Doyle Sails is proud to be the sailmaker of choice to Caro, Maximilian Klink’s high-performance custom Botin IRC 52. Caro is part of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron’s (RNZYS) two-boat campaign for the prestigious 2025 Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) Admiral’s Cup. Joined by Callisto, Caro strengthens a formidable RNZYS team aiming for glory in one of offshore racing’s most iconic events.
Caro has built a formidable international racing résumé, she boasts a standout victory in the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race, along with impressive showings in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Equally adept inshore, Caro claimed top honours at the 2023 Hamilton Island Race Week and Les Voiles de Barths in 2022, showcasing her versatility and the team’s all-around excellence in both offshore endurance and inshore tactical racing.
Now, with the Admiral’s Cup in sight, the team is poised for another major campaign with a fully optimized sail inventory designed and supported by Doyle Sails.
Justin Ferris, who has worked closely with the Caro team across all major events, leads the sail development program. The latest suite of sails features Doyle’s cutting-edge Hybrid technology and Structured Luff engineering, delivering superior performance across both upwind and asymmetric configurations.
Ferris is a veteran of multiple Volvo Ocean Races and has strong development in the Doyle Sails’ offshore expertise. Justin brings a wealth of knowledge with a powerhouse combination of design knowledge and hands-on sailing talent.
“We’ve taken everything we’ve learned from the last two seasons of grand prix offshore racing and built a sail program that’s faster, more versatile, and more reliable than ever,” said Justin Ferris, designer for Doyle Sails. “The Admiral’s Cup is a serious test of all-around performance, and we’re confident Caro is ready.”
The Caro sailing team includes a stellar lineup of talent with Adrian Stead (United Kingdom) onboard as Tactician, with multiple Admiral’s Cup appearances and victories under his belt. Stead is a former Olympian and has been a key figure in TP52 and America’s Cup teams, bringing deep tactical insight and decades of Grand Prix racing expertise.
Jules Salter (United Kingdom) Volvo Ocean Race winner and one of the sport’s most accomplished offshore navigators. Salter’s experience in high-stakes, long-course navigation makes him a crucial asset for complex offshore legs.
Ryan Godfrey (Australia) is a seasoned offshore and performance sailor. Volvo Ocean Race winner, Ryan is a renowned TP52 campaigner with Sled and a pivotal crew member of 44Cup Team Charisma. Bringing the perfect blend of inshore and offshore experience to Caro.
Trimmer Jono Swain (South Africa) is a cornerstone of Caro’s elite crew and Doyle Sails Newport’s sales team. Known for his tactical precision and calm command under pressure, Swain a veteran of America’s Cup and 5x Volvo Ocean Race campaigns, along with countless offshore and grand prix regattas, with podium finishes in events like the Sydney Hobart, Fastnet Race, and TP52 Super Series.
The inclusion of Caro and Callisto marks the RNZYS’s return to the Admiral’s Cup with a world-class challenge, backed by deep experience, strong results, and cutting-edge technology. With Caro’s proven track record and Doyle Sails’ relentless innovation, the team is set to be a standout contender this August.
ABOUT DOYLE SAILS // Doyle Sails strives to deliver success through high-performance, high-quality, custom sails that continue to redefine the boundaries of sailmaking technology and innovation; whilst connecting sailors to inspire, support and encourage sailing.
Our obsession with sailing takes us to every corner of the world and onboard every yacht. We become part of teams, share in the adventures of friends and families, sharing our knowledge and experience with those with the same passion. Sailing is in our DNA, and we are the custodians of a legacy that has been supporting sailors for four decades and counting.