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Core Builders Composites factory in Warkworth is behind a new sailing competition that could eventually overshadow the America’s Cup.
Sail GP will start in February next year and is a five-stage competition for foiling boats, similar to those used in the last America’s Cup.
Race locations will be Sydney, San Francisco, New York, Cowes and Marseille. The overall winner of the competition will receive US$1 million.
The series is being put together by American billionaire and Core owner Larry Ellison, and New Zealand yachtsman, and now director at Core, Russell Coutts.
Competition rules mean that all boats must be the same and sailors can only represent their home nation. Australia, China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States have entered the inaugural season.
The six F50 boats required are all being built in Warkworth. The facility has plenty of experience in boat building, having pieced together America’s Cup boats and other major craft.
Three of the boats are modified AC50 from the last America’s Cup, two have been built around existing cross structures and one has been built from scratch.
Componentry made at the facility includes high speed and light air dagger foils, rudders and elevators.
Core Builders Composites director Mark Turner says the project has been hard work, but he is pleased that deadlines are being met.
“We’ve had 110 people working on our Sail GP boats and that started in October last year, and we have the first boat in the water for a test run so we’re on schedule,” Mr Turner says.
“We’ve done jobs of equal complexity before, but in this case, we’re doing it across six boats so that’s a challenge.”
Another challenge is finding enough room. Core has been forced to lease buildings from neighbouring businesses to secure the necessary work space for the Sail GP project.
“There is a huge shortage of large industrial sites in Warkworth and it’s an issue not just for us, but the future of Warkworth if we want to create jobs locally.
“We are on a 2ha site, but need around 4ha to operate at full capacity.”
MS Engineering is one business that has leased buildings to Core and is also helping Sail GP with manufacturing.
“We have 60 containers that will be used to carry the boats between stages on the circuit and MS has been assisting us in fitting those out.”
Once racing begins, 20 Core staff will be contracted to work on the circuit and about five other staff will be involved as required.
All boats will be tested at Marsden Point in December and the competition will finish on September 22 next year.
Meanwhile, Core has undergone a recent change in management. Former director Tim Smyth left to chase other opportunities and he has been replaced by Russell Coutts.
“I’ve worked with Russell for over a decade and he brings a great set of skills to the management side of the business, while I’m more involved with construction at the facility,” Mr Turner says.
Tim was with the company for 17 years and worked alongside Mark on the construction of the Oracle boat that won the 2013 America’s Cup.
