Swiss Realteam enters 2013 Extreme Sailing Series

by Extreme Sailing Series on 9 Feb 2013 Built around the successful team who took the D35 championship in 2012 with the Realstone Sailing boat, a new professional sailing team has announced their entry into the 2013 Extreme Sailing Series – Realteam. The team, sailing under the Swiss flag, will make it eight boats on the start line for Act 1, beginning in less than four weeks in Muscat, Oman, March 5th.

Led by skipper and Team Director Jérôme Clerc, a multihull expert having won the D35 Vulcain Trophy and the Bol d’Or in 2012, Realteam have ambitious goals for 2013. The crew intends not only to defend its D35 title on Lake Geneva but also to make their mark in the Extreme Sailing Series global tour, where, along with two-times winners of the America’s Cup Alinghi, it will represent the second Swiss entry. Clerc commented: 'This professional evolution is a logical next step, but its strength is built first and foremost on the teamwork which led to our success in D35 racing, with the added unique opportunity to join the Extreme Sailing Series under the Swiss flag'.

The crew supporting Clerc will be made up of former young talents from the Geneva Regatta Training Centre, who will each have the opportunity to compete at one or more of the eight Acts throughout the 2013 Extreme Sailing Series global tour.

Arnaud Psarofaghis, trimmer with Groupe Edmond de Rothschild in 2012 and Nils Palmieri will share the role of main trimmer, Bruno Barbarin, who sailed with Alinghi at the final Act of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, and Denis Girardet tactics, Cédric Schmidt and Bryan Mettraux headsail trim, and Thierry Wasem will take the bowman position. For more information about the crew click here.

Supported by fund management company, Realstone SA, Esteban Garcia, Founder and Chairman explains that, 'Our partnership with Jérôme Clerc is a natural one. Precision, team spirit and excellence are the values which led to our team’s major victories last season. We thought it important to build a team able to professionalise and perpetuate the talents which led to our success. This is a story of passion and conviction – Realteam truly deserves to keep its place among the best!'

Realteam are the second completely new team line up to be announced for the 2013 Series, alongside GAC Pindar who will enter a gifted Kiwi youth team, led by burgeoning young gun Will Tiller. The new teams will be looking to quickly make their mark and mix it up with the more seasoned Extreme 40 sailors which in 2013 will include Austria’s double-Olympic Gold medallist Roman Hagara (Red Bull Sailing Team) 2012 Extreme Sailing Series winner and British Olympian Leigh McMillan (The Wave, Muscat), double winner of the America’s Cup Ernesto Bertarelli (Alinghi) and the Danish America’s Cup duo of Rasmus Kostner and Jes Gram Hansen (SAP Extreme Sailing Team). A second team representing Oman Sail and details of an Invitational Team both of which will be competing at Act 1, will be announced in the coming weeks.

A dedicated Realteam website will be online at end February Extreme Sailing Series