At 117 metres from bow to stern, Infinity has made its presence felt on the Hauraki Gulf, moving from Westhaven Marina across to the eastern reaches of the gulf and settling at anchor in Coromandel Harbour, where boaties and onlookers alike have been taking notice.
The passage began on Tuesday 16 December, when Infinity slipped out of Westhaven in the early afternoon under settled conditions. The yacht spent time sheltering in the Waiheke area before continuing east, arriving in Coromandel Harbour the following day, where it has remained at anchor since.
Infinity is the property of American businessman Eric Smidt and ranks among the largest private motor yachts in existence. Dutch yard Oceanco built and delivered her in 2022, and the numbers speak for themselves: 117 metres overall, a volume of 4,978 gross tonnes, and a draft of 4.8 metres. That draft narrows the choice of anchorages considerably, making Coromandel Harbour a sensible and well-sheltered option.
Espen Øino penned the exterior lines, while Sinot Exclusive Yacht Design handled the interiors. Spread across seven decks, Infinity can host up to 16 guests in eight cabins, with a crew of 36 on hand to look after them. One of her more striking features is the main deck pool, which can be converted into a helipad or opened up as an event space. Advanced stabilisation systems keep the vessel comfortable whether she is underway or lying at anchor.
Twin MTU engines push Infinity to a top speed of around 20 knots, with a cruising pace of 14 knots. Her range exceeds 4,500 nautical miles, suiting her to extended long-distance passages without the need to compromise on comfort or itinerary.
Travelling with Infinity on this New Zealand visit is Intrepid, her dedicated 69-metre support vessel. Intrepid serves as a logistics platform and toy carrier and is set up to handle helicopter operations. The support vessel has been active around Auckland recently, having offloaded its helicopter in the area.
For those out on the water around the gulf and the Coromandel coast, Infinity's visit is a pointed reminder of just how appealing this corner of New Zealand remains to the owners of the world's grandest yachts. Even by superyacht standards, this is a rare arrival, and one that commands attention wherever the anchor goes down.
