Styles steers China Team to
Podium in Oman and Overall in Extreme Sailing Series
Asia
15th February 2010
A further report from Insurance4dinghies sponsored sailor, Hugh
Styles.
China Team take Bronze in Oman and Asian
Extreme Sailing Series.
The Muscat regatta was only the third regatta
for the China Team who stepped up their game for this the final
event of the Extreme Sailing Series Asia raced in Oman, it came
down to the wire on the last day with the podium positions going in
favour of Oman Masirah followed by the Wave and then China Team,
the nock on effect of this was an incredibly tight finish in the
overall standings with the China Team and The Wave on equal points
behind Masirah for the overall Asian title.
This three-event Asian tour has seen many
familiar faces from the European tour, such as, double Olympic Gold
Medalist Shirley Robertson, solo round the world skipper Nick
Moloney and European Champion Pete Cumming, whilst newcomers
Thierry Barot skippering The China Team with Helm Hugh Styles,
Mainsheet man Tan Wearn Haw and Trimmer Adam Piggott, and Roman
Hagara on Red Bull Extreme Sailing have gone from a 'standing
start' to put in an awesome performance, pushing the more seasoned
racers all the way.
The Asian circuit kicked off in Hong Kong, then Singapore before
ending here in Muscat at a full public event:
"It was very impressive, right in front of the public but still
this sport is very intense, delivery is very high in terms of
tactics and strategy. I really believe it is the future of
sailing," said China Team skipper Thierry Barot. "This is what
sailing needs in term of development - the Extreme Sailing Series
is a sport in itself."
At the start of the fifth and final day of the Extreme Sailing
Series Asia Muscat event there were a few worried and tense looking
sailors on the dockside - the wind was blowing over 20 knots and
the anticipation of some tense battles ahead only heightened the
stakes. Thierry Barot's China Team and Paul Campbell-James and the
crew on The Wave, Muscat were on equal points at the start of
racing with Masirah just one point behind and it was clear this was
where the battle for the podium would be taking place.
Red Bull Extreme Sailing who suffered a capsize yesterday were
just one point ahead of Nick Moloney's BT, whilst Shirley Robinson
on Rumbo Almeria knew she could play catch up if things went in her
favour. The scene was set for an awesome display of Extreme
racing.
As the local crowds gathered on Al-Hail beach for the final day
of the 'Extreme Beach Party', racing got underway with two rounds
of 'speed runs'.
The reefed Extreme 40s relished these high-speed conditions
courtesy of the 20+ knots of north-westerly wind, and flew down the
windward/leeward course flying the hulls in front of the packed VIP
platform.
As the wind dropped to around 10 knots, the huge mainsails were
hoisted to the top of the masts, and fleet racing began. The Oman
Sail boats led the way - first place for The Wave, Muscat and
second for Masirah. China Team finished fourth place behind BT,
putting them 6 points behind leaders. Another drama for Red Bull as
their mainsail came tumbling down mid-race. They quickly hoisted a
man of the mast to sort it out and were back racing in time for the
penultimate race.
The pressure was at the max... The skippers jostling for
position on the short start line - Paul Campbell-James misjudged
the start and was over the line, forcing him to restart as their
teammates sailed away to snatch the race. China Team got caught up
at the start in the first two races, and allowed the Oman boats to
pull ahead on the leaderboard. But the double-points final race was
coming up...
Only just enough wind remained to propel the boats over the
line. Hugh Styles takes up the story: "We knew it was tight on
points with BT the Wave and Masirah so we had to keep out of
trouble. But as the warning signal fired the wind dropped rapidly
making for very unstable sailing conditions, we decided to start on
port, got control over BT and all was good, until Almeria came
speeding in with kite up and sailed over the top of us taking our
wind and forcing us down the line towards starboard tack Masirah
and the committee boat. Almeria had to avoid Masirah and in doing
so sailed straight into the anchor warp of the committee boat and
parked, we squeezed round the melee and were off! Masirah had the
upper hand to lead off the line with us and BT neck and neck and
the others parked. We pressured BT on the run and overtook them to
finish 2nd from The Wave 3rd and BT 4th.
It was a superb end to a fantastic inaugural Extreme Sailing
Series Asia. Only in a few months time, the Extreme Sailing Series
European circuit will be starting - we can't wait!
Extreme Sailing Series Asia : Muscat
1st Oman Sail Masirah, 103 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat, 101 points
3rd China Team, 91 points
4th BT, 84 points
5th Red Bull Extreme Sailing, 71 points
6th Rumbo Almeria, 70 points
Extreme Sailing Series Overall:
1st Masirah, 18 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat, 11 points
3rd China Team, 11 points
4th BT, 10 points
5th Red Bull Extreme Sailing, 8 points
6th Rumbo Almeria, 5 points