In order to provide an enormous load of supplies for victims of Cyclone Evan, the luxury charter yacht Big Fish arrived in Lautoka, Fiji, on New Year’s Eve. The McMullen and Wing-built motor yacht Big Fish left Auckland on Boxing Day, bound for Viti Levu and laden with $NZ50,000 of aid supplied by the New Zealand superyacht industry as well as local supporters. The effort was organised by YachtAid Global, in collaboration with Superyacht Support New Zealand and Yacht Partners Fiji.

Luxury expedition charter yacht BIG FISH by McMullen and Wing

Tied up to the Lautoka main wharf, the Big Fish yacht’s nine crew, spearheaded by captain Winston Joyce-Clarke, unloaded 24 boxes of medical supplies, along with portable generators, mattresses, a cache of hygiene supplies, 129 large bags full of clothing, books, toys, toolsets, kitchen equipment, stationary, food and a host of other much-needed items. The haul totaled over $NZ50,000 and weighed more than two tonnes.

Tropical Cyclone Evan caused widespread destruction across the Pacific and battered Fiji for more than 12 hours when it made landfall on 17 December. More than 11,700 people were forced to use evacuation centres, with many homes affected by flooding and high winds. Schools across the region have been closed and aid distributors Fiji Red Cross, and DISMAC have worked hard to ensure superyacht Big Fish’s delivery can assist in helping these prepare for rapid reopening. The Fijian industry is closely tied to New Zealand’s and the Kiwis were eager to help their neighbours out.

Aid supplies aboard Big Fish superyacht

“Fiji is a major destination for superyachts heading through the Pacific and quite often the last stop before the vessel arrives in New Zealand or the first stop after it leaves. We have a very close affiliation with the country and for New Zealand to continue to grow as a superyacht destination, we need to help our neighbours when and where we can,” says Superyacht Support’s Jeanette Tobin.

“With Big Fish heading up there empty, it was a no-brainer. We employed school leaver, James Cackett, to bring it all together and he used his youthful talent (as only the young can) to get onto Twitter, Facebook and make the most of his contacts outside of the marine industry to add to the usual people and companies who donate. It was his enthusiasm and hard work that made the effort as successful as it was,” says Tobin.

Luxury motor yacht Big Fish loaded with $NZ50,000 of aid to Fiji

Cackett worked tirelessly in the run-up to the Boxing Day departure to ensure every piece of donated aid was collected and safely stored on the luxury charter yacht Big Fish. He, along with a team of volunteers, collected aid from MedAire, Leisure Industries, Plunket, Westpac Bank Ponsonby, Events Clothing, Just Water, Medical Aid Abroad, Hygiene Systems, Westmere Primary School, Pakuranga Rotary Club, Quinovic Property, Blue Star Print Group, Rotary Club Newmarket, McCollums Print, BJ Ball, The Peace Foundation, The Pollard Family, Auckland Engineering Supplies as well as the friends and family of the Viaduct Harbour Marine staff.