Weta Marine

Weta intro from Steve Keever (Seattle Hull #388)

I fell in love with sailing only a few years ago and took classes to get US Sailing certified.  My plan was to buy a 32ish' mono-hull moored in Shilshole to cruise on with friends.  That was until I started pricing sailboat ownership in Seattle.  With slip fees, insurance and the mortgage, I just couldn't get past the ROI for a boat I would take out maybe 10 to 15 times a year.  I have been a club member at "WindWorks Sailing" out of Shilshole where I got my certification and through them have access to a bunch of big boats for charter.  However, this doesn't really solve the "my boat" problem.  I wanted to be a boat owner; plain and simple.  

My first attempt at solving this problem was a 25 year old Hobie 16.  My wife likes to sail, but only in very favorable conditions.  I kept the boat in Fall City and ended up trying to rig and solo the Hobie on Lake Sammamish which never really worked out very well.  I ended up donating it to Sand Point after almost trashing a pickup after dropping the mast within inches.  

Since I sailed on my brothers Corsair F27 Austin's Lake Travis , I have been jonesing on trimarans.  I gave up on ownership for a few years until I saw the Weta in a YouTube video.  I put in my order with Dave at WetaWest without ever sailing or even seeing one live.  I keep the boat on a sling above my car in my garage, so there is no monthly storage cost.  From home, I can be sailing in just under 90 minutes on Lake Sammamish.  I am about 2 hours from my door to launching at Mt. Baker Sailing Center on Lake Washington.  That may seem like a bit of time, but it works for me to keep the boat under cover and safe at my house with no monthly payments.

The Weta fits perfectly with what I want.  I now have a very fast boat that can be raced one design as well as a boat that my wife and I can play with on the lake.  I still have the club when I want to go sailing with a bunch of friends, so it's pretty much the perfect scenario for me.  The Weta is a fantastically fun ride and remarkably easy to rig, launch and solo.  You can race it and you can hang out on it with your significant other with a cooler of beer.  I simply cannot recommend it more.  

Email from Cal Worthington - Auckland

Hi Roger,

Both you and Chris sure have made a fantastic boat.

I drove onto Torbay beach at 9:00am Sunday 6/11/11 and after 45 mins was rigged and looking out to sea with a lot of nervousness. I knew
That once I was off the beach and out I would be fine HAHA!! I was planning for my first ever Weta sail with my brother (2 up) but he was crook with a cold. I had to go and felt that I could do it on my own (perhaps in hindsight did not need the jib).

Wind was offshore and quite calm in the bay maybe 5-10 kts, gusty. It took a couple of minutes for me to get set and lined up. I could feel
The lightness and power of the Weta. It really wanting to go and go fast. I jumped on and with some control took off. First impressions was that the Weta felt big, comfortable well set up and very drivable I felt confident enough to unfurl the screecher after less than 1min on the boat (this was short lived HAHA but very exciting)

I really loved the acceleration. I was quickly outside the bay and probably into 10-15+ kts, gusting. I quickly furled the sceecher away as you
Know I have not used one before. Love that furler!

The boat felt very light, stiff and stable. I did catch my breath with the speed. Its instant and as the pressure builds so does the speed I was not
Even trying to go fast but I certainly was. I got a bit of a fright

Before I knew I was battling quite strong gusts with not a lot of sheet on, I was flying!!. I really have not been that quick in a yacht of this size.
It is an amazing, stunning feeling to sail fast in what was a very stable platform. The Weta turns well and was very good on the helm. I did not get the screecher out again as the gusts continued. Despite these tricky conditions I felt safe (out of my depth) but safe. I loved all aspects of the boat and after an hour of charging round I pointed back into the beach and arrived a few minutes later I was smiling from ear to ear, both hands were shaking. It took a few minutes to get my breathing and heart rate back under control.

A few hours later sitting in my chair at home with a nice hot coffee Weta 673 cleaned and packed away down stairs I was looking out on the water
And thought I really want to go sailing again HAHA!!  Not a bad first time out. Look out next weekend!

Thanks guys I feel I have a winner here and will enjoy with the family and other Weta owners for many many years to come

Best regards


Cal
Trade Manager - Asia

 

“I’ve been caught in a storm with sustained 35 knots for an hour, I just feathered into the wind for the period and felt very safe.”
Glen, USA  

“My personal endorsement of the WETA is that it provides the thrills of a beach cat or racing skiff w/o the need for trapezing or the worry about capsizing.” Bob, USA  

It zips. I’ve hit 16 knots on the gps in flat water – there’s more potential as I’m still figuring out how to get the best performance.  It’ll sail all day at 12-14 in 15 knots of breeze on a deep reach.”
Greg , USA  

“The construction is great, performance designed and quality materials—has withstood a few unplanned parking misadventures.”
Bruce, USA  

“This is a fun high performance boat that is very easy to sail. It doesn’t have the performance of a Tornado or higher speed cat, but that said, it is easier to sail than
a child’s dinghy so my wife will take it out. I can’t think of any other boat that is high performance (which I want) that she would take out.”
Glen,USA  

“A very good value. Initial cost includes everything you need. No additional purchases are necessary to go out and have fun sailing.”
Bob, USA  

As a quality manager, I am a difficult customer to please, as I tend to inspect to the nth degree.... However...... Having spent the last few hours opening, inspecting and generally crawling all over the Weta - I cannot find a single thing to fault it, nothing!
Robert, Dubai  

The build quality of this boat is spectacular, and I can find nothing other than real quality workmanship. The finish is superb - all over - inside and out, and everything just fits together the way it should, and there is nothing missing, - except an instruction book :) - but I know it off by heart anyway!. The carbon mast is a masterstroke for a guy like me with a bad back - stepping it is a dream!
Robert, Dubai  

2nd time out, just awesome!  My 12 year old said, "this is magic, I can't wait to race this thing!"  We haven't even tried the screecher yet!  
Pete, USA  

“I sail with a grin in conditions that would have my Olympic caliber crew and I on the beach if we were on the skiff.”
Greg, USA  

Been out several times so far and the enjoyment grows as I get more and more comfortable with her.  Was out yesterday solo in 15-20 with main and screacher.  She's remarkably well-behaved; and FAST.  Pretty much blew other boats off the water, including a few Hobies, lasers, and even some bigger monohulls.  Initially I was apprehensive about spending the money on a dingy, but the experience has justified the expense.   I marvel at the thought that was put into the Weta package.  I had made a list of things I would have to buy, but there is nothing that wasn't thought of ... and provided; and that comes from a guy who's been sailing for over 40 years.
Wayne, USA  

Got the Weta out for the 1st time in some decent breeze today. Now I really want to move to SF Bay because this boat loves 18 knots of breeze! Coming from big monohulls, this was the most effortless sailing in the mid teens I have ever done. You'd also have to be completely clueless to get into any trouble. In the biggest puff, I set the kite on a tight reach and managed to fully bury the leeward ama. A quick bear off popped it up and she jumped off on a full mid teens plane. Had this been a skiff, I would have been swimming! At no time did it ever feel like digging in at the bows. Go sail one of these, they are super fun!!!!!  
Steve, USA  

I sailed the Weta for the first time yesterday and have to say - even in very light winds I was impressed by how easy and fun it is to sail.  
Just a little gust and you feel it take off and accelerate. We were only just a touch slower than a fleet of 470s and that was 2 up with only the mail set!
Tim, Japan  

“This is a fun high performance boat that is very easy to sail. It doesn’t have the performance of a Tornado or higher speed cat, but that said, it is easier to sail than a child’s dinghy so my wife will take it out. I can’t think of any other boat that is high performance (which I want) that she would take out.”
Greg, USA  

"I love the boat. The Weta is so much better than I ever imagined it would be. But you lied to me. You told me it was a sailboat it's not, it's an airplane, it flies. I already have our first prospective customer. An older gentlemen, who said he has been sailing for 50 years, just fell in love with the Weta. Today when I was packing up from a great day on the water, he stood and talked to me for an hour about the boat. He wanted to know how much and where can he get one. I have been out three days in a row with the boat. Friday I spent three hours on the beach. The next day I went to the beach and sailed for the first time with just the main sail. I was so surprised by the speed and maneuverability that a big smile came across my face and then I just laughed with joy for about ten minutes while I was sailing. Today I put up the main and jib, it was a blast. I am too sore to go tomorrow. I will reluctantly have to take a day off. But there is always Tuesday. Thanks for the joy you have brought me."

Rick | Weta Owner, Florida, USA  

We recently joined the converted after my father-in-law bought a Weta. It lives behind the garage at our place - they say possession is nine tenths of the law, which is my justification for thinking of it as ours. Pop doesn't seem to mind that we only let him use it occasionally. A couple of weeks after taking delivery of our new toy, we popped it on the garden trailer and took it to Coromandel for our summer holiday. In two and a half weeks away, I only missed two days on the water. Everyone loved it - I even got airborne with an old school friend that had never been sailing. Pitchpoled in a bit of a blow and steep seas with my sister-in-law - neither of us could stop laughing from the moment we left the shore to the moment we got back to the beach to pick up the next crew. Three-sail bast reaching with my wife while the grandparents looked after the kids - the ultimate grantparent support: supplying both the babysitting and the entertainment. Beat that! Cruising around the bay under spinnaker with three under-fives and two adults (not her fastest mode), with everyone lazing on the trampolines and no-one moving even to tack or gybe. But my favourite times were cruising with my 3-year old son, Peter. He likes gentle breezes most - things got a bit too wet for him in the breeze - but we spent many afternoons just exploring the harbour, sometimes for several hours on end. After a bit of one-on-one coaching he now gets upset if he doesn't get to steer at least 50% of the time. Destined for greatness maybe; happiness for sure!He and I are looking forward to getting into the racing scene at Pt Chevalier, our local club - hoping for the prize for youngest father-and-son team, but if we clean-up too much silverware for sailing too fast, we might find that plan gets voted down! Perhaps the first bit of competition on my hands is convincing my wife to let me go instead of her - I'm sure she's got her eye on a mother and son trophy (she might have to donate one first). Fabulous family fun, with plenty to keep those with a competitive streak interested. I get the feeling we'll be Weta-people for a very long time - the question is how long have I got before Peter and his little brother oust their Dad altogether. I figure I still have a few years, and I'm looking forward to them."

Michael Eaglen | General Manager, Engineering Consultancy, High Modulus International  

"I’m very happy to report that the boat arrived safely at the lake. Sunday morning I was up at 5am in quite strong winds, out in the boat together with a friend. I tell you, this boat is a rocket - it is amazing how fast it goes! I feel very great with my boat...and people were very curious about it. Most would like to try it. We will see what happens! Anyway, I hope next weekend the wind will not blow too much, so I can take Helen out on it. I think she like it too."

Markus Winter | WIN ASIA Consulting, Member Of The Shanghai Yacht Club  

"I've been out a number of times in the Weta - an all-round boat for learn to sail, recreation, and high performance! What a blast! I cant wait for the class to grow!

The laser and the Hobie have always been seen as the worlds all purpose recreation boats. Having sailed the Weta I can see that these guys have incorporated all the strong characteristics of both. A high performance boat, it is exciting, forgiving and easy to sail, while being simple and compact. Why wasn't this thought of before?!?

I'm going to push for a lot of sailing clubs to jump aboard the Weta - it's just what New Zealand sailing needs to boost interest and participation in the sport."

Michael Bullot | Double World Champion, New Zealand Olympic Laser Sailor  

“After the test sail on the Weta, in 10 to 15kt's of wind, I was impressed with the speed. It was fast and it was fun. And it was easy to sail. I when out with my two kids, and it did what I wanted it to do. Steering was great, set up as easy and quick. On the water there was plenty of warning and there was never a feeling of this is going over or getting into any trouble. I then when out by myself and pushed it. I was surprised how well it went with the lee float a meter (3 feet) underwater. It just kept going fast. Going upwind it was balanced and responded to good trim and sailing. Around the course, it is likely to be close to a Hobie 16. -maybe faster upwind and possible slower reaching, but you won't capsize 5 times in a race.

I feel this boat will be the Hobie 16, or the Laser of the next decade. It is the sort of boat that will bring people back sailing - It is that good!”

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