How this superyacht ended up with 2 Protector tenders

In 1961 the Netherlands yacht builders J&K Smit Scheepswerven built Itasca, a 175 foot ocean tug, with an impressive 7,500 nautical mile range. She was then refitted as a majestic superyacht in the 1980s.

In 2000 Lyndsay Turner, Protector Sales Manager, was invited onboard Itasca by captain Alan Journing when the vessel was in Auckland for the America’s Cup. As Lyndsay tends to do, he started talking about the Protector brand, and when he left he had in his hand a deposit cheque for two brand new custom tenders.

Introducing Itasca

Itasca isn’t your everyday superyacht. She’s built for adventure, with an ice-strengthened hull, and has completed hundreds of intrepid journeys to far flung corners of the globe. 

She was the first yacht to complete a single season earthbound traverse of the Northwest Passage, and she has carried passengers through one of the most treacherous stretches of water in the world - Drake’s Passage. She’s got a cruising speed of 11 knots, and an incredible range of over 16,000 nautical miles. 

Despite the rugged locations Itasca frequents, onboard she’s stacked with high-tech toys and luxurious amenities, including a helicopter, gym, and sauna. There’s room for 10 guests in 5 cabins, and up to 12 staff for an intimate and luxurious experience. She was refit again in 2017, and boasts an owner’s stateroom on a separate level, with expansive exterior deck spaces:

“She’s a beauty. She looks just as good as she did in 2000 when I was onboard,” says Lyndsay. 

Two Protector tenders - one on each side

We’re proud to say that to this day Itasca still proudly carries the two Protector tenders after leaving New Zealand with them in 2000. That includes an 8.5 m cabin with inboard stern drive on the starboard side, and a 7 m on the port side with inboard stern drive. Lyndsay reckons this is pretty special:

“It says a lot about the tenders and the owners of the vessel - still using the tenders today.”

The truth is, Protectors are the ideal tender for Itasca. Like her they offer a smooth, luxurious ride, but they’re also built for adventure. They’re tough and capable, with a hull that can handle anything.

And like her these Protectors may be 25+ years old, but they’re still performing in any seas like they have for decades. 

Like the look of the Protector tenders on Itasca? Speak to Lyndsay to arrange a sea trial or delivery - or browse the Protector range on our website.