How do you build the world’s fastest rowing boat? There are, naturally, competing theories on the topic, but one consistent theme is complete commitment to research and development. At the top end, mere margins separate the quickest athletes, and their choice of boat can directly influence the colour of the medal they leave major championships with. At Fluidesign, the focus is on going fast – as fast as is frankly possible.
Sam Roberts, Fluidesign’s CEO, took over the company from his father, Gord Henry, whose initial foray into building rowing boats came from a chance tie-up with local aviation manufacturer Diamond Aircraft. Based out of London, Ontario – where Fluidesign remains – Diamond invested in various areas with technical focus and refinement at the heart of their work. Building better rowing boats was one of those segments, and although the project was eventually decommissioned, Gord’s involvement in building the prototypes led him to start Fluidesign at the turn of the century.
“The convention was always to have stern-mounted riggers before Fluidesign came along,” explained Sam. “Diamond invested time and effort into understanding whether it will make a boat go faster. They put engineers to the task of testing every element of a conventional shell – with no precaution for tradition – and concluded that bow-mounted riggers were better for the dynamism of the hull. Fast forward 20 years and every Olympic final is filled with bow-mounted riggers, but Fluidesign was the first,”.
Under Gord’s direction, the company began to flourish in the rowing market, establishing a pronounced presence in North America before tentatively reaching out into Europe, where several of the world’s pre-eminent boatbuilders were situated. “We don’t build eights, and our offering has typically always been in smaller boats,” said Sam. “We want to ensure every shell is cultivated for the buyer, and we take huge pride in providing peerless service and support to all customers. Nearly 30 years on, and we’re still committed to answering the question – will it make the boat go faster?”.
Clearly, the early experiences that Gord went through have been passed down to Sam. “When they first tested the prototype, Gord took the boat out on a local stretch of water,” recalled Sam. “According to those present, he took about three strokes and just started laughing. Those watching were naturally concerned – had the boat worked, or was it so poor that the rowing expert found it amusing? Gord came back to the pontoon, beaming, and said it was the best boat he’d ever rowed in. From that point on, he knew he was onto something.”
Embracing carbon fibre composite construction – with no core – and aerodynamic principles of design, Fluidesign is now one of the world’s pre-eminent boatbuilders and continues to ship shells all over the world from their base in Canada. With a trusted distributor system – of which Cymba Racing is proud to be a part here in the UK – the company continues to grow in stature. Their philosophy is perhaps best summarised on the website: ‘The company prides itself on each hull being meticulously crafted by a team of skilled artisans, adhering to the highest standards of production. Fluidesign also collaborates with a network of specialized suppliers and partners, ensuring the quality and performance of their racing shells.’
So, what next? Sam is keen to expand the company’s reach. Their customer base in the USA is trusted and loyal, and their presence – particularly amongst the master’s community – is exceptionally strong. There are more than a few adopter programmes here in the UK – including Glasgow Academy, whom we featured on our blog a few months ago – and the positive feedback continues to flow. Like all esteemed boatbuilders, winning Olympic medals is important, but Sam remains committed to the core messaging – every athlete gets a boat fit for their needs, specifications and wants. Crucially, though, it needs to be the world’s fastest rowing boat – a mission Fluidesign is committed to pursuing.
