Extreme 40s in action at round one of the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.
* Official Timekeeper OMEGA to present winning skipper with Seamaster Planet Ocean Watch
* UK Skipper Mike Golding, and current circuit leader Yann Guichard look forward to the Cowes event
by Emily Caroe
With just two days to go before the start of the UK round of the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week, Official Timekeeper, OMEGA, has announced it will present a Seamaster Planet Ocean Watch to the winning skipper: an added incentive to the nine teams battling it out on the Solent from 31 August – 5 July.
OMEGA has been the official timekeeper of the Extreme Sailing Series since its inception in 2007. The Seamaster Planet Ocean, made famous by Daniel Craig in the James Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, is water resistant to 600m, with a 45.5mm and a stainless steel bracelet. The perfect accessory for a professional sailor!
Video Preview of the Cowes Extreme 40 event:
The regular eight boat fleet entered into the 2010 circuit has been augmented by top French sailor Roland Jourdain, who has joined the UK event with his team Veolia Environnement. Jourdain, a two times IMOCA World Champion, hasn’t raced on multihulls since he won the Formula 40 World Championship in 1989, the boat made famous by another James Bond actor, Pierce Brosnan, in the Thomas Crowne Affair.
Yann Guichard, skipper of Groupe Edmond de Rothschild, leading after the first event in Sete at the end of May, is looking forward to the only UK stopover on the five-event circuit. “It has been almost two months between the first event in Sète at the end of May and this second round: we can't wait to compete again. The race schedule set by OC Events is all encompassing, with a long race in the morning and shorter classic races in the afternoon: adaptability and concentration will be key. “Cowes, on the Isle of Wight is a beautiful place and we have the chance to race during Cowes Week mixing our state of the art catamarans with thousands of different boats. An amazing show on the water every day!”
Groupama 40 from ECOVER. Image copyright Vincent Curutchet/DPPI/OC Events.
It won’t just be the show on the water that will bring down the crowds to the Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week from 31 July – 5 August. BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank will be a fitting finale to a week’s worth of on-shore entertainment by the cream of the Isle of Wight’s DJ scene, under organizers OC Events’ new label, Sailing Rocks™. Rob’s set, on Thursday 5 August will be in aid of the Ellen MacArthur Trust, with tickets strictly limited to 250. More information and ticket sales can be found on the website, http://www.extremesailingseries.com/
With the nine teams completing their final shakedown, and fantastic conditions for Extreme 40 racing forecasted by Official Series Weather Partner WetterWelt, Mike Golding, Skipper of Ecover Sailing spoke about his expectations for the week, "Cowes Week is going to be really interesting. We have the new long course race in the morning and then the shorter course racing in the afternoon. Added to this we're sailing for 7 days rather than the usual 4, I'm sure fitness is going to be key and making sure you don't burn out too soon. It will be a balance between pushing hard and being consistent in the water. We’re now back on the water in the Solent putting in some training ahead of the big event. We were happy with our performance in Sete but we will definitely be looking for a spot the podium at our home event!”
Friday 30 July is a Media Day opening at 1pm with a press conference before up to three informal races in the afternoon for the gathered national and international media. Official, point-scoring racing commences on Saturday 31 July.
Extreme Sailing Series Europe
