New speed record around Gotland for CQS in the ÅF Offshore Race
by Mats Olsson 4 Jul 2017 06:53 BST
2-3 July 2017
The 100-foot maxi CQS sets a new ÅF Offshore Race record © Camilla Bolinder
Ludde Ingvall with crew on the 100-footer CQS made a new speed record in ÅR Offshore Race - round Gotland, when entering the port at Sandhamn Monday evening. Twenty years since he last broke the record he did it again.
CQS crossed the finish line as the first boat, but it will take another 24 hours or so before the winner of ÅF Offshore Race – around Gotland 2017, at recalculated time, can be named.
Luddes deadline to beat the record was at 21:19:23, but he crossed the finish line already at 20:51:35. He got the line honour in superior style, and also the speed record for monohulls. The record for multihull is held by the Swedish trimaran HiQ.
The recipe to be fastest ever from Stockholm, round Gotland and back to Sandhamn? Build a fantastic, hundred feet long super-maxi with all the latest race technology in Australia, build a team of dedicated sailors who thinks that every meter and inch counts, bring the boat cross the world. Sail at the very top of your, your teams and the boats ability.
"I am super happy. The wind died, and we were stuck out at Alma for an hour and thought that we shouldn't make it. But we were lucky and we could cross the finish line with twenty minutes to go," a pleased Ludde Ingvall says shortly after finished the race.
CQS is equipped with foils to help her come up in the water to lessen the friction. She also has a canting keel. Since she is six metres deep under the water line, the navigation through the archipelago was exciting for Ludde and the crew:
"It was an amazing experience to sail "through the Swedish forest". Tight, and close to both the other boats and land. I am very grateful for having such a fantastic crew that master all aspects of sailing."
Apart from the newly set speed record in ÅF Offshore Race – around Gotland, Ludde has a fantastic list of merits with two wins in the Sydney-Hobart race, and one in the British Fastnet Race. He also had the speed records across the Atlantic for monohulls. He also was the skipper at the Finnish boat UBF in Whitbread round the World Race 1989/90.
How far the time will take him in the overall competition remains to be seen.
For more information visit www.ksss.se
Ludde's new record (from John Roberson)
Ludde Ingvall and his all star team on the super maxi CQS have written a new page in the record books, setting a new fastest average speed for the AF Offshore Race, around Gotland Island.
CQS finished the race at 20:51:35 (local time) to beat the record previously held by Ludde in Nicorette. In order to create a new record Ludde and his team had to cross the finishing line by 21:19:25, and they did it with 27 minutes, 48 seconds to spare.
It had been touch and go all around the 350 nautical mile race track, with conditions and wind strength constantly changing, with the record looking easily achievable at times, and way beyond reach at others.
The team on CQS worked relentlessly to get the maximum out of the boat, reporting during the race, "the spinnaker staysail has just gone up, the CQS crew have now flown all bar the trisail during this race and some several times, 9 in total."
Ludde and his crew finished 3 hours, 31 minutes, 25 seconds ahead of second placed Hyundai, another 100 foot super maxi, to achieve the line honours/record double.
As they approached the finishing line, Ludde handed the helm to his long time friend Ola Anstradsson "recognition of his logistical expertise, his pit work and watch captain brilliance and his cooking heroics."
Once ashore the skipper commented, "I am super happy. The wind died, and we were stuck out at Alma for an hour and thought that we shouldn't make it. But we were lucky and we could cross the finish line with twenty minutes to go,"
The race started in Stockholm on Sunday, with the course taking the fleet of more than 250 boats, down the eastern side of Gotland, back up the western side, and finishing in Sandhamn.