White Tip Yachts, a new shipyard in the folding trimaran market
Thomas Wilson, sailing enthusiast and experienced instructor, is the man behind White Tip Yachts. With his background as a sailing instructor and sailing racing school director, he has always sought to push the limits of nautical performance. After sailing a trimaran in 2022, he noticed the absence of modern models in the 30 to 40-foot trimaran category. So the idea of creating an innovative boat took shape.
White Tip Yachts was born of this desire to fill a gap in the market. The professor, in collaboration with design duo François Perus and Romain Scolari of Yacht Design Collective (YDC), spent two and a half years developing this ambitious project. Together, they designed the Cape WT-10, a 33-foot trimaran that hopes to revolutionize the world of multihulls.
"Yacht Design Collective has succeeded in creating a design that in our opinion is dazzling. They met all our expectations. What's more, François and Romain form an excellent team who are easy to work with and design a modern and special boat." explains Thomas Wilson.
The Cape WT-10, a folding and transportable trimaran
The Cape WT-10 stands out for its technical features and modern design, meeting the requirements of seasoned sailors. With a length of 33 feet, it is designed to take part in regattas such as those organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC), like the Fastnet. What's more, this trimaran can be folded and towed, making it easy to transport around Europe and the UK.
Thomas Wilson and the YDC team have made it a point of honor to design a light, fast boat with a MOCRA rating of less than 1.5, so as not to be classified in the Grand Prix category. Meticulous attention has been paid to design and manufacturing details, with the aim of maximizing performance while offering minimum on-board comfort.
Quality construction in South Africa
For the construction of the Cape WT-10, the contractor turned to Cape Performance, a renowned South African shipyard, best known for building the famous Cape 31 racing monohull. Cape Performance brings its expertise and know-how to this ambitious project, ensuring that every unit produced will be of the highest quality.
Production of the first unit is due to start shortly, provided that five units are ordered. To date, three orders have already been placed, proof of the interest this trimaran is arousing among sailing enthusiasts. At around ?425,000, the price of the boat is not within everyone's reach, but reflects the quality of the construction and the technical innovations it incorporates.
A boat for racing and learning
The first Cape WT-10 won't just be a showpiece. It will be used by Thomas Wilson's new regatta school, the White Tip Race Academy, based in Haslar, near Portsmouth in southern England. The boat will be used to train sailors wishing to perfect their skills at the helm of a trimaran in regattas. Potential buyers will also be able to test sail the trimaran with the owner, who will also act as an instructor.
The aim is to see the first Cape WT-10 sailing in the first half of 2025. With a potential top speed of 30 knots, this trimaran will be able to offer thrills and spills while providing its crew with well-thought-out comfort. Whether you're looking to take part in regattas or escape on a fast cruise with 5 people on board, the Cape WT-10 is a versatile boat, designed to meet the expectations of the most demanding sailors.
