Alan Bond’s America’s Cup superyacht up for auction

The Southern Cross II, a 34-metre aluminium flybridge superyacht named after an unsuccessful America’s Cup contender and built as a spectator vessel to shadow the Royal Perth Yacht Club’s successful America’s Cup challenger, Australia II.

It was built to a Jack Hargrave design for high-flying businessman Alan Bond but is currently owned by Brisbane-based businessman Keith Lloyd.

“Since 1983 to the present day the Southern Cross II has been a proven traveller, traversing the world eight times in luxury and comfort and now presents in showroom condition,” a release announcing the superyacht’s sale says.

“Keith Lloyd had the dream to manufacture ships with the shortest of design briefs being ‘supreme quality’.

“He established Keith Lloyd Ships Pty Ltd in 1975 in Brisbane signaling a new era in Australia for the construction of aluminum ships for both the luxury superyacht and commercial shipping markets.”

The Southern Cross II was built in Brisbane in 1982 and commissioned at the Royal Motor Yacht Club in Newport, refitted in 2003, and underwent a second major retrofit carried out at the Gold Coast City Marina and Shipyard in 2018. Once white, its hull is now blue.

Onboard are three staterooms, each with an ensuite, and four single crew berths, providing comfortable accommodation for up to 10 people.

Other features include an exquisite saloon with dining and lounge areas, a galley including two wine fridges, a study, and an enclosed upper deck with refrigeration and ice makers.

A seasoned bluewater cruiser, the Southern Cross II is fitted with Naiad fin stabilisers to smooth out the ride while underway, with power coming from twin 1400hp Caterpillar turbo-diesel engines.

Southern Cross II has been for sale before, with a price tag nudging past $4 million, but the current top bid is sitting at just above the bargain price of $1 million.