A NEW superyacht built by Aqua-Star will promote the company and the island down under. Ruby Sunday, launched in June and due to be commissioned this month, will be taken by its owners on a world tour over the next few years, taking in Australia and New Zealand.

The 74ft vessel is custom-built and has some sophisticated technology on board so that Geoff and Sheila Saunders can keep in contact with friends and family via the Internet wherever they are.

The retired couple will be celebrating their ruby wedding anniversary on 10 September, the first day of the Southampton Boat Show, and have agreed for their yacht to be there.

‘We will be borrowing it from them for the show,’ said Aqua-Star managing director Geoff Willson.

The vessel is painted red rather than the company’s usual blue or white and it sleeps eight.

It will spend two years in the Mediterranean before going to Australia and New Zealand and is not expected to return to local waters for five or six years.

‘We have already got 74-footers in Oslo and Italy and one in Spain and this will fly the company’s and Guernsey’s flags all over the world,’ said Mr Wilson.

‘People often look over harbour walls and they will see Guernsey’s name on Ruby Sunday. There is a feeling that our clients are our best salesmen.’

Mr and Mrs Saunders will be shown how to use the superyacht’s equipment before they start their travels without a skipper.

‘Because she is travelling around the world, she has a very sophisticated telecommunications package,’ said Mr Wilson.

High-speed Internet access on board means they will be able to send e-mails and pictures from the boat.

The type of technology used is normally found only on small commercial vessels because of its size and cost.