Raw Nerve set to blow race record apart

by Ian Grant on 10 Apr 2004 Martyn Riley’s fast lane sailing catamaran continued to sail in the fast lane towards a new record in the 308 n/ml Multihull Class Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race.

Raw Nerve jointly helmed by Riley and Stuart Bloomfield had weathered Lady Elliot Island shortly after 12-30 am tracking on a fast course towards the finish in Gladstone Harbour.

Skipper Riley said ‘We have been blasting along at 20 knots since rounding Breaksea Spit and we are now shaping up for the final 85n/ml sprint to the finish’.

Surprisingly Riley skippering the fastest ocean racing catamaran in Australia has finally had some luck with the wind to be in the position to shave close to 2 hours off the record of 20 hours 35 minutes 2 seconds.

She was powering sailing with a race average speed of 17.1 knots and her reported position confirmed by skipper Riley forced race officials to be woken from a restful sleep with the news that Australian sailing history was going to be changed before dawn.

The excited Martyn Riley was a little reluctant to give an estimated finish time for Raw Nerve however officials were on standby to finish Raw Nerve around 4-30 this morning.