Seven teams have been announced for the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series. The event, which features foiling GC32 catamarans will open in Muscat Oman from the 14th to the 17th of March.
Muscat will be the first of eight worldwide events in what will be the 12th consecutive season. While the boats have changed from the Extreme 40 and the name has changed from the iShares Cup, the format of stadium sailing has remained the same.
As usual, the lineup features some well known names – some who established their professional sailing careers in this format as well as giving younger sailors a taste of professional team sport. Teams like Alinghi, Oman Sail and Land Rover BAR academy are well known to Extreme Sailing fans.
Racing will be streamed live on 16 and 17 March on the event’s official Facebook and YouTube channels
Leigh McMillan, is no stranger to the series. McMillan will helm for Land Rover BAR Academy. He commented
“The competition is going to be really high this year; I think maybe one of the highest standards we’ve seen on the circuit in a long time; everyone has to be consistent over the season when it’s such a strong fleet.”
Adam Minoprio will helm SAP Extreme Sailing Team, the New Zealand star added
“This year looks like it’s going to be the toughest year in a long time. The line-up is going to make for some great racing – consistency is what will win the championship this year.”
Alinghi has won the series 3 times, they are back with the same crew as last year. Co-skipper and helm Arnaud Psarofaghis is keen to hit the water in Oman:
“Muscat is one of the best Acts of the season – the conditions suit us well. We have the same crew in place as last year, so we already have the chemistry amongst the team to get results.”
Fans can follow the action via the official social media platforms and website, and can watch the Extreme Sailing Series racing live on the official Facebook and YouTube channels from 14:00-17:30 (UTC+4) Friday 16 March and 13:00-16:30 (UTC+4) Saturday 17 March.
The teams line-up – Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 1, Muscat, Oman
Alinghi (SUI)
- Co-skipper/Helm: Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI)
- Tactician/Mainsail Trimmer: Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA)
- Headsail Trimmer: Nils Frei (SUI)
- Bowman: Yves Detrey (SUI)
- Foil Trimmer: Timothé Lapauw (FRA)
Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR)
- Skipper/Trimmer: Will Alloway (GBR)
- Helm: Leigh McMillan (GBR)
- Float/Trimmer: Adam Kay (GBR)
- Float/Trimmer: Mark Spearman (GBR)
- Bowman: Oli Greber (GBR)
Oman Air (OMA)
- Skipper/Helm: Phil Robertson (NZL)
- Mainsail Trimmer: Pete Greenhalgh (GBR)
- Headsail Trimmer: Stewart Dodson (NZL)
- Bowman: Nasser Al Mashari (OMA)
- Bowman: James Wierzbowski (AUS)
SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN)
- Co-skipper/Tactician/Mainsheet: Rasmus Køstner (DEN)
- Helm: Adam Minoprio (NZL)
- Headsail Trimmer: Pierluigi de Felice (ITA)
- Bowman: Richard Mason (GBR)
- Trim Assist/Grind: Julius Hallström (SWE)
Team México (MEX)
- Skipper/Foil Trimmer: Erik Brockmann (MEX)
- Helm: Tom Phipps (GBR)
- Mainsail Trimmer: Alex Higby (GBR)
- Headsail Trimmer: Tom Buggy (GBR)
- Bowman: Danel Belausteguigoitia (MEX)
