WATCH: Jeff Bezos’ $500m superyacht Koru on first day of sea trials

The 127-metre Oceanco Y721 sailing yacht Koru, believed to have been commissioned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has been spotted on its first day of sea trials in the North Sea.

The megayacht — estimated to have a $500m price tag — was pictured for the first time in 2021 at the Zwijndrecht shipyard in the western Netherlands, and yacht enthusiasts have been following its progress keenly since. Once delivered, Koru will be the largest privately owned sailing yacht in the world, unseating 106.7-metre Black Pearl. (The 142.81-metre Sailing Yacht A is considered a sail-assisted motor yacht.)

Superyacht Koru

A video captured by Dutch Yachting shows the yacht being towed out of Rotterdam in the early hours of Monday (13 February 2023), before cruising on calm waters in the misty morning air.

Koru — a Māori name that translates to ‘new beginnings’ — was recently transported from shipbuilding facilities in Alblasserdam through to Rotterdam, via Holland’s canal network.

Threats of a mass-egging broke out after rumours circulated that Oceanco was planning to temporarily dismantle a historic bridge to allow the yacht, which has a trio of 70-metre masts, to pass. The yacht managed to find another route to take, stealing away in the dead of night to avoid attention.

Previously known as Project Y721, Jeff Bezos’ superyacht Koru is a 3300GT schooner built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. It is expected to be delivered to Bezos within the next couple of months, and will likely cost between $25m-$50m per year to upkeep.

Jeff bezos’s 127m/ 417ft sailing yacht Koru (Oceanco’s Y721) left Rotterdam for a first day of sea trials today. Photos by @DutchYachting. #JeffBezos #Amazon #Koru #Y721 #Oceanco #Yachtnews pic.twitter.com/0aBEe6kVE9

— Dutch Yachting (@Dutchyachting) February 13, 2023

Koru will be accompanied by a 76-metre support vessel, which is rumoured to have been constructed by Damen Yachting, another Dutch yacht builder. The vessel is said to be named Abeona, after the Roman goddess who presided over the departure of travellers, and has already been delivered following sea trials last year.