Breaking new ground
Born in 1956 and growing up in Waiau, a small farming community in North Canterbury, Barnett was attracted to boats from an early age. Interestingly, one of his fellow Waiau School students was Scott Robson – “We spent many hours at Waiau drawing boats.”
After leaving Christ’s College, Barnett spent a year doing an NZEC in Christchurch before joining CWF Hamilton Jets as a potential R&D trainee. Management was sufficiently impressed by his potential that they enrolled him with the Yacht Design Institute in Maine, East Coast, USA. Barnett spent a couple of years doing a Diploma of Yacht Design by correspondence before relocating to the USA for his final two years.
After graduating in 1978, Barnett intended to return to CWF Hamilton. However, Rob Muldoon implemented his infamous 20% Boat Tax the following year, decimating CWF Hamilton’s business overnight. CWF Hamilton suggested that Barnett remain in the USA and seek work there, so in 1980 he moved to Seattle and hung out his yacht design shingle.
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