The luxury motored superyacht Octopus made its first-ever visit to Palmerston Island on May 10, 2025, and among its special passengers were the acting principal of Lucky School, Teriimaevarua Mehau Marsters, and her three children.

Marsters had been in Rarotonga since March, accompanying her husband on a medical referral. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to return home in such extraordinary fashion.

Through arrangements made with Stuart Henry of Cruise Cook Islands, the superyacht Captain Thejs Pedersen generously covered the cost of airfares for Marsters and her children to travel from Rarotonga to Aitutaki, allowing them to board the yacht and return home to Palmerston.

“I feel blessed and grateful,” said Marsters, speaking from Palmerston.  “I’m thankful to everyone who made this possible - Stuart Henry, the owner of the super yacht, and Thomas Ngauru, who gave us a place to stay and a vehicle to explore the island.”

“I’d never been to Aitutaki before, so we spent Thursday afternoon sightseeing before boarding the yacht the next morning.”

Marsters said she was “very lucky and absolutely blown away by the wonderful opportunity” to travel in such luxury.

“It was amazing - so flash, so beautiful. It was a wonderful experience, and the owner was very kind,” she added.

Marsters also acknowledged Memory Moetaua Marsters, who stepped in to teach during her absence at Lucky School, which currently has a roll of seven students.

She has been part of the school since 2014, when she returned to live on the island and began working as a teacher aide.

Octopus is one of the world’s largest yachts, built by Lurssen Yachts. Formerly owned by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, the yacht is now owned by Roger Samuelsson.

Carrying 60 people including nine guests, the Octopus arrived on Palmerston for a cultural stopover as well.

According to Palmerston’s executive officerr, Stella Neale, the passengers wished to experience the island’s natural beauty, snorkel its reefs and learn more about the island’s unique lifestyle.

Neale credited Stuart Henry for requesting the yacht’s captain to consider helping transport Marsters and her children back to the island, and thanked Samuelsson for his generosity in agreeing.

In a warming gesture, the entire Palmerston community went aboard the lavish yacht for a tour.

School supplies and accessories were also donated to Lucky School.

Access to Palmerston Island is only possible by sea, as the remote atoll has no airstrip, making this voyage a particularly special return for Marsters and her family.

Launched in 2003, Octopus remains one of the most iconic yachts ever built, continuing her legacy through scientific missions, research expeditions and private charters.

With an impressive range of 8000 nautical miles, she is equipped with dual helipads, an onboard cinema, an internal marina and a pool that converts into a dance floor.