From Auckland to Hobart, a masterclass in cruising efficiency and comfort.
When the crew of Bellagio—a 2023 Horizon E75 built for world cruising—cast off from Auckland, the Tasman Sea was already stirring. At the helm was Captain Tommy, a veteran of Ocean X, a company specializing in professional true bluewater deliveries. Stepping in for this leg of Bellagio’s tour over the summer, he was joined by young Chris and engineer Sam Wood. The mission: deliver Bellagio to Tasmania via Sydney, navigating shifting weather systems and tight arrival windows.
From the outset, preparations were rigorous. Owner handover complete, the team loaded provisions and fuel for the voyage. Even a bout of flu for the captain during final outfitting didn’t slow the schedule. Sam and Chris carried on with refueling and provisioning until the departure window opened.
Bellagio was purpose-built for independence. She is equipped with a generous freezer and refrigeration capacity, a substantial barbecue, and a layout optimized for long periods away from port. Twin V8 MAN engines, a PTO-drive on her starboard generator, and zero-speed stabilizers assured both range and comfort. Early indications of combined fuel usage showed an efficient consumption of 46 liters per hour at 9 knots, even with an additional two tons of fuel carried on deck.
In the experienced hands of Captain Tommy and team, the crossing began in moderate beam seas, remnants of a cyclone to the north colliding with a low from the Southern Ocean. Stabilizers were held in reserve at first to maintain speed, but at some point would be activated as swells and waves picked up.
As to be expected, weather dictated the rhythm. Cold southerlies along New Zealand’s west coast gave way to lighter breezes, then built again as the yacht edged toward the influence of Cyclone Jasper’s tail. Course adjustments were deliberate, at times steering further south to ease the vessel through the worst of it before turning north toward Sydney. The strategy worked: Bellagio stayed dry and sound, with engineering inspections reporting no faults. All standard procedure for the seasoned Ocean X crew.
Onboard, life settled into a pattern of watch rotations, simple but satisfying meals, and constant monitoring of radar, AIS, and weather models. Chris took on solo watches for the first time, while Sam managed the engineering with quiet efficiency until his own bout of flu. Humor and lighthearted banter punctuated the log, but the focus remained on keeping the schedule tight enough to ride favorable northerlies down the New South Wales coast.
After 1,300 nautical miles and six days at sea, Bellagio entered Sydney Harbour at noon on a Saturday, averaging 8.6 knots on a total fuel burn of just under 8,300 liters. Clearance at Neutral Bay was followed by a frustratingly long four-hour refuel due to slow on-site diesel pumps, then a prompt departure back to sea to beat an approaching southerly across Bass Strait.
The run south for the last 350 miles was aided by one of nature’s greatest slip-and-slides, the East Australian Current, adding up to two knots of free velocity and cutting fuel consumption dramatically. The crew plotted every course change to ride the strongest flows, providing at least a knot of assist as far south as the Freycinet Peninsula even as the current gets weaker further south as the warm water disappears.
Bellagio remained in top form, a capable blue-water, round-the-world cruiser described by Captain Tommy as “a Swiss Army knife in a Fabergé case.” Versatile, practical, and elegantly styled, she is manageable for a husband-and-wife team. Everything has been meticulously thought out with practicality and real-world use in mind.
Her fuel economy is exceptional, beating the record of the many other yachts in the same category that Captain Tommy has delivered. She can as easily cross oceans, chase bluefin tuna, or entertain dinner guests, offering relaxing balmy evenings with swimming from the submerged platform and lounging in the beach club.
A few days after the dash out of Sydney, Hobart was in sight. The voyage had delivered on every measure, from efficiency, reliability, and crew endurance, to secure Bellagio’s place as a true long-range performer.
Renowned for his top-rated expertise, Captain Tommy has proudly served as a trusted Horizon Captain for many years. Learn more about his exciting adventures at his Facebook page for the latest updates at www.facebook.com/oceanxxx, or email him at [email protected].
To Learn More about the E75 Skylounge:
– Virtual Tour: https://bit.ly/3SeLL8t
