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. 

Sydney to Mooloolaba Race, initial details announced with a start date of 25th of March 2015

From the following article on Sail-World submitted by Tracey Johnstone

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/index.cfm?SEID=0&Nid=124134&SRCID=0&ntid=0&tickeruid=0&tickerCID=0

Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race 2015 - Middle Harbour Yacht Club (MHYC) has announced Wednesday 25th March 2015 as the date for the start of next year’s Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race.

The race will again welcome both monohull and multihull entries for the 468 mile coastal classic.

The monohulls will race under Category 2 safety regulations while the details of the safety requirements for the multihulls are to be advised in the next few months.

MHYC’s Commodore, John McCuaig, has pushed forward to have the 2015 start date confirmed early, giving plenty of time for boat owners to plan for the race.

'The race start date should be a good fit within the Australian offshore racing calendar. It’s far enough in advance of Easter for entrants to also compete in the Brisbane to Gladstone Race or to use the Easter break to take their boats back to their home port or to return south in time for the Port Stephens Regatta,' McCuaig said.

Mooloolaba Yacht Club’s Commodore, Gary Schulz, concurred on the importance of confirming early next year’s race date. 'With the date now confirmed Mooloolaba can get on with the job of organising the details of finishing the boats and planning the traditional warm welcome.'

read more here

Sydney to Mooloolaba Race, Chris Williams on Seacart 30 trimaran 'Morticia' retires

From the following article on mysailing.com.au

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/sydney-mooloolaba-fleet-down-to-just-one-as-weather-gods-play-havoc

Sydney - Mooloolaba fleet down to just one as weather gods play havoc
10 Apr 2014

A high pressure system over the southern Tasman Sea and severe tropical cyclone Ita approaching the east coast of Far North Queensland has played havoc with the wind off the NSW coast and quashed any hopes of a record run in the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race.

 

Benign conditions forced the hand of Shaun Carroll’s 30-foot trimaran Morticia, the crew advising the race committee just after 9am this morning, Thursday April 10, 2014, that they had pulled the pin north of Newcastle and were heading to Port Stephens.

Skipper Chris Williams’ weather routing predicted their arrival at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, too many days at sea for their food and water stocks, and sense of humour.

 

read more here

 

A video of the start by Dale Lorimer linked in the following Sail-World article shows the extremely light conditions that have dogged the race from the beginning and quashed any hope of a new race record: 

 

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=120980&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=1

2014 Sydney to Mooloolaba race, Small but high quality multihull fleet prepare to depart on 9th April

From the following article on afloat.com.au

http://www.afloat.com.au/press-releases/multihull-march-to-mooloolaba

02-Apr-2014                    
                 
 A week from today a small group of multihull owners will mark a new chapter in the history of the Sydney to Mooloolaba Yacht Race, previously a major offshore event on the Australian calendar.

At the traditional start time of 1pm on a Wednesday pre-Easter, this time on April 9, Sean Langman’s record-busting ORMA 60 trimaran BOQ Team Australia is highly likely to lead the charge out of Sydney Harbour when the skipper’s quest for the trophy treble begins.

Beating Brindabella’s outright record of 1 day 20 hours 1 minute 43 seconds set 20 years ago, setting the first multihull line honours record and winning on handicap (OMR) are feasible given the boat’s achievements in southern waters, including two World Sailing Speed Council records.

read more here

Team Australia update, Sean Langman puts first steps in place to establish Australian Offshore Racing Multihull Association

From the following article on mysailing.com

http://www.mysailing.com.au/news/sean-langman-decides-to-be-proactive-with-new-offshore-multihull-association

Sean Langman decides to be proactive with new Australian offshore multihull association

26 Jan 2014

Irritated that multihulls remain barred from major events like the Rolex Sydney Hobart and the Australia Day Regatta (see Related Content), Sydney sailing identity and owner of the Orma 60 Team Australia has decided to take matters into his own hands.

He has instructed a friend who is a lawyer and a sailor to draft the constitution for AORMA. the Australian Ocean Racing Multihull Association, which he hopes to get affiliated with Yachting Australia and become proactive in organising offshore events for multihulls.

read more here

 

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

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

 

Sean Langman of Team Australia awarded the Bennetto medal for his achievements in ocean racing

From the following article submitted to Sail-World by Peter Campbell

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?Nid=117006&refre=y&ntid=0&rid=1

Yachting Tasmania Sailing Awards day was held on Sunday 24th November 2013. Paralympic sailor Matt Bugg today was named Yachting Tasmania’s Male Sailor of the Year for 2012-2013, while the Female Sailor of the Year award went to champion Mirror dinghy sailors Jessie Atherton and Katherine Maher.

The prestigious Bennetto Medal for ocean racing was awarded to Sean Langman in recognition of his many and varied exploits on the ocean, many linked with Tasmania.

Yachting Tasmania president Ed Vincent presented the annual Sailing Awards and announced five new inductees into the Yachting Hall of Fame at a reception at Bellerive Yacht Club.

read more 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 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, 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

 

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

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

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

Sean Langman's new Sydney to Hobart multihull record ratified by the WSSRC

The Sydney to Hobart outright and multihull record have been smashed by Sean Langman on the ORMA 60 Team Australia (formerly Banque Populaire IV)

From the following Sail-World article

http://www.sail-world.com/Australia/New-world-record-establishment-announced-by-WSSR/107439

The World Speed Sailing Record Council has now announced the establishment of a new World Record.

Record: Sydney to Hobart
Yacht: 'Team Australia' ORMA 60
Name: Sean Langman AUS and 2 crew.
Dates:. 21st to the 23rd February 2013.
Start time: 23;58;57 UTC on 21/02/13
Finish time: 05;51;20 UTC on 23/02/13
Elapsed time: 1 day 5 hours 52 minutes and 23 seconds
Distance: 630NM
Average speed: 22kts

read more here

Sean Langman and Team Australia ORMA 60 smash Sydney to Hobart passage record

From the following Sail-World article:

http://www.sail-world.com/index.cfm?nid=106860

Team Australia has set a new record for the 630 nautical mile passage from Sydney to Hobart. She crossed the finishing line off Constitution Dock at 16 51 20 this afternoon, to deliver a new elapsed time of 29 hours 52 minutes and 23 second, an amazing 12 hours 30 minutes and 49 seconds inside Wild Oats XI's 2012 record time.

Earlier we reported

Team Australia has been in 25kts North north easter steaming across Storm Bay with an ETA of 5pm at the finish in Hobart, 'boat is good, boys tired and very wet' says Josh Alexander , who also had this to say 'new top speed for this run 39.6 kts, we are coming home HOT!! At this stage the boat is set to go under 30 hours for the 630 nautical mile passage.

read more here

There is also a video from ABC News Australia here:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-02-23/new-sailing-record-for-sydney-hobart-passage/4535982?&section=news

Team Australia Sydney Hobart passage record attempt 2013 - Josh Alexander