Late last week, Pacific PowerBoat Magazine presented the Voodoo Yachts team with a Trophy and a quality drop of Louis Roederer champagne to match, in recognition of their Trans-Tasman Speed Record – averaging 32.5 knots over 1,170 nautical miles. The team was honoured to receive the award for completing the fastest-ever crossing of the Tasman Sea!
The recently launched Voodoo XF75 ‘Mach 4’ in May, crossed the Tasman Sea at a record pace. The total trip time was 39 hours and 33 minutes, including a stop of three and a half hours to explore Balls Pyramid. Excluding this stop, the total travel time was a blistering 36 hours and 4 minutes, averaging 32.5 knots. The team at Pacific PowerBoat Magazine felt this outstanding achievement was well worthy of recognition, hence awarding the Voodoo Yacht team the Trophy to acknowledge their effort, and to lay down a challenge for others to beat, establishing the PowerBoat Magazine Trans-Tasman Speed Record: Bay of Islands, New Zealand to Gold Coast, Australia.
The Mach4 crew onboard were: Dave Pachoud, Mitch Pachoud, Ben Tingey, Mark McKay, Darren McCagh, and Nathan Joy. The Voodoo XF75, as reviewed in the July/August issue of Pacific PowerBoat, was built in Tauranga, New Zealand, reviewed on the Sunday prior and delivered to its new Australian owners in time for the Sanctuary Cove Boat show on the Gold Coast the same week. The XF75 is designed with advanced hydrodynamics, featuring a unique hull and hydrofoil design, which results in significant fuel efficiency and a range of up to 1,200 nautical miles at 350 knots, with the capability to exceed 50.9 knots.
We also acknowledge the existing Sydney Harbour Bridge to Auckland Harbour Bridgespeed record (1,275 nautical miles), currently held by the late Ginger Gibbs and his Swashbucklers Flying Pirate crew. In 2006, they broke the Sydney to Auckland trans-Tasman speed record in a 12.5-meter Rayglass RIB, completing the crossing in 40 hours, 31 minutes, and 26 seconds — shaving seven hours off the previous record held by the liner Oriana. At 22.8 meters, the head-turning Mach 4 has undoubtedly set the bar high. It will be interesting to see when the next attempt will be made to beat this blistering pace across the Tasman.
For the full review, visit https://powerboatmagazine.co.nz/voodoo-xf75/
