Our thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest update. Ed
With a city backdrop and based on the Neva River the setting for the first day of Stadium Racing at Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series in St. Petersburg proved testing. Some teams thrived and others suffered within the confines of the tight stadium racecourse, which is just 300 metres wide at its narrowest point.
Only four races were sailed before an increasing current and decreasing breeze shut proceedings down, forcing Race Management to abandon the racing for the day. Three race winners emerged from the four races, with Alinghi taking two and the Swiss Realteam and Gazprom Team Russia one each.
However, despite not winning a race local sailor Leigh McMillan and his team on The Wave, Muscat managed to end the day in second place overall.
Results for day one were: First Alinghi (SUI) 37 points; second The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 28 points and third Realteam by Realstone (SUI).
Mixed conditions for day two
Race conditions on the Neva River remained mixed for the 12-strong Extreme 40 fleet on day two and only two races could be sailed. Against the backdrop of the Winter Palace, mastering the light breeze, overcoming the strong current and remaining consistent paid dividends.
The Wave, Muscat showed that despite the tough conditions it could be done, notching up a third place and a race win – but more importantly, beating the clock – that saw others running out of time and losing out on points, including their long standing duelling partners, Alinghi.
The Wave, Muscat team wearing the colours of Oman, now had a slim three-point advantage at the top of the leaderboard, and Skipper Leigh McMillan, who is going for the treble this year, commented:
“That was our big gain really, and it’s the only time we’ve really been able to get some points over Alinghi in the six races that we’ve had. They’re very quick and very difficult to beat. It’s still a long way to go, we’ve had a good team effort, we’re really happy with our sailing but we can’t predict what’s going to happen next.”
Positions after day two were: First The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 46 points; second Alinghi (SUI) 43 points and third Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 40 points.
Superb conditions for day three
Day three and a massive ten races were sailed in St. Petersburg. With superb sailing conditions the day saw six different race winners resulting in a shake-up on the Act leaderboard.
Three race wins for Alinghi saw the Swiss gain an astonishing 74 points, and regain control of the leaderboard. Helmsman Morgan Larson described the day as his “best day ever” in three years on the circuit.
Despite a handful of results at the bottom of the fleet, Leigh McMillan and The Wave, Muscat, who struggled for momentum, were able to hold off the onslaught from the ever encroaching pack to finish the day in second place.
After their exploits in the JP Morgan Round the Island Race two sailors- Olympic medallist Sir Ben Ainslie and helmsman on the Russian boat Gazprom Team Russia Paul Campbell-James were looking for podium places. Ben Ainslie and his British team on JP Morgan BAR won a race on day three whilst home team Gazprom Team Russia had their best day of the season so far, managing to put two race wins in the bag.
Positions after day three: First Alinghi (SUI) 117 points; second The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 105 points; third Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 93 points and fourth JP Morgan BAR (GBR) 85 points.
Final race shoot out on day four
After day four and 22 races in total Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series™ came down to an edge-of-the-seat final race shoot out, with five teams gunning for the podium and no room for error.
The contest between The Wave, Muscat and Alinghi continued until the final double pointer, but the Omani team needed seven boats between them to overhaul the Swiss – which proved too tall an order for Leigh and Alinghi comfortably took their third Act win of the season.
However, tactician on Leigh’s boat Sarah Ayton was awarded the Land Rover ‘Above and Beyond’ award for inspiring the next generation through her ongoing engagement with young aspiring sailors at every Act this year.
Final positions for Act 4
1st Alinghi (SUI) 160 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA 148 points
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 146 points
Extreme Sailing Series™ 2014 overall standings:
1st Alinghi (SUI) 38 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 35 points
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 32 points
Over four days Russia had thrown just about everything at the fleet, and it is not an Act that will easily be forgotten.
Next stop Cardiff for Act 5 – 22-25 August as part of the Cardiff Harbour Festival.
Image: © Lloyd Images
