Bigger and Better
Derecktor’s new facility in Fort Pierce, Fla., is being developed to cater to the megayacht market
When the 151-foot Vitters Unfurled cruised the east coast of Florida, the crew needed to pull into port to deal with engine issues. While that might not sound like much of a concern to a smaller-boat owner, there aren’t many places on either side of the Sunshine State that can accommodate a sailing yacht of her size, especially her 16½-foot keel-up draft and masts that stand more than 200 feet above the deck.
But there was one yard: Derecktor Fort Pierce. It’s new and wasn’t officially open for business, but it had the depth, frontage and overhead clearance for Unfurled to pull in. A subcontractor made the repairs there. “She came right in and tied off,” says John Koenig, communications director for Derecktor.