Extreme Sailing Series - Brits confirmed for Team Aberdeen Singapore

by Extreme Sailing Series on 26 Mar 2013 Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series is coming up and now an injection of sailing talent has been added to Team Aberdeen Singapore with the addition of British sailing heavyweights Robert Greenhalgh, Andrew Walsh and Rick Peacock. Team Aberdeen Singapore will be skippered by Singaporean Scott Glen Sydney and fellow Singaporean Justin Wong as trimmer to complete the Team Aberdeen Singapore line-up.

The team will compete in Act 2 of the 2013 Extreme Sailing Series in Singapore, with Aberdeen Asset Management as the Local Partner, to be staged at the world famous Promontory@Marina Bay from 11-14 April 2013. Team Aberdeen Singapore will race as the invitational team, a concept that enables local sailors in each region the global Series visits to compete with and against some of the world’s best.

Scott, an aspiring Olympic sailor representing Singapore and Asia’s highest ranked Laser sailor in the ISAF world rankings, will skipper the boat and also assume the role of tactician whilst Justin, a gold medal winning match racer in the Asian Games, will take on the headsail trimmer position. For more information on Team Aberdeen Singapore visit the team page here.

However, the man in the driving seat of Team Aberdeen Singapore will be none other than Robert Greenhalgh, winner of the first-ever Extreme Sailing Series in 2007, who boasts three Volvo Ocean Races, seven Atlantic crossings, three World Championships titles and a host of European titles. Most recently, he steered the invitational home team at Act 1 Muscat, Team Duqm Oman, to fourth place in the opening Act of the 2013 Series. 'I’m really looking forward to joining Team Aberdeen Singapore. The races are a great opportunity to showcase sailing to the Singapore public. With luck, we will have home support, and while it will be a challenge with a new crew in a new venue racing against established world class teams, we promise to put on a good show,' said Greenhalgh.

Fulfilling the role of mainsail trimmer is seasoned Extreme 40 sailor Andrew Walsh, 31, who has four editions of Extreme Sailing Series under his belt, including a third position as helm of BT in 2008. Walsh was also part of the invitational team line-up with Greenhalgh in Muscat just two weeks ago and the duo will be hoping the consistency on board will fast track them to success on the Singapore race course. Team GB 49er Olympic skiff sailor, Rick Peacock, 27, will be the team’s bowman, a role he assumed in 2012 with GAC Pindar and onboard the Aberdeen Asset Management sponsored Extreme 40 in the UK in 2011.

Aberdeen Asset Management Asia Limited Managing Director, Hugh Young, added, 'We are delighted to confirm the line-up for Team Aberdeen Singapore. Given our company background, it’s wholly appropriate that we have an all Anglo-Singaporean crew. This is exciting for us and I’m sure Singaporeans will quickly identify with our boat once the action starts.' Aberdeen Asset Management is providing a three-year sponsorship of the Singapore Act with additional support from Singapore Sports Council.

Eight Extreme 40s will line-up in Singapore for what is expected to be a tense light wind event held within the confines of the world famous Marina Bay from the 11th to 14th April. Fans and spectators will enjoy complimentary access to the Race Village at The Promontory@Marina Bay from the 12th April where they can enjoy all-day entertainment, including the return of the NeilPryde Racing Series, the main warm-up Act for the Extreme 40 action which will take place at all remaining Acts in 2013.

Team Aberdeen Singapore will be represented by:

Position / Name

Skipper/Tactician: Scott Glen Sydney (SIN)
Helm: Robert Greenhalgh (GBR)
Mainsail trim: Andrew Walsh (GBR)
Headsail trim: Justin Wong (SIN)
Bow: Rick Peacock Extreme Sailing Series website