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8 Fascinating Facts About ‘Kokomo,’ the Lightning-Fast 192-Foot Sailing Superyacht

The 192-footer has a 242-foot-high mast and spinnaker half the size of a football field. but it's so automated it can be sailed by two people., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

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The 192-foot Kokomo was the second largest sloop in the world when it launched from New Zealand’s Alloy Yachts shipyard in 2010. It remains the largest fast-cruising sloop available for charter. The yacht’s commissioning owner Lang Walker (who died in January 2024) was a seasoned sailor who gave all three of his yachts the same name.

The first was a 131-foot sloop, which Walker replaced five years later with a 171-footer. The same day he took delivery of his 171-foot sloop, he placed an order for the third and final 192-foot Kokomo, which he planned to use for racing and cruising around the world. He also kept the same design team for all three yachts, with exterior and naval architecture by Ed Dubois and interior by UK’s RWD.

The reference to the yacht’s name has had different explanations over the years, ranging from the pseudonym of a composer whose music Walker played as a child to a nod to the Beach Boys’s song from their 1988 album Still Cruisin’ , which references a fictional utopian island called Kokomo. The island fantasy was brought to life in 2011 when Walker acquired a private island in Fiji’s Great Astrolabe Reef and named it Kokomo .

Here are eight unknown facts about one of the most game-changing sailing yachts on the water.

You’re Going to Need a Bigger Boom

When Kokomo was launched, she was the second-largest sloop in the world and carried the largest set of sails made by Doyle Sails in New Zealand. The 23,971-square-foot asymmetric spinnaker is half the size of a professional football field, while the 9,688-square-foot mainsail needs a crane to lift it. Because of the gargantuan size of the sails, the designers entered a new era of spar and winch design, having to “reinvent” the deck equipment—winches, mast, boom, rigging and sails—to cope with the 31.6-ton load on the genoa sheet and 32-ton load on the main sheet clew. The 244-foot carbon mast is the largest ever made by Southern Spars.

A Hidden Lifting Keel

The yacht’s 130-ton lifting keel is one of its most impressive features, though it’s largely left to the imagination. The interior layout is carefully designed so that the keel structure remains hidden. Dubois Naval Architects positioned the keel box to come above the main deck, serving as a partial separation between the bridge and the main salon (see inset). Kokomo was only the second yacht to be fitted with a lifting a keel, the first being 246-foot M5 (ex-Mirabella V), the world’s largest single-masted sailing yacht. This innovative design shortens Kokomo’s 28.5-foot draft when the keel is fully extended, to just 15 feet for shallow waters.

Fast-Track Sailing

Kokomo was one of the first yachts to be fitted with a hydraulic batt-car system for furling the mainsail, which has cars at each batten end that slot in an outer track on the mast. This alleviates a once-common issue where the luff tape or bolt rope on large sailing yachts became chaffed by the compression of the battens, which often caused the in-boom furling mainsails to fail. “When sailing Kokomo , especially when racing, I am completely impressed with the speed and efficiency of the hydraulic system,” says Kokomo ’s captain, Jeremy ‘Bear’ Wynne, who notes the yacht’s recorded top speed is a very impressive 22 knots. “The jib furlers are some of the fastest I have seen. There is absolutely no shortage of hydraulic power, even with multiple winches running on a jibe—a rarity on a big sailing yacht.”

Now You See It, Now You Don’t

Kokomo might be big on technology, but never at the expense of design. The wheelhouse has fold-down computer screens that conceal the navigation equipment when not in use, converting to beautiful carbon counter tops. This design sleight of hand transforms a highly technical area into a tony lounge. It’s a theme that extends to the foredeck, where the yacht’s two tenders are concealed in dedicated lockers. There’s also a fully retractable tender crane that launches the tenders from either side of the boat but disappears out of sight when guests are using the Jacuzzi. “The designated deck lockers were an advanced feature at the time of her launch,” says Wynne, adding that another bonus is that diesel tanks are fully available. “The tenders can be fueled onboard before launching.”

It Takes Just A Few Good Sailors

Kokomo can accommodate up to 10 crew in total, but theoretically it only takes two to sail—a helm person and a sail trimmer. That sounds almost impossible given the size and complexity of yacht. But all sails are controlled by joystick on the flybridge. And when the boat is in full-on racing mode, there are control stations on both sides, providing visibility of the sails. Thanks to the hydraulics system, the mainsail can be hoisted and lowered on a wireless remote control. Of course, maneuvers like stowing the massive genoa can never be automated. That’s a job for a half-dozen good sailors.

Art On Board

The hallway that leads to the owner’s cabin is lined with a mosaic tapestry made from sea glass woven together with wire. Backlit to create an unusual effect, it’s just one of the eclectic works of art that decorates the interior. The main salon also has a stunning and colorful work of glass art as another example.

Interior Matters

Kokomo is not all tech features. The yacht’s modern interiors combine dark wood floors and calming cream furnishings start in the main salon and continue across the five guest cabins. Penned by British studio Redman Whiteley Dixon, the design carefully wraps around the lifting keel without sacrificing or impeding on any interior guest space. The yacht accommodates up to 10 guests in a master suite, VIP, one double cabin and two twins. There are other accommodations for up to 10 crew. On the foredeck, the Jacuzzi brings another element of outdoor entertainment, bolstered by a sunken cockpit.

World Traveler

The mandate issued by Walker was to create a yacht that was a “quantum leap forward” from his previous yachts, with superior sailing characteristics and guest comfort. The mast’s height is too tall to sail through the Panama or Suez Canals, which meant it would have to be designed to sail around Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope to reach the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The maiden voyage took the yacht from the New Zealand shipyard to Australia, New Caledonia, the Solomon Islands, and Fiji. It also spent time at Walker’s private island (pictured above), also named Kokomo. The vessel has since spent many years exploring the Caribbean and Med. It’s based in both regions during the respective cruising seasons, with charters available through Cecil Wright.

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Building the dream

Superyacht owner and avid racer lang walker shares his passions for sailing and island life..

15 February 2018

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Following the passing of Australian real-estate tycoon and avid sailor Lang Walker in January 2024, Ocean magazine revisits a 2018 interview where he delves into the evolution of his Kokomo legacy.

His journey unfolds from the exhilarating realm of Farr 40 sailing to the meticulous curation of a magnificent fleet of super sailing yachts, showcasing Lang’s unwavering dedication to both the art of sailing and the creation of one of Fiji’s most exquisite island resorts.

Lang Walker is one of Australia’s most successful and best-known property developers, having carved out a stellar career over the last 50 years with his Walker Corporation, but his passions often run to the water-based rather than on land.

Having started out his sailing life at the tender age of nine, when he was growing up in the Sydney suburb of Yowie Bay, Walker has never been far from boats and yachts, despite his many business commitments.

An avid One-Design competitive sailor, Walker also likes to take things easy at sea by enjoying family time on his New Zealand-built, 58.4-metre superyacht S/Y Kokomo , delivered in 2010 by Alloy Yachts. Last year Walker opened his newly developed private island resort, also named Kokomo, which celebrates life in the slow lane with barefoot chic crossed with luxury facilities.

Lang took a break from his R&R on Kokomo to talk with Ocean about his love of sailing, why it pays to know what you want from a new build project, and fostering the next generation of sailors through philanthropy.

Ocean  magazine (OM): When did your love of the ocean and yachts start?

Lang Walker: I developed my passion for the ocean and sailing early on in life at the age of nine, when I lived on the water at Yowie Bay.

Can you share with our readers your three favourite boats that you have owned and why they make the top three?

My three favourite boats would be Yarrawin, the Farr 40 Yacht and S/Y Kokomo . Yarrawin is a beautiful, soft carbon-fibre yacht with a classic wooden, old-boat-style exterior, and the Farr 40 Yacht fits the One-Design sailing model demanded by Farr 40 Championships.

In my opinion, One-Design sailing is the best in the world as everyone is equal and winning comes down to the crew and their skill to succeed; it’s intense, competitive and exciting.

S/Y Kokomo is the ultimate sailing boat, delivering power and speed. Sailing through stunning European destinations on S/Y Kokomo is exceptional.

When is your most cherished memory of yachting from and why?

The first time I won the National Farr 40 Titles because it was a very competitive and a close race. One-Design boat racing and hearing the wave of the boat heading into the finish line was motivation to win.

Where’s your favourite destination to visit by yacht and why?

One of our favourite destinations to visit is the top end of Sardinia to pick up fresh Corsican rosé before travelling down to Porto Cervo and then on to Bonifacio. We love the beautiful anchorages along these coastlines, the crystal-clear waters, the food and crisp rosé at each port.

You have built a number of custom superyachts over your time as an owner. What did you draw on from your property development experience during the process?

Vision and attention to detail are important aspects in property development, and something that translates to sailing. I’m always looking to innovate and push the boundaries in both property development and sailing. One example is building a 58.4-metre sloop with a 130-tonne lifting keel to create the largest spinnaker in the history of the world, as well as introducing 3DL sails to the superyacht.

I have owned and modified an array of yachts over the years. Predominantly, a series of prized racing yachts named S/Y Kokomo . Each reiteration of this superyacht has evolved along with my competitive sailing career and experience.

What advice would you give to anyone considering commissioning a custom superyacht for the first time?

You need to fully understand the needs of a boat and look beyond the architect’s requirements. Boats are space deficient and as such, where you situate the stairs and openings is of the utmost importance. Be mindful that it is very easy to be directed by an architect to do things that don’t suit a yacht. Space is paramount in a yacht design.

If you could change one thing about the yachting business, as a consumer, what would it be?

I would urge superyacht owners to contribute to sailing clubs and academies to support the next generation of sailing talent. Personally, I support the Australian Olympic Sailing Team and the Youth Sailing Academy, and am a proud sponsor of and involved in the Farr 40 sailing group.

Congratulations on the opening of Kokomo Island last year. What is your favourite thing about the island and why?

My favourite thing about Kokomo Private Island is the close proximity – it’s only 10 minutes from shore – to the Great Astrolabe Reef. The fourth largest reef on the planet, it offers some of the best diving and fishing in the world in a remote, unspoiled and unfrequented location.

What has been the greatest challenge and the biggest reward of the project, and how has it compared to your property development projects – both personal and commercial – on the mainland?

It has been the most challenging project that Walker Corporation has ever undertaken. This is due to the logistics of the remote location and my relentless pursuit to create the best resort in the Pacific. We have delivered the hardware: stunning beachfront villas, private residences, world-class restaurants, extensive facilities and endless activities. Now my focus is on the software and bringing in people who are proud of working for the best resort and are passionate about continuing to lift the standards of the food and service, to which Fiji is unaccustomed.

The biggest reward has been involving and working with my family, who share my enthusiasm and vision for this private island paradise.

Together, we have created the ideal escape from the world and a destination we are proud of and love to visit as a family most holidays. There’s nothing more satisfying or rewarding than when my children and their families come together and make memories on Kokomo.

Kokomo features a sustainable design. Can you explain what is meant by this and why was it important to you? Does the environmental angle extend to other operations, too?

Like Walker Corporation, integral to Kokomo’s core values are environmental and cultural sustainability. We are committed to sustainable development and to exceeding industry standards for sustainability. We have invested millions of dollars to lift our sites well beyond health and environmental standards and we pride ourselves in employing the latest in environmentally sustainable design principles (green technologies) to create sustainable buildings with efficient water, energy and aeration systems for a healthy working environment.

The Green Star and NABERS industry standards, put in place by the Green Building Council Australia, are how we measure the environmental sustainability of our projects. We committed to achieving a minimum five Green Star – As Built standard on all commercial and retail projects, if not the maximum six Green Star rating.

In addition to our core principles, in Fiji, during the build of Kokomo, no expense was spared in sourcing the finest local building materials for the resort. From the local plantation timbers to the stone from the island (and surrounding islands) to the craft building materials and the production of a large proportion of our furniture on the island. Beyond design and development, we grow the majority of our vegetables and herbs on the island using organic practices, farm chickens and keep bees.

What can we next expect from the resort – is there anything in the pipeline?

We’re always tweaking our offering to achieve the vision of a six-star serviced resort, ensuring that everyone who visits and stays with us has the best possible experience on their holiday.

What is luxury to you?

To me, luxury encompasses everything that exceeds your expectations. Our approach is to continually strive for excellence across the board and deliver an unparalleled personal approach.

What single piece of advice, both for business and in your personal life, would you give yourself as a 25-year-old?

Don’t get ahead of yourself and keep your feet on the ground. Humility is the most important thing in any personal or business instance.

kokomoislandfiji.com

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Published on January 29th, 2024 | by Editor

Eight Bells: Lang Walker

Published on January 29th, 2024 by Editor -->

A titan of the property development industry and sailing philanthropy, Australia’s Lang Walker AO passed away peacefully at home on January 27, 2024 at the age of 78, surrounded by his family.

He founded what was to become Walker Corporation with his father 60 years ago – a company which began as an excavation group but grew to manage thousands of major urban and community projects across Australia, Malaysia, Canada, and the U.S.

As a philanthropist, Lang also contributed and gave so much of his time to the arts, education, social welfare, health care, and sport.

Walker personally supported the Australian Olympic Sailing Team and the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia Youth Sailing Academy, and urged other owners to “contribute to sailing clubs and academies to support the next generation of sailing talent.”

From childhood, he had a lifelong love affair with the ocean. With his first boat, a Vaucluse Junior (VJ), he began what was to become a succession of boats named Kokomo – the name later passed onto many of his other boats including several superyachts. It also became the name for his private island resort in Fiji.

He was heavily involved with one-design racing and was a major supporter of the Australian Farr 40 Association. He won the 2007 and 2008 Australian Championships on Kokomo and competed around the world. One of his other favorite boats was the stunning soft carbon yacht Yarrawin which had a classic wooden boat exterior.

In 2015, Walker was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the community.

Lang is survived by his wife Sue, three children, and 10 grandchildren.

Tags: Eight Bells , Lang Walker

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Kokomo Private Island: Billionaire Lang Walker’s Pristine Fiji Paradise

Is it possible to fall in love with an island’s kindness, sincerity and serene self-respect? When it comes to Kokomo Private Island, the answer is yes. It’s the kind of healing place that restores your ability to believe in positivity again, even as the rest of the world is engulfed in wild chaos and change. In this haven of wellness and sporting life, you can begin again, and that is the beginning of everything.

The master builder and property impresario behind Kokomo, Fiji’s shiniest new private island resort, has built a beacon for those who can afford the very best travel experiences the world has to offer. At 76, Lang Walker has never been more primed to seize the day; he takes hold of unbridled opportunity by the horns. The Australian billionaire has adapted his bullish business sensibility towards steering hard into the headwinds of happiness.

From his leading role at Walker corporate headquarters (think blue chip commercial property developer) to kicking back barefoot on his yacht, he’s a heavyweight of capitalizing on his instincts. These days, he’s completely dialed-in on Kokomo. “There is an enormous satisfaction in knowing our wonderful island staff, who have done it so tough over the last year, are greeting guests with their warm friendly smiles again,” Walker muses. “Kokomo is all about the welcome, the experience and the everlasting memories and we are so happy to be sharing our private paradise along with that one-of-a-kind Fijian welcome.” In many ways, Kokomo is Walker’s most beloved trophy, named after his first dinghy—the most potent emblem of his childhood—which he christened at the tender age of 10.

Fiji has long held a fascination for generations of explorers, travelers and artists. The archipelago has been glorified in cultural mythology as an eternal symbol of paradise. The stylish livery aboard Fiji Airways—designed by renowned Fijian Masi artist Makereta Matemosi—gets you in the Kokomo mood on the tarmac. Once you land at Nadi International Airport, the resort team whisks you away in style on Walker’s seaplane.

Kokomo’s startling phosphorescence is right out of a Pixar blockbuster—too vivid, too self-aware, too deliriously pleasurable. It gives the island more mythological panache than merely skating by on natural beauty assets alone. The villas are ambitious and far-fetched gambits that actually work—because vacationing with in-laws requires a larger footprint than you can possibly imagine.

Fishing for trophy wahoo and swordfish aboard Lang Walker’s boat is the most next-level day on the water you can have in Fiji. Reeling in a 300+ pounder is the ultimate way to get your adrenaline fix while on holiday here. The cruising grounds are among the finest in the hemisphere—the sailing scene rivals those of Nevis and the Grenadines. And if you can’t tell your sheets from your slips, Kokomo’s captains are on hand to steer you into perfect bliss as you float through uninhabited cays—completely off-grid, barely on the map. Think footprint-less stretches of sand and zero noise pollution. Visit in the morning during low tide for the maximum in delicious stretches of cake flour fine sand.

Kokomo’s key sustainable seafood initiative is Dock to Dish—bring your catch back to the island to be prepared fresh for you the next day. All fish caught throughout Kokomo’s fishing tours are used by the restaurant, and the species depend on the time of year. You can enjoy freshly caught Yellowfin Tuna or Mahi Mahi in the hot summer season and Wahoo in the cooler months. In addition to year-round Deep-Sea Pakapaka Snapper and Spanish Mackerel, Dock to Dish utilizes local seaweeds as a food source. The Kokomo Marine Biology team forages these “greens of the sea” from local nearby village communities to support local small-scale fisheries.

To the freeport savvy set, Kokomo also is an ingenious storage solution for Walker. Pretty sweet digs for the superyacht aficionado’s considerable collection of recreational toys: a Global 600 private jet, a flotilla of boats, two barges, two helicopters including an Airbus model, and two seaplanes, one being a luxurious Twin Otter. Katoa is the resort’s flashy new 51-foot Bertram Flybridge, while the Kahala is a 40-foot Riviera Express, both posh game fishing yachts boasting overnight accommodations. Walker also shares a hangar in Suva with Google co-founder Larry Page.

Kokomo’s spa is one of the most compelling offerings here, simply sublime from start to finish. This is not the place to fret about massages versus facials—book both for the full benefits of a wellness-centric stay. Sunrise yoga led by Alexandra Owen is a revelation and a reset all at once, her wealth of holistic expertise, social intuition and grace is a pitch-perfect fit for this property.

For full takeover, sprawl your social set out amongst the nine villas and four residences at the resort. Cinnamon hardwood sourced from nearby Mago Island (privately owned by neighbor Mel Gibson) is crafted into impossibly chic furniture (only if you’re partial to boho) and locally sourced mahogany stars in the louvres, while plantation pines soar above in the roofing. And when we say inclusive, we mean all-in. Midnight orders as light as yellowtail sashimi or as bender-worthy as a bottle of Two Paddocks Pinot Noir and a tomahawk ribeye are most welcome. Staff sincerely seem happy to see you living your best life. Welcome to the whimsy and wonder of Kokomo.

As waters here have essentially never been fished commercially, Kokomo boasts some of the most surreal snorkeling and diving in the country—akin to exploring a pre-industrial aquatic underworld. These nearby reefs set the gold standard for PADI diving when conditions are favorable. With over 30 storied sites to choose from, the spectacle of marine life is endless. The phenomenally clear waters of Kokomo’s nearby Great Astrolabe Reef are a diver’s dream, and Fiji’s claim to fame. Imagine walls of spellbinding, soft corals and schools of large pelagic fish—rainbow runners and barracuda swanning by your mask.

Back on dry land, a guided tour of the resort’s 5.5-acre farm will enhance your sense of star ingredients on your plate every evening. Insist on Chef Sa Va’afusuaga as your guide; he is the resort’s beloved new Executive Chef, a ravishingly talented Kiwi-Samoan. Touring the hydroponics garden and vanilla plantation with him reveals much of the inspiration behind his cunning creations. And in true Kokomo style, resident bees make honey in hives styled like something out of a Lilly Pulitzer photoshoot, complete with panoramic ocean views. The free-range chickens also enjoy a designer coop with ample in-and-out privileges.

The expert-led wine cellar experience is not to be missed. It’s a very impressive and intrepid operation. Sommelier Lily Puamau leads guests down the rabbit hole of the island’s enviable list of vintage libations. This native rising star is one to watch at Kokomo. Everything is done with great intention and conviction here; it’s pretty remarkable to witness how obsessive the staff is at doing well at every task at hand.

A truly great holiday is an exercise in concierge calisthenics and soft storytelling. As you are poetically enveloped in this island’s embrace and seamless service, you will quickly devise ways to return.

KokomoIslandFiji.com

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Sailing yacht owners on why they love to sail

While they may be far outweighed in number by their motor yacht-owning peers, most sailing yacht owners wouldn’t swap their  J Classes  and  regatta-ready yachts  for anything. Here ten owners tell us why they just can’t get enough of life under sail.

A sailing yacht is ultimate tool for exploring the world

Marcus Blackmore is no stranger to the regatta circuit. An accomplished yachtsman and serial superyacht owner, he's travelled far and wide competing in the world's most renowned races, from the glamourous Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta to the gruelling 630-mile offshore Sydney Hobart race (which he's sailed a hefty 12 times). And while there's nothing like the feeling of lifting the trophy at the end of a regatta weekend, he's never happier than when exploring the remote islands of the South Pacific on board his racer-cruiser Ammonite . 

Blackmore could write a book filled with stories of his adventures visiting the islands, like the time he became an honorary chief in Samoa or when he was offered three pigs and four shells for his step daughter’s hand in marriage in New Guinea. “You don't get those experiences in the Med or the Caribbean," he said.

Having taken delivery of a brand new Southern Wind 92 at the end of 2020 he shows no signs of slowing down. After the trip from South Africa to New Zealand, Ammonite will be put to the test at the New Zealand Millennium Cup and Mastercard Superyacht Regatta . “I'm not sure then whether we're going to go west and do some regattas in Asia, or we might go to Tahiti again. I don't want to be too planned. I think being a little unplanned adds a bit of mystery and a bit of beauty to the whole thing.”

It’s all about fun with friends and family for Marc Giorgetti

While Marc “Gio” Giorgetti grew up in landlocked Luxembourg his fondest memories were of summers spent out on the water. “I was in the water all the time, from morning to night, swimming, sailing, rowing and waterskiing.” Having cruised extensively with family he knew exactly what he wanted from a sailing yacht and commissioned a Solaris 72 (the first of three).

Then, in 2020, Giorgetti took delivery of his largest sailing yacht to date, the 33.8 metre Solaris flagship CeFeA named after his children. Built from carbon, CeFeA is light– 75 tonnes with 22 tonnes of ballast included – and fast, though racing is not the point. “I am not a regatta guy. I prefer to have fun with friends and family on the boat. If I do a regatta, it’s for the pure pleasure of sailing.” CeFeA offers the best of both worlds. “We have a performance-oriented boat with a large owner’s cabin with two bathrooms, four bedrooms and a crew area for five with generous volume. Happy crew, happy owner,” he says. “Competitors have to go to 40 metres to get the same comfort inside space-wise.”

Exploring the seas under canvas is the key to happiness says Aldo Melpignano

Italian businessman Aldo Melpignano purchased the 33.6-metre sailing yacht Imagine , designed by the peerless Ed Dubois, to sail around the world with his family. Imagine's previous owners had proved her mettle with three circumnavigations and a trip to the Arctic, and so she was the perfect choice for the adventure-seeking Melpignano clan. 

“My wife and I, my mum, my sister and younger brother own Imagine and share her together,” explains Melpignano. “Because we work in hospitality, we tend to work when most people are on holiday so, as such, usually there are no ‘fights’ over who goes when. Imagine ’s greatest adventure came in 2017. “My wife, our kids and I spent six months on board in the Caribbean, from the Leewards to the Windwards, ending up in Cuba,” says Melpignano. "This year we will use her to explore the Western Caribbean like Costa Rica, Belize and Panama. She’ll keep going around the world as long as she can… and as long as we’re able to.”

Nothing compares to the thrill of the racecourse for Lang Walker

From a humble dinghy to a series of superyacht sloops, serial sailing yacht owner Lang Walker has built quite the yachting dynasty. All his sailing yachts have had the same name proudly displayed across the transom, Kokomo , which is a tribute to the Vaucluse Junior dinghy he used to race as child. This was where his lifelong affair with sailing began. Walker's first foray into superyachts started with a 42 metre sloop designed by the late Ed Dubois and built by New Zealand’s Alloy Yachts which was a winning combination that remained unchanged through his next two builds: a 52 metre and 58 metre.

Alongside his Kokomo superyachts Walker’s need for speed has also been fulfilled by racing Farr 40s. “I have always been in racing and sailing ever since I was a kid, then about 15 years ago got into the Farr 40 class. When they had a really big fleet I had one in Sydney, one in Europe and one in America and we would do the regattas all around the world. It was pretty exciting sailing and good, close one-design racing,” he says. Nothing can come between Walker and the racecourse, not even two hip replacement surgeries.

A boyhood love of the ocean never left Joey Kaempfer

From many yacht owners, both motor and sailing, their passion for the ocean begins in childhood - and for Joey Kaempfer , owner of sailing yacht Rosehearty , it was no different. The difference for Kaempfer, however, was that he was building the boats himself. “The first boat was probably six feet long and the bottom would have been a piece of plywood and the sides would have been fibreboard," he recalls. "My friends and I painted it and then way too soon, when it was wet, we took it to the lake and poled our way out. Nobody was watching us and, of course, it instantly started disintegrating. Some mother in one of the houses saw us and started screaming. I was a strong swimmer and managed to get everyone to shore, but it was a complete disaster. At that point my parents gave in and bought me a rowboat.”

Despite these rocky beginnings Kaempfer was soon upgrading until the chance to buy his current 56 metre from Rupert Murdoch came along. “I knew I wanted a Perini ,” he says. “As I was taken on board I thought it was very handsome and then I got in it and took one look at the Christian Liaigre-designed saloon and I thought ‘magnificent’. Rupert originally wanted an outrageous price but I finally got to a price where I thought I could spend a couple of extra million to have the boat I wanted. I ended up spending a lot more than two million. I mean a lot more! But I’ve got the perfect boat now.”

For Lenny Recanati it's all about getting back to nature

Lenny Recanati , former owner of 27 metre sailing yacht Vivid , has circumnavigated the world no fewer than two times and travelled over 130,000 miles on board so he certainly has enough experience to identify the true beauty of sailing. His travels have taken him to far-flung locations including Papua New Guinea and Cuba and it is this opportunity to get away from it all that really makes sailing appeal.

“It’s about nature. It’s about the fact that you turn off the engine and just sail with the waves and the wind and nothing else. It is the fact that, by the force of nature, the boat is moving, which is incredible,” he explains. “Nothing comes close to this.”

That said, traversing remote waters in a sailing yacht does have its difficulties. “ Vivid is not an ice class boat or a racing boat, but it has everything: it’s a good performance boat and a very safe boat," he says. "We have been very careful and we know how to navigate through ice. “[But] as we passed Cape Horn, we were hit with 10 metre waves and 50 knot wind gusts. It was pretty crazy. The guy driving the boat put it in autopilot. The boat swung 180 degrees and the mainsail ripped a bit. My crew took control and steadied the boat. But the first half hour was very scary.”

Life at sea is the reward of years of hard work for Milton Sender

Like many yacht owners Milton Sender , co-founder of Daymon Worldwide, is a self-made man whose yacht WindQuest is the reward of years of hard work. “I’m totally unstressed," he says of his idyllic work/life balance. "If I get three or four emails a day, that’s a lot. I do not work. I mean, occasionally I might have to push a button on the boat, but that’s about it.”

This laid back retirement translates into an equally casual cruising schedule with Sender opting for destinations on a whim. “I worked real hard for 50 years and when I retired I said I wanted to play hard,” he explains. “Most summers, we have a starting spot and I have a place that we’re going to sort of end and in between we say ‘oh that’s cool’, or ‘this town is near there, let’s do that’,” adds Sender’s long-time captain Drew Meyers. “And then it just sort of snowballs.”

Leonardo Ferragamo mixes business with pleasure on board

With a controlling stake in Nautor’s Swan and one of the builder’s finest sailing yachts, Solleone , in his possession, Leonardo Ferragamo is about as avid as a sailing yacht fan comes. For Ferragamo sailing is all about spending time with family – and he has no problem mixing business with pleasure.

“I came to the company with an immense respect for what they do," he says. "This was not an industry but a conglomerate of craftsmen. They work with their hands, passing on their talent from generation to generation; these are the same families who built ships for some of the greatest navies in the world. So I wanted to treasure that, and add strong direction, new skills only where gaps needed to be filled.

“I have always believed that being on a boat is the best way of spending time with your family. I know I will get into trouble for saying this, but sailing adds an extra element to the boating lifestyle and the family experience. You need to use your brain, you need to work together, and you get so much more out of it as a result.”

The nomadic life of sailing suits phinisi owner Mark Robba

If there are two things that most superyacht owners prize above all else in their vessels it is the privacy and freedom they provide. It is the later that appealed to Mark Robba when he began building his traditional Indonesian phinisi Dunia Baru in 2008, “I have always known that the very best way to travel is by boat, and probably by sailboat. You’re always home and, if you get tired of one place, you just move on to the next,” he explains.

“I’ve always tried to instil in my family and children that you should never take a vacation. You can sit by a swimming pool and it’s just kind of boring. Really, what we always want is adventure, and the way I define it would be when you did something where you experienced all the emotions, and not just joy, happiness and excitement but also feelings of discomfort or frustration. But once you’ve done it you have a feeling of accomplishment.”

The sea inspires Pete Townshend’s musical creativity

For most superyacht owners their life at the sea is the result, rather than the cause, of their successful careers. Not so for The Who’s Pete Townshend - former celebrity superyacht owner of 38.4 metre Jongert sailing yacht Gloria - who says that he has found musical inspiration on the ocean for as long as he can remember.

“When I was in the Sea Scouts, I had something which you can only really call a revelation on the river,” he explains. “I was on a motorboat with a bunch of other boys and I lost consciousness and started to hear this incredible music. I spent a lot of time as a composer trying to recreate that music I heard then – I’ve come close here and there, but never really cracked it properly.

“ Love, Reign O’er Me , which is probably one of the best, if not the best, song I’ve ever written is about being on the ocean in the rain. It’s the closing song on Quadrophenia , the boy is either in the boat or on the rock, and you don’t really know what happens to him at the end of the story. But it’s raining and it’s about the vastness of the ocean and how small we feel. I think that’s something that every sailor knows.”

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