It was a crucial step for the first Nordhavn 120 yacht Aurora yesterday, on April 22, after she was launched into the test tank at South Coast Marine in Xiamen, China. The tank test represents the penultimate stage for the N120 motor yacht Aurora prior to being delivered to her new owner in July 2013.
First Nordhavn 120 superyacht Aurora in the tank test
Dan Streech, president of Nordhavn’s parent company Pacific Asian Enterprises, Inc. (P.A.E.) noted that so far the future queenship of the Nordhavn fleet has functioned in the water exactly as expected. “She floats perfectly,” Streech said. “All 800,000 lbs. of fiberglass, steel, wood, stone and glass have been brilliantly engineered and managed to float exactly as predicted.”
Superyacht Aurora will remain in the tank for approximately one month as systems are fired up and tested. Upon completion, she’ll undergo final ocean trials and ABS certification assessment in preparation for delivery – via her own bottom – to Vancouver, Canada.
Due to logistics, the sheer mass of the vessel as well as economic factors, it’s been concluded that N120 hull #1 luxury yacht Aurora will be delivered on her own bottom. With a non-stop range from China to Vancouver at a speed of within 3 knots of what freighters typically travel, the decision to “drive” her home was made thoughtfully, however, confidently.
The current plan has the Aurora yacht departing the factory July 1 by a delivery crew led by P.A.E. vice president Jim Leishman. The goal is to make a quick and efficient passage running as fast as possible using the same classic fuel management practices utilized by the crews on board the Nordhavn 40 during the Around The World (ATW) voyage (as well as by hundreds of other Nordhavn owners during their own long passages). The non-stop passage from China to Vancouver is expected to take 24-28 days.
After nearly five years from concept to construction, P.A.E. is thrilled with anticipation at the impending unveiling of the Nordhavn 120 yacht Aurora. Nordhavn architecture and design team, together with the craftsmen at South Coast, engineering, contractors, the phenomenal interior design staff at Destry Darr and countless vendors have cultivated a world class yacht that is second to none.
At the surface, the N120 superyacht Aurora is a naval engineering feat; as capable as it is luxurious. But the yacht also proves to be a symbol of P.A.E., persevering at a time when the yacht/superyacht market was in a virtual tailspin. With the business of boats having apparently stabilized, the time is perfect to present the Nordhavn 120 to the world, a design prepared to rival any superyacht built by anyone, anywhere.
Below is a gallery for the superb charter yachts built by Nordhavn.
More: Nordhavn Image GalleryNordhavn Charter Yacht Images
