Extreme Sailing in Singapore kicks off – then it’s the America’s Cup

Red Bull Sailing started racing off the coast of Singapore on Thrusday, facing eight multihull vessels in the second Act of the Extreme Sailing World Series. The Austrian team is looking for their first overall victory. As for double Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans Peter Steinacher (both AUT) they will be sailing on two continents in a matter of days with Extreme Sailing in Singapore from April 11 onwards and then directly to the America´s Cup in Naples (April 18 onwards).
 

SINGAPORE - The first day of racing in Asia saw them occupy fourth place (26 points) with Team Oman The Wave Muscat leading on 32 points. Racing on Friday starts 14.00 local time.One of the world’s iconic metropolis - Singapore - is preparing for thousands of fans to watch Act 2 of the Extreme Sailing Series. As of Thursday eight international teams are battling it out in a stadium mode over four days in the city-state’s Marina Bay Reservoir. The teams count a total of 20 Olympic appearances and 25 America’s Cup participations among their crews in this sensational top sailing event. Tens of thousands of fans are expected to watch the racing on site on the weekend.
Roman’ Hagara’s Red Bull Sailing team is in second place on the overall standings behind title defender Leigh McMillan and his The Wave/Muscat..

But light wind expert and double Olympic champion Roman Hagara, who along with tactician Hans-Peter Steinacher confirmed his participation in the America’s Cup World Series recently, is determined to beat his rival McMillan in Singapore for the first time.

“We expect challenging weather conditions. It will be a light wind regatta and that means we will sail our boats differently and adapt our tactic accordingly”, said Hagara. “So I expect to be on the podium with Red Bull Sailing Team. Our task is to win this event and then go to the AWCS with a huge motivation boost.”

With the Red Bull Extreme Sailing Team, runners-up in the first Act of the series in Muscat, Oman, working on their fitness in Europe, their Extreme 40 catamaran was sent on a 6,904 km journey to heart of Asia. The four-day regatta in Singapore will be in a narrow stadium course with a knockout round – the Aberdeen Challenge trophy – planned for Friday evening.

Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT)
Skipper: Roman Hagara (AUT) / Tactician: Hans Peter Steinacher (AUT) / mainsail trimmer: Matthew Adams (GBR) / headsail trimmer: Pierre Le Clainche (FRA) / bowman: Graeme Spence (AUS)

Current overall position: 2

www.extremesailingseries.com

Credit: Red Bull Content Pool / Che Boon Pin