Paper Tiger History

Design

The Paper Tiger is a catamaran designed by Ron Given of New Zealand in 1968. It is widely sailed in New Zealand and Australia.  

Class rules allow hull construction from plywood, kelvar, fibreglass or carbon fibre. The boat is suitable for home built construction.

The rig features an aluminium mast with  a fully battened sail.  Class rules allow adjustable downhaul, outhaul, kicker and lower forestays . This provides a wide sailing envelope over a range of wind and sea conditions. Optimium sailing conditions are 5-25 knots.

Centreboards and rudders can be retractable.

 Paper Tiger Overall Dimensions

Length: 14 ft (4.3m)

Width: 7ft (2.2m)

Minimum Weight: 110 lbs (50kg)

Sail Area: 100 sq ft (9.2 m2)

Historic Paper Tiger Register 

Plans for over 3200 Paper Tigers have been sold, and its estimated that over 3000 Paper Tigers have been built. The NZPTOA maintains a register of New Zealand Paper Tigers. 

If you own, or have owned a Paper Tiger, you can check out some of it's history in the register. Download 2M. We endeavor to keep this register as current as possible, and this need your help. If you have information to update this register please email the Webmaster.

 

 

 

Don Blow, build the hulls for #17... “Bobcat” 

Picture taken around 1968 in Tamaki estuary with Bob Morse at the helm.  

 

National Championships

New Zealand National Championship Regatta's have been held every year since 1969. Nationals also serve as selection trials for the new Zealand team to compete in Trans Tasman Interdominion regatta's. 

Past New Zealand National Champions

1969

D. Peet

1985

R. Hughes

2001

J. Thomson

1970

D. Peet

1986

W. Galloway

2002

K. Peet

1971

K. Skelton

1987

T. Valder

2003

J. Thomson  

1972

B. Frecklington

1988

T. Valder

2004 B. Preston

1973

P. Gray

1989

R. Sly

2005 B. Preston

1974

B. Little

1990

R. Sly

  2006

  M. Bell

1975

P. Gray

1991

J. Thomson

2007 M. Bell

1976

P. Lyell

1992

J. Thomson

2008 S. Manning

1977

P. Lyell

1993

I. Maclennan

2009 B. Preston

1978

D. Partington

1994

J. Thomson

2010 B. Preston

1979

B. Preston

1995

T. Valder

2011

D Shaw

1980

H. Handley

1996

J. Thomson

1981

H. Handley

1997

T. Valder

1982

P. Gray

1998

S. Manning

1983

P. Gray

1999

S. Manning

1984

P. Gray

2000

J. Thomson

 

 

New Zealand Paper Tiger site maintained by:
Fleet Wellington
For technical issues regarding this site, contact the sitemaster.