Oman Sail Win Extreme Sailing Series China

Leigh McMillan, skippering The Wave Muscat for Oman Sail has won the second round of the 2012 Extreme Sailing Series in Qingdao, China. The win puts the team on top of the overall leaderboard.

McMillan won with a race to spare saying:

“We are thrilled to have won here in Qingdao and to have a second and a first place for the first two events is very good stuff for us. We weren’t necessarily expecting to win here. It’s been a tight competition and Red Bull Sailing Team have been performing very well this week and always getting closer and closer, and pushing us harder and harder.”

The Red Bull Extreme sailing team skippered by Roman Hagara were in contention, but came away with second. Hagara said:

“The whole team is really happy especially as we were leading the first two days then we had a really bad third day. The last day the beginning was really hard for us and we made some really bad decisions on the racecourse so ending up in 2nd place on the podium is great for us and the whole team really deserved it because we pushed really hard.”

The last place on the podium went to Groupe Edmond de Rothschild.

Ramus Kostner, co-skipper SAP Extreme Sailing Team who announced SAP as a sponsor earlier in the week said:

“We are still improving all the time and some of our starts were good, and we were able to hold on to our positions so that was really good. When we get in front it looks like we can stay there… All in all we’re pretty happy with our result not to finish last or second last in our second event here in Qingdao.”

Phil Robertson, who hasn’t really done his time yet in top level sailing competition except for a couple of Alpari World Match Racing Tour events was totally outclassed representing China Team. In a competition where Loick Peyron came  6th, it might have been arrogant for the young Kiwis to jump straight into an extreme 40 and expect to come anything but last. Robertson admitted that he might have underestimated the talent in the series:

“It’s been very good competition here in Qingdao and probably higher than we expected. We are very impressed with the whole organisation and the very short courses. This is definitely a new step for us and a different challenge. We are very happy about how it all went and are keen to come back.”

The event showed the intensity of the competition not just between sailors but between Chinese cities to become recognised sailing venues. Co-organised by the Qingdao Yachting Association, Qingdao is using the Extreme Sailing Series to promote the slogan – China’s ‘City of Sailing’  which builds on their delivery of the Olympics.

Extreme Sailing Series 2012, Series standings after 2 Acts

Position / Team / Points

  • 1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 19 points
  • 2nd Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) 16 points
  • 3rd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 16 points
  • 4th Oman Air (OMA) 16 points
  • 5th GAC Pindar (GBR) 13 points
  • 6th ZouLou (FRA) 10 points
  • 7th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 7 points
  • 8th Alinghi (SUI), 7 points

 

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