An American owner has commissioned the third Circa Marine 24m Explorer yacht, following an international search that ultimately led them to Whangārei, where a visit onboard Hull #1 confirmed the decision to build new.
Hull #3 marks another big milestone for Circa Marine and the 24M Series, confirming increasing market confidence in the design. With the keel laid and construction underway, a team of over 45 people, supported by local and international suppliers, will complete the build over the next 18 months.
The yacht was commissioned through Ocean Vault, the exclusive sales representative for Circa Marine yachts, with Director Shaun Sutherland managing the project from initial enquiry through to contract.
Shaun reflects that, “we first started talking with the buyer at the end of 2025 after he enquired on an FPB64 model. From there, it became clear that a new build, with the ability to customise the owner options, was a far better option.”
That initial conversation led to a visit to New Zealand and a closer look at the Circa Marine 24m platform.
“The client was sold immediately,” Shaun says. “He loved the look, the layout and the quality of the finish” Shaun adds that build strength and overall reputation of the shipyard were key factors in the decision, noting the buyer had “total confidence in the pedigree and quality of the build.” He also points out that with Circa Marine’s history as the builders of the Steve Dashews FPB programme, “the client was confident he was getting a fantastic product.”
The vessel has been developed as an owner-operated explorer yacht that offers extensive autonomy at sea. With growing demand for explorer yachts worldwide, the 24m is well suited to long-range offshore cruising, without the hefty need for maintenance or crew typically seen in similar vessels.
Circa Marine Operations Manager Deon Ogden says their philosophy is simple: “confidence and safety at sea.”
He adds that comfort is equally important, “as it’s critical for crossing oceans while remaining highly efficient, which the design achieves.”
“We don’t compete with destination vessels that perform well at anchor but aren’t necessarily enjoyable offshore,” Deon says. “We build for buyers who want to get out there, explore with a sense of adventure and discover remote locations, without losing the comfort of a premium yacht.”
Regarding specifications, Deon notes, “since our earlier years building FPBs, we’ve learned the importance of balancing advanced systems with what’s practical and simple to operate under any and all conditions. We’ve focused on refining onboard systems to ensure they are usable for owners and easier to operate at sea without losing key redundancies.” That said, this owner hasn’t shied away from using innovative products and systems and “we are excited to see these systems integrated as the vessel takes shape over the coming months.”
With construction now underway, Hull #3 will progress over the next 18 months toward completion and sea trials ahead of delivery.
