Richard Beattie has announced his intention to sell his part-completed 50m motor yacht StarFish, following the August blaze that seriously damaged her.
The early morning fire at the McMullen & Wing shipyard in Aukland, New Zealand destroyed parts of the yacht's interior particularly the nearly-completed crew quarters. But it left the aft portions of the yacht virtually untouched – the engine room, which was 95 per cent complete, remained cloaked in its protective plastic sheeting. The yard reports that the completed steel hull was essentially undamaged.
‘Everyone involved with the project knows how much energy, how much creativity went into her vision, design and creation,’ says Beattie, who is chairman of Aquos Yachts and also owns the 45m McMullen & Wing explorer yacht Big Fish, of which StarFish is a development.
‘It was never my intention to own two large yachts,’ says Beattie, ‘and given the additional time and financial resources that would be required to complete StarFish, I have decided to give another owner the opportunity to carry forward with her completion.’
StarFish’s was 75 per cent complete at the time of the fire and the hull is being offered for sale at a substantial discount. The shipyard estimates it can be completed to an excellent standard in about 18 months once work resumes.
The boat will require a new superstructure and while a new owner can opt for the original six-cabin layout (with a 38m private owner's deck), McMullen & Wing is also asking designers to submit different potential superstructures and arrangements.