A Kiwi-built chase boat for the Mediterranean
When Rayglass Boats joined forces with the Ancasta Group, Europe's largest yacht brokerage, and its associated Ancasta Yacht Services, the ambition was clear from the start: to produce something far beyond a conventional tender. The fruit of that partnership is a Protector 380 Targa purpose-built to operate as a superyacht chase boat in the Mediterranean, drawing on New Zealand boatbuilding expertise and the practical knowledge of Ancasta's Port Hamble team.
It was no quick turnaround. From the earliest design conversations to the moment of delivery, the project consumed 14 months, with the two organisations working across hemispheres to bring the brief to life.
The process began with a two-day consultation in Port Hamble, England. Sitting across the table from the Ancasta team was the owner's representative, an experienced captain, who helped define exactly what the vessel needed to achieve.
"The objective was to create a tender and chase boat that could be operated without a crew, allowing the owner to explore independently with his family while maintaining exceptional performance and seakeeping capabilities," said Andy Andrews, Protector Boats Brand Manager at Ancasta.
That brief shaped every decision that followed. The owner's team worked through the Protector range with performance, practicality, and aesthetics all in mind. In the end, the Protector 380 Targa emerged as the model that satisfied every requirement.
The Protector 380 Targa carries the hallmarks the brand has built its reputation on: capable seakeeping, responsive handling, and the kind of structural confidence that comes from being designed for demanding conditions. For a tender based aboard a superyacht in the Mediterranean, those qualities mean the boat is genuinely equipped for more than ferrying passengers to the nearest marina.
What made this project distinctive was the emphasis on independence. The owner needed a vessel that could be handled single-handedly when required, giving his family the freedom to venture out on their own terms while still serving the practical needs of the mothership. The Protector 380 Targa's layout, refined through the lengthy development process and shaped by custom touches accumulated over those 14 months, was what made that combination achievable.
For Rayglass, the collaboration represents another meaningful foothold for the Protector name in European yachting circles. For Ancasta, it shows what becomes possible when a brokerage and a boatbuilder commit to working closely around a specific owner's vision. For the owner, the result is a vessel that stands on its own merits: a capable, comfortable, and stylish craft ready to explore the Mediterranean independently, rather than simply trailing in the wake of a larger boat.
