Grundig Xena has a bad, bad day

Things started badly and then got worse!

For Sydney yachtsman Sean Langman, owner/skipper of the Open 60, Grundig Xena, today started badly as he lined up the red-hulled flyer for the start of the Coral Sea Race at the Hahn Premium Race Week, in the Whitsunday Island Group off the Far North Coast of Queensland, Australia’s northern State.
Firstly, Xena fouled the anchor line of the pin end mark, then began towing it up the course. Finally, Langman hove to and send a crewman over the side to cut away the line from around one the yacht’s twin rudders. After picking up the sailor and getting underway again, Xena completed her penalty for touching the mark and set off in pursuit of her big boat rivals, now almost a mile ahead.

But the bad hair day was not over for Xena which two weeks ago took line honours in the race from Sydney to Southport on the Queensland Gold Coast. The skipper of a little 35-footer, Restless, sailing on starboard tack, found Langman’s red monster hurtling towards him on collision course and at twice his speed. A crash tack by Restless was the only choice, the red flag was hoisted and Langman had to take a costly 720 degree penalty. All with the first five miles of the 80 mile course!

The day of dramas was still not over for Grundig Xena.

Eighty miles on and just one mile from the finish line, Xena had taken the lead in the race when, approaching Plum Pudding Island, with a shuddering bang she hit a reef, doing 10 knots.

Tonight the yacht was still hard and fast on the reef, but the tide is rising.