'Where the Wind Blows… June 2009'
by New Zealand Marine Artist Jim Bolland

‘Zana’ comes home!
(Well, nearly.)

"Zana" is a fine example of just how beautiful a 98 foot maxi yacht can look. Every now and then a yacht design exceeds the appearance that garners compliments like: "She's a good looking boat!" or "Handsome yacht, that!"

When it does, you hear the words "Beautiful boat, isn't she!" "Zana" is a yacht that gets that compliment, often.

But then, it's probably not surprising, because "Zana's" design came from the board of Kiwi designer Brett Bakewell-White, whose designs combine the use of all the high-tech, computer driven evaluation with a good old fashioned dose of artistic flair.

No matter what angle your view, "Zana" never offends the eye!

"Zana" was launched on October 18 2003, a product of the highly regarded composite race yacht builder, Hakes Marine of Wellington, New Zealand. On programmed delivery time, on designed weight and after several days of frantic work, that included mast stepping, rigging and testing systems, she was ready to sail.

Compliments flowed regarding the structural finish and fairness of the hull. A glorious racing future appeared to lie ahead of this fixed keel, water-ballasted yacht, her proud owner Stewart Thwaites and the enthusiastic crew.

For two years, "Zana" was a frequent sight in Australian and New Zealand offshore races, including the Rolex Sydney Hobart, Auckland to Fiji, Hamilton Island Race Week, and the 2005 HSBC Coastal Classic.

And then the lure of the great races in the northern hemisphere, drew the owner of "Zana", the boat by then, known as by "Konica Minolta," to foreign shores in search of glory. Unfortunately, a financial crisis put paid to that dream and "Konica Minolta" was seized by authorities and lay, legally tied up and lonely, in Valencia.

Later, stripped of her colorful sponsor"s vinyl, she was moved to Southhampton, England to become "Zana" again and very much, for sale.

A sad, sad ending, to one under funded dream.

And so to the year 2009 and enter Peter Millard and his brother-in-law John Honan. These Sydney, Australia, sailors purchased !Zana" for a price rumoured to be very favourable and after they had watched their new yacht, now named "Lahana," unloaded at Port Kembla, they had her trucked to Woolwich, where she is being overhauled and optimised for IRC racing.

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