Team GAC Pindar’s Ian Williams hopes to retain overall lead at 2011 Extreme Sailing Series Act 8
The 11 boat Extreme 40 fleet has been witnessing a lot of podium shifting in the penultimate act of 2011 Extreme Sailing Series at the region of Andalusia in Almeria, as an impressive performance from Ian Williams’ Team GAC Pindar on the third day of the
tournament has brought them on top of the overall standings with 98 points.
Weather conditions on the third day were moderate, as the faltering sea breeze was enough to have a complete sail. Former leaderboard, Ben Ainslie’s Oman Air tumbled down on eighth place after a bad show on Almeria waters, while the overall circuit leaders,
France’s Groupe Edmond de Rothschild also could not retain their position and slipped to sixth spot.
However, skipper Team GAC Pindar, Ian Williams is happy with the team’s performance and hopes that the British team will retain their lead. The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) World Match Racing Champion said, “It was a really good day for us and
we finished on the top half of every single race today. For sure we will be fighting to try to retain the lead. Looking at the points it’s almost like a restart. We were 20 points behind last night and now we are two points ahead the second boat. It’s extremely
tight, we will going down to the wire!”
The overall standings at the conclusion of Day 3 at the port of Almeria:
1. Team GAC Pindar (GBR), Ian Williams, Mischa Heemrskerk, Andrew Walsh, Brad Webb = 98 points
2. Alinghi (SUI), Tanguy Cariou, Yann Guichard, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey = 95 points
3. The Wave, Muscat (OMA), Leigh McMillan, Kyle Langford, Nick Hutton, Khamis Al Anbouri = 93 points
4. Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), Adam Beashel, Ray Davies, Jeremy Lomas, Derek Seward = 90 points
5. Luna Rossa (ITA), Max Sirena, Paul Campbell-James, Alister Richardson, Manuel Modena = 88 points
6. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), Pierre Pennec, Christophe Espagnon, Thierry Fouchier, Hervé Cunningham = 85 points
7. Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Matt Adams, Craig Monk = 84 points
8. Oman Air (OMA), Ben Ainslie, Kinley Fowler, David Carr, Nasser Al Mashari = 80 points
9. Team Extreme (EUR), Roland Gaebler, Nahid Gaebler, Antón Paz, Tom Buggy = 70 points
10. Team TILT (SUI), Alex Schneiter, Boet Brinkgreve, Charles Favre, Nicolas Heintz = 62 points
11. Niceforyou (ITA), Alberto Barovier, Stefano Rizzi, Daniele De Luca, Simone de Mari = 59 points
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