ATAMAI
| Design | Beneteau First 44.7 |
| Sail Number | 9785 |
| Length overall | 13.6m |
| Length waterline | 11.48m |
| Beam | 3.96m |
| Draft | 2.6m |
| About the boat: | Atamai is a Beneteau First 44.7, designed by Bruce Farr and a regular on the Auckland racing scene. Atamai will be sailed by Simon Malpas & Bryon Wright in the 2020 RNI |
| Home base | Westhaven |
| The Good Ship Atamai |
SIMON MALPAS
| Name | Simon Malpas |
| Age | 53 |
| From | Auckland |
| Yacht Club | RNZYS & RYC |
| Relationship to Co-Skipper | Too Personal |
| Tell us a little about your sailing history/background | I’ve been in a “learn to sail programme” for around 20 years since moving to Auckland and buying a trailer sailer, small cruising keel boat and now a Beneteau 44.7. I’ve done a few offshore trips and a keen racer around Auckland. RNI is my biggest sailing undertaking. So I am rightly terrified and excited. |
| What appeals most about doing the RNI? | Its a journey and experience. The destination is secondary. |
| What is your essential food item on board for during the race? | Cheese and vegemite toasted sandwiches. |
| What will your meals be like during the race? Deluxe roasts or Military rations? | Atamai is a cruiser/racer so we have a full oven. There has to be at least one batch of date scones per leg. |
| What’s your favourite point of sail and why? | Reaching. No risk of a gybe, no bashing, just fast sailing. |
| What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? | A separate cabin from my co-skipper. |
| Describe your skipper/co-skipper in 5 words | Resourceful, diligent, careful….what a guy. |
| Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? | Most days we meet at the gym for a solid weights session followed by a 10 km run. Sailing wise we have done several two handed Coastal Classics. SSANZ series and ANZAC’s etc over the past two years. |
| What’s your favourite drink and why? | Any craft beer that is a double IPA. |
| Will you be taking any luxury items on the race? – If so, what is it and why? | Bryon is taking me as a luxury item. I’m high needs. I need my beauty sleep. Other than that there are the beanbags, good food and my endless playlists of Hank Wangford. |
| What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? | 50 kts on the nose coming into Cook Strait. |
| Who’s your biggest opposition and why? | We are all on the same journey together. Yes its a race but we will be there supporting each other. |
| Tell us about your biggest supporters | Extended crew, family. |
| What’s most exciting/challenging about this race for you? | It’s the distance, the weather and the challenge of being in a small space for a considerable length of time with Bryon. |
| What sound system do you have on board? What’s likely to be playing? | Bryon is a big fan of Celine Dion I believe, therefore I have an excellent pair of noise cancelling headphones. |
| It’s the night before the big race – how do you get your head in the game? | Get a good nights sleep. Just relax. |
BRYON WRIGHT
| Name | Bryon Wright |
| Age | 44 |
| From | Auckland |
| Yacht Club | Richmond Yacht Club & SSANZ |
| Tell us a little about your sailing history/background | I grew up lake-boating in the deserts of Arizona and my first proper sail was on the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA! I moved to NZ in 2007, started racing on sailboats the next day and never looked back. From 2010 to 2018 I campaigned the Ross 830 Revolution Blues in just about every race available in Auckland – usually shorthanded. Along the way I founded Auckland’s Singlehanded Series and helmed Richmond Yacht Club for two years. I joined Simon in Atamai in 2018 after an offer to good to refuse – the intent is to enjoy bigger races, comfier cruising, and a good friend to share it with. So far so good! |
| What appeals most about doing the RNI? | The adventure of sailing around the North Island with friends. |
| What is your essential food item on board for during the race? | Amy’s Antipasta Salad |
| What will your meals be like during the race? Deluxe roasts or Military rations? | Depends on how pukey the weather is – from a pure gummy diet to full gourmet spreads Atamai can accommodate. At the end, ridiculously strong and dark beer is a must. |
| What’s your favourite point of sail and why? | A close reach – Atamai loves the power and it’s one of the few points on which we can pass the fast 35 footers. |
| What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? | Hot showers! |
| Describe your skipper/co-skipper in 5 words | Dependable, thoughtful, charming, inspiring atamai-kaihe |
| Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? | Fitness and boat prep have been the focus to date – I’m also new to Atamai and so have been sailing as much as possible to learn the boat and to tune it for shorthanded. |
| What’s your favourite drink and why? | Water; I grew up in a desert! |
| Will you be taking any luxury items on the race? – If so, what is it and why? | Bean bags and top-shelf beer, for the lovely reach down the west coast. |
| What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? | Injury to crew. |
| Who’s your biggest opposition and why? | Must be internal, though keeping up with Gale Force and Katana seems to be a theme. |
| Tell us about your biggest supporters | My wife Amy is my biggest supporter; she’s my love, my rock, my reason to return. |
| What’s most exciting/challenging about this race for you? | Leaving and entering port always gets me excited. I find calms incredibly challenging; here’s hoping there’s wind! |
| What sound system do you have on board? What’s likely to be playing? | Fairly standard – Simon’s already nominated ‘Just the two of us’ as the theme song, though if he gets on my nerves I’m playing rap. |
| It’s the night before the big race – how do you get your head in the game? | If not frantic with last-minute boat prep, I’ll be relaxing with Amy and Pascal! |