With the triple masts standing at around 62.5m high, more than 20m above the runway, they created a temporary obstacle for arriving and departing aircraft.
On her maiden voyage from The Netherlands, Sea Eagle II reportedly belongs to Taiwanese billionaire businessman and philanthropist Samuel Yen-Liang Yin.Thompson has lived at Whangārei Heads since 1974 and also in the Bay of Islands where, along with friends, he built the schooner R. Tucker Thompson and named it after his father.Upon Sea Eagle II’s arrival in the Bay of Islands last week, she was met by the schooner.
“We’re testing the systems,” he explained. “It’s quite a sophisticated boat with a lot of systems. Most of them are working well but some need attention.” “My wife and I and one of the co-captains were quite keen to come here with it so we had some degree of influence over it coming here. We’re very appreciative to be here. New Zealand is the place to get this work done.”