Extreme Sailing Coming to Cascais

(May 14, 2018) – OC Sport, global pioneers in event creation and management, have announced that the fourth Act of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ will be held in Cascais, Portugal, from July 5-8.

A two-year deal will bring the ultimate Stadium Racing championship to the Clube Naval de Cascais in 2018 and 2019, with the Portuguese yacht club hosting the Series for the very first time this year.

Welcoming the Series as part of its 80th anniversary celebrations, Clube Naval de Cascais will see both the GC32 and Flying Phantom fleets take to the water for four days of foiling action just off the Portuguese coastline.

Portugal is one of Europe’s leading sailing destinations and in recent years, it has been a mainstay of the Extreme Sailing Series, with Acts being held in Porto in 2012 and 2013, Lisbon in 2016 and most recently in the Madeira Islands in 2016 and 2017.

The country continues to build on this sailing legacy with the introduction of Cascais to its impressive portfolio of Host Venues.

Miguel Pinto Luz, Vice-President of Cascais Council, commented on the news that Cascais would be hosting the fourth Act of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series.

“This is yet another excellent announcement for Cascais,” he enthused. “Cascais and sailing go hand in hand – it is part of our DNA and our history. Welcoming the Extreme Sailing Series is very important for our city as we strive to be at the forefront of world class events such as this.”

Gonçalo Esteves, President of Clube Naval de Cascais, agreed: “We welcome the Extreme Sailing Series with enthusiasm in this very special year when Clube Naval de Cascais celebrates its 80th anniversary,” he said. “Cascais is renowned for being one of the best racecourses in the world and it’s already the chosen location for some of the most prestigious sailing events; it will certainly be the perfect scenario for this exciting competition, the Extreme Sailing Series.”

19 miles from Lisbon, Cascais is situated on the western tip of Portugal, and can be expected to present the teams with a range of typical Atlantic Ocean weather conditions for them to navigate. Extreme Sailing Series Race Director, John Craig, is pleased to be heading to a venue that offers such a varied forecast.

“We wanted a venue that can really deliver incredible sailing for our teams,” he explained. “Due to its location, Cascais offers an array of conditions, from flat water near the shore, with the wind increasing as you go offshore – we’ll be making the most of that with our courses and race formats. This variation is part of the beauty of the venue, and in turn, our Series. Combine this with the stunning backdrop of the Portuguese coastline and you have one spectacular event.”

Spectators can watch the racing from the shores of Cascais, or sign up to become a Guest Sailor on board the hydro-foiling speed machine that is the GC32. Other VIP packages will be available, with the Extreme Sailing Series continuing to deliver its award-winning hospitality offering throughout 2018.

The Portuguese Act follows the GC32 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy, from May 24-27 and Act 3, Barcelona, Spain, from June 14-17. With fantastic foiling conditions expected, Act 4, Cascais is set to deliver sensational sailing and an edge-of-your-seat experience for fans.

Series details

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