Alinghi Under Pressure as SAP Breaks Extreme Sailing Series Speed Record on Day 2 in Cascais

SAP Extreme Sailing Team made history today in Cascais, Portugal, as they smashed the record for the fastest speed ever recorded in the 12 year history of the Extreme Sailing Series.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

Shooting straight off the startline, the Danes set a new speed record of 36.4 knots in the first race of the day. They sailed even faster in the race that followed by clocking a top speed of 37.9 knots in the second race of the day.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

The record was previously held by Red Bull Sailing Team when they hit 36 knots in December 2016 on Sydney Harbour.

"That was some intense racing. It was really windy and gusty out there, and some of the gusts hit 27 knots. We just need to keep doing what we're doing and we had a much better day today," said SAP Extreme Sailing Team's helmsman, Adam Minoprio.

Alinghi Photo: © Lloyd Images

The Danish squad now has a foot on a very tight podium. Only one point separates each of the three frontrunners with Alinghi, Oman Air and SAP Extreme Sailing Team sitting on first, second and third respectively.

Oman Air Photo: © Lloyd Images

While SAP Extreme Sailing Team climbed the ranks, Oman Air closed the gap on Act leaders Alinghi. As the points separating the teams lessened, Oman Air's fighting form went from strength to strength. Finishing the day on a high, the Omani squad closed the second day of the Act with a race win.

"As we sailed downwind, the boats absolutely ripped through the water. Flat water and big, big puffs, we were going pretty fast today. Great sailingm" said the team's skipper, Phil Robertson.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

INEOS Rebels UK were full of promise finishing on the podium yesterday after sailing consistently and grabbing four second place finishes. But any hope of a repeat performance today were soon dashed, as they hit the windward mark in the penultimate race of the day. This collision saw them stall and cross the finish line in last place in race 14.

"We got to the top and the wind started doing circles on us. Mark Spearman (mainsail trimmer) managed to cut the mark away, so we did a good job to get free. Overall, we felt like we built on yesterday and did a really good job of coming together as a team," explained skipper Will Alloway.

Photo: © Lloyd Images

Team Portugal also faced the wrath of the Series, when they were forced to retire from Race 12 with a broken tack line. After a brief stint back at the dock for running repairs, the young Portuguese crew returned to the course for the day's final race.

"It was very tough out there. We chose not to use the code zero sail for safety and control of the boat because of the wind. Although we had a problem with our tack line, we managed to return so we're pretty pleased." said Luís Brito, the team's co-skipper and mentor.

Extreme Sailing Series 2018 Act 4, Cascais Standings after Day 2, 15 races (06.07.18)

Position / Team / Points

1. Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey: 154 points
2. Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson, Nasser Al Mashari: 153 pts
3. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Køstner, Adam Minoprio, Julius Hallström, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason: 152 pts
4. INEOS Rebels UK (GBR) Will Alloway, Leigh McMillan, Oli Greber, Adam Kay, Mark Spearman: 148 pts
5. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Ed Powys, Neil Hunter, Dan Morris, Rhys Mara: 131 pts
6. Team México (MEX) Erik Brockmann, Tom Buggy, Alex Higby, Tom Phipps, Danel Belausteguigoitia Fierro: 105 pts
7. Team Portugal (POR) Luís Brito, Henrique Brites, Adam Piggott, Bernardo Loureiro, João Assoreira: 96 pts

MR edited by Lulu Roseman