2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1, Muscat: Veterans and victors given a run for their money
by Extreme Sailing Series 15 Mar 2018 19:58 GMT
14-17 March 2018
2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1, Muscat - Day 2 © Extreme Sailing Series
Series veterans and victors were given a run for their money today, Thursday 15th March, in day two of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1, Muscat.
The young pros on board Land Rover BAR Academy, as well as the newly formed crew 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 powerful foiling GC32 catamarans continues tomorrow, Friday 16th March at 14:00 local time (UTC+4). Continuing off Al Mouj, Muscat, the event will host a free public access Race Village at Al Mouj Golf on Friday and Saturday, offering a close-up view of the race course. Racing will be broadcast live on the official Extreme Sailing Series Facebook and website. Tune in to follow the action.
The Flying Phantom Series saw Team France Jeune emerge victorious once again. Having flown around the course to a first day victory yesterday, the team stole the show for the second time today, consistently demonstrating their incredible abilities on the water.
Red Bull Sailing Team finished second in today's racing on the Flying Phantom course. Helm Olivia McKay commented on their performance. "We started the day off pretty well yesterday so we just tried to go into today with the same head space. We're feeling good going into the last couple of days. We want to win the regatta - that's our goal."
Flying Phantom Series racing continues tomorrow in Muscat from 10:00 local time (UTC+4).
Results after Day 2:
2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1 Standings: (10 races)
1st Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 108pts
2nd Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson, Nasser Al Mashari 100pts
3rd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Køstner, Adam Minoprio, Julius Hallström, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason 95pts
4th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Will Alloway, Leigh McMillan, Oli Greber, Adam Kay, Mark Spearman 89pts
5th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Chris Draper, Ed Powys, Neil Hunter, Dan Morris, Rhys Mara 87pts
6th NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Jason Waterhouse, Will Tiller, Harry Hull, Luke Payne, Guy Endean 85pts
7th Team México (MEX) Erik Brockmann, Tom Buggy, Alex Higby, Tom Phipps, Danel Belausteguigoitia Fierro 66pts
Flying Phantom Series Standings: (12 races)
1st Team France Jeune (FRA) Solune Robert, Antoine Rucard 231pts
2nd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Olivia Mackay, Micah Wilkinson 225pts
3rd Idreva Zephyr Foiling (FRA) Charles Hainneville, Pierre-Yves Durand 214pts
4th Culture Foil (FRA) Nicolas Ferellec, Théo Constance 208pts
5th Flying Frogs (FRA) Pierre Le Clainche, Arnaud Vasseur 187pts
6th EVO Visian ICL (GER) Raphael Neuhann, Elias Neuhann 180pts
7th UON (POR) José Cladeira, Helder Basilio 175pts
8th Masterlan (CZE) David Krizek, Zdenek Adam 158pts
www.extremesailingseries.com
Team Oman Air still a strong second after a day of Extreme Sailing Series ups and downs (from Oman Sail)
The Oman Air crew maintained their positive start to the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series on a day of swings and roundabouts in Muscat that saw five different winning boats in the six races held.
Oman Air was the only team to post two victories on the second day of racing, and they remained secure in a strong second place behind the leading Alinghi team.
However, two early starts – requiring them to re-cross the starting line – cost Oman Air valuable points in the overall standings. At the half-way stage in the four-day regatta being held off Al Mouj, Muscat they are eight points behind Alinghi, but have opened up a five point lead over the reigning 2017 Series champions SAP Extreme Sailing Team.
"We had a couple of races today where we led from start to finish, and that's clearly good, we just need to avoid the clangers," said Oman Air's mainsail trimmer and tactician Pete Greenhalgh.
"Over the next two days of racing, we need to iron out the little mistakes," he added. "We will learn from them and hopefully do things differently tomorrow and strengthen our position throughout the year. We are more than capable of doing that and it's all within reach.
"The fleet is the most competitive we have had to date, but we are in the mix. We will keep chipping away at Alinghi – they have had a bit of luck over the first two days, but I think we will get our turn."
Like the rest of the fleet, the Oman Air team of skipper and helmsman Phil Robertson, Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson and Omani racer Nasser Al Mashari had to again contend with variable and shifting wind conditions, which put a premium on good race starts.
"We know that getting a really good start in the conditions we have had is very important," explained Al Mashari. "When you do, it allows you to go the way you want to go, so you are not controlled by other boats. It is often the case with racing like this.
"But it is all good on the boat – we are going well and the teamwork is strong, so we know we are very competitive. It is only the half-way point, but we are in second place and with two days to go we can hopefully move into the lead."
Alinghi won the final race of the day, with earlier victories also going to the fourth-placed Land Rover BAR Academy, Red Bull Sailing Team and SAP.
The Extreme Sailing Series action will continue off Al Mouj, Muscat on Friday and Saturday, with a free public access Race Village at Al Mouj Golf offering a close-up view of the race course.
The Race Village will offer a wide range of family and children's activities, and will also feature the exclusive return of the 'Weekend Souq' from the creators of the popular Souq Es Sabt with more than 45 vendors.