Extreme Sailing Series: Oman Air Gets Off To An Impressive Start

Oman Air capitalised on home waters to finish second on the opening day of Act One of the 2018 Extreme Sailing Series (ESS), which began off the Al Mouj Muscat on Wednesday.

Only four races were completed on day one as former champion Alinghi took the top spot with 46 while Oman Air was second with 42 and defending champion SAP Extreme Sailing Team was third with 38.

Oman Air began with a runner-up finish  and then came fourth in the next race. Skippered by Phil Robertson, it was third before ending the day on a high with a win to keep pressure on Alinghi.

“The wind was pretty tricky and conditions were really right on the limit for racing,” said Oman Air veteran British mainsail trimmer Pete Greenhalgh.

“We were able to take a few boats when we needed to and converted what was potentially quite an average day into a pretty good day, so we are very pleased. Finishing the day second gives us a solid foundation to go forward from, and if a few things go our way we will be able to overcome Alinghi,” he said.

Besides helmsman Robertson and Greenhalgh, the other Oman Air crew members are James Wierzbowski, Omani Nasser al Mashari and Stewart Dodson.

Racing continues for the next three days. A race village, set up by Oman Sail, will be open for free public access at Al Mouj Golf on Friday and Saturday.

Act One: [after day one, four races]: 1 Alinghi (46 points), 2 Oman Air (42), 3 SAP Extreme Sailing Team (38), 4 Land Rover BAR Academy (33), 5 Red Bull Sailing Team (33), 6 NZ Extreme Sailing Team (32), 7 Team Mexico (28).