Malta-flagged luxury yacht safe in Tasmania after rough ride in Antarctic

A Russian-owned but Maltese flagged superyacht limped into Tasmania's Hobart harbour, for repairs after being battered by Antarctic storms.

The US$3 million Scorpious, registered in Malta but crewed by Russians and Ukrainians, is currently sailing around the world.

The 30-metre yacht, which set sail from the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia last September, was tossed in 12m seas in the Southern Ocean but made it back to Hobart this week.

Crewman and doctor Vadim Borodin said the waves were "exceptionally high".

"Big winds, 65 knots, and big waves," Borodin said, adding that "the sea was wild but we are lucky we have a good boat."

The luxury yacht with a spacious deck, cockpit, kitchen and five bedrooms each with its own bathroom arrived in Tasmania on Monday.

The crew hopes to continue its journey in a week.

This is the first round-the-world trip for Scorpius, built in 1991 in The Netherlands.

The seven crew, are due to cover at least 70,000 nautical miles to specifically sail around the Antarctic.

Owner and captain Sergey Nizovtsev, wants to complete the circumnavigation in two years.