Fremantle to Bali - Line honours record a testament to teamwork

by Event Media on 11 May 2013 In the Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally, the exciting stories behind Super Sled’s record breaking line honours win today will become the stuff of legend long after the race is run.

But for today the spirit of the race can perhaps be best summed up through the combined eyes of skippers and crew with all praising the teamwork on the canting keel super maxi as it drove towards the finish and a new race record.

The tired but happy skipper of Super Sled, Tony Mitchell described the win as 'magic' and a tribute to the crew and the work they put in preparing the boat and pushing it hard to Bali.

Ludde Ingvall the super maxi owner said the commitment to teamwork was exactly what you’d expect from West Australian yachties who are great sailors and were enthusiastic to race on a maxi like Super Sled, with everyone working together. And the crew, to a man, endorsed the impressive teamwork they experienced during the five and a half day run to the Island of the Gods.

West Australian sailor, Matt Gaunt said: 'What was impressive is that we had extraordinary people coming together as an extraordinary team to do extraordinary things.'

One of Matt’s crew mates commented: The teamwork and the boat were fantastic, but the race wasn’t given to us, we had to earn it, but it was a great race that achieved the outcome and brought extra friendships we didn’t have before.'

The race wasn’t without its challenges with an unexpected barnacle encrusted hawser floating free on the ocean catching on the super maxi’s keel where it hung for some time before being removed.

Even with this encumbrance Super Sled was able to achieve 20 plus knots in the prevailing conditions.

In other news Steel de Breeze, who had temporarily retired due to steering failure has now completed repairs and has re entered the race with the provisional approval of the race Fremantle to Bali website