Team Australia unleashed on Sydney to Hobart passage record

Sean Langman's ORMA60 Team Australia start their Sydney to Hobart passage record attempt © Andrea Francolini

The leash was firmly on Team Australia when it began its Sydney to Hobart record attempt this morning from between Sydney Heads, but once the giant trimaran made it through the worst of the nasty chop between Sydney Heads and hit open water, the speed machine was given its head.

With an 18-20 knot sou’easter blowing, the Orma 60 trimaran began its passage record attempt conservatively, skipper Sean Langman slowly easing the boat through the huge swell and whitewater at Sydney Heads.

With very little sail up Langman found he was short of power to drive through the swell so the reefs were soon shaken out of the mainsail and the boat freed.

At the 1.30pm satellite report the boat was off Wollongong doing 12 knots, earlier they were running south at 23 knots.

To track Team Australia go to my.yb.tl/teamaustralia/