Extreme Sailing Series : SAP Extreme Sailing Team Fired up for Qingdao Act 3

by Jo Uffendell

The SAP Extreme Sailing Team heads to Qingdao, China, ahead of Act 3 in the Extreme Sailing Series and are preparing to battle it out on what will be an extremely tough course, with racing starting on Thursday 2nd May. The team is no stranger to China’s Olympic sailing city, having raced here for the first time in 2012 when they announced their partnership with the market leading global technology company, SAP.

This is the third consecutive year Qingdao has hosted the regatta and SAP Extreme Sailing Team co-skippers Rasmus Kostner and Jes-Gram Hansen know that the venue is capable of providing some of the most dramatic racing in the Extreme Sailing Series. With the forecast for the four days of racing expected to be wild and windy, the team have shifted their focus back to competing in breezier conditions where speed, quick reactions and physical endurance will be key factors to success.

Speaking from Qingdao, Gram-Hansen said:

“There is no doubt that securing a third place podium position in Singapore last month was an important milestone for the team but we also know that despite our achievement, consistency in this series is difficult and results will vary from act to act. We want to move forward with confidence, not complacency. With the conditions in Qingdao being very different to the ones we have experienced during the first two acts of the series, our strategy has altered accordingly.”

Co-skipper, Kostner added:

“We're looking forward to returning to Qingdao, but we know it’s a challenging venue, we’re hoping things go our way but it’s still early in the season and the conditions we are likely to encounter over the four days will be tough and fairly consistent with strong winds. The Qingdao race course with its reaching starts, up and down legs and the finishing line close to the shore will certainly be a fantastic show for the competitors and spectators. “

Act 3 of the Extreme Sailing Series will take place between 2 -5 May in Qingdao, China.

SAP Extreme Sailing Team
Extreme Sailing Series