Still a waiting game for 'Xena' despite strong winds in Sydney

by Rob Mundle on 29 May 2001 Despite a near gale force wind howling across Sydney early today the call was ‘remain on hold’ for the crew of the Open 60 Xena and their bid to
establish a new world 24-hour world distance record for a mono-hull yacht.

The crew’s meteorologist, Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham, who is monitoring weather patterns across the Australian continent, has advised that while
conditions looked favourable in Sydney today there was little depth in the current low-pressure system.

Xena, which can be described as a supercharged Open 60, is being targeted to top 467.7 miles. That was the record distance set by Frenchman
Bernard Stamm's Open 60 Armor-Lux-Fois Gras during an Atlantic crossing earlier this year.

Xena’s owner, former 18ft skiff champion Sean Langman, knows his boat has the potential to demolish the record and lift the figure to 500-plus miles.
During races along Australia’s east coast Xena has already averaged well in excess of the required 19.5 knots to set a new world mark.

But Xena must meet with ideal conditions when she sets sail from Sydney Harbour and heads onto the often wild waters of the Tasman Sea.

Langman has Badham searching for a system that will provide winds of more than 25 knots for at least 48 hours. He is not concerned about the direction
of the wind; just it’s stability in strength.

'If the wind’s from the southwest we might be packing our suncream and heading towards the tropics in northern Australia,' said Langman today.
'Alternatively, in different conditions, we might be packing our passports and finishing up in New Zealand, Noumea or Fiji.

'The current system in Sydney looks good, but ‘Clouds’ assures us that it will rapidly change direction and lose velocity within 24 hours. It’s frustrating
sitting here and waiting, but that's what we must do. The indications are that we won’t see what we want for at least a week.'

Xena is a Murray Burns and Dovell designed Open 60 that was originally built for around-the-world single-handed racing. She has already established
records for sailing around Australia, across the Tasman Sea and the Brisbane to Gladstone race.

Since purchasing the yacht more than two years ago Langman has spent much time improving her all-round performance. The major emphasis though
has been on downwind speed.

After setting the new record for the Brisbane to Gladstone race last Easter Langman and his crew have carried out an extensive optimisation program on
the yacht. They have strengthened a number of fittings to ensure it is ‘as bulletproof as possible’ for the world record attempt.

Race web site is www.sail-world.com/xena

Contact rmundle@ozemail.com.au for more information