The Weta 4.4 Trimaran is a 4.4 metre (14 foot) sailing dinghy conceived and developed in New Zealand from 2001-2006 by Roger and Chris Kitchen and others with design by TC Design's Tim Clissold.
The boat is constructed from fibre glass and carbon fibre, and is popular as a racing boat or for recreational sailing. It has added stability and righting moment from the trimaran amas or floats.
The Weta Trimaran is recognized as one design class by Yachting New Zealand, the French Sailing Federation, and the Royal Yachting Association in the UK.
In 2010 the Weta Trimaran was awarded Boat of the Year by Sailing World magazine.
There are two distinct builds of the Weta Trimaran, the 'original build' and the '2015 Weta'.
From 2006 to 2014 the 'original build' was manufactured in China for Weta Marine and sailed internationally with 1000 boats sold to date with the largest fleets in France and the USA. Its sails were manufactured by Dutch windsurfing sail-maker Gaastra.
The design evolved over time:
Color changes (Most boats were produced to four RAL color codes: Red (3020), Yellow (1018), Green (6018), Light Grey (7035). Some very early boats featured alternative red and yellow hues)
Three rudders
New deeper daggerboard
Mylar sails
Minor modifications to forestay tack fitting
Optional furling jib
Optional mainsails:
Small training mainsail
Heavy weather mainsail
'Resort' mainsail (Dacron)
In 2014 the new 2015 Weta was announced.
Structural and cosmetic improvements include:
Deck (screecher furler cleat on cockpit side, swaged stays, Liros ropes and optional hiking strap, enhanced grip, new raised foredeck detail for enhanced strength and durability)
Floats (Precision fit Killwell carbon beams via vertical join. Switch to Nairn hatches.)
Sails (Switch of manufacturer to North Sails)
Centrecase (precision fit via nylon pile)
Trampoline (improved alignment via Ronstan custom carbon pads)
Rudder bar and gudgeons (strength and durability enhancement)
In September 2014 the first of the new '2015 Weta' build were shipped to customers in the US.
Top recorded Speed: 20.68 kn (38.30 km/h; 23.80 mph) by Tom Kirkman, USA.
Rigging time: 20 minutes
October 18–19, 2014: ACT Multihull Championships 2014, Canberra, Australia.
September 21, 2014: Bart's Bash
September 5–7, 2014: Juana's Good Time Regatta, Navarre Beach, Florida, USA.
April 25-28th, 2014: Corsair Trimaran Nationals, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, USA.
March 7–9, 2014: (Second annual) Wetafest, Fort Walton Yacht Club, Florida, USA.
February 6–9, 2014: 5th annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta, Charlotte Harbor, Florida, USA.
July 5–7, 2013: 3rd Weta National, Notre-Dame-Des-Monts, France.
June 22–23, 2013: 24 Hour Weta Regatta, Lorient, France.
July 2013: High Sierra Regatta, Fresno Yacht Club, USA.
September 26–28, 2012: European Championship, Muiderberg, the Netherlands.
December 2011: First New Zealand Weta National Championship, Lake Taupo, New Zealand.
August 2, 2009: 44th Lake of the Woods International Sailing Association Regatta, Kenora, Ontario, Canada.
