Extreme Sailing Series™ 2014 Act 1, Singapore - Overall
by Extreme Sailing Series 23 Feb 2014 15:38 GMT
20-23 February 2014
Resounding victory for Alinghi after an action-packed week on the Singapore Stadium
The opening Act of the Extreme Sailing Series™ more than lived up to all the pre-season hype and expectation, where the new teams got stuck in on the Singapore stadium racecourse – but couldn't quite topple the old order – with three returning teams from 2013 taking honours. An estimated 30,000 spectators watched over four days, as Ernesto Bertarelli's Swiss team Alinghi sailed a near perfect regatta, with Morgan Larson, Stuart Pollard, Pierre Yves Jorand, Nils Frei and Yves Detrey, finishing more than 50% of the 29 races in the top three. The team had the Act wrapped up before the final double-points race – a feat rarely seen on the circuit. "We couldn't have dreamed for a better start," commented an ecstatic Larson after racing. "It was challenging here and with the level of competition a couple of notches higher this season, I think we just carried on from last year and we're the only team that hasn't changed any of our crew. We will try and build on from last year and enjoy this victory!"
The outcome of who would be stood to the left and right of the Swiss team on the podium was not so clear-cut, with Emirates Team New Zealand, The Wave, Muscat and Realstone all vying for glory. The Kiwi's came flying off the start line in the final race, but it all went wrong for Dean Barker and his team shortly after that, and a penalty in the first beat for a port-starboard incident against The Wave, Muscat, lost them not only second place to the Omani boat, but third place to the Swiss. Barker commented: "It's the first time we have raced together in five months, and our first time back on the circuit since 2011, and for sure we wanted to get a podium here, but couldn't get away with it. We're still rusty and have to focus our thoughts, but we'll get there. We definitely had a great time here in Singapore."
The reigning champions on The Wave, Muscat have a new line-up this year, including double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton – one of five women competing in Singapore. Skipper Leigh McMillan, who has been a dominate force in the Extreme 40 class for the last two years, looked ahead to what is shaping up to be a fantastic year of competition. "I think it's great that we are proving the quality of the fleet for the last two years and how competitive it has been. But by no means do we think it will remain that way and we are going to have a lot on our hands in the upcoming events. We are just delighted to finish in second place and kick off the season with a great result."
The Swiss team Realstone led the regatta after day one, and even missing a days racing after a collision earlier in the week couldn't stop Jerome Clerc and his men, with a third place in the final race enough to clinch third place overall. "This is our best result since our debut in the Extreme 40 Racing. It wasn't easy at all and we have been through every emotion this week but we have finished really strongly. It proves that we are working in the right direction, although there are obvious improvements we can make – well done to Alinghi who just dominated over the event."
While the regatta in Singapore may have gone to the old-guard, the new teams pushed them the whole way, with eight of the 12 boat fleet sailing to race victories over the course of the last four days. While some of the new faces struggled for consistency, they all showed moments of winning brilliance, and the battle mid-leaderboard was fierce, with Groupama sailing team and their multihull expert skipper Franck Cammas, who last competed in the Series in 2010, clinching fifth place from the experienced hands on Red Bull Sailing, by just four points. Ben Ainslie's team, J.P. Morgan BAR, which includes some of the UK's top sailing talent, finished the regatta on a high, winning the final double-pointer to bring the Act home in seventh place. Eighth and ninth went to two previous Series winning helms, who finish the Act tied on points – Gazprom Team Russia, with two-times Series winner Paul Campbell-James on the tiller and Russian Igor Lisovenko as skipper, and winner of the inaugural Series, Rob Greenhalgh, with his team Oman Air. The Danish SAP Extreme Sailing Team brought home the event in tenth place.
The local boat Team Aberdeen Singapore, supported by Host Venue Partner Aberdeen Asset Management, made an extraordinary comeback after yesterdays' huge crash with Groupama sailing team, to be back on the racetrack today, and even upgraded their position on the overall standings to eleventh place ahead of GAC Pindar. Skipper Moloney summed up the atmosphere, and the feeling amongst the fleet this week. "We've had an amazing and spectacular time in Singapore. This venue is the encompassment of the stadium format – wind, bumps and scrapes. It's amazing for spectators and really difficult to sail with all the wind shifts around the buildings. No spot in the world lets us sail like this. For the sailors it was completely full on."
The Act in Singapore will be remembered as one of the most action packed Acts in the eight-year history of the elite level Stadium Racing circuit. The next stop is Muscat, Oman – in just over three weeks time.
Standings after Day 4: (29 races)
1st Alinghi (SUI) Morgan Larson, Stuart Pollard, Pierre-Yves Jorand, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 217pts
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Kinley Fowler, Nasser Al Mashari 193pts
3rd Realstone (SUI) Jérôme Clerc, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Bruno Barbarin, Thierry Wassem, Sebastien Stephant 178pts
4th Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, James Dagg, Jeremy Lomas, Edwin Delaat 168pts
5th Groupama sailing team (FRA) Franck Cammas, Sophie de Turckheim, Pierre Leclainche, Thierry Fouchier, Devan Le Bihan 160pts
6th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans-Peter Steinacher, Mark Bulkeley, Nick Blackman, Haylee Outteridge 156pts
7th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) Ben Ainslie, Nick Hutton, Paul Goodison, Pippa Wilson, Matt Cornwell 152pts
8th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Paul Campbell-James, Alister Richardson, Pete Cumming, Aleksey Kulakov 128pts
9th Oman Air (OMA) Rob Greenhalgh, Tom Johnson, Will Howden, Hashim Al Rashdi, Musab Al Hadi 128pts
10th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Peter Wibroe, Nicolai Sehested 126pts
11th Team Aberdeen Singapore (SIN) Nick Moloney, Adam Beashel, Scott Glen Sydney, Tom Dawson, Justin Wong 82pts
12th GAC Pindar (AUS) Seve Jarvin, Troy Tindill, Ed Smyth, Sam Newton, Alexandra South 59pts
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Promising start for The Wave, Muscat and Oman Air in Singapore after one of the most testing Extreme Sailing Series events on record (from Oman Sail)
The Wave, Muscat set out their stall for the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series with a second overall place at Singapore having staged a solid and impressive comeback over the four days while Oman Air are already looking ahead to Act 2 in Muscat next month.
Despite posting two wins on the final day to bring their total of outright victories to nine from 29 races, Leigh McMillan's crew on The Wave, Muscat were outflanked by their old rivals Alinghi who clinched the Singapore crown with one race remaining and a gap over the Omani team of 24 points.
But the defending champions, who in 2014 include three new faces in Nasser Al Mashari, Sarah Ayton and Kinley Fowler were nevertheless happy that they managed to claw back enough points to finish on the podium following a rusty start to their regatta.
"It's great to be on the podium this early in the season," said McMillan. "Our aim for this event was a top three so we are thrilled to get off to a good start for the series – there are going to be some really difficult events and a range of different conditions coming up, but right now we are looking forward to a home game in Oman next month at The Wave, Muscat and we will all be putting our heads down to work out what we can do better next time."
In her first Extreme 40 event, double Olympic gold medallist Sarah Ayton, trimmer on The Wave, Muscat, said it felt great to be part of a successful crew. "I am really happy to be back on the podium....that is what I'm used to!" she joked.
"We went into today in second place and did enough to stay in second place. Singapore has been really tricky so we are pretty pleased with the result.
"It's been a pleasure sailing with the boys – we have got stronger and stronger and I've really enjoyed it. Our teamwork is good – this is a team sport and the way in which you make decisions is crucial and that was really solid so you can't ask for more. Hopefully in Muscat we can take it one step further."
McMillan was quick to raise a flag to land a penalty on Emirates Team New Zealand in the final race that helped to seal their runners up position. This, said bowman Nasser Al Mashari, spoke volumes about their competitive spirit.
"We fought and fought until the last moment and had some luck in the final race so finished in second place and were very happy," he said. "We are now looking forward to going to our home waters in Oman and hopefully we can improve on our performances in Singapore."
Heavy gusts were once again a feature on the racetrack, forcing a string of errors and close calls but there were no major collisions and despite the damage caused in the pile up on Saturday, all 12 boats made it to the start line on Sunday.
The new team on Oman Air, skippered by British skipper Rob Greenhalgh, finished in ninth place overall on equal points with Team Gazprom Russia but with just 33 points separating fourth from ninth in the fleet, the signs for incremental gains were encouraging, Greenhalgh said.
"I was pretty happy with our performance but there is a lot to improve on," he said. "We know our weaknesses and are already looking ahead to racing in home waters in Oman and having a better result there. We need to work on our starts - if we can improve those we will be in good shape because our boat handling is not too bad and our speeds are pretty good.
"We had some good results and some bad ones and we were dealt some bad luck at times but it is the same for all teams.
"It has been spectacular here in Singapore – racing has been tight and difficult and a bit fluky but there have been enough races to average things out so for the series and for our sponsor Oman Air it's been a great event and we are looking forward to the rest of the season."
For the Omani sailors, role models back home, Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Muscat is one of the highlights of the year and Musab al Hadi on Oman Air is counting down the days to March 19 when everyone assembles at The Wave, Muscat for the next round.
"Act 1 was tough for us. We are a new team and there were a lot crashes but we are looking ahead to Oman and taking all the positives from here so we can improve our performances in Muscat. We are excited about racing in front of our home crowds."
"We're in the game" (from Groupama Sailing Team)
The first leg of the Extreme Sailing Series in Singapore has been action-packed for the French crew of Groupama skippered by Franck Cammas, which has concluded today with a fine fifth place overall. Dominating proceedings from beginning to end, the Swiss crew on Alinghi shut the door on its eleven rivals. The second of the eight events scheduled for 2014 will be held in a month's time in Oman.
After the past four days of racing and twenty-nine races run, the overall ranking reflects the calibre of the crews and it is not taking anything away from Dean Barker, Franck Cammas, Ben Ainslie or Seve Jarvin to observe that the Swiss team on Alinghi surpassed them.
The author of some fine starts and displaying great technical ability in traversing the windless zones and often choosing the right lanes on the cramped race zone surrounded by an array of majestic buildings, skipper Morgan Larson was supreme.
Behind him, The Wave Muscat, winner of the 2013 circuit, paid dearly for a rather laboured introduction since it was placed ninth with a 19-point deficit in relation to the future winner at the end of the first day.
Astern of these two leaders, Realstone, Emirates Team New Zealand, Groupama, RedBull and JP Morgan were constantly jockeying for position with the final double-point scoring race enabling Franck Cammas' crew to move ahead of the Austrians in the overall ranking.
Lessons now need to be learned from these four days of racing so that the crew can up their performance at the next event in Oman.
Double Olympic medallist and coach for Groupama sailing team, Thierry Péponnet, has his own angle: "We need to make progress with the starts, be more mobile by positioning ourselves further from the start line so we can power across it".
Easy to do? "We certainly need to get off to better starts. We lost a lot of points through early starts and standing starts. However, I think we've made progress with each passing day by being a lot more consistent in this area. On the last day, for example, in terms of the number of points bagged, we came second behind Muscat. It's very encouraging," Franck Cammas concludes.
Injured during the collision with Aberdeen and hence just observing from back on shore on the last day, Tanguy Cariou tackles another point: "Technically, we haven't yet got to the level of Alinghi. They've been sailing together for several seasons. They know their boat inside out and that helps a great deal on this type of race zone where the wind is very shifty. However, I believe that we haven't come off too badly for a first event. We're just behind Barker and ahead of Ainslie so we're in very good company..."
Indeed, when you look at the overall level of the fleet, Groupama certainly has nothing to be ashamed about with this fifth place, even if we're more used to seeing Cammas on the top step of the podium: "The Swiss victory is indisputable and The Wave Muscat is also very strong. However, they're not that far ahead. Added to that, I'm not sure they've got such a good shore crew as ours, which spent last night effecting repairs to Groupama. They did a superb job of switching the mast, the trampoline and repairing the sails. Thanks to them, we were able to race with a fast boat, which is quite something when you remember the state Groupama was in on Saturday evening".
The next meeting and 'revenge match' is due to take place in under a month's time in Muscat, in the Sultanate of Oman. The race zone for this second leg of the circuit will be more open, less cramped and the wind is sure to be less shifty than that in Singapore, which Dean Barker refers to as "One of the toughest I know".
Franck Cammas concludes with his thoughts on the matter: "This fifth place is satisfactory, but we're not going to be content with that!"
Intense and enduring final day for Britain's J.P. Morgan BAR (from J.P. Morgan BAR)
Seven enduring and testing races in Marina Bay, Singapore, concluded the last day of racing for J.P. Morgan BAR's first Extreme Sailing Series experience. Ben Ainslie and his British team finished the event in seventh place overall, four points behind Red Bull Racing Team, with experienced Alinghi and The Wave, Muscat showing their strength in dealing with the tricky conditions.
J.P.Morgan BAR had a mixed bag of results, the day started with a tough few races as they struggling in the lighter conditions before finishing in the top three in each of the final three races of the day, winning the last double pointer, but it was not enough to claw their way up the leaderboard.
"We had a terrible day at the beginning, we couldn't really do anything right. It was obviously really frustrating for all of us but we are pleased to finish with two really good races and claw back a few points by winning the double point final race.
It's been an interesting challenge this week, we've learnt a lot about sailing the boats and the competition and look forward to building on what we have learnt here and taking that into the next event in Oman. We are expecting the conditions to be a little steadier in Act 2, which makes for a whole different type of race." Commented Skipper, Ainslie.
For Olympic gold medallist, Pippa Wilson, this week was the first time she has sailed an Extreme 40, "It's been a great week, quite a baptism of fire really getting to grips with a new boat and the small tight courses but there hasn't been a dull moment! Pretty up and down for us on the whole as a team and we did get caught out on a couple of things. Onwards to Act 2 in Oman now".
The 2014 Extreme Sailing Series will continued with Act 2 taking place in Muscat, Oman from 19th – 22nd March.
For all the latest J.P. Morgan BAR news and updates follow at www.jpmorganbarblog.com