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. 

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.

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Pittwater to Coffs Harbour Race underway

This year is the debut of multihulls in this race which is run by the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club with the ORMA60 Team Australia leading the charge. A number of multihulls from Pittwater are competing including Indian Chief/grainger catamaran, Voodoo Spirit/Egan trimaran and Morticia a Seacart 30 trimaran.

The tracker is here:

http://www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/index.php/live/yacht-tracking

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.

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Pittwater to Coffs Race, entry deadline extended until 5pm Friday 13th December without extra fee

From the following press release on Sail-World submitted by Damian Devine:

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=117384&fb_action_ids=10151873383689952&fb_action_types=og.likes&fb_source=other_multiline&action_object_map=%5B252777338212892%5D&action_type_map=%5B%22og.likes%22%5D&action_ref_map=%5B%5D

The Club Marine Pittwater & Coffs Harbour Regatta 2014 entry date has been extended by the organisers, The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. Competitors will now have until 5pm next Friday 13 December to get their entry in without incurring a late fee.

This will give anyone contemplating entering the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs race and/or the associated five race regatta one last opportunity to get their entry in and enjoy the first race of the new year and the 'warm water' regatta.

With 39 boats entered to date, a competitive fleet of 33 monohulls and six multihulls has assembled for the tactical race north, representing 12 different yacht clubs on the eastern seaboard. There are no fewer than 15 boats doing the regatta for the first time.

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event website

Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, Pittwater to Coffs Race 2013 six multihull entries

From the following article on bymnews:

 http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=125875

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club’s decision to remove a significant cost to compete in its major event, the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour ocean race, has opened the door to a new group of debutantes.

Closing date for entries is one week from today, Friday 6 December, and regulars and newcomers alike have only seven sleeps to lodge their entry and paperwork.

 

Last month the progressive Sydney Northern Beaches yacht club announced that boat owners are allowed to compete in the 33rd running of the event carrying a satellite phone as an alternative to HF radio for communication purposes, a major coup for the longstanding event.

 

Thanks to the club’s foresight, Andrew Butler’s Dufour 36 Astral from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia is now one of the newcomers signed up for the 2014 edition starting January 2nd from Broken Bay.

 

"The relaxation of the HF requirements was a significant factor in our decision to proceed with the race and I commend the club on making a balanced decision that does not compromise safety but allows the Cat 2 races to become more accessible to newcomers to the sport,” said Butler.

 

"It's an expensive exercise getting a boat up to Cat 2 certification and to tie up possibly $5K on  a single bit of kit is a big investment, particularly for a race such as Coffs where other technologies such as yellow brick and Sat phone are available to achieve the same outcome."

 

The previous requirement for HF radio being an obstacle to participation was feedback competitors took to the club. “The club listened to the comments and responded proactively and responsibly,” said Pittwater Coffs organising committee chairman, Richard Hudson.

 

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Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club drops HF radio requirement for Satellite phone option for Pittwater to Coffs Race

From the following article on RPAYC website:

http://www.pittwatertocoffs.com.au/index.php/news/228-advancement-in-communications-for-the-2014-pittwater-to-coffs-race

The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club hosts of the Club Marine Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race, have announced that boats will be allowed to compete in the 33^rd running of the event carrying a satellite phone as an alternative to HF radio for communication purposes.

read more here