Extreme Sailing Series™ - Above and Beyond Award

by Jaguar Land Rover Limited on 9 Feb 2015 Extreme Sailing Series™ - Singapore, one of the most visually stunning cities in the world provided an impressive backdrop for Land Rover to celebrate Red Bull Sailing Team’s win as partner to the Austrian entry in the global Extreme Sailing Series™. Skippered by double Olympic Gold Medallist, Roman Hagara, and helmed by his young Australian protégé, Jason Waterhouse, the team stormed to a convincing win, with podium finishes in half of the 32 stadium races fought over the past four days of close-quarter action.

The quality of the teams on the racecourse could be intimidating to many, for the nine international Extreme 40 teams and 45 professional sailors from 11 nations, have in their possession a multitude of titles and trophies including 6 Olympic Gold medals, 56 World Championship titles and 17 America’s Cup campaigns. But 23 year old Jason Waterhouse, one of the youngest sailors in the fleet, kept his cool, steering his team towards 16 podium finishes out of 32 in tricky wind conditions, taking the team to the top of the podium for the first time in the Series. Waterhouse is a rising star in the world of professional sailing with his most recent accomplishment being a Bronze Medal in the ISAF Sailing World Championships in 2014 in the brand new class of Olympic boat for Rio 2016, the NACRA 17, a two-handed mixed male-female multihull class.

Hagara, a double Olympic Gold Medallist, was obviously delighted with his team’s performance, 'We are all thrilled, it’s great. The young guys did a great job and I think all of our experience was very helpful. Together as a team we kept everything together and it was perfect for us,' Hagara commented, who together with tactician Hans Peter Steinacher, selected their crew from the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup. Jason Waterhouse, Shaun Mason and Stewart Dodson were selected to join the pair of double Olympic Gold Medallists this season. 'This win showed us that we can do it. We didn’t have as much luck in the last season but here everything went well for us. It’s been a great start to the year and we look forward to Muscat in just a few weeks time.'

In addition to taking the trophy back to Austria, Waterhouse, 23, from Australia, was also recognised for the impact he has made on the racecourse, receiving the first Above and Beyond Award of the year, from Land Rover Asia Pacific Managing Director, Russell Anderson.

The Land Rover Above and Beyond Award recognises the team, individual or extended sailing family involved in the Extreme Sailing Series™ who has demonstrated outstanding skill, determination, teamwork or composure, reflecting inspirational behaviour in the world of sailing. And in Singapore it was a unanimous decision by the Above and Beyond Committee, made up of Land Rover Global Brand Ambassador Hannah White, Event Director Andy Tourrell, Race Director Phil Lawrence and the 2009 winning Skipper of the Extreme Sailing Series, Pete Cumming.

Race Director, Phil Lawrence explained the Committee’s decision. 'Rarely do we see a new helm explode out of the starting blocks as Justin Waterhouse has demonstrated in Singapore. He’s one of the youngest sailors on the circuit, and the consistent performance he has put in here, posting a podium finish in half of the races over the four days of combat, is impressive. The other teams are going to be keeping a close eye on him over the coming season.'

Double Olympic Gold Medallist and Red Bull Sailing Team Skipper, Roman Hagara was understandably proud of the new blood onboard his Extreme 40. 'From the first moment we met Stewart Dodson, Shaun Mason and Jason Waterhouse we were impressed by not only their raw sailing talent, but also their drive, determination and dedication to be making a career in the highly competitive world of pro sailing. The mixture of Hans Peter [Steinacher]’s and my experience and long term knowledge of competing at the top of the sport, plus the powerhouse these young guns bring to the boat, it could be one of the most successful stories in professional sailing this year.'

As the first Act of the eight-leg global tour drew to a close, Hannah White, Land Rover Global Brand Ambassador, commented, 'I’m truly excited about the 2015 Series. It is so exciting to see new faces on the racecourse from double Olympic Gold Medallists to Youth World Champions, the breadth of talent is huge. Previously in the opening Acts of the year, the new sailors and teams have struggled to show form as they get used to this unique format of Stadium Racing, however I think we are going to see some upsets this year - these new teams on the circuit have their sights set firmly on lifting the Series trophy at the end of the year in Australia.

'The Extreme Sailing Series™ will be the ultimate test of talent, teamwork and determination and I’m really looking forward to seeing how the year unfolds.'

The venues and team line-up for the 2015 Extreme Sailing Series™ are as follows:

Extreme Sailing Series ™ 2015 Host Venues:
Act 1: Singapore, 5-8 February
Act 2: Muscat, Oman 11-14 March
Act 3: Qingdao , China 30 April-3 May
Act 4: Cardiff, UK 18-21 June
Act 5: Hamburg, Germany 23-26 July
Act 6: Saint Petersburg, Russia 20-23 August
Act 7: Istanbul, Turkey 1-4 October
Act 8: Australia 10-13 December

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2015 Teams and Skippers
GAC Pindar (GBR) – Seve Jarvin (AUS) / Ian Williams (GBR)
Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) - Igor Lisovenko (RUS)
Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) - Lorenzo Bressani (ITA)
Oman Air (OMA) – Stevie Morrison (GBR)
Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) – Roman Hagara (AUT)
SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) – Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) / Rasmus Kostner (DEN)
Beko Team Turx (TUR) - Edhem Dirvana (TUR) / Mitch Booth (AUS)
The Wave, Muscat (OMA) – Leigh McMillan (GBR)