Team Australia on 'green' for Sydney-Hobart record run

by Lisa Ratcliff, Team Australia on 21 Feb 2013 A trough line moving down the NSW coast from Queensland looks set to bring conditions at the 'upper end of ideal' says Sean Langman, skipper of the 60-foot trimaran Team Australia. Team Australia is making an attempt on the superyacht Mari Cha III’s 1999 World Speed Sailing Record Council sanctioned time for the distance of 630 nautical miles between Sydney and Hobart, Tasmania.

Langman will head up a crew of seven including a late addition, his 19 year-old son Peter Langman who has already completed two Rolex Sydney Hobarts and four Bass Strait Crossings.Team Australia need to average more than 14.83 knots to break the existing course record. They are hoping to complete the passage in just outside 24 hours – potentially slicing half a day or more off the official fastest time. The multihull is capable of a top speed of 42 knots (77.7kph).

Forecaster Roger Badham is predicting maximum breeze at the start, ESE winds at 23-27 knots and off the far south coast of NSW, E-ENE at 18-23 knots. For the run across the Strait ENE winds 24-28 knots (maybe 25-30) are expected and NE 22-27 knots off the Tassie coast tending NNE-N/22-28 on the lower east coast.

Crewmember Larry Jamieson, embarking on his 30th crossing of the Bass Strait, said, 'By Saturday night we'll either be propping up the bar and celebrating in Customs House - again - or hanging off an upturned boat waiting for a tow!'

WHEN: Departing approximately 10.30am Friday 22 February, 2013

WHERE: The 60-foot trimaran will begin its record attempt from between North & South Head, Sydney Harbour

WHO: Giant trimaran plus crew of Sean Langman (owner/skipper), Josh Alexander (sailing master), Larry Jamieson (sail trimmer), Aaron Hampo (cook, comic relief), James Ogilvie (mainsail trimmer/rigger), Shaun ‘Kiwi’ McKnight (navigator), Peter Langman (seventh man, trimmer & floater)