Brisbane to Gladstone multihull race record under threat
by Ian Grant on 5 Apr 2012
Sean Langman’s ORMA 60 class trimaran, Team Australia Kos Picture Source
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Highly experienced Sydney Ocean racing skipper Sean Langman and his Team Australia trimaran sailing crew promise to re-write the Multihull Yacht Club of Queensland Brisbane to Gladstone Race record before dawn on Easter Saturday.
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.
Further Information is available from Race Director Richard Jenkins on 0418 880 449.
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