Extreme Sailing Series, Act 4 - Oman Sail crews on the rise

by Oman Sail on 28 Jun 2014 At Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series in Saint Petersburg, Oman Sail’s two Extreme 40s The Wave, Muscat and Oman Air both moved up the leaderboard today despite another difficult day, compared by skipper Leigh McMillan to a game of snakes and ladders.

From being nine points behind leaders Alinghi overnight, McMillan and his team of Nasser Al Mashari, Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh and Kinley Fowler moved three points ahead of their Swiss rivals to top the series ranking having posted two podium places in the only two races possible on a day shortened by light and shifty winds.

A resounding win in the final race of the day was preceded by a third place in the earlier one but McMillan was keen to sound a note of caution with the fluky conditions set to continue.

'You never really crack it in this fleet because it is so easy to drop to the back in one fell swoop so it was very pleasing that we managed to get round the course twice with two good results,' said a delighted McMillan.

'You need a bit of luck in these conditions but you have to keep yourself in a position where luck goes your way. It’s a little bit like snakes and ladders where you roll the dice and see what you get.'

The crew on Oman Air also saw their position improve by one place after finishing hot on the heels of The Wave, Muscat in the final race to post a rewarding second place. It had required a lot of concentration and patience, bowman Musab Al Hadi reported.

'The wind was up and down and very shifty so it wasn’t easy,' he said. 'It was enjoyable but you have to stay 100% focused because everything can change so quickly around you - these conditions are totally different to anything I have seen before but that’s all part of sailing.'

While happy to see the progress of Oman Air and proud of their teamwork, skipper Rob Greenhalgh said there was no formula for success.

'There is no rhyme or reason to anything and these conditions can make sailors look quite average so you can’t read too much into the results. The top boats will come out top at the end.

'It was good to get a second. We got a long way ahead of the fleet but that is how it rolls sometimes. You get a bit of breeze and off you go but sometimes it conspires against you so it is all about finding a formula for that day as early as possible. Tomorrow it will be a different one!'

Racing in Act 4 St Petersburg continues through until Sunday with live commentary from 0800GMT/1000 CET and live video from 1200 GMT/1400 CET at Extreme Sailing Series.