Yachting: Big Red hopes to make history

The Orma 60 is capable of sustaining speeds of more than 74km an hour. Photo / Supplied

TeamVodafoneSailing will line up in their first major competition in today's Coastal Classic with huge expectations resting on their shoulders.

The iconic 119 nautical mile yacht race from Devonport to Russell is the 2010 summer season premiere for the sleek new Orma 60 that has had everyone talking since it was officially launched in August.

So far this season, TeamVodafoneSailing has had six line honours wins - a clean sweep. But today's drag race north will be the first big test against a competitive fleet of about 200 entries.

Measuring in at 18m, the head-turning trimaran dubbed "Big Red" is believed to be the fastest yacht in the Southern Hemisphere, capable of sustaining speeds of 40 knots - more than 74 kilometres per hour.

Not surprisingly, that has led to bold predictions of a five-hour Coastal Classic.

TeamVodafoneSailing make no secret of their ambition to become the first boat to break the six-hour barrier to eclipse Split Enz's long-standing record for multihulls of 7 hours and 20 minutes and the overall race record of 6 hours and 43 minutes set last year by Alfa Romeo.

But skipper Simon Hull has been at pains to point out that to reach their goal, they need the weather to play ball.

He said it will be the luck of the draw whether the conditions make for that kind of racing.

"There is a lot of anticipation about broken records, but it all comes down to the weather. If it's 10 knots we haven't got a hope, if it's 20 knots we've got a reasonable chance. Plus, we need the wind from the right direction."

Hull cites the Tauranga race earlier in the year as an example. Despite TeamVodafoneSailing finishing 7.5 hours ahead of the Open 50 O Canada, she was still two hours outside the record.

The boat's highest recorded speed in New Zealand is 39.6 knots, but it will have to average 17.8 knots in a straight line to beat the mark set by Alfa Romeo in 2009.

But all indications are there is an excellent chance the giant red trimaran will set sailing history today.

Data received late yesterday from Predictwind.com has the boat arriving in Russell just after 3pm - making for a race of around five hours, and significantly quicker than the record set last year by Neville Crichton's super maxi, Alfa Romeo.

The fleet of 200 will start in moderate south-westerly conditions, which will build and go slightly south as the day progresses.

TeamVodafoneSailing won't experience breeze lighter than 11-13 knots as it rounds Cape Brett and begins the last stretch into Russell, making for a comfortable home run.

"If TeamVodafoneSailing does set a new record, it's going to be a tough one for any other boat currently racing in New Zealand or Australia to beat," said race spokesman Jon Vincent.

But Split Enz are not willing to give up their 14-year multihull record without a fight, and for the second year in a row will make the journey from Noumea to New Zealand to defend its honour.

The supermaxi Alfa Romeo broke a 13-year record drought when it set a new overall record last year, but Split Enz remains the fastest multihull to finish the race.

The vintage pink boat, dubbed the Pink Pig, was dogged by a rudder problem in 2009 that prevented its crew from a pushing it beyond cruising pace, but since then it has had a couple of minor adjustments and is back in top shape.

Apart from tweaking the sails and strengthening work, Split Enz remains in nearly identical configuration as its 1996 record blitz.

Owner Georges Auteret was able to secure sponsorship to bring the boat to New Zealand and he is determined to prove Split Enz still has the ability to perform well. He said he enjoys the opportunity to race the boat against other top multihulls.

Split Enz is not the only competition for TeamVodafone - Roger Paganis new 15m catamaran Triple 8 is out to make a splash, as are reworked multihulls Frantic Drift (owned by Olympian Dan Slater), Dragon and Timberwolf, all sporting new America's Cup-style technologies, and twice line honours winner, Taeping.

SHIP SHAPE

TeamVodafoneSailing ORMA 60

* Measurements: 18m (60 foot) in length, 18m (60 foot) wide, mast height of 30m (100 feet).

* Sail area up wind: 285m, consisting of a 180m main sail and a 100m solent jib.

* Sail area down wind: 445m consisting of a 180m main sail and a 265m gennaker.

The boat has sail and rig loads similar to an America's Cup class yacht but weighs just 6.2 tonnes.