Looking for a pedigreed racing machine? This TP52 has been winning races around NZ since the current owner purchased her and brought her here from San Diego. The owner, one of New Zealand's best, is moving on to bigger arena's, and is putting Kia Kaha on the market. This is your opportunity to own a boat outfitted with everything you need to put a campaign together.
The TP52 Class Association was started in 2001 by owners who wanted to race a Grand Prix sailboat that is fun, safe and reliable. TP52’s are flat out racing platforms, fully crewed, high performance monohulls capable of racing in both buoy regattas and offshore races. The 2800 pound weight limit provides for approximately 14 crew members with the flexibility to bring along a guest or a sponsor in the back of the boat and out of harms way. TP52’s race in true time, the first boat across the finish line wins. TP52’s are designed to be raced by both amateur and professional sailors alike. TP52’s elected not to use water ballast, canting keels, running back stays; preferring to keep it simple, safe & reliable. They can easily exceed 25 knots off the wind with the record being 32 knots in a race set by 4 TP52’s racing down the California coast in 2003. Upwind, they are very stiff and fast as approximately 60% of the weight of the boat is in the metal fin & lead bulb. TP52’s have won most every bluewater regatta they have entered including; overall wins in the 2004 Bermuda Race, 2004 Chicago to Mackinac and the 2003 Transpac race to Hawaii. In buoy racing, they have won the 2005 Key West Race week, 2003 Miami SORC and the [removed phone] St. Francis Big Boat Series against the best boats in the world, plus the impressive resume of this TP52 as given in the Specifications section.
Designed by Reichel Pugh and built in Spain; called Quantum Lexus and sailed by the famous Russell Coutts and some of the then young breed of Team NZ Sailors in 2005. TP52’s are tough carbon fiber machines custom designed & built to the TP52 Rule & ABS requirements. Owners hire their own builders and designers. Kia Kaha was built by the renowned Barcos Deportivos. The competition among the designers & builders is fierce, but also very healthy for the class, and sailing, as a whole. In addition, owners may select their sail maker, spar builder, winch maker and electronics packages. Owners are also free to hire professional crews or invite their friends aboard.
Kia Kaha performance has since been optimized with IRC-sprit and larger spinnakers in 2010. New deck paint/non-skid applied in 2011.
Fully offshore capable, all modifications engineered by Reichel-Pugh and completed by Brad Fitzgerald. She is the sister ship to "Patches", previously skippered and managed by British Olympic medalist Ian Walker.
Kia kaha is a Mori phrase used by the people of New Zealand meaning stay strong, used as an affirmation. The phrase has significant meaning for Mori: popularized through its usage by the 28th Mori Battalion during World War II, it is found in titles of books and songs, as well as a motto,
and she lives up to her name.
Stay strong - Kia Kaha
See Specifications for details on the extensive sail inventory.
Please call for an appointment, to start your regatta winning journey.
Nominal Length: 52'
Engine(s):
Fuel Type: Other
Engine Type: Inboard
