Allures 45.9 in New Zealand: an enchanted interlude at the end of the world

This picture gallery is the story of a meeting. On the one hand, English sailors Julian and Patricia from Herefordshire, who have been cruising in New Zealand for over a year aboard A Capella of Belfast, their Allures 45.9. We met them at the end of 2019, as they were preparing to sail to the Samoan Islands.

Stranded in New Zealand waters due to sanitary restrictions, with no way of getting their yacht back to Dover, they had considered a radical solution: contact Allures to sell their boat in Auckland... and order a new one in Europe! In the end, reason prevailed over impulse: A Capella was transported by cargo ship to Europe in March 2021.

On the other side, Gilles Martin-Raget, a leading figure in sailing photography, based in Marseille but present in Auckland for the 36th America's Cup. Between the opening of the village in December 2020 and the closing ceremony in March 2021, he will be intensively documenting this great celebration of international yachting, enriching his site with an impressive gallery.

At the beginning of March, the paths of Julian, Patricia and Gilles crossed around Kawau Island. Located in the Gulf of Hauraki, 40 km north of Auckland, the island is nicknamed "the island of 100 pontoons" for its near-absence of roads. Its rare biodiversity and landscapes reminiscent of Brittany, Provence or the far reaches of the Pacific make it an exceptional setting.

This inspiring natural setting becomes the stage for a spontaneous photo shoot, capturing the elegance of the yacht and the freedom of its owners. TheAllures 45.9 is revealed in all its beauty: an aluminumcenterboarder designed to fully experience those other places that awaken the soul.

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Discover this enchanted interlude, in pictures.