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Nokia sets Gotland Runt record

The majority of the vessels was monohulls

SANDHAMN, Sweden -- The 60-foot trimaran Nokia has knocked more than three hours off the Accenture Gotland Runt course record.

The Gotland Runt is one of the largest ocean sailing races in the world, which has attracted entries from countries all around the Baltic Sea in its 50-year history.

The boats start from Sandhamn located in Stockholm's archipelago, sail south around Gotland, Sweden's largest island, go north again, and finish at Sandhamn to complete the 350 nautical-mile course.

Nokia's skipper Stefan Myralf also set the best elapsed time for the 630-mile Sydney-Hobart Race in a Volvo 60, also named Nokia, three years ago.

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Myralf was elated at the performance of the boat and crew, although he was disappointed in not having completed the course in less than a day. He crossed the finish line in 24 hours 50 minutes and 32 seconds.

The majority of the 357 vessels in the fleet were monohulls, which finished well behind the multihulls.

Two out of the nine Volvo 60 ocean racers entered in the race were fresh from the latest Volvo Ocean Race. Neal McDonald was sailing Assa Abloy with his wife Lisa, who skippered the all-female entry Amer Sports Too, and Gurra Krantz was sailing Team SEB.

Assa Abloy was the first Volvo 60 to cross the finish line, eight hours after Nokia, but was beaten to overall monohull honours by 48 minutes by Bertil Sodberg's 100 foot Ron Holland designed super maxi Next!.