Extreme Team. Image copyright www.teamgaebler.de
by Roland Gaebler
The first training session in Oman with the Extreme40 is behind us. And it could not be better sport professionally. To have from day one with a large group of Extreme40s (5-7 boats) train together and sail many short training races. Most nodes in onshore thermal winds 8 to 16.
Oman Sailing has given us a training course just in front of the Millennium Resort Mussanah designed and executed the launches. We were able to sail on days 6-8 race with the other teams. Every hour we were on the water, was therefore highly effective. Just as we had imagined, it was organized to perfection.
In addition to the races, we could also make adjustments with a few teams around the boat and sail trim to learn. With Luna Rossa, Red Bull Racing or Artemis, we have made a few miles fine tuning. But a few speedruns with Ernesto Bertarelli, the owner of Alinghi were there. At times, we've also had some good phases to our speed. But also real dropouts. It takes months to ensure we trim the boat under control. The learning curve is steep but up.
As we were told that there was such a workout along with all the teams before. Not even in the America's Cup. The teams are all very relaxed. And rarely do we have so many smiling faces seen in sailing as here. They all like to heat up with the Extreme40s . Sailing in 10 knots of wind and we fly 20 knots speed. This is it. And all this with a 4 person crew. To bring it to a point: We all have great FUN!
Our team is at the very beginning. Most teams are already many years in the Extreme Sailing Circuit and have virtually the Top 10 for the reserved. We have one of oldest boat, the smallest budget and at some venues we have to take a local sailors on board. That's a challenge. But that also makes it interesting and exciting. Then there are some technical problems on hull and rig we must solve. But all we get in control. The main thing we are now sailing!
Many thanks to all partners who have helped us. In just a few weeks we have put this project together and glad that we can now train in Oman with the world's best sailing teams.
It's a start. All who know a bit of sport professionally in the high performance sailing, well aware that he needs 2-4 years in order to sail into the top spots in a new class. As helmsman, I also have not much experience with the Extreme40 and the team in this form as never sailed together. In all areas we must work our first technically pure. Step by step. The team needs to be synchronized. The boat must be made quickly. The to-do list is miles long.
Sebbe and Bruno certainly have the most experience with this boat. But we must now come together as a team on a good level of cooperation. Every day we have made great steps forward. But we are still miles away from the other teams.
They come from a completely different league. Alinghi and Artemis appear here just on time with 2 boats. Alinghi goes with a brand new boat in the race. We operate five persons at the boat. The others come with mechanics, meteorology, coaches, etc..... In part, with 8 to 16 people to a project.
But we all look very positive. We have got a boat for the entire series. We fit well together as a team. We see the 2011 season as a year where we will gain much experience.
One has to look like Formula-1. The colorful birds of Red Bull came and went behind in the first year. Now they are world champions. The spirit and creativity of F1 Red Bull Racing has shown us that you are in the highest category of a technical sport in a few years from the bottom up to the top. This is the dream we have.
And all who know me from the tornado to know exactly that the day will come when we will be among the top teams in the Extreme Sailing Series. In the Tornado, it took a couple of years, but then came the bang, and since we are sailing consistently very high up. In Extreme40 can run the same way. Everything takes time. And we will take. The team spirit is with us now world class already. And that is ever a good foundation.
We will be sailing with great passion and start at the starting line with the other teams on an equal footing. We expect nothing, but we're damn hungry. We will get the maximum from every race us out. For us there is only a positive and proactive attitude and 100% power to the point. Sooner or later we will thus succeed.
We shot some nice videos. Michal Walther, the daily as Bowman has his very best is on our Extreme40 great creative talent and cutting the video short time the evening together. Here's a video back-to-sound from a complete training race from the pre-start to finish. As from the video camera worn on the helmet:
We are very grateful to our partners Wirsol Solar, Yingli Solar, Marine Pool PowerOne, OC and go with us into the season. It is not only our partners but for years very good friends with us.
Together, we are now in a new era of sailing. With the most spectacular ships in the exciting global series and in the race with the best sailing teams of the world. This is the beginning of a great sailing project.
Team Gaebler
Extreme Sailing Series
