Meet the tramper who has brought marine technology to the task of walking Te Araroa.

Graeme Robbins, coach to Auckland’s racing dinghy sailors, sailmaker to the world and superyacht crew member, has come ashore. After a 40-year career designing sail profiles to keep the wind in, his mission for the past few months has been a design profile to keep the wind out. 

Now it’s ready. A stormproof tent. A tent to sit up in without touching the roof. To stretch out in without touching the end panels. A roomy tent that weighs just 1180g. Lightweight is important, because this spring Robbins will start Te Araroa. 

“My forte is attention to detail,” says Robbins. “I’ve had some good results in sailing, and I don’t think it’s because I’m a great sailor; it’s that I’ve always strived to have better equipment than anyone else.”

Robbins has brought marine technology to the task of walking Te Araroa – in particular, Cuben Fibre, first invented and named for the 1992 America’s Cup defender America³ (pronounced ‘America Cubed’). Cuben Fibre is still the world’s strongest fabric by weight. The tent features three separate grades: heavy for the floor, lightweight for the walls and mid-weight for the fly.  

The tent’s woven Dyneema guy lines have been drafted in from spinnaker research – stronger than steel, yet light enough to float – and Robbins has spliced in Ronstan metal eyes to create the same 2:1 purchase seen on the control lines of P Class yachts and racing dinghies. He’s sewn heavy Cuben Fibre into the tent corners, but every other seam is bonded by ‘Seam Stick’ – as used for spinnakers. 

Robbins’ sailing career has been infused with team spirit and long-lived loyalties. Part of the America’s Cup mystique is that you don’t lay hands on the ‘Auld Mug’ unless you’ve helped to win it. Robbins was among the crowd at Auckland Airport welcoming Team New Zealand back after its 2017 America’s Cup win against Oracle in Bermuda when one of the team spotted him. The boy Graeme once coached in P Class sailing skills, now a Team New Zealand sailor, uplifted the cup from the white-gloved hands of the security guards and pushed it across for Robbins to hold: “Mate, we need a photo of you with this.” A message to the coach.  

Robbins sees a version of that same team spirit in his encounters with Te Araroa walkers. “I’m always pleasantly surprised when I come across someone walking TA through my home beaches. The moment I mention my plan to take on the trail, the enthusiasm, encouragement, suggestions and stories just flow.”

He’s limbering up with Pilates classes and recently completed 3000 training kilometres. If the going gets tough in the Richmond Range or in the deep mud on Longwood Range, he’ll use the advice he gives to young sailors: just concentrate on getting through the next 30-second chunk.