Extreme Sailing Series- Emirates Team NZ stays in contention with help

by Warren Douglas, Emirates Team NZ on 5 Oct 2014 Race Day 3 at the Extreme Sailing Series at Nice emphatically demonstrated two defining characteristics of the event:

Co-operation: despite fierce, some would say cut-throat, rivalry on the water, behind the scenes teams willingly help each other out.

Uncertainty: Positions on the leader board can change with almost every race. There’s never a chance to relax as no lead is ever comfortable.

On Saturday, Emirates Team New Zealand was the beneficiary of that friendly co-operation: An Omani sailor stepped in when illness struck crewman Edwin Delaat overnight and he was in no shape to go racing.

And series leader Alinghi, struggling to find form, bounced back to take 54 of the possible 70 points available and go straight to the top. In contrast The Wave, Muscat, in second place overall after six regattas this year, plunged to the bottom of the Nice scoreboard. Nothing is ever certain at an Extreme Sailing Series regatta.

The Emirates Team New Zealand Extreme 40 team doesn’t have the luxury of travelling with a reserve bench. Only eight people are at Nice – five race crew, three shore crew, one of whom also doubles as coach and one whose primary role is communications.

Options on Saturday were limited: two people are needed in the chaseboat at all times, and photographer Chris Cameron was also ill.

Sulaiman Almanji from Oman Sail stepped in to fill the gap and the new team mate helped Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby, Jeremy Lomas and Blair Tuke put together a creditable day on the water.

Seven races were held in continuing light conditions.

With Alinghi at the top of the leader board on 135 points, Realteam second on 125 and Emirates Team New Zealand third on 122, tomorrow’s final day is shaping as a thriller. The maths say that any of the 11 teams could win the event. Once again the outcome is likely to be decided by the double-points last race.

Tomorrow’s racing will be streamed live from 1530 Nice time, (GMT +2) www.extremesailingseries.com



Extreme Sailing Series Nice standings after Day 3, 22 races (4.10.14)

1st Alinghi (SUI) 135 points.
2nd Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 125 points.
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 122 points.
4th Oman Air (OMA) 120 points.
5th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 110 points.
6th GAC Pindar (AUS) 109 points.
7th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 106 points.
8th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT 106 points.
9th Groupama sailing team (FRA) 105 points.
10th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 98 points.
11th The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 95 points.