Contributed by Ronda Ng. Photos by REDintern Tan Jon Han/Red Sports.
Singapore sailor Tan Wearn Haw in action on the China Team boat.- (Photo 1 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
Marina Bay, Saturday, December 12, 2009 - After the close finish on Day 1 of the inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia, where four teams, BT, China Team, Masirah, and Red Bull, were tied at the top, the sailors continued their battle today with 10-12 knots of wind against the stunning Singapore city skyline and clear blue skies.
The Masirah team maintained their strong form after their victory in Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong last month and topped the leader board with 45 points. Red Bull and BT are close behind with 43 and 41 points respectively while the China team is in fourth with 39 points after some tight racing.
Singaporean sailor Tan Wearn Haw, commented on his race today on board China team where the 40-ft catamaran almost capsized. "We almost flipped the boat today! It was in the 3rd race, it was interesting we were just on the edge.”
“Everything could have gone to pear-shaped and we were like ‘Woah!’ We had Adam jumping on the dagger-board so it was good that he ate lots of supper last night to give him an extra kilo of weight! We had two shots of gusts that just hit us over the breakwater and we couldn’t quite respond to it!”
“It was so quiet on board as we all wondered if we were going to go over and then suddenly we were all shouting! We told the fifth man we don’t do this every day – Hugh said he’s sailed these boats for three years and it is the closest he has ever come to capsizing.”
The Extreme Sailing Series Asia
The inaugural Extreme Sailing Series Asia was launched in October 2009. The 2009/10 Series will visit Hong Kong (November 20-24), Singapore (December 11-15) and Muscat, Oman (February 1-5 2010).
The Boats
Designed by Tornado Sport in 2005, these 40-ft catamarans have taken the sailing world by storm. The boats are extremely light, weighing the same as a Mini Cooper, but hugely overpowered with a sail area the size of a tennis court, meaning they can race at speeds of up to 45 miles per hour and "fly" a hull in just eight knots of wind.
The sail boats lining up for the start of another race. (Photo 2 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
Team Rumbo AlmerÃa members all on port side to help balance the boat as China Team lurks in the background. (Photo 3 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
Team Rumbo AlmerÃa’s helmsman Nick Hutton scuffling across the trampoline to facilitate turning maneuvers. (Photo 4 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
In a 4-man team, everyone has his role to play to ensure perfect execution of all maneuvers, as shown by members of Team Red Bull Extreme Sailing. (Photo 5 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
A near miss! China Team boat was on the verge of capsizing after being hit by a sudden gust of wind. Desperate times calls for desperate measures, with team mate Adam Piggott jumping over onto the dagger board to provide extra balance. (Photo 6 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
Team Rumbo AlmerÃa coming round a route marker. (Photo 7 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
“Has this river cruise taxi been transformed into a sail boat?” Spectators on the spectator boat getting a close up look at one of the sail boats. (Photo 8 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
The whole fleet of boats negotiating the turn together. This shows how close the level of competition is between the individual teams, whose members include European, World, and Olympic Champions. (Photo 9 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
A bird’s eye view of the race course. (Photo 10 © Jon Han Tan/Red Sports)
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