After completing sea-trials in Auckland in April and May, the 54m (178ft) sloop Tiara landed an EC 130 helicopter on the aft-deck. It is believed Tiara is the first privately-owned sailing yacht with a helipad.

Tiara, built by Alloy Yachts Auckland New Zealand, was specifically designed to accommodate the owner's seven-seat helicopter.

The aft deck has landing lights sunk into the teak and the yacht has aviation communications systems. For landings and take-offs, the twin backstays have to be disconnected. The rig was designed with swept-back spreaders, so that it remains supported without backstays. The boom is swung out to one side, the pushpit and aft-deck stanchions are removed and the yacht is ready for the helicopter to land.

A few days after the helicopter landing, Tiara departed Auckland, heading across the Pacific for Panama via French Polynesia on its way to the Mediterranean.