Few yachts built in this country carry quite the weight of story that this one does. With her sale now confirmed, a significant new chapter has opened in New Zealand's superyacht history.
The 39.2-metre expedition motor yacht The Beast has changed hands in a transaction brokered jointly by Xtenders, builders of limousine tenders who introduced the buyer, and Ikonic Yachts, who acted for the seller. The deal closed at a listing price of US$14.5 million, placing one of the most capable and individual superyacht builds ever to come out of New Zealand on an entirely new heading.
The sale follows the passing of the yacht's original owner, the late Sir Michael Hill, in July 2025. The Beast was commissioned by Sir Michael and launched in 2019, conceived deliberately as a departure from everything conventional about the superyacht world. His own words captured the intent plainly: "I knew if I ever built another yacht, I'd go for something a bit different." That ambition ran through every decision of the design brief and is evident throughout the finished vessel.
Designed by LOMOcean Marine and built by Profab Central Engineering, The Beast reflects a distinctly New Zealand sensibility, one that prizes practicality, purpose, and quiet confidence over spectacle. Her twin-hull aluminium construction delivers outstanding stability and generous internal volume, while a relatively shallow draft belies her overall size. She offers the living space of a considerably larger monohull without sacrificing the operational flexibility demanded by remote and extended passage-making.
Speed was never part of the brief. Cruising at around 11 knots and reaching a top speed of 13 knots, The Beast is built for endurance rather than urgency. Her range allows thousands of nautical miles to be covered between fuel stops, making her as relevant in the far Pacific as she is in New Zealand's own coastal waters. For any owner with genuine expedition ambitions, that kind of reach is not a bonus feature. It is the fundamental point of the vessel.
Her purpose is perhaps most obvious in the aft deck arrangement. From the outset, The Beast was designed to carry and launch a 13-metre custom game fishing vessel, sitting alongside a full complement of additional tenders and equipment. These are not optional additions treated as extras. They are central to how the yacht functions, giving access to remote anchorages, outlying fishing grounds, and stretches of coastline that would otherwise be unreachable.
Supporting all of that capability is a framework of commercial-grade systems covering fuel capacity, onboard handling, and operational infrastructure. The Beast was always intended to operate independently, well away from marinas and shore support, for extended periods at a time. That self-sufficiency is built into the vessel's foundations, not bolted on as an afterthought.
Capability alone does not define The Beast, though. Accommodation for up to 12 guests is arranged across five staterooms, with separate quarters for a crew of nine. The interior layout balances practicality with genuine comfort, featuring open-plan living areas that flow naturally toward the galley and a range of indoor and outdoor spaces suited equally to long passages and lively gatherings. That combination of rugged function and real liveability is, arguably, what distinguishes The Beast most clearly from comparable vessels in her class.
Ikonic Yachts noted that the transaction was a complex one, drawing on a narrow pool of prospective buyers and requiring careful positioning within a global market. The Beast was never conceived with broad appeal in mind. She was built for a very specific kind of owner, someone drawn to independence, remote access, and the freedom to travel well beyond the familiar and the easily reached.
With ownership now settled, what happens next remains an open question. Whether The Beast continues ranging across the Pacific, moves into charter service, or sets course for more distant waters, she remains exactly what Sir Michael Hill had in mind when the project first took shape. A platform for genuine exploration, built in New Zealand.
The Beast is currently located in Auckland, New Zealand.
