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 Malcolm Tennant, designer of the Turissimo class of sailing catamarans, is New Zealands prominent catamaran specialist.
His design career began with the International A Class in 1966. Thirty-two boats were built and they won a number of Auckland and National titles.
By 1969 Malcolm had begun to design larger catamarans like the Vorpal Blade, unique in its use of alloy cross beams instead of box timber.
In 1972 Tennant produced the Bamboo Bomber which was a benchmark in stressed plywood construction and use of wing masts.
This type hull is still being produced by builders today.
The next design achievement was the very popular Great Barrier Express of which more than 200 are still in use all
over the world. This also began the relationship with Pilkington Boats who commercially produced the GBE before turning to the larger Turissimo class in 1985 and then the Dakota 33 series in 2000.
Hundreds of articles have been published in yachting publications all over the world regarding the design
expertise of Malcom Tennant - and the story continues with Blade Runner, winner of the 1998 Coastal Classic and holds virtually every race record in New Zealand!
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