Extreme Sailing Series™ Heads to Sydney for 2016 Final

Extreme Sailing Series™ owner and organiser OC Sport has confirmed Sydney, Australia, as the host venue for the final Act of the 2016 season, in partnership with the prestigious Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron.

For the third consecutive year, the eight-Act global tour will culminate in Sydney, from the 8-11 December – but it is the first time the local spectators will have seen the new breed of GC32 hydro-foiling catamarans in action on their world famous harbour.

The event will be run from a new location at the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron and Race Director Phil Lawrence commented: “It's fantastic news that we're going back to Sydney for the final of the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series. It's a great venue and a great sailing city where we will race on one of the most iconic pieces of water in the world.

“We will also have the chance to diversify our race format, with a longer course race planned for the first day, before bringing it into the stadium.”

One of the largest and most beautiful natural harbours in the world, Sydney is an iconic haven for sailors and the Extreme Sailing Series will be a highlight of Sydney's action-packed summer events calendar, held just a few weeks before the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race.

Richard Chapman, Commodore of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron commented: “The Squadron has a long history of hosting prestigious sailing regattas, and we look forward to welcoming the Extreme Sailing Series back to Sydney for the 2016 Series finale.”

The event will also have the support of the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia. Commodore John Markos said: “The stadium racing format of the Extreme sailing Series has already been a welcome addition to Sydney Harbour and now will be more thrilling with the use of the foiling GC32s. The races will be spectacular.”

Reigning Extreme Sailing Series champion Pete Greenhalgh of Oman Air is confident this is an event that ticks all the right boxes for spectators. “Sydney is a challenging venue with amazing spectator opportunities. I love racing there. There's a great atmosphere and they're a nation that love sailing. Spectators can expect very close racing and of course some foiling action with these new GC32s. It's definitely one for the spectators.”

The award-winning global circuit is now in its tenth year, and will visit Sydney after stops in Muscat (Oman), Qingdao (China), Cardiff (UK), Hamburg (Germany), St Petersburg (Russia), and Portuguese venues Madeira Islands and Lisbon.

Photos: Lloyd Images