Trailblazer on Track for Triumph on SuperFoiler Race Return
by Nick Vindin 28 Feb 2018 16:18 PST
2-4 March, 2018
The SuperFoiler, Pavement, racing on Geelong's Corio Bay © Andrea Francolini
One of the SuperFoiler’s most sought after sailors says he will look to clear his calendar to continue to sail the mesmerising machine on home waters long into the future. “They are seriously fun boats to sail, easily the most fun I have ever sailed. They are really challenging when you get it wrong but really rewarding when you get it right,” said Pavement’s Rhys Mara.
The world-renowned 49er sailor, who has honed his craft internationally has relished his time racing around Australia in the SuperFoiler’s breakthrough season and is already looking ahead to the opportunity to soar in front of family and friends again. “I would definitely be keen to sail these boats for as long as I can, particularly for the next season when that rolls ahead,” said the supremely talented mainsheet hand of the second-placed series runner Pavement. “It is really fun on board. As with any competition it gets really tense at times when you just want to do the best. We give encouragement when we need it whether it is happy encouragement or a bit serious it is all in good fun and it is all just to go better in the completion,” said Mara.
Rhys Mara travelled to the west coast of Australia with his team-mates Steve Thomas and Dan Morris who he has raced alongside in Adelaide, Geelong and the Gold Coast but his international commitments will keep him away from racing in Busselton where he will abdicate for local talent Torvar Mirky. Despite Mara’s exit to race in Oman, The New South Welshman remains confident Pavement can perform in Western Australia in his absence this weekend.
“We are pretty happy with where we are relative to the other SuperFoilers but we have a lot of room to close in on Euroflex,” said Mara, “We knew it was going to be a hard boat to look after and to sail during the events, but they are doing really well.” Mara, who was also instrumental in the early testing of the revolutionary machine believes his trio will have hit their straps in time for the Sydney Grand Final in March, and their results will hold them in good stead for a shot at the series title.
“The aim would be to win in Sydney, anything less than that and we would come away disappointed. I have two good guys either side of me and we are going to go well in Sydney and we can defiantly knock off the Euroflex guys,” said Mara.
The events are free for spectators to watch, although VIP Hospitably packages for the solitary event on the jaw-dropping West Coast of Australia are available with Busselton’s historic jetty hosting Leg Four of the season. Saturday and Sunday’s racing will be livestreamed on www.superfoiler.com while the series makes its television premiere on 7mate this Saturday and Sunday with the Adelaide leg debuting at 11.30am local.
About SuperFoiler
The SuperFoiler Grand Prix is contested over five weekends at five iconic marine locations across Australia (South Australia, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and New South Wales) from February 2018.
The Summer series will see the best sailors from around the world compete onboard six SuperFoiler's for the Ben Lexcen Trophy. The Grand Prix series runs from February to March and will be livestreamed on Plus7 with immersive post produced coverage airing on 7mate.
Fan Zones and Corporate Hospitality experiences are also available for live viewing - here