Issue date
They go into combat in world class match race events, and let all comers try their hand at fleet racing. The 11 boats in the MRX fleet have been based at Westhaven Marina for 23 years and are still one of the world’s best fleets of identical keel boats.
Tom Macky left a corporate export marketing role to manage the fleet of MRX yachts, seeking more fresh air and a balanced lifestyle. The father of three daughters - including twice Olympic campaigner Sarah, US Women’s College Sailor of the Year Jane, and middle daughter Briar who has a professional career within the industry - is himself a former NZ and Australian Champion in the Flying 15 class.
Now he oversees the boats, on behalf of the owners, who are an illustrious group including past Yachting New Zealand chairs Jan Dawson and Geoff Thorpe, and top NZ sailors Harry Dodson, Phil Douglas, Phil Robertson, and Garth Ellingham.
What’s unique about this fleet of Bruce Farr designed 10.2m long keelboats, is that when they are not being used for regular sailing events from Wednesday night racing to national championships and the Pacific Keelboat Challenge, they are available to charter, year round, and are regularly used by fund raisers, industry groups and corporates, like ANZ, Microsoft, KPMG, and Coca Cola, for harbour race / team building yachting events.
“They are really great boats to sail, set up for racing, with a roomy cockpit, a sensitive helm, and easy controls,” says Tom.
“They are the only true one design fleet on the harbour, and one of the few fleets available internationally for a wide variety of public uses,” he says.
They have been campaigned many times by Sir Russell Coutts, Dean Barker and Sir Ben Ainslie, and the boats have been - and remain - a key element in the careers of many talented young sailors that have gone on to professional match racing or America’s Cup careers.
To find out more about chartering one to 11 boats for a yacht race on Auckland harbour, visit www.mrxyachting.co.nz or call Tom on 021 679 125.
