Born from the minds of owners Alan Day and Gloria Locke, and brought to life by Greg Elliott’s design brilliance and the expert craftsmanship of Geary and Sherson, Simply the Best was conceived as a true dual-purpose boat: a cruiser-racer capable of offshore passages, weekend comfort and serious racecourse competitiveness.
“We wanted a boat that could go fast, rate well under IMS, and still give us the space and amenities to cruise in comfort,” Locke explained at the time of launch. “We weren’t after a flat-out race boat—we were after something more versatile.”
That balance between comfort and performance remains the hallmark of this 13.5m cedar and Kevlar composite yacht. And three decades on, with fresh upgrades, a timeless layout and a serious offshore résumé, Simply the Best is back in the spotlight—this time listed for sale and ready for her next chapter.
A rare find—and a rediscovery
In researching this story, we uncovered a long-lost 1992 Boating New Zealand article profiling Simply the Best during her design and construction phase. It captures her original design brief, construction philosophy, and the ambitions of her owners with remarkable foresight. More than 30 years later, the boat has not only fulfilled those early hopes—it has added a legacy of real accomplishment to match. That original article can now be viewed again, in its original form, a snapshot of Kiwi boatbuilding at its finest: The 1992 article can now be viewed again, in its original form, a snapshot of Kiwi boatbuilding at its best.
Built to go the distance
Constructed using 20mm cedar strip planking, glassed over with Epiglass and locally reinforced with Kevlar, Simply the Best reflects a style of Kiwi boatbuilding that prioritised materials over shortcuts. Laminated timber ring frames and intelligently placed bulkheads create strength and stiffness, while a foam-glass laminated deck, laid over a male mould, keeps her light yet robust.
From the outset, her deck-stepped mast with fabricated compression post was a clever touch—a solution to avoid water ingress and reduce mast length costs. That sort of practical design thinking is evident throughout the boat.
Below deck, Simply the Best offers a deceptively spacious open-plan interior with 1.85m of headroom throughout. Twin aft quarterberths (each a generous double), a large V-berth forward, and a convertible U-shaped saloon area create sleeping space for up to eight. The layout was intentionally optimised for a cruising couple, but always with an eye to hosting family or race crew when needed.
Early reviews praised the smart galley layout—with a huge fridge/freezer combo, a separate beer fridge tucked under the saloon seating, and excellent dry storage. Across the saloon, the nav station is well-appointed, with chart drawers, communication gear, and even a dedicated cocktail locker—adding a touch of fun to the boat’s otherwise serious cruising brief.
In the head compartment, a bold pink splash on the cabinetry remains as a nod to the yacht’s original personality. “The whole interior was nearly that colour,” Locke joked in the early 90s, “but we were persuaded to tone it down a bit.”
Performance with a proven pedigree
On the water, Simply the Best has always punched above her weight. With a Matrix Masts twin-spreader rig and sails from North Sails (Kevlar/Mylar for racing, Dacron for cruising), she’s shown a strong turn of speed, especially in moderate to heavy breeze. Reviewers from Boating New Zealand noted her groove upwind and impressive reaching performance—regularly hitting 10–11 knots.
Her 50hp Yanmar diesel, paired with a three-bladed Maxprop, offers top speeds of 8.5 knots under power and the ability to stop the boat in just over a length. Not bad for a performance hull.
And this isn’t just theoretical performance. Over the past 30 years, Simply the Best has quietly compiled one of the most impressive track records of any Elliott 13 still afloat:
-
Three offshore passages to Fiji, each followed by extended cruising.
-
At least 10 editions of the PIC Coastal Classic, New Zealand’s most iconic coastal race.
- Advertisement, article continues below - -
Eight to ten SSANZ Two-Handed Series campaigns, proving her reliability and performance with a lean crew.
-
Two-Handed Round North Island Race (2023) – 1st in division and 2nd overall on handicap. A standout performance in a demanding race.
-
Countless club races and regattas across multiple decades—ranging from fully-crewed sprints to offshore distance events.
She was also an early regular on the IMS circuit, including the Air New Zealand IMS Regatta in the 1990s, and has remained a recognisable part of Auckland’s competitive sailing scene. Her name—borrowed from Tina Turner’s anthem—has achieved minor legend status in local race fleets.
Still evolving: the modern Simply the Best
What sets Simply the Best apart today is how well she has been looked after—and how tastefully she’s been updated. A full repaint, deck refinish and antifoul were completed in 2024. New dodger and biminis (2024), a NZ Rigging furling boom (2024), and new rod rigging (2022) ensure the rig is current and strong. Under the waterline, a redesigned Elliott bulb keel (2022) keeps her on the pace.
The sail inventory has also been refreshed through to 2024, giving new owners a turn-key boat capable of racing or fast cruising immediately. Despite being over 30 years old, she feels modern—because she’s been maintained and upgraded with an understanding of what makes the Elliott 13 so enduring.
Ready for the next chapter
With the 2025 PIC Coastal Classic looming—and whispers of legendary offshore racers like Wild Thing joining the fleet—Simply the Best presents a serious opportunity for an owner wanting to enter the action without starting from scratch. She’s ready to sail, race, and cruise—whichever comes first.
Still Simply the Best
From her beginnings as a dream briefed over sketches and coffee, to her launch as a high-performing cedar masterpiece, to her current incarnation as a race-capable cruiser with all the comforts of home, Simply the Best is more than a boat. She’s a piece of New Zealand sailing history. A testament to smart design, good stewardship, and a boatbuilding tradition that refuses to cut corners.
There’s still more to learn about her race history, but enough has already surfaced to confirm one thing: for the right owner—someone who wants performance, pedigree, and personality—she remains, quite literally, Simply the Best.
For viewing information, visit Tradeaboat.co.nz.
