Voodoo clocks 50.9 knots; Arguably the fastest motoryacht to cross the ditch
by The Boat Works 23 May 05:20 BST
Voodoo XF75 © The Boat Works
The Boat Works has welcomed the Voodoo XF75, Mach 4, which is likely the fastest motor yacht to make it across "The Ditch", making the 1,170 nautical mile voyage from New Zealand to the Gold Coast in just 36 hours.
The 22.8-metre power catamaran has hit a top speed of 50.9 knots, and during the voyage from New Zealand cruised most of the trip at 35 to 36 knots, even amazing Customs agents who were tracking its voyage.
To a soundtrack of Led Zeppelin, ACDC and an assortment of rock, Mitch Pachoud and two other crew from esteemed New Zealand builder, Voodoo Yachts, with the owner and two of his mates, departed from the Bay of Islands on Thursday morning, made a brief stop at Balls Pyramid and Lord Howe Island, then carried on to Australia.
They arrived at Southport Yacht Club Customs on Friday night and were cleared by Border Force Saturday morning. They arrived at The Boat Works by mid-morning and were berthed at the Superyacht basin for finishing touches in preparation for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show where they will exhibit the sensational Voodoo XF75 in its global debut.
With exterior and interiors designed by Voodoo, the 75ft Xpedition Foiler is a described as "devastatingly fast, immensely capable and effortlessly luxurious". It certainly fulfilled all those superlatives on its Tasman Sea crossing.
"We've made fast passages before, but this one was unique!" said Mitch Pachoud. "We did 36 knots most of the way."
Mitch and team visited The Boat Works in late 2024 and decided it was the ideal yard to bring the XF75 in the lead up to exhibiting at SCIBS 2025.
"The facility is awesome," Mitch declared. "It's tidy, beautifully landscaped, and an all-round great experience with its on-site trades, service and cafes. After being here for the past couple of days it's easy to say this will be our choice again in the future."
SCIBS is an important show for Voodoo. "It is the best show in Australasia," stated Mitch.
"We plan to make our entrance in serious style, with an Airbus H130, 7-seater helicopter on the heli-deck, putting us leagues ahead of any competitors."