2015 Extreme Sailing Series™ - Crowd pleasers The Wave

by Extreme Sailing Series™ on 14 Mar 2015 The Wave, Muscat gave their home fans something to cheer about on the penultimate day of the Extreme Sailing Series™ in Oman, finishing on the podium in seven out of eight races, to reclaim their place at the top of the leaderboard ahead of tomorrow’s final showdown. With just 16 points separating the top four boats, tomorrows’ racing is sure to keep fans around the world on tenterhooks as the world-class fleet battle for honours in Muscat.

'We were consistent today as opposed to yesterday. We had solid starts, good decision-making and generally it was a great day. Yesterday we learnt a lot – we will bank that to avoid the same mistakes', explained tactician and two-time British Olympic gold medallist, Sarah Ayton on the dock after racing. 'I think tomorrow it will come down to the very last race so we will take it one at a time, try to maximize the points and I am sure it will be a great final showdown.'

The pressure has now shifted to Danish SAP Extreme Sailing Team who, despite keeping their averages up all day, relinquished their hold at the top of the leaderboard. After racing, tactician Jes Gram-Hansen admitted, 'You have to put your hands up and say The Wave, Muscat sailed a great day and we struggled a bit but I think we survived the day. We are still sitting comfortably in second despite losing some points to Red Bull. Today was the first time this year for reaching starts this year and that it very difficult, so that is something for us to look into.'

In seven knot breeze and choppy seas – the remnants of the previous days storm – the Austrian Red Bull Sailing Team held a consistent score line, including three race wins, adding an important 66 points to their tally, and the team are now up to third place – despite having to deal with the absence of skipper Roman Hagara, out with an elbow injury. 'We are fully satisfied with three wins,' said tactician Hans Peter Steinacher, who took over as skipper from Hagara for the day. 'Teamwork was excellent although two early starts should never happen. Tomorrow it is all about the podium and I think we can still cause a sensation.'

Just shy of the podium by two points, Oman Air, with one of the UK’s top 49er sailors Stevie Morrison in the driving seat, are poised and ready to pounce – with a 30 point buffer over the chasing pack.

Leading the second half of the leaderboard, Team Turx powered by Kaya Ropes had their best day of the season so far, with four fourth place finishes. The fastest on the startline according to the SAP Sailing Analytics, the team are really starting to show their potential amongst the more experienced fleet.

GAC Pindar are just five points ahead of Lino Sonego Team Italia in sixth and seventh place respectively, while Gazprom Team Russia came out fighting following yesterday’s gear failure that saw them miss half a day’s racing, and posted a first, second and third in today’s results.

With the points so tight at the top and conditions set to get light and shifty, the Extreme Sailing Series Act 2 Muscat could still be won or lost in a race.

Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 2 Muscat standings after Day 3, 22 races (13.03.15)

Position / Team / Points

- 1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari 176 points.
- 2nd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, Rasmus Køstner, Thierry Douillard, Mads Emil Stephensen, Brad Farrand 169 points.
- 3rd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Hans Peter Steinacher, Jason Waterhouse, Adam Piggott,Shaun Mason, Stewart Dodson 162 points.
- 4th Oman Air (OMA) Stevie Morrison, Nic Asher, Ted Hackney, Ed Powys, Ali Al Balashi 160 points.
- 5th Team Turx powered by Kaya Ropes (TUR) Mitch Booth, Edhem Dirvana, Selim Kakis, Diogo Cayolla, Matteo Auguadro 128 points.
- 6th GAC Pindar (GBR) Seve Jarvin, Ian Williams, Marcus Ashley-Jones, Tyson Lamond, James Wierzbowski 121 points.
- 7th Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) Lorenzo Bressani, Enrico Zennaro, Gabriele Olivo, Tom Buggy, Stefano Ciampalini 116 points.
- 8th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, Alexander Bozhko, Aleksey Kulakov 100 points.