Thanks to Suzanne and Alan Whitewood for this latest report of Island sailor, Leigh McMillan’s achievements overseas. Ed
Brazil has certainly been in the news lately with the final race of Formula 1 taking place there. This South American country will certainly be in the news over the next few years with both Soccer’s World Cup in 2014 and The Olympic Games in 2016 taking place there.
However the eyes of the sailing world have been fixed on Rio over the past few days with the final Act of this year’s Extreme 40 racing series taking place under the gaze of the world famous statue of Christ the Redeemer.
The Wave, Muscat
Islander Leigh McMillan and his team on The Wave, Muscat went into this last Act with their names on the leaderboard. Leigh’s team for Rio comprised Ed Smyth, Pete Greenhalgh, Hannah Mills and Hashim Al Rashdi.
Six races were sailed on day one in good sailing conditions with 12 knots of breeze, gusts of 15, and brilliant Brazilian sunshine. There was a collision in race five between Oman Air and Red Bull Sailing.
At the end of the day, Leigh and his team were in second place, while surprisingly none of his biggest rivals managed a top three position.
Good recovery after bad start
Leigh said on day one: “Today was a solid start. We didn’t get off the line well, but had good recovery which has been our saving grace this season. So we are in a good position but the main rivals will be back and we will be looking out for them tomorrow.”
So that locals had someone to support, Brazilian national Olympic legend Torben Grael made his Extreme 40 début as the man in charge of wildcard entry Team Brasil.(sic)
Struggling and battling on day two
On day two Leigh’s team, although yet to win a race in Rio, were tied on points with Roman Hagara’s team on Red Bull Sailing. This year’s Series trophy was beckoning for The Wave Muscat, but by McMillan’s high standards, the team was off pace.
He said “It was a frustrating day, we really felt like we were struggling and battling our way around in the middle of the fleet. It’s a surprise to find we are still in the hunt to be honest so that’s a huge positive for the team as we were feeling pretty down at the end of racing. We can take some relief from that and come back tomorrow fighting.”
Further collisions
Day three and a collision between Brazil’s greatest ever Olympian, Grael on Team Brasil,(sic) and the Extreme Sailing Series tour leader The Wave, Muscat.
Leigh’s team, who were the favourites for the 2012 championship title, started the day crashing into the British team GAC Pindar at the start of race two. Leigh with London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Hannah Mills, turned fortunes around by going on to score three race wins and relishing the stronger breeze.
Damage to The Wave, Muscat
The Wave Muscat looked unstoppable – that was until Torben Grael’s Team Brazil slammed into The Wave, Muscat’s back beam in the penultimate race, causing damage not only to the boat but also some minor muscular damage to Omani bowman Hashim Al Rashidi.
Although Leigh hoped to win in Rio his focus was on the bigger picture. He said “The conditions were absolutely brilliant today in Rio. The team was working really well together in the breeze and we are really happy with our performance. We’re looking forward to another great day tomorrow, and while we would really like to win this Act, the main goal now is securing the overall Series title.”
Scene set for the final day
Meanwhile the French boat, Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, found their best form of the season. The scene was now set for the final day for the 2012 season, with every podium place still open.
Day four, and after the most closely contested finish ever in the six-year history of the Extreme Sailing Series, The Wave, Muscat clinched the final Act by the smallest of margins – just 0.2 points ahead of the French Groupe Edmond de Rothschild. Leigh was almost speechless after racing.
“We are over the moon. We are absolutely thrilled to win here in Rio, it’s been an extra-ordinary event. It came right down to the wire. It was a huge team effort, the guys were fantastic throughout the whole season and I am very thankful for them. It’s been magic, and we are one very happy team.”
Results in Rio
1. The Wave, Muscat (OMA), Leigh McMillan, Ed Smyth, Pete Greenhalgh, Hannah Mills, Hashim Al Rashdi 192.2 points
2. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), Pierre Pennec, Arnaud Psarofaghis, Hervé Cunningham, Romain Petit, Bernard Labro 192 points
3. Oman Air (OMA), Morgan Larson, Will Howden, Charlie Ogletree, Andy Maloney, Nasser Al Mashari 181 points
Result Overall
1. The Wave, Muscat 76.5 points
2. Oman Air 65 points
3. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild 64.5 points
4. Red Bull Sailing Team 59 points
5. GAC Pindar 45.5 points
6. SAP Extreme Sailing Team 42 points
7. Alinghi 35.5 points
8. ZouLou 28 points
Image: © Suzanne and Alan Whitewood
