The international fleet of GC32s raced off the shore of the Madeira Islands capital, Funchal, for the third Act of the 2017 season. Image: Lloyd Images

It all came down to the final nail-biting double-points race of Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 3, Madeira Islands, which went the way of Danish-flagged SAP Extreme Sailing Team.

Alinghi fought back to take second from Oman Air, but was not able to do enough to catch SAP Extreme Sailing Team. The Swiss syndicate finishes second and Oman Air makes up the podium in third.

“It was extremely stressful out there. The wind was shiftier than the first two days,” said Adam Minoprio, helm of SAP Extreme Sailing Team. “At one point we were last at the first mark and then we managed to be first at the bottom. Then in the last race, the opposite.

“It was incredibly stressful for us sailing and I’m sure it was stressful for everyone watching, but I’m very, very pleased to come away with a win,” added Minoprio.

It was a double victory for the Danes, who also take home the Zhik Speed Machine Trophy for the fastest team on the water, with insights from SAP, for hitting 24.5 knots in the Bay of Funchal.

 

While that means two Act wins for SAP Extreme Sailing Team this season to Alinghi’s single Act victory, the Swiss team remains ahead on points on the overall leaderboard.

 

Red Bull Sailing Team had a strong come-back from yesterday’s dramatic capsize, winning two races, including the final double-pointer.

“Definitely up and down with emotions,” said Red Bull Sailing Team skipper Roman Hagara, whose shore crew finished repairs to the damaged boat just in time for it to be launched for racing this afternoon.

“Yesterday we had the capsize when the rudder came off, and then today not much time to sail before the racing started. In the end it worked out well. We had two race wins and won the final race. It was a good finish,” added Hagara.

The Austrian-flagged syndicate moved up to take fourth from NZ Extreme Sailing Team, which struggled to match its form of the first half of the regatta and finished fifth.

Land Rover BAR Academy pulled two podium finishes out of the bag on the final day, but the deficit was too much to change its fate. The Brits finish sixth, 19 points ahead of wildcard entry Team Extreme

Act 4 of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series will take place in Barcelona, where the fleet will race from 20 – 23 July.

Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 3, Madeira Islands standings

Position / Team / Points

1st SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Køstner, Adam Minoprio, Mads Emil Stephensen, Pierluigi de Felice, Nicolas Heintz 228 points.
2nd Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 225 points.
3rd Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari 220 points.
4th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Stewart Dodson, Shane Diviney, Sam Meech, Will Tiller 199 points.
5th NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) Chris Steele, Graeme Sutherland, Harry Hull, Sam Meech, Josh Salthouse 195 points.
6th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Rob Bunce, Owen Bowerman, Oli Greber, Will Alloway, Matt Brushwood 169 points.
7th Team Extreme (POR) Mariana Lobato, Olivia Mackay, Owen Siese, Peter Dill, Micah Wilkinson, Francesca Clapcich 150 points.

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2017 overall standings

Position / Team / Points

1st Alinghi (SUI) 34 points.
2nd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 33 points.
3rd Oman Air (OMA) 30 points.
4th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 26 points.
5th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 25 points.
6th NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) 23 points.

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