Extreme showdown in Sydney
Get Harbourside for some spectacular racing from these wild catamaransFor the final time in 2014, after more than 100 hours of racing across seven different countries, Leigh McMillan’s team The Wave, Muscat will go head to head with Swiss rivals Alinghi in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House to decide one of the most closely-fought Extreme Sailing Series contests.
Morgan Larson’s team stretched its lead to eight points at the last event in Nice but with double points up for grabs in Sydney, that advantage could quickly vanish if The Wave, Muscat puts in a strong performance.
McMillan has made one change to his line up with Ed Smyth returning to the Oman Sail fold in place of Kinley Fowler who is having surgery on a long-standing shoulder injury. The Wave, Muscat favourites Sarah Ayton, Pete Greenhalgh and Nasser Al Mashari are also back in action.
On Oman Sail sister ship Oman Air, currently in eighth place, it is all change for the final event after skipper Rob Greenhalgh was called up to join the Spanish team Mapfre for the Volvo Ocean Race.
Oman Sail’s young sailor, Al Balushi is also making his debut on the Extreme racetrack. A former footballer before he took up sailing in 2010 as part of the Oman Sail national initiative to get a generation sailing, he is a solid member of the Omani offshore squad.
On Sunday Australian rugby legend George Gregan will be sailing on Oman Air.
Racing was postponed due to strong winds but is expected to resume this weekend. It will be held in the waters of Sydney Harbour, between Garden Island and the Sydney Opera House.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
