Regattasegeln 2011 - Extreme 40 Sailing Series Qingdao

Extreme 40 Sailing Series 2012 - Qingdao, 17.-20.April 2012
www.extremesailingseries.com/ - Übersicht Qingdao

Fotogalerie Qingdao
12/4/12
China’s ‘City of Sailing’ prepares to welcome Extreme 40 fleet

- Gloves are off as the fleet heads to Qingdao for Act 2 “Last year I entered into Act 2 in Qingdao too conservatively. This year, it will be different.” Pierre Pennec, skipper Groupe Edmond de Rothschild
- Number of crew changes for Act 2 and two female sailors will be competing including Olympic Chinese sailor and Qingdao resident Xiaqun Song
- Win an official Extreme Sailing Series™ jacket, exclusively designed by Marinepool – one for the ladies and one for the gents
- The world’s biggest water sports programme, Watersports World to broadcast Act 1 Muscat highlights on Sky Sports – first broadcast 18th April

Act 2 of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series™ is rapidly approaching with less than one week until the iconic city of Qingdao plays host to the nine competing international teams. The fleet will go head-to-head from the 17 to 20 April as the Series returns to the 2008 Olympic venue for the second consecutive year, a venue that lends itself perfectly to the stadium style racing. Watch the preview video here.

The Omani-flagged teams Oman Air and The Wave, Muscat have the advantage as they head to China, having scored a one-two respectively on their home waters during the opening round of the Series. Morgan Larson and his Oman Air crew snatched the win from Pierre Pennec’s men on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild during the final race of the final day, and for pre-season favourite Pennec, the gloves are well and truly off. “Last year I entered into Act 2 in Qingdao too conservatively. This year, it will be different. To be ahead of the game we will need to take some risks. The level of the fleet will be surely higher than what we saw in Muscat a few weeks ago.” Pennec continued, “Qingdao is a very interesting playing field that demands that every opportunity is seized and to be versatile.”

Qingdao holds some very vivid memories for many of the sailors, many of who represented their nations on these waters at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Amongst them is Red Bull Sailing Team skipper and double Olympic gold medallist Roman Hagara, who has fond memories of sailing in Qingdao. “I am looking forward to the race in Qingdao. It is like a second hometown for me. We spent a month in China before the Olympic Games for training on the Tornado, and it was great to participate at the Olympics of course.”

Red Bull Sailing Team was one of four teams to capsize in Qingdao in 2011, during an unprecedented day that has become one of the most memorable in the history of the Series. Ian Williams and the British GAC Pindar were also amongst those to fall victim to the extraordinary conditions in Fushan Bay as Williams remembered, “Qingdao threw everything at us last year and consequently was a huge learning experience for the whole team. This year we will be much better prepared for whatever comes our way.” Williams and the team put in a solid performance during Act 1, finishing in fifth place, and is optimistic they have more to give. Williams continued, “Last year Luna Rossa won the Qingdao Act after finishing fifth in Oman which shows that things can turn around fast and certainly we’ll be looking for an improvement from our Oman finishing position.”

The public is expected to be out in force during the public days (18-20 April) supporting Chinese sailors Kit Cheng and Xiaqun Song onboard local boat China Team. A 2008 Olympian in the Yngling class, Xiaqun is one of only two women competing – the other is Britain’s Rachel Williamson on The Wave, Muscat – and as a Qingdao resident, Xiaqun had some local insight to share with the fleet. “Last year a few boats had problems during one windy day, but I would say mostly it will be light and tricky weather again this time. I was on the Race Committee boat last year and everybody gets a chance to lead the fleet because the conditions vary so they can favour different teams at different times. The racing takes place close to shore which gives an excellent view for the public.”

There will be a few new faces on the start line in Qingdao as four of the teams announce crew changes. Regular Alinghi crew Pierre-Yves Jorand from Switzerland will be taking over as skipper from Ernesto Bertarelli, paving the way for 2011 Team TILT crew Charles Favre (SUI) to jump onboard as helm. 2010 Danish sailor of the year and World Match Racing Tour champion from the same year, Christian Kamp, will take over from Britain’s Simon Hiscocks on the Danish entry. Making their Extreme 40 debuts in Qingdao are both Patrick Aucour, who will join Loick Peyron’s ZouLou in place of Antoine Joubert, and Roindex Petit who will replace Adeline Chatenet on the all-French team Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. For full crew lists click here.

Watch the race coverage online Fans can watch the race coverage from Qingdao online and enjoy all the action from the multi-camera coverage, complete with commentary by Britain’s best-known sailing commentator, Richard Simmonds. Race coverage will be streamed via the official website from Wednesday 18 April. Times to be confirmed.

Win an exclusive Marinepool jacket! In our second give away this season, Extreme 40 fans have the chance to win an official Extreme Sailing Series™ jacket, exclusively designed by Marinepool, the Official Technical and Lifestyle Clothing Supplier to the Series. Enter the competition online now!

Act 1 highlights on Sky Sports The world’s biggest watersports programme, Watersports World, including exclusive footage from Act 1 when Oman Air clinched victory in Muscat, will air on Sky Sports 4 tomorrow, (18 April)

Sky Sports (times GMT) WED 18-Apr 17:00-18.00 Sky Sports 4 WED 18-Apr 22:00-23.00 Sky Sports 4 THURS 19-Apr 01:00-02.00 Sky Sports 3 THURS 19-Apr 12:00-13.00 Sky Sports 3 SUN 22-Apr 06:00-07.00 Sky Sports 4 TUES 24-Apr 03:30-04.30 Sky Sports 1

Extreme Sailing Series 2012 overall standings
Position / Team / Points
1st Oman Air (OMA) 10 points 2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 9 points 3rd Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) 8 points 4th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 7 points 5th GAC Pindar (GBR) 6 points 6th ZouLou (FRA) 5 points 7th Alinghi (SUI), 4 points 8th Team Trifork (DEN) 3 points

Act 1, Muscat - Day 4 - The Fleet The fleet set off on day 4 of racing in Muscat Download Original Large Medium Small © Lloyd Images Act 1, Muscat - Day 1 - Groupe Edmond de Rothschild Groupe Edmond de Rothschild take victory on the first day of racing in Muscat Download Original Large Medium Small © Lloyd Images Act 2, Qingdao - Red Bull Extreme Sailing capsize Red Bull Extreme Sailing capsize during Act 2 in Qingdao Download Original Large Medium Small -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Videos 2012 Extreme Sailing Series heads to Qingdao for Act 2 The 2012 Extreme Sailing Series heads to the 2008 Olympic venue in Qingdao, China, for four days of racing from the 17-20 April. Follow all the action LIVE online www.extremesailingseries.com Download Original MP4 640 x 480 FLV 560 x 349