The Extreme Sailing Series, the international racing circuit established in 2007 and one among the highest world’s sailing races, took the opening act of the 2017 season in Muscat, Oman. Of all the catamarans, it was the Danish team of SAP Extreme that took the honours, crewed by Jes Gram-Hansen and Rasmus Køstner and skippered by the Kiwi Adam Minoprio, who is meanwhile involved on board the Groupama in the French challenge to America’s Cup. In particular, SAP overcame a strong tussle with Alinghi and Oman Air.
In the last of the four racing days, the GC 32, the foiler-equipped catamarans which replaced the Extreme 45 used in the previous editions last year, had to face hard weather conditions. The 27th and last test essential to establish the final ranking ( since it gives a double score) saw the boats sail with a wind ranging between 18 and 25 knots and short steep waves. These conditions allows the fast multihulls to run free at about 31 knots and sail close to the wind at over 15 knots: an ideal situation to enjoy the exciting live streaming tests.
The particularity of this competition is, in fact, its stadium racing layout, that is the chance of being enjoyed by both remotely and physically-present spectators. It’s a fast exciting inshore competition that many sailors like and join as the ideal continuity of their sailing activity.
Nine prestigious teams have joined the 2017 championship. In addition to the above-mentioned ones, competitors include: Land Rover BAR, spin off of the America’s Cup English challenge, Red Bull Extreme Sailing, an Austrian team headed by Red Bull Young America’s Cup directors: Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher, both winners of two golden medals in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004; Team Tilt, a young Swiss team that took the second place at the 2016 GC32 championship.
The 2017 edition will include 8 different venues spread in three different continents. After the Arabian debut, the next appointment is in Quingdao, China, followed by Cardiff (England), Hamburg (Germany), St. Petersburg (Russia), two races in Portugal (Madeira and Lisbona) and Sydney, Australia.
Since each boat is equipped with on-board cameras, all races will be broadcast live, with live comments and virtual spectator to find out the real situation and conditions. Excitement will be ensured by the breathtaking strategies and manoeuvres of the teams .
