New Zealand to France in a Outremer 51 with Mike Golding
August 19, 2025 | mhcadmin
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.
The Perfect Platform for Ocean Cruising
Golding’s decision to choose a performance cruising catamaran over the racing monohulls he’d sailed professionally wasn’t taken lightly. “When you race, you’re dictated where you start and where you finish,” he explains. “But when you cruise, you get the opportunity to stop at all these places.” The timing was perfect – his son was finishing university, and the family was ready for an adventure before life pulled them in different directions.
The Outremer 51 proved to be the ideal vessel for their ambitious 18-month journey from New Zealand back to the boat’s original build port near Le Grand Motte in southern France. What impressed Golding most was how the previous owners had maintained the vessel. “Everything was so perfectly aligned,” he recalls. “They obviously were slightly OCD, which is something I respect completely. We were able to step on the boat and our first sail was that sail to Fiji.”
New Zealand: The Perfect Departure Point
Purchasing the boat through Jason Brosnahan at Multihull Central Brokerage in New Zealand, the family spent valuable preparation time at Port Nikau Whangarei before departing New Zealand from Marsden Cove. For Golding, New Zealand’s reputation as a yachting hub proved invaluable. “New Zealand’s a fantastic place in terms of having access to anything connected to the yachting industry,” he notes. “Whether it’s electronics, sail making, sign writing, boatyard work, composite work – whatever you needed, it was all right there.”
The comprehensive support network meant they could properly prepare for their ambitious voyage. From surveying and antifouling to electronics work and final preparations, every service was readily available. “It’s just a yachting capital, undoubtedly,” Golding adds, referencing the claim that New Zealand’s has the highest boat ownership per capita in the world.
Performance That Impressed
Despite his extensive racing background on high-tech monohulls, Golding was immediately impressed by the Outremer’s capabilities. “I think on the second night – and we said we’ll take it easy – I think we hit 21 knots,” he recalls of their first passage to Fiji. “But what I noticed immediately was it felt totally safe.”
This balance of speed and safety became a defining characteristic throughout their journey. The boat’s performance proved particularly valuable when departing Réunion, where they used the Outremer’s pace to stay ahead of cyclone activity. “Boats that didn’t leave in that window just got held up there for the best part of three weeks,” Golding explains. “Whereas we had an absolute clam trip to South Africa and sailed 99% of that passage.”
Living Aboard: Space and Comfort
The transition from racing boats to cruising catamaran revealed benefits Golding hadn’t fully anticipated. “It’s like a livable small apartment,” he describes. “The only time you go down into
the hulls is when you’re on your way to sleep or have a shower. You have this massive living space that’s sort of an indoor-outdoor space with the big doors.”
The social aspect particularly impressed the family. “You could have 12 people on board and they’d all disappear and find a space and it wouldn’t feel crowded,” Golding notes. This space proved invaluable as they welcomed various crew members throughout their journey, always sailing with interesting company while introducing newcomers to the joys of ocean cruising.
The Complete Journey
Their route took them through the Pacific islands, across the Indian Ocean via Christmas Island and Cocos Keeling, through South Africa, up the Atlantic via St. Helena and Ascension Island, and finally across to the Caribbean before completing the Atlantic crossing to Europe. Throughout this extensive voyage, the Outremer 51 proved its reliability and seaworthiness.
“The boat stood up really well,” Golding reports. “The kind of things that went wrong were things like pumps – and these are not just little pumps, they were quite expensive smart pumps. But it’s all been easy to repair. The big things worked perfectly.”
Would He Recommend It?
Without hesitation, Golding gives the Outremer 51 his complete endorsement for serious ocean cruising. “100%, I’d recommend it. I know the rest of my family would also recommend it.” The combination of performance, space, and seaworthiness made it the perfect platform for their ambitious journey.
Perhaps most remarkably, they completed their circumnavigation within three days of their original schedule planned 18 months earlier – a testament to both the boat’s capabilities and their careful planning. As Golding puts it: “The boat is exactly where we said it would be at exactly the right time.”
A Seamless Transaction
Reflecting on the purchase process, Golding acknowledges the complexity of the international transaction and praises Multihull Central’s role in facilitating it. “Thank you so much for your support and help throughout that,” he says. “We had to put a lot of trust in you guys because we were buying a boat – an American boat as it was. We’re buying a boat from Americans based in New Zealand but through an Australian company and we’re British. So there was a lot to go wrong there.”
The multi-national complexity of the deal – involving American sellers, a New Zealand location, an Australian brokerage, and British buyers – could have presented numerous challenges. However, Golding notes that Multihull Central “facilitated it, made the transaction very easy for us.”
For sailors considering similar adventures, Golding’s experience demonstrates that with the right boat, professional support, and preparation, ambitious cruising dreams are entirely achievable. The Outremer 51, purchased and prepared in New Zealand’s excellent marine environment, proved itself as the perfect vessel for turning professional racing experience into unforgettable family adventures.
For more information on Mike’s Outremer 51 that is for sale CLICK HERE.
For more information on selling catamarans from New Zealand, Fiji or Australia CLICK HERE.
Other News
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 – 24 October 2024
Multihull Central, distributors for Seawind Catamarans and Corsair Marine are pleased to announce a new format cruising rally for boat owners and crew to explore Moreton Bay and in support of charity Sailability.
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