First Salthouse Coach Boat is now in Australia
by Zoe Hawkins 3 Mar 2021 06:35 AEDT
The Salthouse Coach Boat is easy to haul in and out on a three point lift like this one at Royal Port Alfred yacht Club © Anthony Nossiter/Salthouse Boats
The first Salthouse Coach Boat has arrived in Australia and is already supporting
some of New South Wales' top sailors in their sailing endeavours.
Former Olympian, Volvo Ocean Race and America's Cup sailor Anthony Nossiter, who
has turned his attention from an international grand-prix career to coaching following the
Covid-19 pandemic and its border closures, took ownership of the vessel in December.
Made in New Zealand by Salthouse Boatbuilders, the purpose-built coach boat is the
first of its kind in Australia, with more expected to follow as the boats are rapidly proving
their worth.
It hit the water just before Christmas and was immediately engaged in a number of high
level campaigns over the peak summer period.
Its duties have so far been as varied as supporting and towing two Etchell keelboats -
skippered by five times Olympian Colin Beashal and sailing veteran Mark Bradford of
North Sails - through open sea the 29nm distance between Pittwater and Sydney.
It is also Anthony's workhorse for coaching hopeful members of the Australian Sailing
Team at the Olympic Games, through the New South Wales Institute of Sport Squad.
Anthony coaches the Nacra 15 and 17 foiling classes, which are hugely demanding of
their support and safety vessels.
"A support boat is the primary asset to maintain a safe training environment," says
Anthony.
With both those uses in mind, Anthony picked the Salthouse for its speed and power.
With its high bow it pierces waves and goes well both upwind and downwind. While he
doesn't often need to travel at 40 knots - its maximum speed with a Yamaha 90hp on
the back, he is reassured to know the speed is there and that the boat is optimised in
event of any onwater incident or safety concerns.
This is because Anthony was with Artemis Racing when it lost Star Gold Medallist
Andrew Simpson following a dramatic capsize and yacht failure in 2013. Even before
this incident, safety of his sailors was always top of mind for Anthony and informed
some of the customizations he requested for his particular vessel.
With his Salthouse Coach Boat, Anthony, who has run the Safety programme for
Artemis Racing since this day, as well as safety for SailGP for three years, knows he
can reach a boat in trouble and take an injured person back to shore for treatment as
quickly as possible. With tapered tubes, it also has sufficient real estate in the foredeck
to conduct CPR or for triage if ever required.
The high bow design keeps the helm and crew dry and tracks well in all conditions. "The
Salthouse is not too extreme in the wave piercing, so when you are broad to the waves
it still tracks well," he says.
The power inherent in the boat is ideal for towing, and Anthony chose both a removable
bow tow post and an aft tow post for his Salthouse Coach Boat. The front post is ideal
for side towing, enabling him to easily communicate with his Nacra sailors, and for easy
maneuvering in and out of marinas and other confined areas.
"The foiling boards on a Nacra are similar to those on a SailGP F50, they are precious -
by side towing we can take them up early and manage the boat more easily," he says.
The forward tow post takes about a minute to install or remove, and is also used for the
anchor, to avoid chafing on the tube.
Under Anthony's ownership, this Salthouse Coach Boat will be involved in taking the
next generation of sailors to the Olympic games, and yet still has the capacity to support
the Etchell fleet.
"I am really happy with the boat, and with the service Greg and Delayne provided," says
Anthony of Salthouse Boatbuilders and his new, custom made creation.