No change at Extreme Sailing Series Muscat

Muscat, Oman (March 15, 2018) – Series veterans and victors were given a run for their money today during the second day of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1, Muscat.

The young pros on board Land Rover BAR Academy, as well as the newly formed crews NZ Extreme Sailing Team and Red Bull Sailing Team, chased their experienced counterparts around the racecourse with tenacity.

An array of strong results from some of the new kids on the block peppered the leaderboard by the end of racing. Land Rover BAR Academy took their first race win of the season, finishing third in the two races that followed. Skipper Will Alloway was pleased with his team’s results.

“The guys did a great job of powering the boat up and getting us moving, and our results improved throughout the day. We’re pretty happy overall but we won’t stop building on this. We want to go into the final day in a strong position.”

The Kiwi challenger NZ Extreme Sailing Team also proved tough competition on the glistening Omani waters. Starting and finishing on a high, the team took second place in the first and last races of the day, demonstrating their skill, determination and potential. Australian Skipper Jason Waterhouse was particularly happy with their flying start.

“That result for us was great. We’re coming fresh out the oven here – we haven’t sailed together before and I haven’t sailed on this circuit for three years. The boys are doing brilliantly.”

Austrian contingent Red Bull Sailing Team charged off the start line today, hungry for a race win in the competition’s early stages. They weren’t disappointed – the newly formed crew, led by double Olympic gold medallists Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, flew through the fleet in the first race of the day, crossing the line in pole position.

“When the breeze is up we’re feeling quite dangerous in the fleet, we’re moving quickly,” said helm Chris Draper with an air of confidence. “That was 100% better today and a huge step up for the guys. The input from Roman and Hans Peter is fantastic. We’re in a great place.”

Skipper Roman Hagara agreed. “We have some really good sailors and that’s what they’re showing here. They’ve won a race already after the second day on the boat – it just shows the team is really good and that they have the potential to win the overall Series.”

For Act leaders Alinghi, it wasn’t all plain sailing. An OCS [over the starting line early] in today’s first race put them on the back foot from the beginning. Playing catch up, the experienced team leaned on their significant knowledge of the Series to climb the rankings – constantly looking over their shoulders for their chasing competitors.

“The team did a really good job today, but we didn’t start the day that well,” co-skipper and helm Arnaud Psarofaghis explained. “That put us in a bad situation but the team clawed back some critical points. I think it’s going to be a tough event and an even tougher year – the new guys are especially strong and you have to fight for each point.”

Racing on the foiling GC32 catamarans continues through March 17.

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Series details – Event information – Scoreboard – Facebook

Standings after Day 2, 10 races
1st Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 108 points.
2nd Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson, Nasser Al Mashari 100 points.
3rd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Køstner, Adam Minoprio, Julius Hallström, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason 95 points.
4th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Will Alloway, Leigh McMillan, Oli Greber, Adam Kay, Mark Spearman 89 points.
5th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Chris Draper, Ed Powys, Neil Hunter, Dan Morris, Rhys Mara 87 points.
6th NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Jason Waterhouse, Will Tiller, Harry Hull, Luke Payne, Guy Endean 85 points.
7th Team México (MEX) Erik Brockmann, Tom Buggy, Alex Higby, Tom Phipps, Danel Belausteguigoitia Fierro 66 points.

2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ calendar
March 14-17 – Act 1, Muscat, Oman
May 24-27 – GC32 World Championship, Lake Garda, Italy
June 14-17 – Act 2, Barcelona, Spain
July 5-8 – Act 3, Portugal
August 9-12 – Act 4, St Petersburg, Russia
August 24-27 – Act 5, Cardiff, UK
October 18-21 – Act 6, San Diego, USA
November 29-December 2 – Act 7, Los Cabos, Mexico

Background: The Extreme Sailing Series is in its twelfth season, with this year’s eight event tour travelling through Middle East, Europe and the Americas. The platform used is the one design foiling GC32 catamaran, with the format highlighting ‘stadium’ short-course racing in front of the public.

Source: ESS