Brisbane to Gladstone Multihull Race - Team Australia on record pace
by Sean Langman on 6 Apr 2012
Sean Langman’s Banque Team Australia formerly Populaire IV held a 60ft record of 667nm in 24hrs SW
Sean Langman’s fast lane sailing Orma 60 trimaran Team Australia, formerly Banque Populaire IV predictably left her rivals in her wake when they power sailed to a commanding lead in the Multihull class Brisbane to Gladstone race this afternoon.
The exceptionally fast triple-hull yacht covered the initial 20 nautical miles of the 308 nautical mile race in 55 minutes to lay down a claim to break the 18 hour 55 minute 9 second race record before dawn tomorrow.
Her owner skipper Sean Langman is no stranger to racing on this tactically demanding course having set two of the three fastest times with his similarly exciting Open 60 class mono sloop AAPT Grundig.
He bought the super fast ocean racing trimaran with the intention to chase Australian ocean racing records and their plotted position confirmed Team Australia was logging 20 knots and sailing above record pace in the light 10-12 knot South East breeze.
After an hour of racing Team Australia had extended her lead as she tracked a fast course to enter the North West shipping channel.
Race officials predicted that Team Australia will clear the Caloundra Fairway Buoy before 3 pm then continue to produce her impressive performance when she sails into stronger wind blowing on the open ocean.
Based on her capability to sail up to twice the speed of the wind that fills her sails, (she set a 667 nautical mile 24 hours record back in 2007), Team Australia remains on target to score a runaway win.
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