GC32 Extreme Series Barcelona 2018: Alinghi 1st

Photos Lloyd Images. Report sent by Extreme Sailing Series / OC Sport extremesailingseries.com
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17/06/18 – Barcelona brings second Act win for Alinghi following four days of strategic sailing in 2018 Extreme Sailing Series™It was success in Spain for three-time Extreme Sailing Series™ champions Alinghi, as they took their second Act win of the 2018 season today in Barcelona.

The four-day event saw the Swiss shine on the water under the Spanish sun, taking twelve race wins out of 26 in the third Act of the Series.

Strategic sailing from co-skipper Arnaud Psarofaghis and his crew – Nicolas Charbonnier, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey and Timothé Lapauw – saw match racing tactics used against rivals SAP Extreme Sailing Team, forcing their opponents further down the fleet.

“We did a good job of keeping the points safe today,” Psarofaghis said, beaming as he stepped off the
boat. “We played tactically and it paid off. It’s great to win here in Barcelona.”

The Swiss have been locked in a struggle for the top spot with Danish-flagged SAP Extreme Sailing Team since Act 1, Muscat, Oman. Alinghi took the first Act win of the season whilst SAP Extreme Sailing Team ruled the Series rankings at the GC32 World Championship in Riva del Garda, Italy. The teams are now tied on points on the overall Series leaderboard.

They may be disappointed to have finished the Barcelona event in third and to lose their overall lead, but competitive SAP Extreme Sailing Team plan to bring their A-game to Act 4, Cascais, Portugal, from 5 – 8 July.

“We’d hoped for better but we won’t dwell on it,” said skipper Rasmus Køstner. “We’re looking forward to the next event, it’s going to be a long, close season.”

SAP Extreme Sailing Team won the Zhik Speed Machine Trophy for reaching the Act’s top speed of 27 knots, an insight provided by SAP.

Cheers erupted from Barcelona’s crowded coastline as the event drew to a close. Ending the Act on a high, home team Spanish Impulse took the win in the all-important double points final race. Brimming with pride, the thrilled team punched the air with joy as they sailed their GC32 along the shores of sunny Spain.

“We are delighted to win the last race of the day,” enthused skipper Diego Botín. “We’ve been able to change things because we can watch the racing back on the live streaming. We know we have lots to improve on, but we are very happy.”

After day three saw their boat taken out of action, the Omani team came back fighting on the final day of the competition. Flying through the fleet with sheer determination, Team Oman Air climbed the ranks to finish the event in an impressive second place in Barcelona and third overall.

“We certainly had a bit of fight in us,” said a pleased Phil Robertson, skipper for the team. “We worked well together today and improved our communication on board. We’re happy to jump up to second.”

Day four saw British contingent INEOS Rebels UK clock three podium finishes across the day’s six races, including their first race win of the Act.

Leigh McMillan, the team’s helm and one of the Series’ most successful sailors, commented on the day’s racing.

“We did really well until the last race,” he explained. “We almost had a podium position at one point, but it all unravelled at the last minute. It’s a little frustrating but we will aim to get some points back at the next event.”

Barcelona delivered a mixed bag of conditions, with everything from 5 – 15 knots of wind. Team México skipper, Erik Brockmann, enjoyed the variety as it kept the teams on their toes.

“It was a good event with both light winds and big breeze,” he said. “It was a challenge but we got some good time out on the water and are looking forward to the next event.”

Red Bull Sailing Team finished the Act in fourth place, despite leading the fleet on day one. British-flagged INEOS Rebels UK took fifth, with local boys Spanish Impulse in sixth. Team México round up the fleet.

In the Flying Phantom Series, Team France Jeune sailed their second consecutive day of straight race wins. Following their Act wins in Muscat, Oman and Quiberon Bay, France, they have succeeded in making it a hat-trick in Barcelona.

“We did the job and it’s a great feeling,” said an ecstatic Antoine Rucard, crew for the team. “We’ve won three Acts so we’ve made a good start. There will be a new team at the next event – Morgan Lagravière and Manon Audinet – so we hope they will put in a repeat performance for Team France Jeune.”

Both fleets will reconvene their on-the-water battles in Cascais, Portugal, from 5-8 July. Expect big breeze and big competition.

For more information, please visit the Extreme Sailing Series website.

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2018 Act 3, Barcelona standings after Day 4, 26 races (17.06.18) Position / Team / Points
1st, Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey: 278 points
2nd, Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Stewart Dodson, Nasser Al Mashari: 264 pts
3rd, SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Rasmus Køstner, Morgan Larson, Julius Hallström, Pierluigi de Felice, Richard Mason: 258 pts
4th, Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Chris Taylor, Ed Powys, Neil Hunter, Dan Morris, Rhys Mara: 254 pts
5th, INEOS Rebels UK (GBR) Will Alloway, Leigh McMillan, Oli Greber, Adam Kay, Mark Spearman: 250 pts
6th, Spanish Impulse (ESP) Diego Botín, Joan Cardona, Luís Brito, Kevin Cabrera, Florian Trittel: 222 pts
7th, Team México (MEX) Erik Brockmann, Tom Buggy, Alex Higby, James Peters, Danel Belausteguigoitia Fierro: 183 pts

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2018 overall standings
Position / Team / Points
1st, Alinghi (SUI) 33 points
2nd, SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 33 pts
3rd, Oman Air (OMA) 32 pts
4th, INEOS Rebels UK (GBR) 27 pts
5th, Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 25 pts
6th, Team México (MEX) 20 pts

Flying Phantom Series Act 3, Barcelona standings after Day 4, 22 races (17.06.18)
Position / Team / Points
1st, Team France Jeune (FRA) Solune Robert, Antoine Rucard: 447 pts
2nd, Idreva Zephyr Foiling (FRA) Charles Hainneville, Thibault Julien: 415 pts
3rd, Culture Foil (FRA) Nicolas Ferellec, Théo Constance: 408 pts
4th, Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Jordi Booth, Joan Costa: 389 pts
5th, Flying Frogs (FRA) Pierre Le Clainche, Arnaud Vasseur: 371 pts
6th, UON (POR) José Cladeira, Helder Basilio: 347 pts
7th, EVO Visian ICL (GER) Raphael Neuhann, Elias Neuhann: 330 pts
8th, Masterlan (CZE) David Krizek, Milan Harmacek: 304 pts

Flying Phantom Series 2018 overall standings
Position / Team / Points
1st, Team France Jeune (FRA) 60 points
2nd, Idreva Zephyr Foiling (FRA) 56 pts
3rd, Culture Foil (FRA) 53 pts
4th, UON (POR) 45 pts
5th, Flying Frogs (FRA) 44 pts
6th, Masterlan (CZE) 39 pts
7th, Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 36 pts
8th, EVO Visian ICL (GER) 28 pts
9th, Team France Jeune 2 (FRA) 17 pts
10th, Pegasius Project (FRA) 16 pts
11th, Team France Jeune 3 (FRA) 14 pts
12th, Surikat Coordination (FRA) 11 pts
13th, Cup Legend (FRA) 10 pts