The launch of WinTech Racing was the result of a joint and international collaboration between the world renowned German Naval Architect Klaus Filter, The Flying Eagle Boat Company of China and Howard Winklevoss, a US-based Entrepreneur and rowing visionary. All of whom had, for many years and across many continents, been individually making advancements in the sport of rowing.

In bringing together the resources of the global marketplace, this talented group of individuals, coupled with other international professionals and rowing talents, is continuing to change the face of rowing on an international scale.

The Flying Eagle Boat Company of Hangzhou in southern China has nearly 300 technicians and produce over 2,000 racing shells per year. In January 2005, the company opened a new 500,000 square foot manufacturing facility which more than doubled its production capacity. Flying Eagle was founded by John Xiong who started building wooden rowing boats and then, with Klaus Filter, began working with ‘fibre’ boats which eventually led to the partnership with WinTech Racing.

WinTech Racing’s Director of Research and Development, David Thomas and Chief Engineer, Ed Hofmeister, spend several months each year in China working with Klaus Filter and Flying Eagle technicians in what we call our ‘continuous product improvement cycle’.

Entrepreneur Howard Winklevoss is the founder of RowAmerica, an organization dedicated to the advancement of the sport, and is the visionary behind WinTech Racing.

Howard Winklevoss, his rowing directors and staff of 14 American and international coaches began to focus on the way shells were sold and serviced in the US and envisioned some big changes. Howard traveled to China several times to meet with Klaus Filter and The Flying Eagle Boat Company to lay the groundwork for launching WinTech Racing and making that vision a reality. Today, WinTech Racing continues to set new benchmarks in competitive rowing world-wide.

Rob’s dedication to the sport of rowing started long before he became involved with WinTech Racing. Competing as an elite rower from 1990 – 2000, Rob represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships from 1994 – 1997 where in 1994 he, and fellow-oarsman Richard Wearne, secured a bronze medal in the men’s heavy-weight pair. Rob went on to compete at the Atlanta Olympic Games in the Men’s Heavy Weight 8+ before a back injury in 2000 forced him to retire from competitive rowing in the lead-up to the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.

Since his retirement, Rob’s career path has never seen him stray far from the Rowing fraternity and is still actively involved in coaching at a GPS level. When the opportunity arose to launch WinTech Racing in Australia, Rob didn’t hesitate to join the talented and passionate International team. Now the owner of WinTech Racing in Australia, Rob and wife Kate, operate WinTech Racing from Sydney and are passionate about delivering to the Australian market a class of racing shells and service beyond expectation.