Kokomo handover next month

Sydney billionaire property developer Lang Walker, who owns at least half a dozen yachts and power boats all called Kokomo that await him in harbours around the world, picks up the largest and most luxurious from Alloy Yachts in Auckland next month.

Walker's new toy, which measures 58.4 metres (192 feet), was launched by Alloy Yachts last year and has been having her final fitting out and sea trials ahead of the handover in February.

This is the second very large Kokomo built by Alloy Yachts for Walker. The first, also Kokomo, is a 130 foot cruising sloop that was handed over in 2006. Since then Walker has regularly raced her in the superyacht regattas around the world.

The latest yacht, again essentially a giant cruising sloop, should enable Walker to show a clean transom to his billionaire mates in the Med next summer.

But Walker isn't the only bloke about to pick up a new superyacht. American car dealer Ray Catena, who picked up the world's most beautiful super yacht, Sycara IV (second image), from the US yard Berger last year, has the new, 223 foot, Sycara V about to be launched in Germany. But Catena is so in love with his Berger that he already has the unfinished Sycara V up for sale.

The apple of his eye, Sycara IV, is a 151 foot fantail cruiser that was based on J.P. Morgan's Corsair IV, often considered the most beautiful motor yacht ever built. The 343 foot Corsair IV was launched in 1930.

Like Corsair IV, Sycara IV looks like a gentleman's yacht from the 1920s should look. She features a clipper bow with a long bowsprit, a long, low coach house and a beautiful fantail stern. She has a funnel (now just a prop as she runs on diesel, not steam, engines) that can be lowered so she can pass under bridges to enable her to reach the US Great Lakes and travel the Intercoastal Waterway down the US east coast.

Sycara V, which features a bridge deck owner's suite and accommodation for 12 guests, should be finished in March and can be yours for 75 million Euros.

And in the Netherlands, Feadship Royal De Vries is putting the finishing touches to Pestifer, a 213 foot yacht that has also been styled to recreate the glory days of gentlemen's pleasure boating. The yacht will have room for eight guests – and 24 crew to make sure they always have enough ice for their drinks.