Extreme 40s Going Hell For Leather in Boston

The ever changing conditions on the second day of racing at the Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 in Boston, has left the competition wide open.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

After seven races today Terry Hutchinson’s crew on Artemis Racing extended their lead at the top ahead of The Wave, Muscat by seven points. Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand strong performance today moves the Kiwi team into third place.

“We were really happy with today,” Barker said. “We won four races and sailed in good shape for the rest. In the last race we copped a penalty and managed to fall back three places, so we were actually pretty happy with how we continued as it would have been easy to give up but we finished in 8th which is good, and an improvement on yesterday.”

Photo: © Lloyd Images

The day's racing got underway in  light and flukey conditions. Emirates Team New Zealand won the first race while three boats fell foul of the time limit rule for not finishing within six minutes of the winning boat. It wasn’t until the fourth race that the sea breeze really filled in and stabilized.

Alinghi, skippered by Tanguy Cariou, came back strongly in the second half to climb from 9th to 6th place. In the fifth race Red Bull Extreme Sailing collided with Team GAC Pindar putting them out of action with a damaged rudder and slipping to eighth. Roman Hagara’s team will be look for points redress given Team GAC Pindar were at fault.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

For many of the new teams to the circuit, the experience of three events is starting to pay off. Italy’s Niceforyou is in a great battle mid-leaderboard, just two points behind Alinghi.“The racing is pretty tricky,” said Skipper Alberto Barovier. “We survived two days with a good consistency on results which is very good for us and an improvement on the other venues. We are looking forward to doing better tomorrow and the next day.”

In the day's final race Roland Gaebler’s Team Extreme claimed their first win of the regatta with American 470 Olympic silver medalist Bob Merrick onboard. But disappointment for Pierre Pennec’s French team on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild who crossed the line first but touched the finish mark and copped a penalty, forcing them to re-cross the finish line. Pennec wasn't happy with his sixth place but the French team are still very much in the running having posted multiple second places today and are placed fourth overall.

Extreme Sailing Series Act 4 at Fan Pier Boston, USA
Current overall standings after 14 races, Day 2 (1.7.11)

Position / Team / Skipper & crew / Points
1st Artemis Racing (SWE), Terry Hutchinson / Sean Clarkson / Morgan Trubovich / Julien Cressant 114 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA), Leigh McMillan / Kyle Langford / Nick Hutton / Khamis Al Anbouri 107 points
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Dean Barker / Adam Beashel / James Dagg / Jeremy Lomas 106 points
4th Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), Pierre Pennec / Christophe Espagnon / Thierry Fouchier / Hervé Cunningham 101 points
5th Luna Rossa (ITA), Max Sirena / Paul Campbell-James / Alister Richardson / Manuel Modena 88 points
6th Alinghi (SUI), Tanguy Cariou / Yann Guichard / Nils Frei / Yves Detrey 78 points
7th Niceforyou (ITA), Alberto Barovier / Mark Bulkeley / Daniele de Luca Simone de Mari 76 points
8th Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), Roman Hagara / Hans Peter Steinacher / Will Howden / Craig Monk 70 points
9th Oman Air (OMA), Sidney Gavignet / Kinley Fowler / David Carr / Nasser Al Mashari 69 points
10th Team Extreme (EUR), Roland Gaebler / Bruno Dubois / Sebbe Godefroid / Bob Merrick 57 points
11th Team GAC Pindar (GBR), Ian Williams / Mark Ivey / Andrew Walsh / Jono Macbeth 44 points

Lulu Roseman