| Action Ramps Up on Day
1 of Act 5 as Breeze Kicks In. |
| By Extreme Sailing
Series 2011 Media. |
 |
Photos by Lloyd Images,
edited By Peter Andrews. |
| August 6, 2011. |
|
| Day 1 of Stadium Sailing action at the Extreme Sailing Series at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week kicked off with plenty of bow-down action, near pitch-poles and close calls in the final race, thrilling the crowds. |
|
The Extreme 40 fleet racing on Day 1 of Act 5 of the Extreme
Sailing Series 2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| The breeze increased to 20 knots by late afternoon and the crowds were treated to four races on the first of seven days of Extreme 40 racing. The final race of the day was a small taste of what is expected to come over the next couple of days when the wind is forecasted to be even stronger. |
| |
Aberdeen Asset Management, racing on Day 1 of Act 5 of the Extreme
Sailing Series 2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| French team Groupe Edmond de Rothschild were slick in their operation and sit at the top of the leaderboard after Day 1, just 1 point ahead of the Italian entry, Luna Rossa. British helm Paul Campbell-James of Luna Rossa was the winner here in Cowes in 2010 and today, he put his local knowledge to good use. |
|
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild racing on Day 1 of Act 5 of the Extreme
Sailing Series 2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| "We had a good day," said Campbell-James. "We always pushed to go slightly further in for tactical reasons and you can hear the ‘oohs’ and the ‘ahhs’ of the crowd when you are actually only 20 metres away from them. You get the odd shout when you go past, the odd boo when the French team go past. It’s wicked!" |
|
Crowds and VIP spectators are treated to a show of stadium sailing action
on Day 1 of Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series 2011, Cowes, United
Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| The action was tight with the 12 Extreme 40’s fighting for space around the two-lap courses. With bearaways at the top-mark delivering plenty of jaw-dropping action, there was no shortage of waving of protest flags as the referees whistle rang out across the water. |
|
Team GAC Pindar in action on Day 1 of Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing
Series 2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| "It is so tight in this breeze," said Leigh McMillan, skipper The Wave-Muscat. "Because we are going so fast, the closing speeds happen so quickly. We do everything possible to try to keep track of all the boats on the course so you know where the dangers are, but sometimes you are taken by surprise." |
|
The Wave-Muscat in flight in front of the Race Village on the Day 1
of Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series 2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| "It is scary in between races because you know you have another one coming," continued McMillan. "But as soon as that gun goes, the adrenaline is absolutely pumping and you focus on keeping the boat upright and overtaking boats. It all happens in a bit of a blur to be honest and you get to the end of a race and you think, how did that just happen?" |
|
Close to shore action on Day 1, Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series
2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| A compulsory mainsail reef and no gennakers was imposed by the Race Control before the start of Race 4, as wind speeds hit 20 knots with gusts over 25. |
|
Oman Air in action on Day 1, Act 5 of the Extreme Sailing Series 2011,
Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| In between racing the crowds and VIP spectators were treated to a show of other stadium sailing Extreme style. Benji Borg and Seb Ripard from Malta and Britain’s Simon Mark and Nick Murray went into close combat for a couple of hours as they raced their Olympic class 49ers’ pre-Extreme 40s’. And British windsurfing champion Guy Cribb challenged Oman Air to a spectacular head to head at the after the day’s racing. Enthralling stuff with plenty more to come over the coming days as Act 5 starts to ramp up. |
|
The 49er's racing on Day 1 of Act 5, during the Extreme Sailing Series
2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
Extreme Sailing Series Act 5 at Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week
Current overall standings after 4 races, Day 1
Position / Team / Skipper and crew / Points
| 1st |
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), Pierre Pennec, Christophe Espagnon, Thierry Fouchier and Hervé Cunningham on 43 points. |
| 2nd |
Luna Rossa (ITA), Max Sirena, Paul Campbell-James, Alister Richardson and Manuel Modena on 42 points. |
| 3rd |
The Wave-Muscat (OMA), Leigh McMillan, Kyle Langford, Nick Hutton and Khamis Al Anbouri on 34 points. |
| 4th |
Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Will Howden and Luke Cross on 33 points. |
| 5th |
Alinghi (SUI), Tanguy Cariou, Yann Guichard, Nils Frei and Yves Detrey on 28 points. |
| 6th |
Artemis Racing (SWE), Santiago Lange, Andy Fethers, Michele Ivaldi and Phil Jameson on 27 points. |
| 7th |
Team GAC Pindar (GBR), Ian Williams, Mischa Heemskerk, Andrew Walsh and Jono Macbeth on 27 points. |
| 8th |
Oman Air (OMA), Sidney Gavignet, Kinley Fowler, David Carr and Nasser Al Mashari on 24 points. |
| 9th |
Niceforyou (ITA), Alberto Barovier, Stefano Rizzi, Daniele de Luca and Simone de Mari on 19 points. |
| 10th |
Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Adam Beashel, Richard Meacham, Andrew McLean and Chris Ward on 19 points. |
| 11th |
Aberdeen Asset Management (GBR) John Pink, Rick Peacock, Greg Bowman and John Gimson on 12 points. |
| 12th |
Team Extreme (EUR), Roland Gaebler, Nahid Gaebler, Benedikt Wenk and Dan Morris on 1 point. |
|
|
The 49er's racing on Day 1 of Act 5, during the Extreme Sailing Series
2011, Cowes, United Kingdom.
Photo © Lloyd Images.
|
 |
|
|
| For more information about the Extreme Series, go to the official website at: www.extremesailingseries.com. Video can also be found on the Extreme Sailing Series YouTube channel can be found at: http://www.youtube.com/extremesailingseries. |
|
| Outimage and the
Extreme Sailing Series © 2011 |
