Australian High Performance Catamarans (AHPC) is an Australian based company that designs, manufactures and exports high performance racing catamarans. The growth over the last 12 months has lead to it expanding its production facilities in Bendigo, Victoria.
There is a position available for a young enthusiastic sailor seeking a career in the sailing industry. The successful applicant will join the production team based at Bendigo and their primary responsibility will be in sail making, however, they are likely to be involved in all facets of the design, production and assembly of the boats.
An apprenticeship in sailmaking is a possibility.
The successful applicant would need to have a strong desire to further their sailing knowledge and ability. They will need a desire and a capability to work with their hands. Familiarity with different power tools, including a sewing machine would be of benefit, but not essential.
Expressions of interest can be emailed through to Helen, helen@ahpc.com.au or phoned through to +61 (0) 419 534 261
A.H.P.C. Pty Ltd,
50 – 52 Craig St,
BENDIGO, 3550
By Ian Grant.
Hamilton Island Yacht Club skipper Bruce Absolon remains significantly proud of the opportunity to now own and skipper one of the World’s best known yachts.
However the ocean racing career of Bruce Absolon has not been all smooth sailing on a calm sea in fact there is a personal meaning behind the name of his famed ocean racer Nikon Spirit of The Maid.
Bruce Absolon became a broken man when his previous yacht the two time Sydney Hobart Race winner Ausmaid was wrecked on Noosa north shore beach on April 2 2009.
Ausmaid was nearing the final stages of her delivery voyage to compete in the Brisbane to Gladstone race when her crew faced an intense and life threatening low depression system off Double Island Point. Read more…
Stephen Ainsworth and his high performance crew of ocean racing sailors outpaced a Rolex Sydney Hobart standard fleet to win the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week and the Audi Australian IRC Ocean racing title on Saturday.
The popular businessman who races yachts for the love of the challenge claimed his career best performance when the talented helmsman Gordon Maguire steered Loki to victory in the Grand Prix series at Hamilton Island on Friday.
There was only a short celebration on the dock at Hamilton Island Marina before the Loki crew were back in a huddle planning their strategy to win Australia’s richest prize in yachting an Audi A5 cabriolet awarded to the winner of the four regatta Australian championship series. Read more…
By Ian Grant at Hamilton Island Friday August 27 2010.
Stephen Ainsworth’s Loki won the prestigious Audi Hamilton Island Race Week IRC championship with a race to spare yesterday.
The Gordon Maguire and Stephen Ainsworth combination started the week long series as pre-regatta favourite and justified their ranking by progressively outsailing the Sydney Hobart standard fleet in a mixed range of winds from light to fresh and frightening.
This performance has been a fitting reward for Stephen Ainsworth who lost his previous yacht of the same name during a violent storm when representing Australia in the Rolex Middle Sea race in 2007.
His new Loki has now proved to be the most consistent on the Australian offshore racing circuit winning the short course Sydney Harbour regatta followed by a convincing win in 384 n /ml Audi Sydney to Gold Coast race capped win a popular win in Australia’s premier race week series yesterday.
They firmed a vice like grip on the trophy after scoring their fifth win from seven races yesterday morning then placed the overall result beyond doubt with a third behind the New Zealand sloop Georgia and Brisbane’s Black Jack in the second windward leeward race of the day
Naturally Stephen Ainsworth was impressed with the performance of his principal helmsman Gordon Maguire and a talented crew.
“The dedication and team work expressed by the entire crew is what got Loki over the line”.
“They are a great bunch of mates and deserve the results which they work so hard for”. Stephen Ainsworth said. Read more…
Wild Oats X, Lahana and Black Jack staged a thrilling nip-n-tuck match race for line honours in the 27 n/ml Audi Hamilton Island Race Week Island passage event in the windy Whitsunday Islands yesterday.
A true Southerly trade wind spiced with gusts recorded at 26 knots propelled Wild Oats X, Lahana and Black Jack into some wild wave riding speeds on the long spinnaker run between Spitfire Rock and Pine Islet.
John Honan co owner of the 30m maxi Lahana described the run as a ride to remember.
“We were in front at Spitfire rock but that fell apart when we blew out a spinnaker” He said. Read more…
Peter Millard’s 30 m maxi sloop Lahana left her rivals trailing a white water wake when she speed sailed to another impressive line honours win in the Audi Hamilton Island Race Week yesterday
Lahana previously considered to be obsolete has been rejuvenated with new sails to become a star performer in the regatta which has attracted a Sydney to Hobart standard fleet.
The Lahana crew combined cleverly to power sail over the 24.3 n/ml Baynham Island course finishing with a comfortable win in the Grand Prix IRC class over the Brisbane pocket-maxi Black Jack helmed by Mark Bradford while 2008 Star Class Olympian Iain Murray steered Wild Oats X into third place. Read more…
By Ian Grant.
The picturesque warm and friendly waters of the Whitsunday Islands will present Sunshine Coast teenage solo sailor Jessica Watson with different sailing experience today
Jessica captured the admiration of supporters around the world after successfully steering the little sloop Ella’s Pink Lady through the wildest sailing conditions on the planet.
This time the energetic teenager who has proved her passion for mastering the physically and mentally demanding challenge of solo sailing will not be alone.
She has accepted the invitation to crew with good friend Matthew Jones as his for’ard hand in the inaugural Audi Hamilton Island Race Week SB3 championship.
“I will be up the front of the boat as the wind and wave shield” She said with her trademark smile. Read more…
By Ian Grant.
Stephen Ainsworth’s high performance Sydney sloop Loki has been the star performer in the International Audi Hamilton Island Race week regatta.
Loki raced by a very talented crew under the guidance of principal helmsman Gordon Maguire has recorded an impressive light wind performance winning the opening three races to set up a commanding lead over the defending champion the Michael Hiatt skippered Victorian yacht Living Doll.
The Living Doll crew kept their title aspirations alive when the tactically outpaced Loki in the ultra light wind to claim an important win in race 4 on Monday. Read more…
By Ian Grant.
The 2010 Festival of Sails proved to be another outstanding success with the Meridien Marinas Airlie Beach Race Week and the prestigious Audi Hamilton Island Race Week showcasing the Whitsunday Islands as a world standard yachting destination,
Remarkably the two regattas developed from a grudge match race between the majestic barque Dahlia and the traditional pearling lugger Torres Herald for a bottle of Bundaberg Rum over forty years ago now attract over 300 yachts to race in the tropical sailing paradise.
Many of the crews and their families break the ‘shackles’ from the colder latitudes of New Zealand, Tasmania, Victoria and many other ports south of the Tropic Of Capricorn to record the warm Whitsunday sailing experience in their personal long books. Read more…