The 2016 Extreme Sailing Series will see a full line-up of eight world-class teams compete after the official launch announcement at the Dubai International Marine Club.
With the event heading into its tenth year, a selection of the world’s top sailors have been trained and hosted this week in Dubai and expectations are high as the teams prepare to set sail on a new fleet of GC32 catamarans and a new generation of foiling boats which are partly manufactured in the UAE.
Following on from the launch in the UAE the series will touch down in an additional seven iconic urban city centres, including the Portuguese capital Lisbon which will makes its debut as a new stadium sailing racecourse.
In previous years host cities have attracted more than one million spectators and have proved popular with residents and visitors alike.
Andy Tourell, Event Director for the Extreme Sailing Series commented on the landmark year: “2016 marks the tenth year of this elite competition a milestone year for us in more ways than one, not least the change of racing platform to the GC32 which brings with it a whole new dimension to the racing and public experience.
“The Dubai International Marine Club is the perfect venue to commence the season and we are grateful for their support and for helping make the event a success. ”
The competition on the water promises to be fierce and action-packed with America’s Cup legends, Olympic heroes and world champions preparing to do battle at close quarters. Among the crews will be veterans of 13 Olympic campaigns and 22 America’s Cup campaigns. Between them they also hold 27 World Championship titles, 27 European Championships and 106 National Title Holders.
On the grid for the new season are 2015 runners-up SAP Extreme Sailing Team co-skippered for a fifth year by Jes Gram-Hansen and Rasmus Køstner from Denmark, who have boosted their on-board talent with Italian Pierluigi De Felice, a multiple World Champion and three-times America’s Cup sailor.
VIDEO: Fly alongside the @LandRover BAR Academy to mark the launch of the 2016 #extremesailing Series #Dubai https://t.co/COomzF4DcV
— Extreme Sailing (@extremesailing) February 10, 2016
SAP’s 2015 sparring partners, Red Bull Sailing Team, skippered by Austrian double Olympic gold medallist Roman Hagara with Hans Peter Steinacher calling the tactics will also return to the starting blocks.
2014 Extreme Sailing Series champions from Switzerland and two-time winners of the America’s Cup Alinghi will return to the circuit armed with foiling expertise after coming second in the 2015 GC32 Great Cup. Team principal Ernesto Bertarelli will be sharing helming duties throughout the season with Arnaud Psarofaghis (SUI).
