Windrush History
Windrush Today - Brett Burvill
Brett’s early years were dominated by motorsport with my father and brother both Kart racing champions. First sailed recreationally with family and friends around age 5 in the Swan river. Living in Geraldton aged 8 the family moved from motorsport to sailing due mainly to the costs of travel to events. Brett began sailing a Flying Fish (small lantern rigged monohull) to learn his sailing skills in the ocean off Geraldton whilst either his older brother or sister raced with their father on a Sloop rigged Windrush 14 Catamaran. Brett began to sail first crewing for his father and then later on his own Windrush 12 and 14 catamarans, developing a passion and talent for multihulls that still burns almost 40 years on. Winner of many national titles in several classes Brett also developed the first fleet racing hydrofoil moth in 1999/2000 that now hangs in the Fremantle maritime museum.
Key Sailing achievements
Brett has spent almost 40 years racing various sailboats, along the way there has been much success. Began sailing at the age of 5 with family friends on a small dinghy during a summer holiday. First tasted Multihull sailing aged 7 with an Uncle on a Windrush 12 foot catamaran, first racing at the age of 9 the on Windrush 14 catamaran as crew for either Father or Brother and also honed balance skills on a single handed dinghy know as a Flying Fish. At the age of 12 went to a 5 day performance sailing camp for juniors and showed potential, forward 4 years and was awarded the medal for Best Junior in Western Australia by Yachting Western Australia having already won open state titles in 14 foot catamarans.
Over the following years he graduated high school with an interest in Aeronautics (to improve knowledge of air flow and wing design so it could be adapted to sailing knowledge). Brett then became a boat builder and continued to sail with success.
In all 16 Australian championships have been secured and many, many state championships have been won over 8 different classes showing a diverse range of skills. Classes in which success has been gained include, Windrush 12, Windrush 14 Cat rigged, Windrush 14 Slop rigged, Windrush 14 Super sloop, International Moth, Trailable Multihull class, Formula 18, Tornado. Since joining the Tornado class catamaran fleet in the lead up to the China Olympics 2008, 5 consecutive Australian Tornado championships have been won and finishing places in the past 6 World Tornado titles of 4 , 3 , 5 , 3 , 2 & 4 .
More recently some sailing on large Monohulls has produced a race record for the 1500 mile Fremantle to Bali yacht race as part of the crew of the Super Sled team. 2016 saw the largest ever F18 Australian title won by Brett on a boat of his own design and construction – The Windrush F18 Edge.
- 1976 Mark I, known then as the Surfcat was designed by Richard and Jay McFarlane
- 1979 Mark II released
- 1986 Manufacturing rights bought by Windrush Yachts
- 1986 Mark III released.
Windrush Today - Brett Burvill
Brett’s early years were dominated by motorsport with my father and brother both Kart racing champions. First sailed recreationally with family and friends around age 5 in the Swan river. Living in Geraldton aged 8 the family moved from motorsport to sailing due mainly to the costs of travel to events. Brett began sailing a Flying Fish (small lantern rigged monohull) to learn his sailing skills in the ocean off Geraldton whilst either his older brother or sister raced with their father on a Sloop rigged Windrush 14 Catamaran. Brett began to sail first crewing for his father and then later on his own Windrush 12 and 14 catamarans, developing a passion and talent for multihulls that still burns almost 40 years on. Winner of many national titles in several classes Brett also developed the first fleet racing hydrofoil moth in 1999/2000 that now hangs in the Fremantle maritime museum.
Key Sailing achievements
Brett has spent almost 40 years racing various sailboats, along the way there has been much success. Began sailing at the age of 5 with family friends on a small dinghy during a summer holiday. First tasted Multihull sailing aged 7 with an Uncle on a Windrush 12 foot catamaran, first racing at the age of 9 the on Windrush 14 catamaran as crew for either Father or Brother and also honed balance skills on a single handed dinghy know as a Flying Fish. At the age of 12 went to a 5 day performance sailing camp for juniors and showed potential, forward 4 years and was awarded the medal for Best Junior in Western Australia by Yachting Western Australia having already won open state titles in 14 foot catamarans.
Over the following years he graduated high school with an interest in Aeronautics (to improve knowledge of air flow and wing design so it could be adapted to sailing knowledge). Brett then became a boat builder and continued to sail with success.
- 1999 - Developed the Hydrofoil moth concept to race winning performances at the 2000 world titles, boat subsequently placed in the Western Australian maritime museum along with Auatralia 2.
- 2001 - Developed the radical Hydrofoil sailing catamaran "Spitfire" a 12m long, twin unstayed mast, flying catamaran capable of high speeds around 40knots and more.
- 2011 - Awarded the Yachting WA ‘’Male sailor of the year’’
In all 16 Australian championships have been secured and many, many state championships have been won over 8 different classes showing a diverse range of skills. Classes in which success has been gained include, Windrush 12, Windrush 14 Cat rigged, Windrush 14 Slop rigged, Windrush 14 Super sloop, International Moth, Trailable Multihull class, Formula 18, Tornado. Since joining the Tornado class catamaran fleet in the lead up to the China Olympics 2008, 5 consecutive Australian Tornado championships have been won and finishing places in the past 6 World Tornado titles of 4 , 3 , 5 , 3 , 2 & 4 .
More recently some sailing on large Monohulls has produced a race record for the 1500 mile Fremantle to Bali yacht race as part of the crew of the Super Sled team. 2016 saw the largest ever F18 Australian title won by Brett on a boat of his own design and construction – The Windrush F18 Edge.