William Tai (original name Surama) was based on an earlier design by TeDa Hood and the Royal Huisman shipyard - Anakena. However, William Tai was further adapted for use in relatively shallow waters by the use of a heavy lifting keel. A characteristic feature of the yacht is that the owner wished to always have her in such a condition that she could be sailed around the world immediately when she wished, without having to go through a lengthy inspection and repair process, so particular attention was paid to her reliability and longevity.
