Ariki along with another album showing the yacht’s construction and a scale model of the Spirit of Fitzroy herself. Founded in 1997, the award-winning Fitzroy Yachts closed its doors in early 2014, citing a drop in the market for luxury yachts.