Team Vodafone Sailing relaunch their ORMA60 trimaran

Surely one of the most unlucky teams in regards to mast failures.  Team Vodafone have just relaunched their ORMA 60 trimaran "Team Vodafone" this boat is none other than the former ORMA60 "Geant" once skippered by the professor Michael Desjoyeaux in which he sailed to victory solo in the storm battered 2002 Route du Rhum.

The relaunched ORMA60 Team Vodafone, photo courtesy Team Vodafone Sailing

Pittwater to Coffs Race, four multihulls set to start in the race including Sean Langman's ORMA 60 "Team Australia"

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Damian Devine:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Spectacular-start-for-the-33rd-Club-Marine-Pittwater-to-Coffs-Harbour/118073

A spectacular start is forecast for the first ocean race of the New Year, the 33rd Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour yacht race hosted by The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, starting tomorrow.

When the quality fleet of 39 line up for the start at 1pm tomorrow, BOM forecast a 20 knot Northerly ahead of southerly change of 15 to 20 knots in the afternoon and evening with a swell of South to southeasterly around 1 metre.

As the fleet make their way up the coast into Friday morning through the Hunter and Port Macquarie towards Coffs Harbour they face northeast to southeasterly 10 to 15 knots during the morning then tending north to northeasterly 20 to 30 knots during the afternoon.

The race will see the debut of multihulls to the event and will have their own start 15 minutes after the monohulls leave the line. The four in contention will be led by the impressive record-breaking Orma 60 trimaran Team Australia, skippered by Sean Langman and if no mishaps will be in Coffs Harbour well ahead of the entire fleet to create a brand new multihull race record and historic moment.

read more here

Sean Langman interview/article part 2 of 2

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=117469&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=1

Iconic names, records and boats going quickly. We saw a lot of that in Part One. Part Two is to be no different, whether we’re talking about Team Australia or a new service that is available for customers on Sydney Harbour. Read on and you’ll also see that NSW is not the only place where you can get some Noakes service, either…

Now as the yachting calendar gets into full swing, what are Sean and the boat up to back here in Australia. 'Vodafone are not considering coming across to do a run South this year. Instead, they’ll be doing a lot of corporate activity. Our sole focus is on the Pittwater to Coffs race. Sailing to Hobart on our own, two hours after fleet and in such a good year for them just does not make sense. I was happy to do it against Vodafone but it’s not like they or the public need the confusion.'

read more here

Record setting pace from the ORMA 60 Trimaran, Team Australia -  © Andrea Francolini Photography  

Interview with Sean Langman on recent foray to New Zealand setting records and winning races (part 1)

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by John Curnow

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Big-birds,-clouds,-records,-sharks-and-fast-boats-from-Noakes-(Pt.I)/117330

Sean Langman has been in the marine services game for 33 years now. His Noakes brand and facilities are almost as identifiable as he is. However, it is Sean’s personal craft that have ended up with very recognisable colloquial names, which could well be the most famous of the lot. The Skiff on Steroids still garners a mention every now and then, for instance. So having smashed the record earlier this year for the run between Sydney and Hobart and then Sydney to Auckland, in a boat known as Big Bird (Team Australia), it’s certainly is time to find out what’s on the go right now.
When asked of the run to Auckland to partake in the Coastal Classic, Sean said, 'Yes it was a good tour and it definitely all fell into place for us. We gave Clouds (Roger Badham) an impossible task, again. After setting the first record, he managed to find us a window that would get us there with a week to spare to set up for the Coastal Classic, which is really what we were aiming to do.

read more here

Team Australia in Auckland, photo courtesy Jason Gard

 

Team Vodafone Sailing update, race report on the recent Round White Island Race

A race report from Team Vodafone Sailing on the Round White Island Race from the teams facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/TeamVodafoneSailing/163615230319915

We left Auckland in a 5-10kt Northerly and wiggled our way to Channel island, in a unforecast norwester with the genaker on for a time. We meet a 20kt noreaster which put us on the wind to White in 12-18kts.

Got round the volcano around 5:30am and pulled the genaker out, VMG running all the way back to channel. We got a bit of breeze now an then (15-20kts) and some good rides up to the top speed for the trip of 32kts.

6 odd hours from White to Channel was not to shabby, but around the corner we had a drift off to look forward to....
 
We drifted in through the Gulf in a frustrating 0-5kts from every direction to finish at 6:49pm on Saturday .
 
Not a bad race, but one day we would like to start one of these offshores in some puff.

Round White Island Race, Team Vodafone Sailings ORMA60 home but well outside record time due to fluky wind conditions

From the following article on livesaildie:

http://livesaildie.com/team-vodafone-sailing-finishes-round-white-island-race/

A tired crew on board Team Vodafone Sailing crossed the finish line at Orakei this afternoon at 17:49:17.

After crossing the finishing line the crew admitted to being very thirsty for a beer, definitely well deserved for the regulars who are led by skipper Simon Hull.

“It was a frustrating day we thought we would get back a bit quicker. There wasn’t a real highlight, just a lot of little lowlights. Once again, it would seem that the wind bill hasn’t been paid!” joked Hull.

read more here

New Zealand multihull racing news, Team Vodafone ORMA60 competing in this years Round White Island race

From the following article on livesaildie:

http://livesaildie.com/clear-start-for-the-2013-round-white-island-race/

After a brief postponement at the start, the fleet competing in the 2013 Round White Island Race began their 320 nautical mile journey to the volcanic location off the Bay of Plenty at 1005 hours Friday 22 November.

There were 16 monohulls lined up for the start due to a late decision to withdraw by the Volvo 70.
Jim Delegat’s Giacomo was the unfortunate withdrawal being forced to confirm their decision this morning.  The new electrical system was unable to be completely tested in time for the start.

“We’re disappointed as this was going to be a major training race for us,” said Delegat.  The Giacomo team had planned on using this race as training for the upcoming Rolex Sydney Hobart Race which starts in Sydney on Boxing Day.

read more here

Fleet tracker is here

Team Australia's new trans tasman record Sydney to Auckland ratified by the WSSRC

From the following entry on Sail-World submitted by John Reed of the WSSRC:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/WSSR-Council-announces-establishment-of-a-new-World-Record/116413

The World Sailing Speed Record (WSSR) Council has announced the establishment of a new World Record.

Record: Sydney to Auckland
Yacht: 'Team Australia' ORMA 60
Name: Sean Langman AUS and five crew.
Dates: 16th to the 18th October 2013.
Start time: 01;09;58 UTC on 16;10;13
Finish time: 20;12;43 UTC on 18;10;13
Elapsed time: 2 days 19 hours 2 minutes and 45 seconds
Distance: 1265NM
Average speed: 18.87kts

Comments: A Benchmark will have been set during the 1997/8 Volvo Race which certainly will have been slower than this claim. At present we have been unable to establish this crossing time.

WSSR website

by John Reed, WSSR

Team Australia claiming line honours at the end of the 2013 PIC Insurance Brokers NZ Coastal Classic

Video of the start of the 2013 PIC Insurance Brokers NZ Coastal Classic

PIC Insurance brokers Coastal Classic 2013 poised to start, Team Australia and Team Vodafone Sailing the headline act

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Lisa Ratcliff:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Coastal-Classic---Team-Australia-ready-for-action/116023

In the preparation for the Coastal Classic, Team Australia’s head-to-head with Team VodafoneSailing on Waitemata Harbour, Auckland, yesterday was a mixed bag for the visitors. Result aside, skipper Sean Langman is confident the Australian boat and crew have the ticker to successfully challenge the local ORMA 60 this Friday.

In the showcase sprint race the Aussie trimaran led Team VodafoneSailing off the start line, expectations resting heavily on the afterguard including Mike Sanderson and celebrity guest crewmember, Team New Zealand skipper Dean Barker in his first race since the 34th America’s Cup.

The sprint kicked off with a downwind start off Westhaven Marina at 1600hrs. Langman’s Team Australia gybed early and grabbed a several hundred metre advantage over Simon Hull’s near identical ORMA 60 by the time the frontrunner reached Orakei and North Head. 

read more here

And also an article by Zoe Hawkins on Sail-World:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Coastal-Classic:-Kiwis-take-first-local-point-in-big-boat-duel/116021

Team Vodafone Sailing and Team Australia in race 1 of 2 of their ORMA match

Thanks to Roger Mills and http://crew.org.nz for the video:

Team Vodafone Sailing win first round against Team Australia in the first battle of the ORMA's in NZ

From the following race report and photos submitted to Sail-World by Richard Gladwell:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Coastal-Classic:-Dean-Barker-back-sailing-an-Australian-multihull/116003

In his first race since the 2013 America's Cup, Emirates Team NZ skipper raced aboard the ORMA60, Team Australia, skippered by Sean Langman.

Team Australia was sailing in an ORMA60 exhibition race around the Waitemata harbour against the New Zealand ORMA60, TeamVodafoneSailing. Team Australia is in New Zealand ahead of the 2013 PIC Coastal Classic, a 120nm sprint north to the Bay of Islands from Auckland, starting at 10.00am on Friday.

Barker was joined by winning Volvo Ocean Race skipper, Mike Sanderson - now with Doyle Sails, checking out some new front sails on Team Australia.

read more here

and a much more detailed article from LiveSailDie:

http://livesaildie.com/team-vodafone-sailing-v-team-australia-round-1-of-2/

Update from Team Vodafone Sailing on their upcoming race with Team Australia

From Team Vodafone Sailing's facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/TeamVodafoneSailing/163615230319915?directed_target_id=0

I have just spoken to the race officer and here is the course and info,
...
* We will use Te Kouma or Pembles Bay to start the race. The start will be between the boat and a Blue Inflatable start mark off the break water

* Start sequence will be a normal fleet racing start sequence with the Warning Signal at 1555.

* Course:

* All marks taken to starboard

Start - McKenzie, taken to Starboard - Northern Leading Starboard - Orakei Starboard - ODM Starboard - Chelsea Starboard -Torpedo Bay Starboard - Orakei Starboard - Finish between the Westhaven Tower and the ODM

Normal Racing rules apply not match racing rules. i.e. Col Regs prior to 5 minute gun

There will be an on the water umpire for instant decisions- Penalties will be one turn

Team Australia set new record time of 2 days 19 hours 2 minutes and 45 seconds (unnoficial) on Sydney to Auckland route

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Lisa Ratcliff:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Team-Australia:-Big-Birds-record-flight-to-Auckland/115894

When they passed between Auckland’s North Head and the leading lights at Rangitoto Channel at 9:12:43NZT this morning, the six-man crew on the giant multihull from Sydney nicknamed ‘Big Bird’ set a new world speed passage record from Sydney to Auckland.

Once verified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council, it will be Team Australia’s second speed record in eight months having slayed the previous fastest time for the passage from Sydney to Hobart back in February.

Skipper Sean Langman bravely predicts their elapsed time of 2 days 19 hours 2 minutes 45 seconds and 18.8 knot average speed for the Trans-Tasman ocean crossing will stand for decades.

'We had perfect conditions, essentially we beam reached on port to the tip of NZ, gybed, parked for a couple of hours then beam reached on starboard to the finish, a scenario that is basically unheard of.

read more here 

and a series of photos from the finish by Peter Idoine:

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Images-from-Team-Australias-finish-at-end-of-new-record-mark/115892

and a video from nine news of their departure in Sydney:

Team Australia update, lighter conditions and flat seas on approach to Auckland

From the Team Australia facebook page by Lisa Ratcliff

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

Just heard from Sean (8.15am Sydney time), they are skirting around the outside of a big wind hole in a 10 knot breeze just north of east & doing 15 knots of boat speed heading towards the tip of the North Island.

They hit something first afternoon out, possibly a shark, & have some foil damage that was causing the tri to nosedive at high speed, when they get on the other gybe they should be able to see the damage & whether it extends to the rudder.

Best quote from the skipper: "It's 22dg and beautiful flat seas...it's bikini weather... if we had them we'd be putting them on."...

 

Team Australia power past half way mark but light winds ahead for Sydney to Auckland record attempt

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Lisa Ratcliff

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Sprint-to-Auckland---Team-Australias-half-way-gone/115840

Conditions have abated to steady for the weary Team Australia crew now past the half-way point of their Sydney to Auckland record bid.

At 7:00pm tonight yacht tracker is showing them travelling east at 18.7kts. With a front coming from behind, respected meteorologist Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham says they can expect 20 knot average winds all night.  At 4.30pm (Sydney time) Team Australia had chewed through 620 nautical miles and made it through the roughest patch of the 1,260nm voyage in terms of swollen seas and high winds, which turbo-boosted the 60-footer to a top speed of 38kts, or 70km/h, without a hand brake.

For the crew, being on deck at extreme speed on this imposing 5.6 ton multihull is akin to being under a high-pressured fire hose. Down below is less fire hose more steady leak with water infiltrating the living space through the hatches and making it tough to find somewhere dry to grab a kip.  There could be another rough patch up ahead requiring a different type of concentration. Light winds are forecast to plague the final stages of the attempt, as the crew make their way around New Zealand’s North Island and down the east coast to the finish between the southern edge of Auckland’s North Head and the front light beacon of the Rangitoto Channel leading lights.
read more here

Team Australia, Sydney to Auckland passage record attempt update

From the following article on The Australian

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/big-bird-takes-off-to-try-to-set-a-new-sydney-to-auckland-sailing-record/story-e6frg7mf-1226741169683

A PASSING whale was an early obstacle to be avoided as Sean Langman began his bid to set a sailing speed record between Sydney and Auckland.

The Sydney-to-Hobart veteran's giant trimaran Team Australia, nicknamed “Big Bird”, flew out of Sydney Harbour with spray flying and one hull out of the water just after midday, intent on getting through the whale migration path before sunset to minimise the chances of a collision at 20 knots.

Langman hopes to reach Auckland in three days. The fastest reported crossing is five days.

read more here

 

 

 

Team Australia to attempt to break Trans Tasman passage record

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Lisa Ratcliff
 http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/Team-Australia-to-attempt-Trans-Tasman-speed-record/115631

After having spent the winter in the operating theatre at the hands of a skilled team of Noakes’ surgeons, Sean Langman’s Orma 60 trimaran has been re-launched ahead of a busy summer.

The crew of Team Australia has just one week to test its new lifting prop, new rig and trimmer shape before six men, most of the same crew from the trimaran’s express run to Hobart back in February, will attempt to set an official Trans-Tasman speed record from Sydney to Auckland.

Renowned yachting forecaster Roger ‘Clouds’ Badham is suggesting there will be two suitable weather windows next week, one on Tuesday 15th October in south west winds and the second on Thursday 17th in a north westerly flow.

Based on the long range outlook Langman is expecting ‘Big Bird’ - the boat’s nickname due to its arched beams and outrigger hulls and the fact it resembles a large bird in full flight - to average 17-19 knots, which would have them arriving into Auckland in three days. 

read more here

Team Vodafone Sailing update, ORMA60 relaunched after refit

Team Vodafone Sailing have relaunched their ORMA60 after refit and ready for the new season.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/TeamVodafoneSailing/163615230319915