New record for Frostad

Former djuice dragons skipper gets the measure of his new trimaran

Norwegian round the world skipper Knut Frostad, sailing his new trimaran Academy, has broken the record between the Faerder Lighthouse in Norway and the city of Skagen in Denmark. Academy was originally Loick Peyron's all-conquering Fujicolor, winner of the 1992 and 1996 Transats and most recently sailed in France as Steve Ravussin's Banque Covefi.

"It was an awesome ride," said Frostad. "One of the most exciting I have ever done actually."

Just two weeks after Academy reached her new homeport of Oslo Frostad put her too the test. Before dawn broke Wednesday he and his crew of seven lined up on the starting line just east of the Faerder Lighthouse in the Oslofjord. The Norwegian forecast didn’t speak of any record weather, but Frostad put his faith on the forecast from the Met Office and crossed the starting line in 21 knots on an easterly 19 knots breeze. The course was due south.

"The wind picked up after a while and at times our B&Gs showed 27 knots over ground. We pushed here hard all the way and the boat works like clockwork," says Frostad.

Just 3 hours 35 minutes and 50 seconds later the tri reached the finish line some 80 nautical miles down the road. Academy averaged 21,7 knots on the record ride, thereby pulverizing his old record time of 5 hours 45 minutes which he set last year on his 25ft catamaran Dragonhead giving him an even better grip on the trophy set up by SEILmagasinet and Sirius Yacht Services for this course.

The next step for Team Academy is to participate in Nokia Oops Cup which starts on 27 May in Helsinki, Finland.