Kirsten Thomas

1001 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.
PB GT50 RS // Photo credit: Palm Beach Motor Yachts
New Boat

Palm Beach Motor Yachts shatters performance records with the all-new GT50 RS Outboard Edition

Palm Beach
This is one of the sexiest boats I’ve seen come to market in a while—and honestl...
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Russell Coutts during the press conference 14/03/2025 in LA. // Photo credit: SailGP media
SailGP

SailGP franchise soon to come with a $100-million price tag

It would be hard to argue that Sir Russell Coutts, SailGP co-founder has built o...
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Terry Dunn and Nautilass // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

“The price you pay”: Terry Dunn’s first Solo Trans-Tasman

Terry Dunn planned well. He spent the better part of three months getting his bo...
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Malcolm Dickson and Sarau, the yacht he will sail in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

1, 2, 3 and on Saturday, it will be Malcolm Dickson’s fourth Solo Trans-Tasman

The washing machine went first.   J oan Dickson raised an eyebrow ...
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Bill Kidman and Pretty Boy Floyd. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Bill Kidman and Pretty Boy Floyd: Most wanted on the Tasman

There is a deliberate irony painted on the transom of Bill Kidman’s 1994 Murray ...
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Peter Bourke and Diablo for the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

The little boat with a big past: Peter Bourke and Diablo take on the Solo Trans-Tasman

At 29 feet Diablo the smallest boat in the fleet by 2 metres. And one of the mos...
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Maritimo on water display at SCIBS 2026 // Photo credit: Maritimo
Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

20 years and counting: Maritimo strikes gold at SCIBS 2026

Maritimo
A look back at Maritimo’s 20-year history reveals that the luxury motor yacht bu...
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Whitehaven Harbour 52 // Whitehaven Motor Yachts
New Boat

The floating pavilion: The Whitehaven Harbour Classic 52

Whitehaven
There is a distinct moment when a boat ceases to be a mere vehicle and becomes a...
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5-77 goes flying at Cocoa Beach (IHRA, Round 3) // IHRA
US Offshore Powerboating

After the storm: Official results and championship shakeup from Cocoa Beach

The brutal 4-to-6-foot waves of Florida's Space Coast lived up to their ferociou...
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Doug Esterman and his Salthouse Cavalier 39, Fair Seasons // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

At 62 Doug Esterman takes on the Solo Trans-Tasman for the first time

Twelve thousand offshore miles. A lifetime on the water. And not a single solo o...
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HMNZS Kupara // Trademe
Incidents on the water

Is this the tragic end of a legend? WWII veteran launch ‘Kuparu’ abandoned off Ninety Mi...

The historic World War II Harbour Defence Motor Launch (HDML) Kuparu is drifting...
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AC38 Preliminaries Sardinia // Photo credit: America's Cup media
AC38

Race 8 comes down to the wire as Burling fires, the final is set, and Luna Rossa meets ETNZ in the f...

The final is confirmed. Peter Burling's Luna Rossa against Emirates Team New Zea...
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// Photo credit: Ian Roman / America's Cup
AC38

[BNZ] High stakes and heavy nosedives: assessing ETNZ’s two-pronged assault in Sardinia

The opening six fleet races of the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Preliminary ...
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Ben Ball standing on the deck of Camellia his 1976 Cavalier 36 which he will sail solo from Opua to Southport, Gold Coast in the 2026 Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge. // Photo credit: Boating New Zealand
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Fifty years in the making: Ben Ball’s Solo Trans-Tasman dream

Ben Ball has been waiting half a lifetime to sail his 1976 Cavalier 36, Camellia...
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Lagoon Beach Club // Photo credit: © Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show
Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Glass, gold, and open ocean: Inside the spectacle of SCIBS 2026

If you want to understand the sheer economic gravity of the 37th Sanctuary Cove ...
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Oakley Marsh on Chipmunk in the 2026 Defi Paprec // Oakley Marsh
Le Défi Paprec

Second by 18 seconds: Oakley Marsh’s podium finish at the 2026 Le Défi Paprec

Six hundred and fifty miles. Four days and nights. One finish line, two boats, 1...
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AC38

Luna Rossa Women and Youth dominate as ETNZ swings between brilliance and heartbreak

Day one of the Louis Vuitton AC38 Preliminary Regatta in Sardinia produced three...
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AC38

​​Seconds from the finish line ETNZ’s lead evaporates in the blink of an eye

Emirates Team New Zealand led Race 3 at every gate of the final lap. They had cl...
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AC38

Luna Rossa came hunting but ETNZ delivered a gutsy Race 2 win

Emirates Team New Zealand's principal boat put Race 1 behind them with a perform...
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AC38

Luna Rossa’s Women and Youth show the fleet how it’s done in Race 1 of Preliminaries

Maria Giubilei, Marco Gradoni, Margherita Porro, and Giovanni Santi—the Luna Ros...
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Caribbean 40F // Caribbean
New Boat

Caribbean Boats reborn: 40F and 27F Flybridge cruisers unveiled

Caribbean
Caribbean boats have been absent from showrooms since International Marine folde...
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Rush Racing at Round 1 of 2026 UKOPRA Championships // Photo credit: UK Snap Photography
UK Offshore Powerboating

Good Boy Vodka leads the charge as UKOPRA’s 2026 season roars into life

The 2026 UKOPRA Offshore Powerboat Championship got off to a spectacular start a...
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Justin Hill and Scott Smith take the 2026 World CX championships in Idaho // Aftershock Racing
UIM Jet Boating World Championships

Kiwis takes 2026 CX Class at Idaho World Jet Boat Championship

New Zealand's sole representative at the 2026 World Championship Jet Boat River ...
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Sharon Ferris-Choat, Vixen Racing // Supplied
Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Challenge

Sharon Ferris-Choat to become seventh woman to contest Solo Trans-Tasman

Two-time Olympian and round-the-world race winner lines up for 2026 Solo Trans-T...
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LSB Catalyst 50 Django // Facebook
New Boat

Chasing speed: The new Catalyst Django hits 52 knots

Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders
Powercat
A striking new high-performance support vessel from Lloyd Stevenson Boatbuilders...
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IHRA launches Miami World Powerboat Grand Prix in bold new era for the sport // IHRA
Powerboating

IHRA launches Miami World Powerboat Grand Prix in bold new era for the sport

The International Hot Rod Association (IHRA) has announced the launch of the Mia...
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The line up at the 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show // BNZ
Hutchwilco Boat Show

Built to last: Seven decades of Kiwi boats at the Auckland Showgrounds

BOATING NEW ZEALAND Hutchwilco Boat Show 2026 Heritage & History...
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The grand prize on display just inside the entrance to the 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show // BNZ
Hutchwilco Boat Show

Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show – live

The 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show ran from Thursday to Sunday at the Auc...
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AC38

Tuke steps off the boat, but stays in the fight

Blair Tuke won't be on the water when Emirates Team New Zealand return to racing...
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Kingfisher 730 // Photo credit: Kingfisher Boats
Hutchwilco Boat Show

Kingfisher Boats unveils new Powercat at 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show

Kingfisher Boats is heading to the 2026 Hutchwilco New Zealand Boat Show with so...
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Start of the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race from Marina Lanzarote, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands // Photo credit: Calero Marina / RORC
RORC Transatlantic

2,995 miles west: RORC Transatlantic Race returns in January 2027

The 13th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start on Sunday 10 January ...
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No trailer required for mini jetboat
Boat Bling

No trailer required for mini jetboat

VECTOR WATER CRAFT PORTABLE electric mini jet-boats recent...
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KDY Women’s Match Race 2026, Day 3. KDY, Rungsted Kyst, Denmark. May 09, 2026. // Photo credit: Ian Roman / WWMRT
Women's Match Racing

Nordic rivalry take centre stage at 2026 KDY Women’s Match Racing final

Rungsted, Denmark (Saturday 9 May 2026) - The opening stage of the 2026 Women’s ...
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Seawind 1160XL (L) and Seawind 1370 (R)
Sanctuary Cove Boat Show

Multihull Central brings Seawind’s finest to the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show — and the catamaran ...

Seawind
There's a moment most sailors know. You're motoring back into the marina after a...
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V8 Superboats // V8 Superboats
Australian V8 Jetsprint Superboats

One family, three classes, one unforgettable finale

AFJSA Penrite Oils V8 Superboats Championship, Round 6, Temora, 2 May 2026 Te...
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Cole Tapper (AUS)/ Kairos Racing. 2026 LBYC Congressional Cup, Day 3. Long Beach Yacht Club, Long Beach, CA. May 01, 2026. // Photo: Ian Roman / WMRT
Congressional Cup

Tapper claims the Crimson Blazer at the 61st Congressional Cup

Cole Tapper has won the 2026 Congressional Cup, defeating defending champion Eri...
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Cole Tapper (AUS)/ Kairos Racing. 2026 LBYC Congressional Cup, Day 3. Long Beach Yacht Club, Long Beach, CA. May 01, 2026. // Photo: Ian Roman / WMRT
Congressional Cup

Tapper stuns Poole in Congressional Cup semi-final comeback

Cole Tapper has pulled off one of the most remarkable results of the 61st Congre...
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2026 New Zealand National Keelboat Championships // Royal Akarana Yacht Club
Keelboat

Fong completes the comeback to claim the 2026 NZ Keelboat National Championships

The RNZYS youth sailor wins four of the final five races to overhaul a Day 1 def...
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Leopard 52 // Supplied
Boat of the Year Awards

The brands setting the pace through in this week’s awards bounty

Two of the world's most prestigious multihull awards have now delivered their 20...
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Cayla Moulpied, Lusty & Blundell // Supplied
Boat Business

Key promotion at Lusty & Blundell’s Whangarei branch

Due to increase demand, Cayla Moulpied, formerly Lusty & Blundell’s Auckland...
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