Emirates Team New Zealand Update - Ups And Downs And a Flying Finish
September 12 2014
Emirates Team New Zealand crew started well on the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series’ sixth round at Istanbul.
Then, as Dean Barker describes it, “we had a few ups and downs”, before settling back into the groove and winning two
races. That’s the way it is for every team - there’s no such thing as plain sailing in an Extreme Sailing Series
regatta.
“Every point in every race is valuable and can be crucial at the end.”
The fleet was back to full strength with Alinghi and Groupama on the water after breaking their masts yesterday. Racing
was right inshore. The breeze build steadily throughout the afternoon, creating conditions that demanded split-second
decisions and precision manoeuvres on the reaching starts and the short windward-leeward legs.
SAP sailing analytics showed Emirates Team New Zealand again had the fastest average speed on the water, race organisers
said. “If it hadn’t been for a starting penalty during the eighth and final race of the day, the Kiwis may well have
been in pole position.
“Instead, the team finished the day in second place, three points behind The Wave, Muscat – but a whole lot of races and
points are still up for the taking over the next two days.”
Dean Barker, racing with Glenn Ashby, Edwin Delaat, James Dagg and Jeremy Lomas, are still very much in contention. He
said: “It was a very mixed bag of results today, but we always felt confident that we could deal with the situation.”
Tomorrow the day starts with a passage race on the Bosphorus Strait, stopping all traffic on the busy shipping channel,
then the fleet heads back to the stadium for the third day’s racing. Watch live from 1630 local time (GMT +3, 1.30amNZ
time Sunday) www.extremesailingseries.com.
Extreme Sailing Series Istanbul standings after Day 2, 15 races (12.09.14)
1st The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 95 points.
2nd Emirates Team New Zealand 92 points.
3rd Oman Air (OMA) 87 points.
4th GAC Pindar (AUS) 75 points.
5th SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 74 points.
6th Alinghi (SUI) Frei, 70 points.
7th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 68 points.
8th Gazprom Team Russia (RUS) 66 points.
9th J.P. Morgan BAR (GBR) 65 points.
10th TeamTurx (TUR) 56 points.
11th Realteam by Realstone (SUI) 54 points.
12th Groupama sailing team (FRA) 48 points.
ENDS