With a carefully curated portfolio of internationally respected yacht builders and a personalised approach to ownership, Icon Azure is helping New Zealanders turn ambitious cruising plans into reality.
For many New Zealand and Pacific boat owners, the next yacht is about far more than length, layout or performance figures. It is about the adventures they hope to experience, the places they dream of exploring and the confidence that comes from owning a yacht built for the journey ahead.
Some are planning extended coastal cruising, while others are looking further afield – to the islands of the South Pacific, high-latitude adventures or life aboard. Whatever the destination, choosing the right yacht is rarely just a matter of comparing specifications. It is about finding a boat that suits the way you want to live on the water—and having experienced people beside you throughout the journey.
That philosophy sits at the heart of Icon Azure, a boutique yacht brokerage and launch consultancy bringing together premium sailing and motor yachts, exceptional multihulls, expedition-ready cruisers and innovative power options from some of the world’s most respected builders.
Icon Azure has been created to offer something more personal than a conventional sales process. From the first conversations about cruising ambitions and lifestyle through to vessel selection, commissioning, delivery and ongoing ownership, the team works alongside clients every step of the way.
“The right boat should fit the life its owner wants to create,” says Leisha Burrows, Marine Sales and Business Development Manager. “Our job is to listen carefully, give honest guidance and make the whole journey feel clear and supported.”
The yacht brands behind Icon Azure
Rather than representing every category of boat, Icon Azure has deliberately assembled a portfolio of builders that share a common philosophy: creating premium yachts designed to be enjoyed on the water, whether that means exploring New Zealand’s coastline or setting off on an ocean passage.
French builders Allures and Garcia have become synonymous with aluminium bluewater cruising. Allures combines the strength of an aluminium hull with centreboard versatility and refined cruising comfort, allowing owners to venture confidently offshore while still exploring shallow anchorages. Garcia takes that spirit of adventure even further, building expedition yachts trusted by sailors tackling some of the world’s most remote cruising grounds.
For multihull enthusiasts, Seawind has earned an outstanding reputation for practical, offshore-capable cruising catamarans that balance sailing performance with comfortable liveaboard spaces. Outremer appeals to sailors who value speed, efficiency and comfort, producing lightweight performance catamarans renowned for rewarding passage making.
Adding a boutique touch to the portfolio is Knysna, whose semi-custom cruising catamarans are hand-built in South Africa. Designed for owners seeking genuine blue water capability without compromising luxury, each yacht reflects a level of craftsmanship and personalisation rarely found in production vessels.
A national presence with personal service
With representation across Opua, Marsden Cove, Westhaven, Hobsonville, Picton and Queenstown, Icon Azure combines local knowledge with a national network of marine professionals. Wherever clients are based, experienced advisers are close at hand to guide every stage of the ownership journey.
That support extends well beyond selecting a yacht. The team assists with vessel sourcing, inspections, build specifications, commissioning, finance introductions, logistics, delivery and ongoing ownership support. Sellers also benefit from professional representation backed by both national and international networks.
Modern yacht ownership is often far more complex than the purchase itself. A vessel may be built overseas, customised through hundreds of specification decisions and delivered halfway around the world before its first New Zealand voyage. Having a single trusted team coordinating that entire process provides confidence long after contracts have been signed.
The people behind Icon Azure
Around the business is a team whose experience spans marine sales, yacht ownership, customer relationships, business development and practical boating knowledge.
Rob White works in Operations and also as a Marine Sales Consultant, bringing a practical, client-focused approach to helping buyers understand their options.
Leisha Burrows leads marine sales and business development, drawing on a background in technical marine sales, international markets and building commercial partnerships.
Craig Littlejohn, Jennifer Wiedemann, Matt Grant and Grant Miller extend the company’s reach as Marine Sales Consultants, supporting clients within their local boating communities and across the wider network.
Strength through partnership
Icon Azure also works closely with specialist partners when it strengthens the ownership experience. Its collaboration with Multihull Central — one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most established multihull networks — gives New Zealand buyers access to proven offshore brands, expert commissioning pathways and flexible international delivery options. For owners considering a catamaran or trimaran, that relationship means specialist knowledge is available from the very first conversation, not brought in after the fact.
Despite representing vessels from internationally recognised shipyards, the company intends to remain distinctly personal. Clients deal with real people who understand that buying a yacht can be equal parts exciting, technical and daunting.
Opening the world to the water
New Zealand has long been recognised as one of the world’s great boating nations. Today, however, more owners are looking beyond familiar cruising grounds towards longer passages, extended time aboard and adventures that reach well beyond the horizon.
Icon Azure exists to help make those ambitions achievable by matching owners with yachts built for the journeys they want to undertake—and remaining alongside them long after the handover.
“We want our clients to feel they have a marine partner, not simply someone who sold them a boat,” says Burrows. “The purchase is only the beginning. The real story is where the yacht takes them next.”
Over the coming months, Boating New Zealand will take a closer look at several of the remarkable yachts represented by Icon Azure, beginning with the Knysna 500 – a boutique bluewater cruising catamaran that has quietly earned an international reputation for combining long-range capability with exceptional comfort.
New Zealand boat owners considering their next yacht can connect with Icon [unclear]
For more information, visit www.iconazure.com or contact Leisha Burrows on 021 022 83393 or leishab@iconazure.com
