EPISODE #9: Fastest Sailor Alive: The Journey of Cat Sailor Glenn Ashby
September 30, 2025
From America’s Cup to Catamaran Cruising: The Epic Journey of Glenn Ashby
Brent Vaughan interviews Catamaran racing legend and America’s Cup hero, Glenn Ashby about his wild achievements that led him to become the fastest sailor alive and now cruising on the cruising lifestyle on a catamaran.
Glenn Ashby’s path to becoming sailing’s fastest catamaran legend began with a childhood moment that would define his career. At just three years old, sitting on the side of his father’s Arrow catamaran, he experienced the magic of a hull lifting clear of the water—everything going quiet as the boat accelerated smoothly through the breeze. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is unbelievable,'” Ashby recalls. “I really like going fast and I love flying a hull.”
Early Racing Foundation
Growing up in Bendigo, Victoria, Ashby’s sailing education came through his parents’ deep involvement in the local yacht club scene. His mother, a passionate sailor since age 12, had built her own Mirror dinghy only to lose it in a tragic shed fire. This setback didn’t dampen the family’s sailing spirit—it strengthened it.
By 13, weighing just 37 kilos, Ashby chose a Paper Tiger catamaran simply because it was the cheapest option among three boats his father was considering. This decision proved pivotal. The Paper Tiger’s finicky rigging system, with adjustable lower forestays and manipulative sails, became his technical education. More importantly, racing against adults gave him access to invaluable knowledge from experienced sailors willing to share their expertise.
The A-Class Breakthrough
The transition to A-Class catamarans marked Ashby’s entry into elite sailing. His first experience on an A-Class left him mesmerized—the effortless acceleration on trapeze, the smooth efficiency, and raw speed. “I probably sailed for about 50 or 60 meters and I’m like that’s it. I got to get myself one of these.”
At 19, Ashby shocked the sailing world by winning his first World Championship in Spain against 89 competitors, including world champions and Olympic medalists. This victory launched a career that would span multiple A-Class world titles and establish him as the class’s dominant force.
Olympic Dreams and America’s Cup Revolution
Ashby’s Olympic aspirations led him to the Tornado class, where he partnered with Darren Bundock. Their partnership culminated in a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, though equipment failure in the medal race prevented gold. When the Tornado was removed from the Olympics, Ashby’s career took an unexpected turn toward the America’s Cup.
Joining Team New Zealand in 2010 proved transformational. The team’s innovative development of foiling technology changed sailing forever. Ashby vividly remembers the breakthrough moment when their test boat first took flight: “The catamaran just shot forward against the towboat because it was just so efficient as the hull really left the water.”
Innovation Under Pressure
Following their devastating 2013 America’s Cup loss to Oracle, Team New Zealand faced near-bankruptcy. Of 127 team members, only six remained. Ashby was one of them, helping rebuild from the ground up with limited resources but unlimited determination.
Their secret weapon became the world’s first sailing simulator. While competitors conducted two-boat testing in Bermuda, Team New Zealand developed their AC50 virtually. This innovative approach, combined with revolutionary flight control systems and cycling power generation, led to their stunning 2017 Bermuda victory.
Beyond Competition: The Cruising Dream
After defending the America’s Cup in 2021, Ashby retired from competition with new horizons in mind. While he continues pushing technological boundaries—working with Ferrari on cutting-edge sailing projects and dreaming of breaking Paul Larsen’s water speed record—a different kind of sailing adventure beckons.
“I’ve been dreaming of designing a cruising cat for probably 20 or 30 years,” Ashby reveals. After decades of high-octane racing, he’s ready to embrace a different pace. His vision? A 50-foot cruising catamaran positioned at about 75% performance—fast enough to satisfy his need for speed, yet comfortable enough for family adventures.
“I still want to be comfortable at anchor and I still want to be able to have my wife and my kids and my mates on board and not scare the daylights out of anyone,” he explains. The design philosophy reflects his evolution from pure racer to family sailor, seeking something that performs well in high-speed passages while remaining manageable for just himself and his wife.
This transition from racing legend to cruising dreamer represents a natural progression. The same technical expertise that revolutionized America’s Cup sailing now focuses on creating the perfect balance between performance and livability. For Ashby, the next chapter isn’t about winning trophies—it’s about winning quality time with family while still honoring his lifelong love of fast, efficient sailing.
From a small boy enchanted by flying hulls to the architect of modern foiling sailing, and now aspiring cruising catamaran designer, Glenn Ashby’s journey represents the complete evolution of a sailor’s relationship with the wind and water.
Other News
Selling a catamaran is a major decision, and getting it right can make all the difference. Success comes down to the 4 P’s — Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Present your boat like an open home with repairs, cleaning, and styling done upfront to avoid objections. Set the right price based on actual sold-boat data, not just online listings, to capture serious buyers during the crucial first weeks. Location matters too — marinas with easy access, services, and strong buyer demand (like Sydney, Gold Coast, or Opua) can speed up sales. Finally, a strong marketing mix is essential: professional photos, online listings, social media, YouTube, eDMs, and boat shows ensure your catamaran reaches the right global audience.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 26 August 2025
Seawind Catamarans Unveils All-New 1160 XL: The Evolution of a Legend
Complete redesign of proven offshore performer features over 30 major improvements.
Seawind Catamarans and Australian distributors Multihull Central today announced the launch of the highly anticipated next generation Seawind 1160 XL at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show in November.
From New Zealand to France: A Professional Sailor’s Journey Home in an Outremer 51
When veteran ocean racer Mike Golding decided to transition from competitive sailing to family cruising, he knew exactly what he was looking for. The former Vendée Globe competitor, who had completed six around-the-world races in his illustrious career, needed a vessel capable of serious ocean passages while providing the comfort and space his family deserved. His choice? A late-model Outremer 51 purchased through Multihull Central’s New Zealand operation.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 14 August 2025
A new sailing podcast has been launched called ‘2 Hulls 1 Life’ hosted by Brent Vaughan, Managing Director of Multihull Central, who interviews inspirational sailors about their adventures cruising the world onboard their catamarans.
The show is designed to help educate, inform and inspire anyone who has considered the cruising lifestyle and explores subjects such as the Pacific rally, Sail Malaysia Rally, professional delivery crews, charter boat ownership, Seakeepers research and major passages crossing the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It will also delve into the design attributes of various cruising catamarans.
Fourteen knots of boat speed closehauled, 17 on a power reach and 20+ under kite – numbers normally associated with a supermaxi like Comanche, but here we’re referring to a pocket multihull that’s 24.2m shorter and a metre narrower, even with its amas outstretched like albatross wings.
The Corsair 880 is way easier to sail and considerably cheaper, and you can forget expensive ocean deliveries, marina fees,
slipping costs and the like. Drop the rig, raise the centreboard, fold the floats to reduce beam to 2.5m, then haul the little tri onto a dual-axle alloy trailer.
From Charter Investment to Pacific Paradise: How One Couple Made Their Cruising Dreams Reality
When Colonel David Burke first bought a Seawind 1160 and put it into charter, he had no idea it would become the foundation for an extraordinary Pacific cruising adventure. Now, sitting in the pristine Lau Group of Fiji aboard his upgraded Seawind 1260, David’s story demonstrates how charter boat ownership can be the perfect stepping stone to achieving blue water cruising dreams.
Paul Hooge and his wife transitioned from life in Colorado to full-time cruising after retiring. With little sailing experience, they purchased a Seawind 1370 and decided to commission it in Thailand instead of shipping it home. With support from local expert Phil Harper, they prepared the boat and joined the Sail Malaysia Rally—a multi-month cruising event from Langkawi through Malaysia, Indonesia, and Borneo.
The rally offered a mix of structured events and independent sailing, giving them access to stunning, less-traveled places like the Anambas and Natuna Islands. Along the way, they connected with local communities, joined parades, and received warm welcomes from various ports.
Despite initial inexperience, they successfully navigated the rally with help from fellow cruisers and the Seawind 1370’s performance. Paul praised the boat’s comfort, handling, and visibility, calling the journey both challenging and unforgettable.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 16 October 2024
Multihull Central are excited to announce an all-new Regatta on Sydney Harbour dedicated to Multihulls, with an offer extended to all cruising and racing catamarans and trimarans with accommodation, including owners of Seawind, Corsair and all other brands who would like to enjoy racing on the world’s greatest harbour.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 25 September 2024
Seawind Catamarans returns to the Melbourne Boat Show with Australian distributor Multihull Central, showing a brand new Seawind 1160 Lite catamaran now available to bareboat charter with Riviera Nautic on the Gippsland Lakes.
Maritime shepherd the fleet away from a visiting whale.
It’s certainly been a different winter on Sydney Harbour than usual, while there’s been plenty of sunshine, the breeze has not been so forthcoming. Normally winter consists of light sou-easters and the occasional fresh westerly, this time we’ve had gloriously sunny days with westerlies around five knots or lower, week after week, with a number of races abandoned as a result.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
Sydney, Australia – 5th September 2024
The world’s most popular sailing trimaran is making a resurgence in Australia with two brand new pre-sold Corsair 880s arriving in Sydney this week for assembly by distributor Multihull Central, alongside a third also on display.
The Bay to Bay Regatta had been on my bucket list for a few years now and seeing this year it landed on my birthday, I decided it was an opportunity not to be missed. So I phoned up my mate Steve Medwell who I used to sail Tornadoes and F18s with and invited him along for a ride. The ride was our new award winning Corsair 760 trimaran.
Whether you are a first time sailor, or an experienced around the world circumnavigator, the iconic Australian-owned and founded Seawind brand has a boat and design for you for all levels of experience and planned adventures. But with four boats that are only a few feet apart in length, it can get tricky to decide which is the right boat to choose and the best fit for you. So, we have put together these special buyers guide to help unpack the design concept behind each and its characteristics, its pros and cons, and who we recommend them for to help you select not necessarily the most expensive boat, but the best boat for you.
Cruz Club is a 12 month program designed to help equip would-be cruisers who are inspired to set off exploring the world by sea but don’t yet have the skills, experience or a boat to do it on and want to get prepared and do it right and avoid making costly mistakes along the way.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE…
The HH44 was met with enthusiasm and rave reviews at the Cannes Yachting Festival, when it made its international debut last month. Throngs of visitors came out to see the HH44, declaring it “spectacular”, “stunning”, “the future” and “the best boat in the show”.
Club Marine’s Kevin Green joins Multihull Central on the water to test the stunning HH50-SC Synergy.
HH Catamarans has named Multihull Central as the exclusive distributor for Australia and New Zealand as the up and coming brand of high performance catamarans releasing some innovative new designs and ramps up production for their new44 and 50foot models.
One of the world’s most popular and prolific YouTube sailing channels, Gone with the Wynns, have just announced their purchase of a new ecofriendly hybrid-electric HH44 sailing catamaran. The HH44 ‘Ocean Cruiser’ version is a high-performance cruising catamaran designed to sail around the world sustainably and efficiently while also providing a luxurious living platform for couples and families travelling the world.
Multihull Central announced the new Corsair 880 is on its way to Australia to be showcased at the upcoming Sydney International Boat Show.
A big day at Longreach as the first LR44 deck is turned following a successful resin infusion. Starting to take shape!
Tips for Delivery by Sea – Asia to Australia / New Zealand
The Summer of 2022 / 2023 has been and interesting journey for many of our customers taking delivery of boats over this period. With country borders being opened up in earnest, this saw new boat owners taking delivery of their cruising catamarans on mass, as we helped coordinate deliveries of 4 x Seawinds and 1 x HH50 from Asia back to Australia and New Zealand. We have gained some new and valuable insights for those considering taking delivery in Asia.
So here are some key points to consider…
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brent Vaughan from HH Catamarans distributor Multihull Central, takes the HH50-SC ‘Synergy’ out sailing off the Gold Coast to test how it sails in lumpy conditions and light winds. Here is the full account and transcript that accompanies the sailing video.
We plan to take our little Seawind 1000 catamaran ‘Seabbatical’ from Sydney Harbour, to Lady Musgrave Island. As I still have the demands of running a business and kids at school, this will be a mini seabbatical and so finding time is important but demanding.
‘Pirate Pete’ is the proud new owner of the brand new Seawind 1260, that Cumberland Charter Yachts will be welcoming in to the fleet in August this year. We asked him what his background story was in buying the Seawind 1260 and why he chose to have it chartered in the Whitsundays.
Here is his story:
The club has been formed with the objective of providing a means for multihull boat owners to build networks, learn about how others fix issues and engage in both cruising and racing/rallys whilst enjoying the social aspects that belonging to a club provides.
If you have ever considered swapping the suit & tie and air-conditioning, for deck shoes and salt air and running your own business, then a charter boat business might be just the thing you need to feed both your entrepreneurial and outdoor desires.
Charter boat ownership is a great way to accelerate buying your dream boat, profit from strong demand in the tourism industry and provides a fully managed solution to boat ownership while you are still busy working and with family commitments.
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Sydney, Australia – 17 February 2025 This week 20 multihulls entered the 2025 Sydney Multihull
AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE… Sydney, Australia – 24 October 2024 Multihull Central, distributors for Seawind Catamarans
All over the globe there are people discovering new places both in the natural world and within themselves. The Seawind Life series of
MCYC is not just about Thursday night Twilight racing. We hold rallies to other ports and we support each other cruising around Australia
MCYC is not just about Thursday night Twilight racing. We hold rallies to other ports and we support each other cruising around Australia
The Award Winning 45 foot Seawind 1370 will be at the Seawind Display Day on Saturday the 5th of April at Multihull Central in Annandale
Join us as we chat with Scott and Sandy from the Red Sea onboard their Seawind 1160 lite catamaran, and explore their incredible
After a decent break for Christmas and January, TAGS has been back with a vengeance! The first race on February 6 was fairly light and
MCYC is not just about Thursday night Twilight racing. We hold rallies to other ports and we support each other cruising around Australia