Flying Phantoms partner with Extreme Sailing Series

(December 5, 2016) – In 2017, the 11th edition of the Extreme Sailing Series will include the Flying Phantom at some of its global events, joining the featured GC32 that was introduced to the Extreme Sailing Series in 2016.

With a fleet of 12 to 15 Flying Phantoms zipping around in some rather tight spaces, the racing promises to live up to the high-octane action that the Extreme Sailing Series has consistently delivered over the past decade. The Flying Phantom was used in the Red Bull Foiling Generation World Final that concluded in Newport, RI.

“I am really thrilled to welcome the Flying Phantoms Series and cannot wait to see them tearing it up at our Acts,” commented Extreme Sailing Series Event Director, Andy Tourell. “Our aim is to help create opportunities and a development pathway for young sailors by providing them with a platform for competitive world class racing, while also enabling them to leverage our global media product to raise their profile.”

Tourell continued: “We already have a strong programme for providing opportunities for young sailors, and often welcome local optimist racing in our venues as part of our Acts. The addition of the Flying Phantom Series will ensure a real festival of sailing for spectators and VIP guests to enjoy throughout the day.”

The Flying Phantom is like a scaled-down version of the GC32 catamaran raced by the world-class teams in the Extreme Sailing Series. It is sailed by a crew of just two and benefits from a similar hydro-foil set-up, which means that as the boat gets up to speed it lifts off the surface of the water and accelerates rapidly.

Thomas Normand, Flying Phantom Class President, welcomes the partnership: “We have the powerful boat and the exciting racing and now, collaborating with the Extreme Sailing Series, the leading event of its kind, we have the platform to showcase our amazing class to the sailing world and develop a new generation of foiling racers.”

With the Extreme Sailing Series bringing sailing to within metres of the shore and drawing spectators in their thousands to watch the Stadium Racing, it presents an opportunity for the fresh-faced Flying Phantom sailors to shine on the global stage.

Normand elaborated: “The international media network that the Series attracts could soon be communicating about the next generation of foiling masters as they take their first steps on this brand new development pathway. In the not too distant future we could well see young athletes who found their feet in the Flying Phantom class ‘graduate’ to the Extreme Sailing Series, competing in some of the top teams on the planet.”

Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, a regular skipper on the Flying Phantom Series was equally as enthusiastic about the partnership, commenting: “The Extreme Sailing Series provides a platform to bring the sport of sailing to the public. Having taken part in the Series myself in 2009, I know how incredible it feels to sail in front of an audience, something not many sailors get to experience. The Flying Phantoms are an excellent gateway for young sailors to get into the world of foiling boats.”

Flying Phantom Series calendar will include a warm-up special event in La Baule, France (May 18-21) before joining the Extreme Sailing Series in Portugal, Europe (TBD), Germany, and United Kingdom.

11th Season – 2017 Extreme Sailing Series™ calendar
March 8-11 – Muscat, Oman
April 28-May 1 – Qingdao, China
June 29-July 2 – Madeira Islands, Portugal
July 20-23 – Europe
August 10-13 – Hamburg, Germany
August 25-28 – Cardiff, UK
October 19-22 – San Diego, USA
Nov 30-Dec 3 – Los Cabos, Mexico

Entries for the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series are now open and the provisional Notice of Race is available. For more information:
entries@extremesailingseries.com – http://www.extremesailingseries.com

Background: 2016 is the tenth season of the Extreme Sailing Series, with this year’s eight event tour travelling through Asia, Europe, and Australia. 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