BRISBANE TO GLADSTONE MULTIHULL RACE 2012

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All boats have finished. The back markers finished slowly in very light NE wind overnight and a very big tide against those who had to face it on the way up the harbour. All boats report beautiful night sailing conditions with a giant moon on calm water but lighter than desired winds.
No Problem was last to finish at just before 6am this morning and our cruiser, Lady Claire, checked in at 0800.

8/4/12

04:20

As expected there were a high number of sail changes along the way but the workload diligently expressed by the crew who had little time to enjoy the record breaking ride as they sailed at breakneck speed before their quest faced a serious challenge when the wind lost its intensity after they weathered Lady Elliot Island.

Their option to tack downwind over the final 80 nautical miles had race officials anxiously monitoring the progress as time ticked against the record challenge. Team Australia finally crossed the finish line off Gladstone’s Auckland Creek shortly before 3-30 am to complete the course in 16 hours 28 minutes 21 seconds, 2 hours 26 minutes 48 seconds ahead of the previous record set in 2004 by the Melbourne Catamaran Raw Nerve.

Team Australia entered Gladstone Harbour just after low tide in winds of approximately 6knts. Their finish time was 03:38:21 an elapsed time of 16:28:21. They broke the existing record by 2hrs 26minutes 48seconds at an average speed of 18.92knts. A media contingent greeted them with the Mayor.

7/4/12

01:00

Late this afternoon Team Australia which held a runaway lead over the smaller catamarans Mojo and Boss Racing was continuing to wave skip above record pace towards the half way point off Fraser Island’s Indian Head forcing race officials to revise the expected finish time.

Based on her position combined with the chance of the breeze falling away after dark the Race Officals remain confident that Team Australia will finish around 3-30 am slashing almost 3 hours off the record.

The exceptionally fast triple-hull yacht covered the initial 20 nautical miles of the 308 nautical mile race in 55 minutes to lay down a claim to break the 18 hour 55 minute 9 second race record before dawn tomorrow. Her owner skipper Sean Langman is no stranger to racing on this tactically demanding course having set two of the three fastest times with his similarly exciting open 60 class mono sloop AAPT Grundig. 

After 1 hour of racing Team Australia had extended her lead as she tracked a fast course to enter the North West shipping channel. Race officials predicted that Team Australia will clear the Caloundra Fairway Buoy before 3 pm then continue to produce her impressive performance when she sails into stronger wind blowing on the open ocean.

The race got away to a clean start. Chill Pill, boss Racing, Mojo and Team Australia lead the start in a light breeze of 6 to 8 knots. Very quickly Team Australia sped ahead . Not a spinnaker start but now they are out and racing.

6/4/12

09:10

Langman who already holds the distinction of setting two of the three fastest times ever recorded in the mono class Brisbane to Gladstone race is poised to helm the fast lane sailing trimaran above an average speed of 16.28 knots to break the Multihull class record of 18 hours 55 minutes 9 seconds set by the Martyn Riley helmed Raw Nerve in 2004.

Team Australia a power sailing ORMA 18.4 m triple hull craft has the proven ability to sail twice as fast as the wind velocity which fills her sails.

Skipper Langman describes the vessel as an “Awesome speed sailing weapon”. He will have that chance to prove her record breaking capability during the physically demanding 308 nm Brisbane to Gladstone race which starts of the historical Sandgate Pier at 11am today.

They are encouraged with the coastal forecast now it is up to both skipper and crew to produce the best possible result. Skipper Langman made a tongue in cheek quote that they were in the race to break the record. His statement promises to become a reality with Team Australia poised to charge out of Moreton Bay on her way to allow her talented skipper and crew to claim a special place in Australian ocean racing history.

Barring gear failure and sail blowouts skipper Sean Langman and his skillful crew including female tactician Katie Spithill sister of Americas Cup champion Tom Spithill have the proven experience to pilot Team Australia to a runaway win.

They have a target to sail the 308 nm race with an average speed of 16.5 knots however Sean Langman said if the forecast allows the use of their secret weapon Code Zero reaching sail then Team Australia has the potential to slash the record and become the first crew to enjoy a warm shower at the Port Curtis Sailing Club before dawn on Easter 

Skipper Langman who previously raced the exciting AAPT Grundig to register two of the three fastest times ever recorded in the Brisbane to Gladstone mono-hull class race confidently believes his wave skipping Team Australia has the proven speed to smash the current record of 18 hours 55 minutes 9 seconds set by Martyn Riley’s catamaran Raw Nerve in 2004.

“All we need is some pressure in the wind and if that is the case then I’m sure Team Australia will shatter the record possibly by a number of hours”. Sean Langman said.

This may appear as a bold statement by the highly respected Sydney skipper but he has the proven experience of previously recording some of his career best results on the physically demanding Gladstone Race course.

He made a dramatic step to sailing in the faster lane when he imported the ORMA 60 trimaran from Europe late last year. In recent months Sean Langman has become known around the Australian sailing scene as a speed freak however he is purposely focused on safely steering Team Australia on a controlled romp towards becoming the fastest ocean racer in The Southern Hemisphere.

The present coastal weather forecast of 15 to 20 knot trade winds and a building ocean swell promises to propel the fast lane sailing Team Australia to record the fastest ever exit of Moreton Bay allowing her crew including the talented tactician Katie Spithill and Sean’s 18 year old son Peter to experience a nerve bending ride.

Team Australia has already proved her ability to sail twice as fast as the prevailing wind velocity and providing the present offshore sailing conditions remain and she has extended use of the secret weapon Code Zero reaching sail then her crew would have the record wrapped up well before breakfast on Easter Saturday.

Meanwhile the crews of the more sedate sailing catamarans including previous race winner Renaissance (Mike Hodges) will be tested to produce the required handicap rated speed to make sure Team Australia is denied the chance of making a clean sweep of all the trophies.