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The Official
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www.sailing.org |
Tornado Olympic sailors Leigh Mcmillan and Will Howden (GBR) have bought a new performance level to Mike's team, who stepped back to allow the McMillan take the helm. It was a shrewd move and Golding's team are really starting to gel, and will certainly be a force to contend with in the future. Yann Guichard's (FRA) men on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, winners at the first round in France, always excel in light airs but struggle at times in heavy conditions. A final win in the last race would have lifted their spirits to secure third overall on the podium.
A real battle developed mid-leaderboard between Loïck Peyron (FRA) on Oman Sail Masirah, Red Bull Extreme Sailing and Groupama 40. Only a handful of points separated these three going into the final race. Peyron secured fourth overall, although he never really got into his stride here, and Roman Hagara (AUT) on Red Bull.
Extreme Sailing claimed fifth and although lacked consistency they, nonetheless, scored six bullets, ahead of the fastest man round the planet Franck Cammas (FRA) on Groupama 40. Groupama 40 provided the most dramatic moment of the UK round on the second day when the 40-foot catamaran careered towards the concrete sea wall without steerage. Franck and the crew had no option but to leap to safety.
Team GAC Pindar, who had the satisfaction of claiming some race wins here, proving that when they get it right they are competitive, finished in seventh place ahead of Roland Jourdain's (FRA) Veolia Environment who is competing in the UK round as a one-off experience (for now!). For the co-creator of the Extreme 40 class, Mitch Booth (NED) and the Team Ocean Racing Club, it proved to be a disastrous regatta, breaking their front beam ahead of the penultimate day and then having to sit and watch the other eight boats have some of the best racing this circuit has ever seen.
The Wave, Muscat's victory here means they now share the top spot on the overall Series leaderboard with 14 points apiece. Two points behind are Ecover and Oman Sail Masirah both on 12 points.
Next stop for the Extreme Sailing Series is Kiel in Germany between 26-29 August.
For more details on the Extreme Sailing Series visit: www.extremesailingseries.com