Like many sailors in New Zealand, I started young with P-Class, Starling and Laser sailing on Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf, pushing these boats to their limits until the drive to sail faster and faster proved irresistible and I graduated to competitive sailing anywhere in the world there was a regatta on.
It’s been a passion that’s got me into lots of competitions, including the America’s Cup, and snagged me four Match Racing World Championships as a tactician. From those Lasers, through to Farr 40s and TP52s I’ve been fortunate to experience a huge variety of boats, and I have to say that in my opinion Russell Coutts has succeeded brilliantly with the current America’s Cup class. These catamaran’s can put on a spectacular show practically anywhere, opening up the possibility of exciting regattas on European lakes for instance; imagine a Geneva America’s Cup.
It’s the commitment to innovation and excellence that the America’s Cup brings out in the teams that really impresses me; I recognise it from my own competitive experience: attention to detail, extensive testing and development, and of course minimising breakdowns. These are the defining factors in competition and they’re also the reason why True Kit inflatables are only sold direct to the public. I want the customer’s feedback; it’s the knowledge of what they need from a boat that’s led to the models I have now. True Kit inflatable design and construction quality has been driven by the demands of boaties, fishermen and even mobile home owners who wanted pack-down convenience without the compromises.
Like the innovations behind the stunning performance of current America’s Cup boats, it hasn’t happened overnight, but by years of association with the best designers in the industry.
Try a True Kit inflatable for yourself and that competition-bred performance is immediately recognisable; these boats are in a class of their own.
