Before the ink is even dry on illbruck’s 24-hour speed record–484.00 nautical miles, at an average of 20.16 knots–Australian Sean Langman, sailing his 66-foot über skiff, Grundig is making a run at it down in the Southern hemisphere. As of Tuesday evening, May 21 Grundig is heading Southeast, attempting to stay in a weather pattern that will give the 66-foot boat the ideal reaching conditions it needs to break the record. ‘This record attempt will succeed if there is enough runway” says Ian Potter, Grundig’s shore-based master navigator. Potter, working with weather guru Roger “Clouds’ Badham is trying to keep Grundig on pace by aiming at the top of a low pressure system swirling off New Zealand. So far, the boat is on pace to beat illbruck‘s record but conditions are lightening.
Langman has made attempts on the 24-hour record in the past, but due to weather and equipment difficulties has not been successful. Grundig has had trouble with the Southern Ocean in general, dropping out of two of the last three Sydney to Hobart races. “I know she’s got it in her,” Langman said in an interview with Sailing World earlier this year. _ Grundig_, originally named _ Magna Data_ is a Dovell-designed Open 60 that Langman, owner of Noakes Yacht Yard in Sydney, Australia has modified extensively. Langman is sailing with a crew of five for the attempt.
