A New Chapter in Australia’s Offshore Racing Story

Off the water, Langman is the managing director of Noakes Group, one of Australia’s most respected marine services companies. From boatyard operations to specialist refits, Noakes has long been a backbone of the racing fleet, quietly keeping many of the country’s leading yachts in peak condition.

Now, Langman is preparing for another chapter: the Rolex Sydney Hobart debut of his 42-footer Back 2 Black.

Back 2 Black: A Yacht with Global Experience

Although Back 2 Black will be racing in Australian waters for the first time, the boat is no stranger to tough competition. She has already campaigned in Europe, taking on both the Admiral’s Cup – often regarded as the unofficial world championship of offshore sailing – and the Rolex Fastnet Race, one of the sport’s most demanding classics.

Currently en route to Australia aboard a container ship, the 42-footer represents the kind of mid-sized yacht that often proves pivotal in the Sydney Hobart fleet. Not fast enough to be first to Hobart, yet often ideally placed for handicap honours, boats in this size bracket have historically upset the odds and walked away with the Tattersall Cup.

Corinthian Spirit

Langman’s team on Back 2 Black will be made up of a Corinthian crew – amateur sailors who have campaigned with him across multiple events. In an era when professional squads dominate the big offshore races, Langman’s approach is refreshing: he continues to blend raw sailing talent with enthusiasm, camaraderie, and seamanship rather than chasing a roster stacked with paid professionals.

It’s a philosophy that harks back to the roots of the Sydney Hobart – a race born in 1945 out of the adventurous spirit of sailors willing to pit themselves and their boats against the ocean.

Why This Campaign Matters

Back 2 Black carries significance beyond being another entry on the start list:

Milestone Entry: She is the 100th yacht entered in this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, a symbolic milestone in the countdown to Boxing Day.

First Sydney Hobart: Despite her pedigree, this will be Back 2 Black’s first race south to Hobart, adding an extra edge of anticipation.

Global Credibility: Having cut her teeth at the Admiral’s Cup and Rolex Fastnet, she arrives in Australia with a proven track record on the international stage.

Countdown Marker: Her entry coincides with the 100-day countdown to the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart – a reminder that the great race is once again drawing near.

Sean Langman: Relentless Competitor

Langman’s history with the Hobart is well documented. He has campaigned everything from the radical open-class skiff Malcolm Tennant designs to maxis like Investec Loyal, and restorations such as the 1932 gaff-rigged Maluka. Time and again, he has shown an ability to reinvent, rebuild, and innovate – often on smaller budgets, but always with an eye for extracting performance.

That same spirit is alive in the Back 2 Black campaign. “Sean is the kind of sailor who doesn’t just race yachts – he makes them better,” said one rival skipper. “He’ll find a way to make a boat go quicker, to make a crew sharper, to give himself a chance, no matter what.”

Looking Ahead

With the 100-day countdown ticking down to the 2025 Rolex Sydney Hobart, Back 2 Black’s arrival in Sydney Harbour will be closely watched. Langman and his Corinthian crew know they are not the biggest boat in the race – but they also know that the Sydney Hobart is rarely won on size alone.

Instead, it is won on preparation, endurance, teamwork, and the ability to survive – and thrive – in whatever the Tasman and Bass Strait decide to throw at the fleet.

For Sean Langman, Back 2 Black represents both a return to his roots – competitive offshore sailing with a close-knit amateur crew – and a forward-looking challenge: to take a boat forged in European competition and test her against one of the world’s great ocean races.

Whatever the result, Langman has already ensured that Back 2 Black’s debut will be one of the stories to watch in this year’s Sydney Hobart.