Construction has begun on a 177ft (54m) sloop at Alloy Yachts in Auckland, New Zealand. Tiara will be the largest sloop built to date and is slightly longer than the ketch Salperton delivered by Alloy Yachts in January 2002. Salperton was then the largest pleasure vessel ever built in New Zealand.

Tiara will be built to X100 A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6 LMC CCS and will be flagged in the Cayman Islands.

The design from Dubois Naval Architects has created a fast sloop with large living spaces and extensive accommodation. She has a beam of 36ft (11m) and a 63m (208ft) carbon fibre mast, which will be fitted with in boom furling. Sails will be handled by captive winches designed by Alloy Yachts and by Reckman furlers.

Tiara has a large saloon and formal dining area for up to 12 guests.

Guest accommodation provides for an owner’s suite in the centre of the vessel with separate office, two twin cabins which can be converted to doubles and two double cabins. The crew layout has six cabins all with en-suite bathrooms for up to 12 crew.

Tiara will have a Caterpillar 3412E main engine and be fitted with two 104kW 6108T Northern Lights Generators.

The yacht will be launched in May 2004.