WAKA

Design Thompson 850
Sail Number  8907
Length overall  8.5m
About the boat: Waka is a Thompson 850 designed by Steve Thompson and built by Concept Marine. Waka has an impressive race record in both round the cans racing and longer races including the Coastal Classic and a previous RNI under her keel. Waka is currently in the shed for a “birthday” and we are excited to see what she looks like when she splashes again soon. As one of the smaller boats in the 2020 RNI fleet, you can expect Waka to punch above her weight and be in the mix for both line and PHRF results for her division. Waka will be skippered by Sam Cremer and Brett Elliott.
Home base Westhaven

SAM CREMER

Name Sam Cremer
Age 30
Relationship to Co – Skipper Friend
Yacht Club RNZYS & SSANZ
Tell us a little about your sailing history/ background Been on the water my whole life, mainly in Dad’s ski boats hooning around. I got into sailing a couple of years ago doing mainly harbour racing and got pretty enthused about it! I bought the Waka last year with the intention of doing coastal and short-handed racing so pretty much living the dream…
What appeals most about doing the RNI The challenge.
What are your essential food items during the race? Snakes or crocodiles.
What will your meals be like during the race? Pretty low ball on Waka, preferably boil in a bag over freeze dry!
What’s your favourite point of sail and why? FRO reaching or upwind under 8 knots.
What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? The acceleration.
Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? We’ve done as much as possible, Route 66 & Anzac Enduro + some of the Triple Series. We put Waka in the shed halfway through the Triple Series and it got pretty dusty for the last few months.
What’s your favourite drink and why? Beer – really quenches the thirst. Gotta stay hydrated.
Will you be taking any luxury items on the race? – If so, what is it and why? Maybe a seating cushion.
What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? Something breaking.
What sound system do you have on board? What’s likely to be playing? A mighty Fusion stereo active. Definitely not Dance Now 2005!

BRETT ELLIOTT

Name Brett Elliott
Age 35
Have you done an RNI before? On what boat and when? I did the 2014 race with Chris Maddock on Focus, our family cruising yacht at the time.
Has anyone in your family ever done the race? My father and uncle raced together in the late 80s onboard Peacemaker.
Yacht Club RNZYS
Tell us a little about your sailing history/ background Sailing my whole life. Lucky to tag along with my old man on all sorts of yachts when I was growing up, family Cruising when I was young.
Dinghy racing P Class and Starling
RNZYS Youth Scheme
Worked for America Cup team 2007 including B boat sailing
Farr 40 and RC44 racing
25000+ miles offshore racing and deliveries including Fiji races, Fastnet, Hobart
2 Coastal Classic records
60ft Monohull 24h record
What appeals most about doing the RNI I really enjoy the challenge of two handed sailing and the RNI is the big event for short handed sailing in New Zealand.
What’s your favourite point of sail and why? Normally sending it downwind in the dark or on Waka maybe anything under 7 kts because it’s super responsive to sail in the light.
What do you like most about the boat you are sailing on? Responsive and easy to change gears.
Tell us about the training and buildup that you have been doing for this race both on and off the water? Sam and I have been sailing on Waka two handed as much as we can this year. However, we decided to do a fairly extensive refit on Waka to improve the suitably for RNI and update many systems so we have missed some sailing as build up. Hopefully, the late nights sanding will pay off!
What’s your biggest fear when you think about the RNI? My biggest fear a breakage that would prevent us completing the course.