Members Gallery

Members Gallery Index

  

Member Focus  - Dragonfly, Formula 40 Catamaran

Submitted by Pat McGarry

"Dragonfly" is a Formula 40 catamaran built in Australia in 1987 and designed by Scott Jutson. The boat was completed just in time to see the worldwide Formula 40 Racing Circuit end. The boat was little used until 1993 when she was sold to new owners who campaigned the boat extensively under the name "Simply the Best". The boat set numerous records in Australia including, Surf to City Race at an average of 17.5 knots including a 30nm beat, Gold Coast to Moreton 23.6 knot average and won the 347nm Brisbane to Gladstone Race 4 consecutive times. Amongst these the boat had a record of 67 consecutive "line honor" finishes. 

In 1998 "Simply the Best" was sold to a movie production company for filming a television commercial in Thailand. This was a very dramatic commercial for a cigarette company in Brazil. Many sailors read about this filming in Multihulls Magazine. The boat's current livery of dragons was added for the making of this commercial. The boat was then sold and delivered to her current owner, Pat McGarry in January of 1999. 

Since that time Pat and crew have had "Quite a Ride" graduating from many years of beach cat and monohull sailing to this exciting formula 40 catamaran, "Dragonfly". The boat has competed in most of the major sailing events in the northwest and has won many including PSSC, Tri-Island Series, Gran Prix and most notably winning Swiftsure 2000 and 2001 (Cape Flattery Race) and taking 2 hours off the existing record in 2000 and another hour off the record in 2001. She recently completed the 600 mile Van Isle 360 Race around Vancouver Island where she set a new elapse time record. "Dragonfly's" talented crew of multihull experts believes that sailing is FUN, especially when done FAST. The crew includes Craig Kestler, Mark Logan, Randy Nicholia, Sandy Dick, Mark Tynes, Nick Banks, Mike and Mary Brunella, Robert Berrand and others. Their help makes "Dragonfly" the fastest sailboat currently sailing in the Northwest.

Click on photo for a larger view.  Use your browser "back" button to return here.