Groupama race underway

The Groupama Race which circumnavigates New Caledonia is attended by a number of multihulls with the racing trimaran Frank Racing (formerly Geant ORMA 60) and Jessica Rabbit (Custom 40' foiling trimaran) along with catamarans Moemeti and Birdies Furax 2. Not surprisingly Frank Racing is leading the entire fleet while Jessica Rabbit is in 6th place overall.

The race tracker is here:

http://www.groupamarace.nc/la-course/tracking

Website for Groupama Race:

http://www.groupamarace.nc/

ORMA 60 Team Australia loses mast while racing in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race

The ORMA 60 Team Australia (formerly Banque Populaire IV) has lost it's rig while competing in the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race.  There were no injuries onboard and the boat is now travelling at slow speed under motor and jury rig towards Port Stephens. 

Team Vodafone Sailing improve their own race record in the NZ Coastal Classic (Auckland to Russell)

Team Vodafone Sailing have broken their own race record for the NZ Coastal Classic slicing 28 minutes off the old time.  The new record (yet to be ratified) stands at 5hrs 13 mins 21 secs.

Team Vodafone Sailing's ORMA 60 dismasts one crew member injured

Team Vodafone Sailing's ORMA60 has dismasted again.  From the photos posted it looks like a different mode of failure this time with the mast breaking at the base.  Unfortunately it seems like a crew member was injured in the incident.

An article on livesaildie has an article on what was a busy day for the Auckland Coastguard:

http://livesaildie.com/busy-day-for-coastguard-in-auckland/

Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, Team Australia sets new multihull reference time

From the following press release by Damian Devine / Pittwater & Coffs Harbour media

http://www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/index.php/news/238-team-australia-continue-their-record-breaking-way

Friday 3 January, 10am

 Sean Langman's Orma 60 Team Australia steamed across the offshore finishing line in Coffs Harbour this morning at 0618hrs to create a new multihull race record in the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs race with an official time of 17hrs 3mins 5secs.

“What a great way to start the New Year, really happy with the performance last year with the two world records so to get another course record is fantastic. I was wondering what 2014 was going to bring as 2013 was successful in a lot of ways in both business and yachting, so yeah a good way to start,” said Langman dockside at Coffs Harbour marina.

 On the performance of the trimaran Langman offered, “ She did very well, we had to work hard through the night. The conditions were actually very testing, nothing like we were told in the weather briefing. There were a lot of coastal effects and with the Orma 60 you’re always on the edge and looking over your shoulder to see what’s coming next. We didn’t have any ugly hairy moments but we did hit 32 knots at one stage and decided to get the rag off and just play it safe. We shredded a halyard on the front sail so we got to work out a way of getting that down.

read more here

ORMA60 trimaran Groupama2 finds new home in the West Coast, US

The ORMA trimaran Groupama2 which is considered perhaps the best of all the ORMA60 trimarans has been bought by a well known West Coast sailor (who has campaigned the Jenneau trimaran Loreal) in the US and will join the increasing group of hot multihulls that have found their home there. 

Here is some video of Groupama2 in full flight during a Grand Prix event in the bay of Douarnenez while being campaigned by Franck Cammas.

Team Australia update, After a fast passage now approaching the finish

Latest update from Team Australia's Facebook page (10 minutes ago):

https://www.facebook.com/team.australia.tri?hc_location=stream

Team Australia has made outstanding progress overnight and will be well inside the three day mark for the Trans-Tasman crossing.

At 17 knots of boat speed they are due to finish within the hour off North Head.

They are heading to Silo Marina to berth, if there's public access go & congratulate the guys for an outstanding world speed record (to be officially verified).

newsflash:

they have finished the record course now

Team Australia has finished their Trans-Tasman speed record attempt.

They took roughly 67 hrs 10 mins to sail from Sydney to Auckland and averaged 18.7 knots over the 1,260nm course.

Team Australia Crew, photo courtesy Georgia Schofield/ Subzero

 

Sean Langman of Team Australia hopes to encourage acceptance of a multihull division in the Sydney to Hobart race

From the following article on abc.net.au

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-10-16/team-australia-skipper-wants-multihulls-in-sydney-to-hobart/5027068?section=sport

 

Australian sailor Sean Langman wants the Sydney to Hobart yacht race to allow multihull yachts to compete.

The skipper of the trimaran Team Australia is bidding to set a new trans-Tasman sailing record and wants the attempt to headline a campaign to allow catamarans and trimarans into Australia's most famous sailing race.

"We're out there doing some miles just to really showcase that these boats, if handled correctly, are in fact a viable and exciting opportunity," he said.

read more and view the video here

Team Australia final preparations to leave on Sydney Auckland record attempt

Nearly ready to undock now the tracker is active at the following address:

http://teamaus.net.au/track-us-now/

Team Australia move forward departure time for record attempt on Sydney to Auckland route

From the following article submitted to livesaildie by Lisa Ratcliff:

http://livesaildie.com/team-australia-first-night-survival/

 

“Looks like survival on the first night,” said Team Australia skipper Sean Langman on the eve of their Sydney to Auckland record run.

Tomorrow’s departure time is creeping forward for the giant ORMA 60 trimaran so the six man crew can stack the weight aft and get a head start on the seaway due to build to 3-5m with the fresh north-west winds.  An early afternoon exit from Sydney Heads is now being discussed.

“If they keep good pace Team Australia will hopefully be ahead of the biggest waves and should only have 2-3m waves to contend with,” said Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham who is routing the attempt. “Slower and they will have more waves, faster and there will be less.”

read more here

The media release is also available in .pdf format from here:

http://teamaus.net.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/MEDIA-RELEASE_TT-weather.pdf

Team Australia on standby for WSSRC Sydney to Auckland passage record attempt

Team Australia have launched a new website which includes a tracker for their upcoming Trans Tasman record attempt Sydney to Auckland.  It appears that they will depart on Wednesday if conditions are favourable:

http://teamaus.net.au/

Team Australia (the ex Banque Populaire IV) powering along

Auckland to Musket Cove race update, Team Vodafone powering up in stronger conditions

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Zoe Hawkins and Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Auckland-Fiji-Race:-Big-trimaran-finds-breeze-and-takes-second-reef/110076

The ORMA60 trimaran, TeamVodafonesailing has found the breeze in the Auckland Fiji Race. But the Ray Lodge designed and owned, Wild Card, leads fleet on handicap, on the second day of the classic race.

Emailing this afternoon from a location 210 nautical miles North-East of Cape Reinga, and nearly 300 nautical miles from the startline at Westhaven Marina in Auckland, TeamVodafone Sailing have reported breezes of up to 20 knots, and boat speeds of 23-26 knots. They set their first reef and trinquet at 1000hrs today, and have now added a second reef.

read more here

Team Vodafone Sailing's ORMA60 repaired and ready for the Auckland to Musket Cove (Fiji) race.

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Zoe Hawkins

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Auckland-Fiji-Race:-TeamVodafoneSailing-racing-with-Southerns-EC6/109965

Following a dismasting in March, TeamVodafoneSailing is back and almost ready to roll into the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Auckland to Musket Cove, Fiji Race starting this Saturday.

The boat is back in the water, but waiting on another stay before it can hoist sails.

'We won't miss the sprint to warmer climes if we can at all help at – arriving at Musket Cove is always a great experience,' says Skipper Simon Hull. 'We will only have a few days to shake her down, but we will be there Saturday for the race start.'

read more here

Sean Langman to speak at the RPAYC 17th May, 2013

Sean Langman has just reset the record for the Sydney to Hobart route onboard his ORMA60 trimaran Team Australia (former Banque Populaire IV) and has quite a tale to tell from his mono and multihull adventures and the radical speed sailing machine Wot Rocket.

The event is hosted by the RPAYC:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RPAYC/183109792963

Team Vodafone ORMA60 dismasts during Auckland Regatta

When starting a race at the Auckland Regatta Team Vodafone Sailing's ORMA60 dropped it's wingmast rig.  Nobody injured and the rig has been recovered and they are looking at the best way to repair it, looks like it was a forestay fitting failure this time.

Thanks to crew.org.nz for the link.

Team Vodafone, Auckland to Tauranga Race chasing record time

From the following article on crew.org.nz

http://www.crew.org.nz/team-vodafone-targets-record-in-the-international-paints-auckland-to-tauranga-yacht-race/

It’s all go for this premier annual event! Bouncing back from last year’s Rena cancellation, this year is shaping up to be a beauty. TYPBC has topped up their wind account and are looking for a quick race. With the support of RNZYS, the race kicks off at 1000 March 28th from the Squadron start line outside Westhaven.

Team Vodafone has confirmed their entry in an attempt to finally break a record that has so far proved elusive. Vodafone skipper Simon Hull comments “The International Paints Auckland to Tauranga race can be tricky and challenging. When the weather cooperates, it is a fantastic ride and that is what we are hoping for. Fingers crossed, we will have a crack at setting a new record. Time will tell.”

Upon arrival in Tauranga every boat will be greeted with the traditional welcome bucket and escorted to their berth. There is plenty of room for everyone. The TYPBC clubhouse will be open with hot showers and refreshments.

read more here

Team Vodafone Sailing give a rundown on the White Island Race in NZ

From an article published on crew.org.nz

http://www.crew.org.nz/team-vodafone-new-white-island-record/

Team vodafone, New White Island record
We started off Orakei in a light noreaster and slowly made our way out the Motuihue Channel, short tacking up the Rangitoto shore against the tide.

Once clearing Emu point we found a nice 12kts had come in, and just as well because the 50ft monos were looking quite close behind. We beat got out towards Rakino and then the breeze crumped again. Up the rig we saw small pockets of puff on the water but plenty of holes in it.

The majority of the crew spent the time hanging out on the front tramps trying to keep from dragging our arse. While a very patient Casper was on the helm trying to wiggle our way north into a building SW breeze allowing us to get the Genaker on and click along at around 13kts.
Until the NE won out and we were back on the wind. A tack out towards Little Barrier saw us lifting around Channel Island which was not ideal but I don’t think there was much puff in the Firth of Thames so maybe the better of two evils. Eventually making it around Channel Island at 1500 (6 hours for a 35 mile leg :-/ )

Once around we got a tight genaker ride with the car eased in and reached off towards Waikawu Bay getting lifted as we went at times getting along at 20kts, this was a bit more like it!

Once again ole Huey changed his mind and we parked it in a hole off Opito bay, getting in irons and having to back out of it. But we wriggled past Old Man Rock into a nice steady breeze running 130T and sipping on some soup with cabin bread for dinner.
Rod managed to pick up a skip jack tuna on the leward rudder! just T boned it and it got wedged there, we weren’t quite quick enough to grab it for sushimi, as we slowed down to see what it was it managed to swim off, a little dazzed me thinks.

read more here

Team Vodafone Sailing NZ, White Island Race 2012

Sail-World article by Richard Gladwell on the NZ 2012 White Island Race

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/White-Island-Race:-TeamVodafoneSailing-first-home-and-sets-race-record/104057

The ORMA 60, TeamVodafoneSailing, skippered by Simon Hull, has finished the 2012 White Island Race at approximately 1.10pm on Saturday, taking just over 27hours to complete the 320nm course.

The first monohull, Equilibrium, was off Pauanui between Tauranga and Whitianga at the last report at 3.00pm . The smallest boat, Unitec II, and Elliott 8.5 metre is yet to round White Island, but is in a group of three others.

read more here

'TeamVodafoneSailing crossing the finish line off Royal Akarana YC (background) around 1310rs on Saturday afternoon to be first home in the 320nm classic' Richard Gladwell ©  

Lia Ditton reflecting on a delivery voyage on Foncia/ORMA 60

The plane was now in full taxi, the G-force pressing me into the green Air Italia seat in preparation for take-off from Valencia. I ran that thought once more- the aircraft was pressing me into the green Air Italia seat … then I realised it was the same feeling! It was the same feeling that I had tried to describe for the past 6 days, while sailing from Lorient to Valencia on Alain Gautier’s ORMA 60 trimaran Foncia.

The full Foncia team was onboard as we pulled away from Foncia HQ by the submarine base in Lorient. This was a good thing, a very good thing indeed I came to realise as 6 of us huffed and puffed in turns at the grinders in order to hoist the main. Alain had a weekend date with a Decision 35 on a Swiss lake, so after much arm waving goodbye, it was just the four of us; three to grind and one to helm as we unfurled the jib and ripped off towards the descending sun.

I was unsure at first if the crew would be comfortable with me at the helm - none of them knew me or had any idea of my experience, but Gautier’s choice of crew seemed to count for everything and after a moment’s instruction on how my priority was not the course or the wind angle, but to maintain a continuous 15kts, I was very shortly left to it. I was still having wonderful ‘I have been entirely let loose at the helm of an ORMA 60 cruising at 15kts / hold on-how did this happen?!’ thoughts when nearly two hours later, the skipper Mayeul [known affectionately as ‘Mama!’] came to relieve me. Had two whole hours really flown by? Could it be true that we had just torn 30 easy miles away before sunset?

more here on bymnews.com: lia loving Foncia

Team Vodafone Sailing video from the Coastal Classic 2012

A compilation of video from onboard and chase boats of the ORMA 60 Team Vodafone in the 2012 Coastal Classic.  They went on to reset their own record and reduce their already fast time by about 3 minutes!