Fastest Monohull Around Australia Record Attempt

6500nm around Australia

Having smashed the world record for the fastest solo circumnavigation of Australia in May/June 2010, Ian Thomson now wants to break the record for the fastest Monohull Sailing Yacht by circumnavigating fully crewed in under 30 days. The current record is held by David Pescud's "Kaz" 37d:1h:23m:7s.

The vessel chosen for this attempt is the almighty Brindabella. An icon of Australian sailing, owner Jim Cooney is joining us for the journey to cap an amazing history that any other vessel will always be envious of. She is fast and strong and at 79ft it will be a handful, however a full crew of 18 will tackle this attempt.

Just like last year, Ian will use the Brisbane - Gladstone as a trail run. He will then sail the vessel back to Sydney where he will depart in May to try and break the record but also go under 30 days. The record will be ratified by the World Sailing Speed Record Council.

Unlike his solo attempt, this attempt will be fully crewed and you have a chance to be on board what could possibly be a world record holder. Like all of the races and records SOS Ocean Racing attempts, there are positions available to those who can bring sponsorship to the program. The sponsorship gives you a position on the vessel for the world record attempt and Brisbane to Gladstone 2011. You will be your own sponsors individual representative and your crew shirts will carry your logo. Your sponsorship money goes to Save Our Seas Australia who are raising awareness of the damage plastic bags do to our environment, promoting alternatives and taking action to clean up our oceans and educate our next generation.

All you need to do to join this program is contact us with your sailing resume. As Brindabella is a powerful machine and this is a test of extreme levels, we need to ensure we have the right crew for the job.

We need to know who your sponsors are and how much you are bringing to the program. We require a minimum of $15,000 in Sponsorship to join this program. You can raise the funds any way you like. You can find businesses, raise funds at your Yacht Club, business or school. Contact us for what we can do for your sponsor. Our sponsorship company will also assist those that are having issues finding sponsors and may be able to link you with the right people so please make your application and worry about the sponsorship later.

(Download application form here)

Crew

For this program we are accepting applications however we expect more applications than positions. The people listed below are the core of our group, the rest of the positions are open to applicants.

Sailing Master	Ian Thomson	World Record Holder Fastest Solo around Aust
Watch Captain	Jim Cooney	Owner of Brindabella
Media person	Mark Christiansen	Master 5 and specialist sailing videographer.

 

The fine print

You need to be a minimum or 16y.o, have a sailing background with ample offshore racing. You need to be physcially fit and have no reliance on medications you can't carry with you. You need to be aware that whilst the Brisbane to Gladstone and delivery components are minor, the committment to at least 2-3 months is required in April to July 2011 to complete this program. The around Australia record attempt is extremely tough on you, mentally and physcially, however the rewards are incredible as Ian will testify to. He lost 14kg in 42 days on his solo journey, there were highlights and low lights and you can expect the same. However Ian came back a changed person and has used his profile to educate the young children in primary schools and talk to yacht clubs throughout Australia. Who knows where this can take you but you will remember this for life.

Important Dates

You will be required in Sydney from the 10th April, 2011. We will teach you everything you need to know about the yacht and train you in your positions. You will be required until the end of the circumnvigation. We will sail the boat to Brisbane, compete in the Brisbane to Gladstone and straight after the Brisbane to Gladstone we will sail to Sydney as another trial run. We will then stay in Sydney until the departure in May, weather dependant. Whilst we are hoping to finish within 30 days it may take longer and you need to allow for this and the partying at the end of the event.

Inclusions:

Included in your entry are the following:

* Crew Shirts with your sponsor/s on the back

* Crew Uniform including shorts, vest, shirts & wet weather gear.

* WSSRC Record Ratification Fees (Should we succeed you will get a plaque for your involvement)

* Vessel insurance for the circumnavigation

* All vessel costs

* All safety gear (Excluding personal EPIRBS)

* Sea survival course

You need to cover

* Travel insurance

* Your own travel to and from Sydney

* Your own accommodation in Sydney, Brisbane & Gladstone.

Please only apply if you think you can be an asset to our program, we do not want any liabilites as we will be pushing very hard to break this record. (Download application form here)

How to apply and how positions will be alotted

First of all you need to download the application form and send it back fully completed. The more information you can provide the better. If you don't have a sponsor don't worry. We have a professional sponsorship firm working for us who will be seeking sponsors and they may be able to find you a sponsor.

All applications need to be in by December 10th. We will then ring and talk to all applicants from which a short list will then be selected and announced on December 24th 2010 at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia.

Personalities on this trip are key so we will be running a few weekends for all crew to see who gets along with who etc. More details on this at a later stage. We will finalise positions in late January and sponsorship arrangements need to be in no later than February 1st 2011.

We are chasing an experienced crew however do not let the situation overwelm you. Put your application in and leave us to decide. There will be a couple of positions that will go to youth. We will assist you in finding sponsors where we can. If you don't have a sponsor, put TBA on your form. We can then work on it with you.

Good luck and hope to hear from you soon.

Around Australia Record Course - On 22nd May 2001 the World Sailing Speed Record Council (http://www.sailspeedrecords.com) has set a new rule 10M.

"A skipper may nominate any starting/finishing point on the Australian mainland that is acceptable to the WSSRC. The vessel may sail either way around the continent as defined. Course: The course must enclose the whole of Australia and the following islands or capes: Ince Point on Wednesday Island of the Thursday Island Group (Queensland), Melville Island (Northern Territory), Montebello Islands (Western Territory) and South East Cape (Tasmania)."

The Current Records held are:

Outright Record - Geronimo - 17 Days, 12 hours, 57 minutes 5 Seconds. (110ft Tri)

Full Crewed Multihull - Geronimo - 17 Days, 12 Hours, 57 Minutes 5 Seconds. (110ft Tri)

Solo Multihull - No Record has been attempted

Full Crewed Monohull - KAZ - 37 Days, 1 hour, 23 Minutes, 7 Seconds (53ft Mono)

Solo Monohull - SOS Ocean Racing - 42 Days, 5 Hours, 30 Minutes, 2 Seconds (40ft Mono)