Extreme Sailing Series™ partners with Cisco Systems

by Extreme Sailing Series on 22 Jun 2016 OC Sport, the organiser and owner of the Extreme Sailing Series™, is delighted to announce its collaboration with Cisco to offer WiFi services throughout its event venues for the 2016 Series.

The global technology company will provide exclusive networking solutions that will transform wireless connectivity at the Extreme Sailing Series public Race Villages, VIP lounges and on the water.

The first venue at which members of the public, race officials and sailors will benefit from the Cisco WiFi solutions will be Cardiff – the third Act of the 2016 season – where the action gets underway on the water on 23 June. As an Official Series Supplier, Cisco will provide similar facilities at the remaining Acts of 2016.

The partnership comes as a natural complement to the SAP Technical Partnership, which has tremendously benefitted the Series since 2012, pushing the boundaries of technology and sailing throughout the world.

Lorcan Burke, director of business development, Office of the CTO, Service Provider Mobility, Cisco said: “OC Sport has changed the face of sailing championships with the Extreme Sailing Series, giving fans an up close and personal experience. Cisco is committed to making cities and communities smarter with innovative WiFi and mobile technology. We look forward to working together to support a connected and engaged audience with access to the online race village portal, social media channels, and much more.”

Andy Tourell, Event Director, said Cisco was the perfect match-up for a sailing championship that prides itself on being at the cutting edge of a technologically-driven sport.

“We are delighted to welcome Cisco onboard,” said Tourell. “The Extreme Sailing Series is at the leading edge of sailing and it is only right that we engage with a company of Cisco’s pedigree to continue innovating the way that we all communicate, enhancing the experience for all stakeholders: public, teams, VIPs, race management and the world’s media.

“The Extreme Sailing Series fan base is a discerning and technologically sophisticated one,” added Tourell, “and having state-of the-art communication service at all our host venues is a vital ingredient in the delivery of a world-class modern sporting event.”

Now in its 10th year, the Extreme Sailing Series is a pioneering and award-winning global sailing championship that features super-fast, hydro-foiling GC32 catamarans racing in close confinement in ‘Stadium Racecourses’ in the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities.

This year the championship started with Acts in Muscat, Oman and Qingdao in China and has already featured some spectacular racing as some of the world’s top multihull sailors battle it out in front of thousands of race fans who attend each four-day event. After Cardiff, the Series will then head to Hamburg, Germany; St Petersburg, Russia; Istanbul, Turkey and Lisbon, Portugal, before the grand finale in Australia in mid-December.