As Crocodile Dundee famously said, “Now that’s a knife.” Aboard Abu Dhabi, the knife that would earn Dundee’s admiration is a piece of titanium artwork called the XTB Sailor’s Knife, created with a CNC machine by New Zealand’s Victory Knives. Western Australia’s Luke Parkinson, who does Abu Dhabi’s bow as well as helming duties says, “They’re made of titanium so they don’t rust, and they’re pretty hard wearing. Plus, the strength-to-weight ratio is really good.” Parkinson carries his rescue knife in a velcro-sealed sheath attached to his safety harness. “We also keep one behind the rig, one in the pit and one by the life raft on the deck.” Each Abu Dhabi crewmember also carries a standard Leatherman-style for day-to-day use, but the advantage of the Victory knives is that they can be accessed with just one hand. “The Leatherman is more for your day-to-day use, and the safety knife is where you go in an emergency,” says Parkinson.
The XTB Sailor’s Blade tips the scales at just over an ounce (31 grams), and with sheath weights 2.29 ounces. The serrated blade is just over 3″, and the knife has a total length of 7″. The biggest advantage? It has a lifetime warrantee, which should cover you if you have more Volvo round-the-world races in your future. www.victoryknives.co.nz
