Grundig Xena completed the 386-mile Sydney-Gold Coast Race route in 27h 50m 21s, just 15 minutes outside the existing record, set in 1999 by George Snow’s maxi Brindabella. Their average speed, just a shade under 14 knots, leaves them well shy of the 20-21 knots they need to break the 500-mile barrier in 24 hours.

A fresh southeasterly breeze flung Xena over the finish line at 18 knots but her crew of nine wound on harder and sped across the paddock off Southport’s Main Beach at over 20 knots.

Onboard, Langman had already started his post mortem on their record attempt. On the first night, they blew out their biggest spinnaker and were forced to head inshore and hoist its smaller sister. “In the end, this probably cost us the record,” admitted Langman.

“We would like to have the record as an extra but we are happy with line honours and maybe a divisional handicap win,” he added. This is Grundig Xena’s first major line honours win against her old rival Brindabella.

Brindabella finished second on elapsed time, over five hours behind Grundig Xena.