2008-07-01 07:49:
HiQ II claims a new course record around Gotland
The fast Formula 60 Trimaran HiQII skippered by Andreas Andersen crossed the finishing line outside Sandhamn at 04.40.43 on Tuesday morning in the LYS Multi class of Eurocard Gotland Runt, one of the world’s largest offshore races. HiQ used 39 hours, 25 minutes and 43 seconds to sail the 567 M long course Alfa, which averaged in a speed of 14.38 knots. This year the course made two loops around the island of Gotland instead of one. The old record of 13.66 knots was set in 2004 by the Norwegian skipper Knut Frostad and the trimaran Academy.
-Beating the record was great, said Andreas Andersen when he was helped out of the water after the traditional skipper’s bath. But to be honest I didn’t start thinking about the record until we sighted Sandhamn. We were all extremely focused on beating all competition in the Eurocard Around Gotland Race and were concentrating more on the other fast yachts than on the speed record. We did not learn that Morning Glory had left the race until doubling Almagrundet.