A Flying Tiger. Image copyright Tom Hirsch, President, Flying Tiger Association, USA.
by Zoe Hawkins
‘Big news’ for those that race medium sized keelboats, is that the first Flying Tiger 10 arrives in New Zealand next month – the first ever opportunity for owners and syndicates to purchase a brand new line-honours racer for a total cost of approximately $150,000.
Long on the waterline and lean on the beam, the boats, from the drawing board of American designer Bob Perry, were inspired by the legendary New Zealand racer cruiser class, the Ross 930.
Over 100 Flying Tiger 10s have been built so far, including a strong contingent racing in Sydney. Now Westhaven Marine Brokers aims to establish the class here in New Zealand. There is a rigid set of class rules in place and the New Zealand FT10 Association can affiliate with the Ponsonby Cruising Club.
“We believe they are priced right, very well built, and designed to offer bang for buck in round the cans and coastal racing,” says Tony Smith of Westhaven Marine Brokers.
The One Design club racer is built by Stevens Yachts at Hansheng Yachts in Xiamen, China, and a brand new boat can be on the water and sailing in New Zealand for approximately $150,000.00
A Flying Tiger. Image copyright Tom Hirsch, President, Flying Tiger Association, USA.
“It’s the fact that a brand new racer of these proportions, with a carbon rig, four-stroke Yamaha 9.9HP outboard and sails, is achievable at such a realistic price point, which has made it successful overseas, and why we have great confidence in its suitability for the New Zealand market,” says Tony Smith.
“We see the Flying Tiger 10 as an ideal syndicate boat,” says Tony. “They are affordable, versatile, and fast. The 10m length and speed relative to the 30-40 foot fleet fits in well with the Auckland race scene in particular, and with their narrow beam and asymmetric set up, they are quick and nimble on all points of sail.”
The boats, which utilise vacuum bagged fibreglass sandwich core construction, are shipped within a 10m container. A unique keel mounting system makes assembly and commissioning quick. The Flying Tiger is equipped with the outboard in a central well, and it sleeps four, with the option of installing two extra pipe berths.
The Flying Tiger comes with a 37.4sqm Kevlar mainsail, a 23.4sqm Kevlar jib, and a 106.8sqm nylon gennaker, and the boat has the ability to sail excellent averages on all points of sail. A carbon fibre mast, boom and prod ensure stiff sailing and high level all-round performance, and the cockpit is suitably minimalist, designed for high efficiency crew-work based around tiller steering, a centrally mounted mainsheet system, and a stable yet sensitive rig with double swept back spreaders.
The Flying Tiger is imported by Westhaven Marine Brokers.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA32.65' (9.96 m.)
DWL30.31' (9.24 m.)
Beam9.15' (2.78 m.)
BWL6.8' (2.07 m.)
Draft7.62' (2.32 m.)
Keel up: 3.28' (1.00 m.)
Disp half load 4,900 lbs. (1985 kg.)
