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China's first super-yacht set for round-the-world trip

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John Carney

It may look like something from another planet - but this is, in fact, China's first homegrown super-yacht and the fruit of an eight-year dream for its owner, Hong Kong shipping magnate Antony Marden.

The 140 foot Adastra, built at a cost of US$15 million, was unveiled last week at the Zhuhai facility of Australian boatbuilder McConaghy.

The trimaran, hailed as 'one of the world's most amazing super-yachts, that could spell the future for efficient long-range cruising' by Boat International magazine, combines luxury accommodation with the speed, fuel economy and seafaring capacity of a stripped-down cruiser.

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The boatbuilder puts its range, at a speed of 17 knots, at 4,000 nautical miles - enough to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

And Marden, 62, cannot wait to put the yacht through its paces when he sets off on a round-the-world trip at Christmas, eight years after first discussing his plans with English designer John Shuttleworth.

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'I've known John [Shuttleworth] for over 30 years but we started to get serious about the project around eight years ago,' Marden, managing director of shipping firm Fenwick, said. 'I wanted a big motorboat to go around the world in and the trimaran is perfect. It's easily driven and I'm used to sailing them.

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