Katana
| Design | Sunfast 3600 – Jeanneau |
| Length | 10.8m |
| Draft | 2.14m |
| Displacement | 4950kg |
| Features / Modifications | Fibreglass , short aluminium mast, carbon boom, North 3DI main and jib, lengthened prod. |
| Yacht Strengths | Design optimised for short-handed sailing. Its weight, stability and hard chine gives good upwind performance in a breeze but wide flat bottom makes it sticky downwind and in the light. |
| Yacht History | Imported in 2015 by Orakei Marine it was campaigned very successfully as Sunfast 3600 Racing by fellow RNI competitors Damon Jolliffe and JoshTucker (Motorboat 11). Culminating in a comprehensive victory in the RNI in 2017. Purchased by Nigel Garland in May 2017 and the yachts name changed to Katana. The goal was to compete in the 2018 New Plymouth to Mooloolaba single handed race. Katana had a win in the solo division of the 2017 Coastal Classic however the 2018 Auckland Tauranga race wasn’t so successful when Katana lost the rig over the side in the Colville Channel and was not able to be replace it in time for the solo race to Aus. Another challenge was needed …bring on RNZ. |
About Nigel
| Name | Nigel Garland |
| Age | 52….53 between Mangonui and Stewart Island. |
| From | Auckland |
| Work | Partner of Alchemy Agencies Ltd – Importers and distributors of chemical raw materials. |
| Yacht Club | Richmond Yacht Club and SSANZ |
| Why do you want to do the RNZ | Having missed the opportunity to race solo to Australia it seemed the perfect challenge and learning opportunity in Katana. |
| What are the biggest races you’ve competed in | I have sailed in a couple of Transpac’s (LA to Hawaii) in my brother’s Hobie 33 and Newport to Cabo. Nice downwind races. Also a few Coastal Classics. |
| How did you get into sailing | Father built a sunburst and older brother had a P Class so most family holidays involved sailing. |
| Sailing background | Started sailing in a P Class at Parramatta as a kid and have always been around boats but not much competitive sailing until buying into the Young 88 Heartlight. Katana is the next step up to do some longer races and have a bit more room for cruising. |
| How long have you 2 sailed together / how did you meet / what races have you done together in the past | I met Cory through the solo sailing scene in Auckland and knew he would be a sucker for this sort of race. We only started sailing together this year so the SSANZ series and the Coastal Classic, coming a distant 2nd to Gale Force. |
| Funny stories | Got lost in a blizzard skiing at Mount Hutt and had to spend the night in a rudimentary snow cave. Kicked out next morning to find I was 20 mtrs from the road. |
| Scariest yachting moment | Losing the rig close to a lee shore on a dark squally night was up there but I’m sure wouldn’t compare with being caught in a big storm. |
| What is your offshore Vice | Gingernuts and a hot drink. |
| What do you hope to get out of doing the RNZ | Experience, adventure and great sense of achievement. |
| What inside tips do you have for others wanting to compete in 2 handed racing at this level | Get out there. |
| What’s your team motto | I’m guessing “Are we having fun yet?” will come out at some stage. |
| Biggest yachting achievement | Getting to the start line of the RNZ. |
| Family | Wife Christine and daughters Anna and Kate. |
| When you cross the finish line, what will you be most hanging out for? | Catching up with the family, shower , sleep, food cooked in more than one pot. |
About Cory
| Name | Cory Mclennan |
| Age | 24 |
| From | Auckland |
| Work | Sailutions, importuning and distributing Selden and Rutgerson hardware. |
| Yacht Club | Richmond Yacht Club |
| Why do you want to do the RNZ | The RNZ is one of three great shorthanded races in NZ. Having completed the other two, doing the third was a must! |
| What are the biggest races you’ve competed in | Solo Trans-Tasman 2014 (age 19) RNI 2017 |
| How did you get into sailing | Fell in love with the idea of ocean racing reading about Sir Peter Blake and decided that’s what I wanted to do one day. |
| Sailing background | Started sailing when I was seven in optimists on the West Coast SI and worked my way though the classes, to move up to Auckland to carry on in keel yachts. |
| How long have you 2 sailed together / how did you meet / what races have you done together in the past | I met Nigel though the solo sailing scene in Auckland. We only started sailing together this year doing the SSANZ events and Coastal Classic. |
| Funny stories | Moving to Auckland and losing my car in a Wilson carpark and not knowing which one it was in. Hours later I had a big parking bill… |
| Scariest yachting moment | Sleeping though my alarm on my solo delivery to New Plymouth, waking up and seeing crayfish pots and the Three Kings Islands very close! |
| What is your offshore Vice | Anything with sugar to get you though that early morning watch. |
| What do you hope to get out of doing the RNZ | A sense of accomplishment after completing the race. No better feeling than sailing down the harbour knowing you have just finished a epic event. |
| What inside tips do you have for others wanting to compete in 2 handed racing at this level | Get out and do it. Make a plan and just start. You will never regret starting! |