Pre-event favourites The Wave, Muscat win on home waters for the third consecutive year, narrowly denying the Danish SAP Extreme Sailing Team their first ever Act victory, after a down to the wire final double points race shoot out at the Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 2, Muscat.
Credit : Lloyd Images [More pics, here]
After six races, just two points separated the Omani and Danish teams – with the advantage in the hands of Rasmus Kostner and Jes Gram Hansen on SAP Extreme Sailing Team, after winning the first two races of the day. The teams went toe to toe in the final and 29th race of the Act, and it was The Wave, Muscat who took control from the start, playing the light seven-knot wind shifts expertly, to extend away from the fleet and take the race win and overall Act victory – SAP Extreme Sailing Team taking third place to secure them second.
“It was a tough day, it didn’t go to plan, we had some really difficult starts and SAP (Extreme Sailing Team) really put the pressure on, so it was pretty evenly matched,” explained helm McMillan, “We had to dig deep and we knew it would come down the last race, all we had to do was beat them or they beat us. Everyone on the boat kept pushing hard to make the best of the situation and in the end we got the result, but it wasn’t easy.”
Third place was a battle between the Austrian Red Bull Sailing Team and Oman Air and the pressure was evident. On the start line of race two, Oman Air collided into the back of the Austrians, knocking off their rudders and causing irreparable damage. An average points redress for Red Bull minimised the points damage; the Olympic champion from Austria Hans Peter Steinacher and his team finishing the Act in third overall, ahead of Oman Air, who were unable to recover from their black flag disqualification resulting from the collision, despite a strong performance all week.
After 2 Acts this year, (the first in Singapore just five weeks ago), Red Bull Sailing Team, The Wave, Muscat and SAP Extreme Sailing Team are all tied on 18 points on the Series standing. Next up, the Series moves to Qingdao, China, 30 April – 3 May. Find out more about the Extreme Sailing Series at www.extremesailingseries.com.
Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 2 Muscat standings after Day 4, 29 races (14.03.15)
1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA) Leigh McMillan, 239 points.
2nd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Jes Gram-Hansen, 237 points.
3rd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Hans Peter Steinacher, 220 points.
4th Oman Air (OMA) Stevie Morrison, 211 points.
5th Team Turx powered by Kaya Ropes (TUR) Mitch Booth, 189 points.
6th GAC Pindar (GBR) Seve Jarvin, 167 points.
7th Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) Lorenzo Bressani, 157 points.
8th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) Igor Lisovenko, 152 points.
Extreme Sailing Series™ 2015 Overall standings after Act 2, Muscat
1st Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 18 points.
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 18 points.
3rd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 18 points.
4th Oman Air (OMA) 13 points.
5th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 10 points.
6th GAC Pindar (GBR) 10 points.
7th Team Turx powered by Kaya Ropes (TUR) 9 points.
8th Lino Sonego Team Italia (ITA) 8 points.
From Extreme Sailing Series
