Extreme Sailing Series- Emirates Team NZ up to third on squally day

by Warren Douglas on 3 May 2014 Wind gusts up to 32 knots swept across the Extreme Sailing Series race course at Qingdao on day 2. It was a short day in survival conditions with racing right on the edge.

The fleet was split to reduce the risk of damaging collisions: first eight rather than 12 boats racing at a time, then four.

The Emirates Team New Zealand crew was happy to get back to the dock without damage. Peter Burling, Glenn Ashby, Edwin Delaat, Blair Tuke and Jeremy Lomas performed well in their three races, achieving two seconds and a first.

The results propelled them up the leaderboard from fifth overall to third. Alinghi is first on 90 points, The Wave second on 76 and we are third on 73.



Skipper Peter Burling: 'The offshore breeze was very puffy, coming down through the buildings between 5-25 plus knots.

'We had a really good comeback in the second race. We were over at the start and managed to climb right through the fleet.

'That’s the good thing about strong and puffy conditions – there are plenty of ways to go forward and plenty of ways to go back.'

There could be more of the same tomorrow with the forecast predicting gusts up to 23 knots.

Standings after Day 2, 14 races

1st Alinghi (SUI) 90 points.
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 76 points.
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand 73 points.
4th Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 69 points.
5th Team Extreme Qingdao (CHN) 64 points.
6th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 63 points.
7th Groupama Sailing Team (FRA) 61 points.
8th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 55 points.
9th Gazprom Team Russia (55 points.
10th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 50 points.
11th GAC Pindar (AUS) 34 points.
12th Oman Air (OMA) 16 points.*

*Team will be awarded average points for the races missed following tomorrow’s racing.