The 80-metre superyacht Artefact, owned by Canadian tech entrepreneur Mike Lazaridis, has docked in the Northland port of Ōpua for a two-week stay. Lazaridis is famous for creating the BlackBerry mobile device.
The Artefact was built in Germany in 2020 for an estimated cost of $240 million and was named Motor Yacht of the Year in 2021. It is one of the world’s largest superyachts by volume and is believed to be the biggest motor yacht ever to visit the Bay of Islands.
The yacht arrived at Ōpua wharf around 1pm on Tuesday and is expected to stay until 1 January. It features a hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system, can travel 5300 nautical miles, and has a crew of 17, including two chefs and a sous chef.
The Artefact is known for its extensive use of glass on the passenger decks, with 70 tons of glass used in its construction. It also has unique interior features like a high-ceilinged tai chi room designed for martial arts practice.
Lazaridis, 62, was born in Turkey to Greek parents and moved to Canada when he was a child. He is a well-known figure in the tech industry, particularly for his work in quantum computing, and has donated large sums of money to theoretical physics research.
The arrival of the Artefact is seen as a positive sign for the Bay of Islands’ recovery after Covid-19. The yacht was joined in the bay on Tuesday by the boutique cruise ship Crystal Symphony, one of a record 93 cruise ships expected this season. The region is set to benefit economically from these visits, with each passenger spending on average $180 on shore, amounting to $23m this season.
