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December 13th 2010
AN 11-MONTH, 9 EVENT GLOBAL CIRCUIT THAT
CONTINUES TO CHANGE THE WAY SAILING IS SEEN>BR>
In Numbers:
-&xnbsp; 9 events confirmed for 2011 circuit spanning North America,
Europe, Arabia and Asia.
- &xnbsp; Mix of venues from iconic cities and unconventional 'stadiums
', to established sailing destinations and emerging sailing
markets.
-&xnbsp; 10 top class teams representing 8 nations, and a dozen
different nationalities of sailors.
- &xnbsp; 5-day events offering a unique mix of 'open-water' racing and
with high octane 'stadium' racing – high sporting integrity, but
entertaining non-sailors and sailors alike too.
-&xnbsp; Fleet racing, figure of 8 duels, time trials, match racing and
other formats of racing will continue to be used – but always
short, sharp and punchy!
-&xnbsp; 'Money can't buy' VIP experiences on and off the water –
pioneering 5th man spots reindex a key value of the event.
-&xnbsp; 8-hour programme of entertainment (on and off the water) on
every public-facing day.
- &xnbsp; 12 x Optimists, 8 x 49ers, and at least 3 other classes of
'support act' over the season including windsurfers, kiteboarders
-&xnbsp; 5-year vision and key developments planned for 2011
2011 Videos
In Detail: Changing the way sailing is seen
On the eve of the World Yacht Racing Forum in Estoril (Portugal),
the Extreme Sailing Series™ unveiled a great package of
interesting and varied host venues, and top level professional
sailing teams and skippers for 2011. The award-winning and 'ISAF
Special Event' circuit is going truly global as it enters its
fifth year, with 9 events spanning 3 continents, over 11 months
and 10 teams representing 8 nations. A core objective of the
event reindexs to be the most commercially sound way for brands
and host venues to benefit from the great offer that
professional sailing can present. This philosophy has been at
the heart of the product since its inception in 2006, with the
vast majority of teams since 2007 being sponsorship funded. The
2011 package provides a global sponsorship platform, at a very
accessible budget level, and with a queue of sailors keen to
compete.
"The circuit has come a long way since 2007 when we had just 4
European events and 5 teams," commented Mark Turner, Executive
Chairman of organisers OC ThirdPole.&xnbsp; "We continue to attract
new top sponsored teams, sailors and, importantly, major new
venues where we can showcase the sport with our game-changing
'stadium' format.&xnbsp; The choice of venues for 2011 has been our
core commercial team focus since the end of 2009. We are getting
closer to the perfect mix of established iconic cities, premium
venues, great sailing destinations and emerging (sailing)
markets.
"We continue to indextain the mix of sporting integrity and
entertainment. We have shown inshore sailing can actually be fun
to watch for the non-sailor as well as the sailor! Part of the
DNA of the circuit since the beginning, our 5th man spot reindexs
one of the sport's greatest assets – be it for sponsors clients,
media, TV cameramen, or prizewinners drawn from the general
public," he concluded.
© Paul Wyeth
The 2011 global circuit, which kicks off in Muscat in February
2011 and concludes in Singapore in December, is entering a new
phase of development as part of a five year vision, after a
challenging but successful 2010. Turner explains, "iShares was
acquired by BlackRock at the end of 2009, which meant an end to
the founding partnership of the event. We committed to running a
test event in Asia and what was another successful European
season in 2010 without a index partner. That was a big investment
for our OC ThirdPole business, but one we believed in," said
Turner.
"Going forward we now have some meaningful host venue
partnerships, strong teams, and a long term business plan with
funding in place which will allow us to continue to develop the
Extreme Sailing Series™ across all areas over the next five
years - on the water, the shore-side public entertainment
package and the media platforms," he promised.
In addition to the host venue partnerships, and local sponsors
for each event, OMEGA returns as Official Timekeeper, Marinepool
join as Official Technical Clothing Supplier, and Pol Roger as
the Official Champagne Supplier for the series. Further partners
at both series and local level to be announced in the New Year.
A circuit spanning North America, Europe, Arabia and Asia
The 2011 Extreme Sailing Series™ kicks off in the Sultanate of
Oman in February, as part of the annual Muscat Festival, before
heading to China for Act 2 (location to be announced separately)
. The gateway between Europe and Asia, and European City of Sport
for 2012, Istanbul, will host the third Act before the Extreme
40 fleet travels to the United States of America for the first
time, to Boston's waterfront in time for the July 4th
celebrations.
Cowes Week welcomes the Extreme 40s for the fifth consecutive
year for Act 5, ahead of a return to the Sicilian port of
Trapani, for the second consecutive year. The French round will
be staged on Mediterranean waters in Nice before Almería, in
Andalucia, Spain hosts the penultimate event and the 2011
circuit will be decided in Singapore in mid-December.
10 Teams Representing 8 Nations, with sailors from more than 12
countries, and from diverse backgrounds (Volvo Ocean Race,
America's Cup, Olympic Gold medalists, World Match Racing Tour
etc..)
Diversity and quality are once again hallmarks of the Extreme
Sailing Series line upTwo-times runner-up Groupe Edmond de
Rothschild returns (skipper as yet unknown); new entry Luna
Rossa has snapped up last year's winning skipper Paul Campbell
-James as helm, with the boat skippered by America's Cup winning
sailor, Max Sirena. Oman Air Masirah, returns, skippered by
French Volvo Ocean Race veteran Sidney Gavignet; double Olympic
Gold Medallist Roman Hagara enters for the second season with
his Red Bull Extreme Sailing team.
Britain's Ian Williams, two times winner of the World Match
Racing Tour joins Team GAC Pindar; another new Italian entry,
Team Nice, led by Alberto Barovier and 2010 winners, The Wave,
Muscat return to defend their title, this time skippered by
emerging star Torvar Mirsky.
© Roberto Foresti/ Canon
Alinghi returns to the fleet after winning in 2008, skippered by
experienced Extreme 40 tactician Tanguy Cariou; Paul Cayard's
Artemis Racing is skippered by American Terry Hutchinson and
finally, new to the 2011 circuit will be Emirates Team New
Zealand, skippered by Kiwi America's Cup winner, Dean Barker,
who experienced Extreme 40 racing for the first time at the
final event in Almería this year.
Event Format and new Class Rules
In 2011, each Act will generally consist of five days of racing
as opposed to four days in 2010, and three in 2009. Each Act
will be true to the core aspirations of the Extreme Sailing
Series™ ethos - mixing 'open-water' racing with 'stadium' short
-course racing in front of the public, including all the various
disciplines and courses used already from fleet racing to match
racing, straight line duels and speed trials. A large investment
will be made again in the on-water umpiring – essential for
ensuring the fans know the results as they watch, rather than
wait for post-event protests.
Turner confirmed, "We are committed to indextaining the highest
sporting integrity, as we have done since 2007. Recently taking
control of the Extreme 40 Class from the creators, TornadoSport,
has allowed us to also develop the rules of both event and boats
in unison, to ensure a more equal chance to win, and also drive
down many of the costs for the teams. We've limited sails (and
dropped the price), decreased support costs with a central Tech
Zone and team, and are managing all shipping logistics centrally
as well as a host of other detail changes that all affect both
return on investment for team sponsors, and ensure sporting
equality regardless of budget size."
The new Class rules are published this week. A typical full
budget for a competitive year long campaign will range between
450k and 650k Euros, plus a boat at c.100k Euros per year
(charter or depreciated purchased cost over 4 years).
© Paul Wyeth
Developing further the public events side, the organiser has
committed to providing an eight-hour mix of entertainment on
'public' days. On the water a number of support acts, like the
Olympic 49er class, windsurfing and kiteboarding, will build up
to the index Extreme 40 headline act. A strong local community
and charity campaign in each venue will see children given the
chance to get on the water each morning. Wrapped around the on
-water competition will be a comprehensive on-shore entertainment
programme within the race village from interactive entertainment
to music, alongside bars and food outlets.&xnbsp; Music acts will also
take centre stage under the Extreme Sailing Series 'Sailing
Remixed™' banner at a number of the venues.
A global event such as this has a significant 'footprint'. The
environmental audit of the 2010 event is nearing completion, and
will be used as the benchmark to improve all aspects of the
event's energy, waste and water footprint going forward.
Initiatives from 2010, such as minimizing bottled water, are
being analysed and evolved for 2011. This particular challenge
has no finish line, but the race has begun.
And for the fans off-site, live commentary and audio from the
boats will be streamed online, with possibility of live TV in
some venues still under consideration. A new iPhone 'app' will
also be launched during Q2, complementing a wide range of
communication channels used by the event. Video online will
continue to feature strongly, via YouTube and syndicated
channels – especially for the short action clips the event is
best known for. The current global TV programming platform will
continue to be developed, but now also in HD format.
In 2010 Extreme Sailing Series has attracted coverage in over 120
countries in 13 languages including on CNN (Intl), UK
Terrestrial station Channel 4, Bloomberg (Intl), Sky Sports (UK,
NZ), Fox Sport (Australia), Sport+ (France) and ESPN (Brazil),
with over 60hours of airtime for each programme in the five part
series.
2011 Calendar & Host Venues:
Act 1: 22-24 February, Muscat, Oman (20-21 'open-water' racing*)
Act 2: 15-17 April, China (13-14 'open-water' racing)
Act 3: 27-29 May, Istanbul, Turkey (25-26 'open-water' racing)
Act 4: 30 June – 4 July, Boston, USA (all days public event)
Act 5: 6-12 August, Cowes, UK (all days public event)
Act 6: 16-18 September, Trapani, Italy (14-15 'open-water' racing
Act 7: 30 September – 2 October, Nice, France (28-29 'open-water'
racing)
Act 8: 12-16 October, Almeria, Spain (all days public event)
Act 9: 9-11 December, Singapore (7-8 'open-water' racing)
* 'open-water' racing means that the Race Manager can use
whatever part of the arena is best for racing – once the public
village is open in 'stadium' mode there are sometimes
constraints in this respect in order to ensure the fans can see
all the action.
2011 Confirmed* Teams & Skippers:
Team Name/ Nat Skipper Name (Nat.)
Alinghi/ SUI - Tanguy Cariou (FRA)
Artemis Racing/ SWE - Terry Hutchinson (USA)
Emirates Team New Zealand/ NZL - Dean Barker (NZL)
Groupe Edmond de Rothschild/ FRA (As Yet Unknown)
Luna Rossa/ ITA - Max Sirena (ITA)
Oman Air Masirah/ OMA - Sidney Gavignet (FRA)
Red Bull Extreme Sailing/ AUT - Roman Hagara (AUT)
Team GAC Pindar/ GBR - Ian Williams (GBR)
Team Nice/ ITA - Alberto Barovier (ITA)
The Wave, Muscat/ OMA - Torvar Mirsky (AUS)
*initial entry period closed today, 13 December, however late
entries may be permitted under the Notice of Race, up to a
maximum of 11 boats, plus three wildcards for use by the
organisation. The annual objective of Extreme Sailing Series™ is
8 quality teams.
To download editorial free content, register to our online Media
Server: [http://media.ocgroup.com/login/ess]
The Extreme Sailing Series is a unique concept, pitting some of
the very best professional sailing teams in the world against
each other on identical Extreme 40 catamarans, on challenging,
tactical courses, but close to shore to provide spectacular,
stadium-style entertainment for the public.
The award-winning European circuit in 2011 will visit visited
Muscat (Oman), Istanbul (UK), Boston (USA), Cowes (UK), Trapani
(Italy), Nice (France), Almeria (Spain) and finally Singapore
between February and December 2011.
The on-the-water action in 2011 will, once again, be complimented
by bespoke VIP corporate hospitality and attracts international
media attention including a five part TV-series distributed in
over 100 countries.
13.12.2010 - Team GAC Pindar confirm entry in Extreme Sailing Series(tm)
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