Woxen leads Seacart series

A report from the 30ft trimaran racing in Sandhamn prior to this weekend's Round Gotland Race

The SeaCart 30 trimarans are at present competing in their SeaCart Race Week 08, in Sandhamn, the Baltic sailing centre in the archipelago east of Stockholm. After the initial seven races on the course and a coastal race of 50 nm amongst the outer skerries, Morticia helmed by Magnus Woxén from Sweden holds a comfortable lead over team UBS, helmed by Australian multihull sailor Tim Shuwalow and his Swedish crew.

The races have been held in fantastic conditions in winds from 8 to just over 20 knots, enough to create some truly spectacular sailing as the teams are pushing their SeaCarts to the edge, sailing downwind.

The 45nm coastal race on Thursday started and finished inside Sandhamn, just outside the front porch of the main building of the Royal Swedish Yacht Club in front of an enthusiastic audience. Starting a minute apart the SeaCarts were like pearls sailing on a thread into the sun doing 12-15 knots, before they disappeared to the south.

Not before too long the SeaCarts were all driving at full tilt off Sandhamn heading north on a reach, as the wind had reached 20 knots. Five different boats held the lead at various points during the race. After a little more than three hours team True Look flew with their gennaker across the finishing line, with Morticia on their stern, both doing close to 20 knots in front of the crowd in Sandhamn. They came close to 14 knots average speed on VMG for the whole race.

The concluding race will be the 446 nm Round Gotland Race, starting this Sunday at 13.15. Almost 300 yachts are participating. The question is - can the crew aboard Morticia finish no worse than third - or at least ahead of team UBS and team Audi - to secure the victory in the SeaCart Race Week 08.

Standings before the concluding Round Gotland Race.

1. Morticia, Sweden, Arnborger/Woxén
2. UBS, Sweden, Shuwalow/Gnospelius
3. Audi, Sweden, Hennix/ Bäck
4. True Look, Sweden, Gabrielsson/Myhrström
5. Ierax, Greece, Andreadis
6. Flying Camilla, Norway, Lagerberg
7. Team Knot – Sweden, only sailed two races