They Say It's Too Close to Call!
They Say It's Too Close to Call!
Report AbuseeXtreme Update From Class:
It’s too close to call in the eXtreme 40 Series | Alicante Grand Prix after three days and 22 races. Randy Smyth and Delta Lloyd/Tommy Hilfiger just have the edge, one point ahead of Alicante 2008-09 – but with nearly 20 races still scheduled, it could all change again.
With sudden puffs and shifts coming through the course, as well as some big gusts that had the extreme 40 catamarans soaring high on one hull into the top mark, and a punishing eight-race schedule, today was a challenging one for all six extreme 40 Grand Prix entries. “It was pretty epic today, we’ve had a bit of everything!’ said Volvo Ocean Race skipper Hugh Styles after racing.
It was an epic day and "extremely" fun and the pun is completely intended! The eXtreme 40 class has mastered close to shore, high energy entertainment for the onshore spectator and exceptional racing. I sat in on two races yesterday, one with Team Volvo Ocean Race (skippered by the dashing and soft spoken Englishman Hugh Styles) and a second with Team Delta Lloyd/Tommy (skippered by the charming and easy going American: Randy Smyth)
Fantastic is not fitting enough a word to describe how cool these boats are. Physically challenging, an understatement. Exhilarating, well lets see, imagine driving your car at full speed towards a wall and at the last minute bailing out (the wall, in this case: either the massive cruise ship on starboard side of course or tanker to port!)
Spectator's sport? Hell yah! (Pardon the language!) The cruise ship provided "grand-stand" style viewing and every open balcony was occupied by an onlooker. The dockside full of people and the class/event provide live video and commentary for the public. I was extremely lucky, after my ride on Team Volvo, Ms. Carrie Howe (you should all know this A-class Olympian!) scooted over in her ducky and shouted, "hey, so do you have time to stay out a bit longer?" Hmm...let me think, "YES!" and onto the duckie to chase the fleet around.
Carrie is Team Delta Lloyd/Tommy' coach, looking after them, driving for the leisure corporate/VIP sails in the morning and fills in for the fifth crew during racing in the afternoon. Might I add a queen at using little duckies to rescue x-40s from rock walls...
Was a good afternoon here in Alicante. Today...well, the weather is just dreadful...they say we are due for winds up to 40 today and A LOT of rain. Thankfully we have press conferences ALL day today and all inside:
[list]Press Conference w/ Navigators @ 1030H[/list]
[list]Media briefing w/ Media Crew Members @ 1230H[/list]
[list]Team Russia Press Conference @ 1500H[/list]
[list]Irish Press Night Party @ 2000[/list]
So, maybe the last bit is a party...but Sailing World HAS to be there!!
Cheers!
P.S. Occurred to me that I've not mentioned: have been the only American correspondent covering the start and Sailing World Magazine is the ONLY American sailing publication represented down here...
