Grundig, its all go for a World record!!!

by Rob Kothe Sail-World on 21 May 2002 Sean Langman's exciting ocean racing sloop Grundig is bouncing and jumping on a shy reach, her best sailing angle, in a wet wild record aiming to break the World 24 hour speed record.

Averaging over 21 knots in the 5 hours since she set sail Grundig is 100 miles out of Sydney as she aims towards New Zealand on her record attempt.

Grundig has not had a good ride yet into the southern ocean. Three attempts in the Hobart race have seen two aborted attempts with hull delamination in 2001, a shredded mainsail in 2000 and back in 1999 she broke off one of her twin rudders and limped into Hobart.

But this is a different set of sailing conditions for the thoroughbred off the wind racer. With 20-25 knot winds across the deck, Grundig is now shy reaching south east into the night. Her speed is fine, if maintained it would see her smash the existing world 24 hour monohull record of 484 miles by more than 20 miles.

But the problem is the wind angle, already a shift has put a dog leg the super skiffs track, which has reduced her achieved distance by five precious miles which has seen her slip minutely below the magic numbers. But her speed is building and conditions are improving.

Timing is critical, Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham, the internationally acclaimed meterologist has the Sydney 'pocket rocket' aiming for the top of the low pressure swirling towards New Zealand. It Grundig gets the angle right then she will slingshot to a record with strengthening winds.

With only six crew in a wild seaway, there is no one sitting at the radio providing a running commentary for us. It’s possible that a sheet let go. Whatever happen the speeds are climbing again and have now gone back to 22 knots.

Crew Sean Langman, Joe de Cock, Adrian Mills, Bruce Perry and John Crawford.

www.Sail-World.com the largest sailing website in the southern hemisphere will be tracking progress of Grundig during this attempt.

The current world record is held by illbruck Challenge during leg seven of the Volvo Ocean Race when they achieved a 24-hour run of 484 nautical miles on April 29-30 2002

For more information contact Rob Kothe TetraMedia +612 9 799 9496