Sydney-Hobart sailing record ratified

This week the World Sailing Speed Record Council (WSSC) sanctioned Team Australia’s passage record from Sydney to Hobart set over February 22-23, 2013.

The ORMA 60 with its six crew members established a time of 1 day 5 hours 52 minutes and 23 seconds for the famous 630 nautical mile Tasman Sea crossing averaging 22 knots.

Since delivering the 60-foot trimaran from Hobart back to its base at Noakes at Berrys Bay, Sydney, Team Australia’s racing team has commenced a new sail development program with Doyle Sails NZ.

Owner/skipper Sean Langmanm has always pushed the limits in terms of minimum crew weight and he’s also in discussion with professional fitness trainer Andrew Verdon regarding crew weight and reaching peak team fitness.

"The past Xena program of a small, light and physically fit crew shall be enacted for this coming racing schedule," Langman said.

Xena was Langman’s Open 66 with which he regularly sailed with six crew in the early 2000s, a time when the larger ocean-going yachts were carrying big crew numbers for offshore races. These days, the less-is-more philosophy is well-entrenched at the pointy end of the fleet.

So what’s next for Team Australia?

"Discussions have taken place with Team Tritium from the USA and Team Vodafone Sailing from NZ to race together at both Airlie and Hamilton Island race weeks. There is also talk of lining up against Team Vodafone as an official or unofficial entry for this year’s Sydney Hobart yacht race," Langman added.

Team Australia has now set up a dedicated Facebook page and posted YouTube video clips (sample below) of the trimaran’s record run to Hobart.

Bob Oatley’s supermaxi Wild Oats XI retains the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race record of 1 day 18 hours 23 minutes and 12 seconds set last year.