Weta 4.4 Information, Review, Specs

History and Design

The genesis of the Weta 4.4 trimaran emerged from Roger Kitchen's observations while teaching children to sail. He identified a clear market need for a sailing dinghy that was not only inherently safe and stable but also exceptionally simple to rig, easy to stow, and capable of high performance. This vision evolved from initial concepts around 2001, culminating in the first production Weta being sold in New Zealand in October 2006, with 2007 marking its first full year of production.

The Weta 4.4 is constructed from a fiberglass/foam composite, a choice that ensures both lightweight performance and durability. Initially, production was established in China, but as of 2015, manufacturing transitioned to Xtreme Sailing Product in Batan, Indonesia, while Weta Marine maintains its business base in Singapore. The design ethos of the Weta 4.4 centers on maximizing enjoyment with minimum fuss, focusing on core features like its boomless main, jib, and roller-furling gennaker, which contribute to its sleek profile and straightforward handling. The Weta 4.4 is a strict one-design class, ensuring fair competition and a level playing field for racers. While the core design has remained consistent, a significant evolution has been the introduction of an optional "Square Top Mainsail" (SQ), which offers enhanced power in lighter winds and improved downwind speed, while still managing strong breezes effectively. Minor improvements to the foam hulls were also incorporated around 2017.

Sailing Performance and Handling

Despite its compact size (approximately 19 feet LOA), the Weta 4.4 is renowned for its lively and responsive performance. It feels light and close-winded when sailing upwind, though like many multihulls, it often benefits from sailing a slightly freer course to maximize speed. The boat is characterized as stiff and lightweight, leveraging its advanced fiberglass/foam construction and high-tech materials to achieve its sporty feel.

Handling the Weta 4.4 is notably straightforward, reflecting its design philosophy of accessibility. The carbon mast is exceptionally light, weighing only about 6 kg, which allows for easy single-handed raising and lowering. With practice, the entire boat can be rigged and ready to launch, or conversely, packed away for transport, in under 20 minutes. Its trim is forgiving, allowing sailors to adjust their position on the hull or trampoline to optimize performance for different points of sail. The Weta 4.4 is designed to handle well in significant winds, a testament to its inherent stability as a trimaran. Owners consistently praise its ease of handling, highlighting its simplicity, speed, and overall fun factor., 8] Early models sometimes faced criticism for limited performance in winds under 8 knots, but the availability of the square top main has largely addressed this, providing more power in light air.

Accommodations and Layout

Given its design as a high-performance day sailor and sport trimaran, the Weta 4.4 does not feature a conventional enclosed cabin or interior accommodations. Instead, its layout is entirely open, focusing on functional space for sailing. The primary "accommodations" consist of the main hull's cockpit area and the expansive trampolines that stretch between the main hull and the two amas (outrigger hulls).

This open design provides ample space for the crew to move around, whether sailing solo or with up to three people. Sailors typically sit on the hull or the trampolines, depending on the point of sail, with a clear view of the water, often aided by windows integrated into the sails. Storage is limited to small, accessible areas for day-sailing essentials, emphasizing the boat's minimalist approach to maximize performance and portability. The Weta 4.4's design prioritizes ease of launch, retrieval, and transport over creature comforts, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a pure, unadulterated sailing experience.

Owner's Perspectives

The Weta 4.4 has cultivated a remarkably vibrant and engaged owner community, characterized by its shared enthusiasm for the boat's unique attributes., 10, 14] Owners frequently laud the Weta for its blend of performance and simplicity, consistently describing it as "Fun. Fast. Easy.", 8] Many owners appreciate the boat's solid construction and its ability to provide an exhilarating sailing experience without the complexities often associated with multihulls. The boat's design fosters a unique bond among its enthusiasts, evidenced by active online forums and dedicated class associations that organize regattas and social gatherings.

While overwhelmingly positive, some recurring points of discussion among owners relate to maintenance and specific features. Some early models experienced issues with corrosion in rudder bearings, and a few instances of cracking in the ama arm elbows or vertical cracks in the tubes have been reported, although these might sometimes be attributed to impact damage. The initial criticism regarding light wind performance has been largely mitigated by the introduction of the square top mainsail, which many owners now consider a valuable upgrade. Overall, the consensus among Weta 4.4 owners is one of deep satisfaction, highlighting the boat's enduring appeal as a robust, high-performance, and incredibly user-friendly trimaran.