If you’ve been wandering the marina recently, you’ve probably spotted one of Gulf Harbour Marina’s newest and most eye-catching residents. Romanza, a sleek Rapido 60 trimaran sailed by Dougall and Jazz Love, has certainly been turning heads since arriving.
Built from lightweight carbon composite, Romanza was designed as a high-performance cruiser, combining race-winning speed with the comforts needed for extended adventures on the water. She’s the same Rapido 60 design made famous by the popular YouTube sailing channel Sailing La Vagabonde, making her instantly recognisable to many sailors around the world.
Step aboard and it’s easy to see why Romanza is just as comfortable cruising as she is racing. She features two spacious owner suites, a Gaggenau induction cooktop and oven, multiple fridges and freezers, a watermaker, generator and even a domestic washing machine. It’s a boat designed to spend weeks away from the dock without sacrificing the comforts of home.
Dougall explains that the name Romanza is a combination of their love of roaming the world, music (a nod to Jazz’s name), their surname Love, and even includes “NZ” within the name. It’s a fitting choice for a yacht that’s already travelled extensively throughout New Zealand, Australia and the South Pacific.
When it comes to racing, Romanza has built an impressive record. She’s reached speeds of 28.6 knots and claimed victories in some of New Zealand’s best-known offshore races, including multiple Auckland to Tauranga Line and Handicap doubles and overall SSANZ Multihull Series titles.
One achievement stands above the rest for Dougall.
The 2024 Coastal Classic remains the race he’s most proud of. Not only did Romanza take Multihull Line Honours and Handicap Honours before going on to win the overall race, finishing more than an hour and a half ahead of the next boat, but the result tells only part of the story.
During the race, another competitor, Fat Freddy, suffered structural damage near Bream Tail Rocks. Rather than focusing solely on the finish, Dougall, Jazz and their crew suspended their race to assist, towing the yacht away from the rocks until Coastguard arrived.
“We had an excellent crew who just did everything right,” Dougall says.
Away from the racecourse, Romanza has proven she’s every bit as capable as a long-distance cruising yacht. She has competed in regattas at Airlie Beach and Hamilton Island, cruised through Fiji, and explored some of New Zealand’s most spectacular coastline.
When asked about their favourite cruising destination, Dougall and Jazz admit it’s difficult to pick just one.
“It’s hard to go past Abel Tasman National Park and the Marlborough Sounds,” Dougall says. “Although the Whitsunday Islands are pretty special too.”
Despite her performance-focused design, Dougall says one of Romanza’s greatest strengths is how approachable she is to sail.
“My favourite thing about her is how easy she is to handle despite being such a race-orientated boat.”
In fact, the husband-and-wife team spent six weeks cruising around the top of the South Island, completing a full circumnavigation from Auckland and back with just the two of them on board – something many people wouldn’t expect from a 60-foot trimaran.
For those considering life aboard a trimaran, Dougall’s advice is to choose a boat that matches your experience.
“The Rapido 60 is an incredibly capable boat, but unless you’re particularly experienced, a Rapido 40 is probably a better first trimaran.”
So why Gulf Harbour Marina?
Dougall says Gulf Harbour Marina is the perfect base for Romanza, offering the convenience of being close to home in Auckland while providing quick access to some of New Zealand’s favourite cruising destinations, including Kawau Island, Waiheke Island and the wider Hauraki Gulf.
With plans already in place to compete in this year’s Coastal Classic, there’s every chance marina visitors will see Romanza preparing for another successful season on both the racecourse and the cruising grounds.
