Extreme Sailing Series - Intense final day for JP Morgan Bar

by J.P. Morgan BAR on 24 Feb 2014 At the Extreme Sailing Series (ESS), seven enduring and testing races in Marina Bay, Singapore, concluded the last day of racing for J.P. Morgan BAR’s first ESS experience. Ben Ainslie and his British team finished the event in seventh place overall, four points behind Red Bull Racing Team, with experienced Alinghi and The Wave, Muscat showing their strength in dealing with the tricky conditions.

J.P.Morgan BAR had a mixed bag of results, the day started with a tough few races as they struggling in the lighter conditions before finishing in the top three in each of the final three races of the day, winning the last double pointer, but it was not enough to claw their way up the leaderboard.

'We had a terrible day at the beginning, we couldn’t really do anything right. It was obviously really frustrating for all of us but we are pleased to finish with two really good races and claw back a few points by winning the double point final race.

It’s been an interesting challenge this week, we’ve learnt a lot about sailing the boats and the competition and look forward to building on what we have learnt here and taking that into the next event in Oman. We are expecting the conditions to be a little steadier in Act 2, which makes for a whole different type of race.' Commented Skipper, Ainslie.

For Olympic gold medallist, Pippa Wilson, this week was the first time she has sailed an Extreme 40;

'It’s been a great week, quite a baptism of fire really getting to grips with a new boat and the small tight courses but there hasn’t been a dull moment! Pretty up and down for us on the whole as a team and we did get caught out on a couple of things. Onwards to Act 2 in Oman now'.

The 2014 Extreme Sailing Series will continued with Act 2 taking place in Muscat, Oman from 19th – 22nd March.

Overall results after day four

1. Alinghi (SUI), 217 points
2. The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 193 points
3. Realstone (SUI), 178 points
4. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 168 points
5. Groupama Sailing Team (FRA), 160 points
6. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT), 156 points
7. J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR), 152 points
8. Gazprom Team Russia (RUS), 128 points
9. Oman Air (OMA), 128 points
10. SAP Extreme Sailing Series (DEN), 126 points
11. Team Aberdeen Singapore (SIN), 82 points
12. GAC Pindar (AUS), 59 points

Full J.P. Morgan BAR crew list
Skipper/ Helmsman – Sir Ben Ainslie
Mainsail Trimmer/ Tactician – Paul Goodison
Bowman – Matt Cornwall
Trimmer – Nick Hutton
Trimmer – Pippa Wilson