Kirsten Thomas

1155 POSTS
Kirsten enjoys sailing and is a passionate writer based in coastal New Zealand. Combining her two passions, she crafts vivid narratives and insightful articles about sailing adventures, sharing her experiences and knowledge with fellow enthusiasts.
Julie Butler case referred to Coroner
Boating News

Julie Butler case referred to Coroner

Julie Butler's case has been referred to the Coroner, sixteen months after she a...
Read more
Racing was called off ar Beaucharnois this past weekend due to weather conditions. // Photo courtesy Hydro Thunder
Hydroplanes

Jack Lupton’s best HRL weekend closes a hard international season

Ken and Jack Lupton arrived at the Hydroplane Racing League's Grand Prix finale ...
Read more
Ocean Flyer 55, "Big Sky" (1996). For sale through 36 Degrees Brokers. // Supplied
Boats

From an aluminium expedition yacht to a steel cutter, five 1990s boats are ready for your next chapt...

Five sailing yachts built between 1990 and 1999 are listed on the New Zealand ma...
Read more
Boating News

Lake Brunner’s classic boats return for a seventh year

The Lake Brunner Classic Boat Gathering returns to Moana, on the West Coast, fr...
Read more
The BONDS Flying Roos win ROCKWOOL Germany SailGP 2026 // Photo credit: SailGP media team
SailGP 2026

Speed records and a photo finish as BONDS Flying Roos extend their lead over the Black Foils’ ...

Australia's BONDS Flying Roos extended their championship lead in erratic Baltic...
Read more
Williams Jet Tenders launches TurboJet MX range // Williams Jet Tender
Boating News

Williams brings its heritage tender range within reach

Williams Jet Tenders has spent more than two decades building its reputation on ...
Read more
St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festival // St Katharine Docks Classic Boat Festiva
Events

St Katharine Docks readies its 17th Classic Boat Festival

St Katharine Docks has confirmed its Classic Boat Festival for Saturday 12 and S...
Read more
The 26 Seaborg Tough Mega Monster
Events

Daiwa unveils 2026/27 tackle range ahead of AFTA show

Daiwa Australia's new-season lineup includes electric reels and lever-drag gear ...
Read more
// Supplied
Boating News

GOfuel adds 24/7 diesel stop at Hobsonville Marina

GOfuel has opened a new 24-hour diesel refuelling facility at Hobsonville Marina...
Read more
The Black Cat after the grounding. Photo shows obvious list and passengers beginning to transfer to responding boats. Photo taken by witness, supplied to TVNZ (via TIAC / Facebook).
Safety & Education

Black Cat grounding: TAIC reveals what happened aboard

TAIC's interim factual report details what happened aboard the passenger catamar...
Read more
The stand-out result of the week belonged to David Davenport and Ken Stevenson, who made the trip from Western Australia with their Bethwaite 89er, Don't Panic!, and won every race in the Trailable Yachts and Sports Boats division.
Airlie Beach Race Week

Kiwis front up at Airlie Beach Race Week

The 38th Jeanneau and 74 Islands Airlie Beach Race Week wrapped up in the Whitsu...
Read more
Palanad 4 // Supplied
Race Around Britain and Ireland

New Zealand sailors top Round Britain and Ireland fleet

Two New Zealand sailors look set to finish first and second (IRC) overall in the...
Read more
Boat 2, Josh Hydes boat and team in the 2026 Chicago Grand Slam. // Courtesy of Chicago Yacht Club.
World Match Racing Tour

Josh Hyde wins Chicago Grand Slam after big turnaround

Josh Hyde has claimed his first senior international title, winning the Chicago ...
Read more
8 August 2026, America’s Cup Recon, Emirates Team New Zealand, Taihoro, AC75, Day 21 Sam Thom / America's Cup
AC38

America’s Cup week in review as Naples build takes shape

It has been a week where the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup stopped being pape...
Read more
Stabicraft at the 2025 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show
Boating News

Stabicraft returns as Boat Show grand prize partner

Stabicraft has been named the Official Grand Prize Boat Partner for the Hutchwil...
Read more
Some of the best weather in the tropics is during cyclone season.
Destinations

10 cyclone seasons in the South Pacific

Each year in May/June once the cyclone season is coming to an end, a fleet of Ki...
Read more
2027 Sea-Doo RXP® -X® // Supplied
Boating News

Sea-Doo unveils 350hp jet skis and Senna special edition

Sea-Doo has pushed its personal watercraft range to 350 horsepower for 2027, the...
Read more
2023 Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 for sale through 36 Degrees Brokers
Boats

2023 Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 listed in Auckland at $349,000

A 2023 Beneteau Oceanis 30.1 is for sale in Auckland, with the asking price rece...
Read more
Riva 96' Argo Super // Supplied
Boats

Riva launches 96′ Argo Super flybridge yacht

Riva
The Riva 96' Argo Super, a 28.79-metre flybridge yacht featuring an updated layo...
Read more
NZ Boat Fish & Dive Expo. // Supplied
Events

NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo new boats confirmed

The NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo is just under two week away, and the exhibitor...
Read more
Galeon Yachts officially unveiled the revamped Galeon 420 FLY on 30 July 2026. // Supplied
Boats

New Galeon 420 FLY joins flybridge range

Galeon
Galeon has added a new 420 FLY to its flybridge range. The Polish builder unveil...
Read more
INCAT Tasmania Hull 096 // Photo courtesy INCAT Tasmania via LinkedIn
Boating News

World’s largest electric ship leaves Tasmania

The world's biggest battery-electric ship has left Tasmania, riding piggyback on...
Read more
TriSonic Smart Multisensor
Boat gear

Airmar’s new TriSonic sensor drops the paddlewheel

Airmar has canned the paddlewheel. The US sensor maker, whose transducers alread...
Read more
Aquila at the Cannes Yachting Festival. // Courtesy Aquila Boats
Events

Aquila brings full range to Cannes Yachting Festival

Aquila
Aquila Power Catamarans is taking its biggest-ever line-up to the Cannes Yachtin...
Read more
2012 Beneteau Sense 55 Imperia // Supplied
Boating News

Refitted Beneteau Sense 55 Imperia for sale via McD Yachts

A freshly refitted Beneteau Sense 55 has landed on the New Zealand market throug...
Read more
Aqua Nautica watermakers arrive in New Zealand
Boat gear

Aqua Nautica watermakers arrive in New Zealand

Auckland power and watermaker specialist Enertec Marine has added the Aqua Nauti...
Read more
Hydro Glide foil system spans Aquila's full range. // Courtesy Aqualia Catamarans
Boating News

Hydro Glide foil system spans Aquila’s full range

Aquila
Aquila Power Catamarans has released a new video walking through how its Hydro G...
Read more
Events

Sydney Boat Show 2026 wraps with strong four-day result

Sydney Boat Show 2026 has wrapped after four strong days at Sydney Showground, w...
Read more
Azimut Seadeck 9 // Photo courtesy: Azimut
Events

Azimut takes six new models to Cannes Yachting Festival

Azimut
Azimut is heading to the Cannes Yachting Festival with thirteen boats across two...
Read more
Events

NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo returns to Mystery Creek

The NZ Boat, Fish & Dive Expo is back at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hami...
Read more
Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series

Reggae Shark wins Whitianga to shake up Elliott 5.9 Traveller Series

Reggae Shark came from behind to win Round Three of the Burnsco Elliott 5.9 Trav...
Read more
Josh Hyde (NZL), left, Siena Nichols (USA), right. // Photo credit: Tom Walker
Match Racing

Josh Hyde leads all week then falls short at Governor’s Cup

Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron sailor Josh Hyde spent almost the entire 59th G...
Read more
Wellcraft 33 // Supplied
Boats

Wellcraft launches 33 T-Top and Speedster for 2026

The United States boatbuilder Wellcraft has pulled the covers off two new 33-foo...
Read more
Paddler Winter Series opens at Waitara this Saturday // Paddler
Paddler Winter Series

Paddler Winter Series opens at Waitara this Saturday

The 2026 Paddler Winter Series gets underway this Saturday, 1 August, at Waitara...
Read more
Bay of Islands Sailing Week 2026 saw good Thursday weather. // Photo credit: Insight Media
Bay of Islands Sailing Week

Bay of Islands Sailing Week calls for volunteers ahead of AGM

Bay of Islands Sailing Week is holding its 2026 AGM on Tuesday 4 August, 6pm, on...
Read more
Colin Stone in front of the rebranded Subscription Boat Club front door. // Supplied
Boating News

Skipperi New Zealand rebrands as Subscription Boat Club, says new tech built to NZ Maritime requirem...

Skipperi New Zealand, one of New Zealand's largest subscription boating service,...
Read more
Boat gear

Gineico Marine to bring smartphone-controlled docking system SMARTDOCK to Australasia

SMARTDOCK, a smartphone-controlled docking and manoeuvring system for boats, mak...
Read more
Arco Marine Zeus Omega // Photo courtesy: ARCO Marine
Boat gear

ARCO’s New Zeus Omega Charging System now available in New Zealand

Boaties running more complex electrical setups have a new option on the market, ...
Read more
// Photo courtesy of Maritimo
Events

Maritimo owners gather at Roche Harbor for Pacific Northwest Rendezvous

Maritimo
Nineteen Maritimo motor yachts gathered at Roche Harbor on Washington State's Sa...
Read more
Sydney Boat Show // Courtesy of the Sydney Boat Show
Events

Riviera, Caribbean and a world-first air con system set the pace at Sydney Boat Show 2026

Sydney Showground will be a busy place for four days from this coming Thursday (...
Read more

Recent articles