Few regattas in their inaugural year can claim a foiling catamaran among their starters, but that is exactly the position Evolution Sails Kawau Race Week finds itself in ahead of its first edition this summer. Frank Racing, confirmed as a late entry by event organisers, will become the first foiling multihull to compete at the event.
"We welcome our first high-speed foiling cat into the competition in the form of Frank Racing and wish the team a fantastic regatta," organisers said.
Frank Racing operates in the same performance territory as the foiling classes seen in SailGP and the America's Cup, sustaining flight clear of the water rather than simply skimming the surface. Its appearance at Kawau Race Week introduces a type of vessel the event has not previously seen, marking a new development for the regatta even before racing has begun.
The boat is no newcomer to competitive offshore sailing. Frank Racing claimed multihull line honours in the PIC Harbour Classic in both 2024 and 2025, a record that gives the crew a solid foundation heading into the week. Kawau Bay sits in relatively sheltered water compared with the surrounding coastline and tends to offer flatter conditions that allow sustained foiling across a wider range of weather, factors that could suit a high-performance foiler well.
Owner and skipper Simon Hull said he was looking forward to racing at Kawau Race Week, and that the bay's combination of space and shelter suited what Frank Racing is capable of.
The confirmation of Frank Racing has already prompted enquiries from other performance multihull owners, both for this edition and for future runnings of the regatta. With just over a week remaining before racing begins, that response points to a growing appetite for events willing to accommodate boats of this type.
Frank Racing arrives at a regatta built around inclusion rather than spectacle. Evolution Sails Kawau Race Week is structured to bring together cruising yachts, club racers, and high-performance boats within a single event framework. Some crews will approach each day conservatively, others aggressively, but all share the same waters and the same programme. The format mixes day sailing with competitive fleet racing, allowing participants to engage at whatever level suits their experience and intent.
Evenings draw the fleet together at the Kawau Island Yacht Club, where crews gather to eat, discuss the day's racing, and enjoy time ashore. Organisers have been clear that the social fabric of the week is as important as what happens on the water, and that the event is designed to feel welcoming regardless of what a crew has sailed in on.
This year marks the first running of the regatta, and organisers say the focus for the inaugural edition is on delivering something well-run and genuinely open to all. The expectation is that participation will grow over time as the event establishes itself on the New Zealand sailing calendar. Frank Racing's entry, confirmed so close to the start, is an early signal of the breadth of sailing the organisers are hoping to encourage.
Single- and multi-hull entries are still being accepted ahead of racing getting underway.
