Extreme Sailing Series 2016 season kicks off in Muscat

The Extreme Sailing Series will start a landmark season this year with the Sultanate hosting the first Act of 2016 season on Wednesday. It is for the first time in its 10-year history the Extreme Sailing Series is set to go foiling as the 2016 season kicks off in Muscat. Eight teams of the world’s finest sailors, from 14 different nations, return to the stunning venue of Almouj Golf Course for four days of the intense battle. Some of the world’s renowned sailing athletes are set to descend to Muscat to be part of a stunning showcase from March 16 to 19. Hosting the Extreme fleet, Oman delivered near perfect conditions for the start with brilliant sunshine, blue skies and a light and puffy seven-knot breeze.
The new season marks not just the introduction of super-fast foiling on GC32 catamarans, but also innovations in race format including a new coastal race and match racing, that complement the core proposition of the Series, its unique Stadium Racing format. The introduction of a fleet of ultra-fast, GC32 hydro-foiling catamarans and a shake-up in racing, to include open water and match-racing elements, will give skippers and crews some tough new challenges. In previous years, the class used as racing boats was the X40.
On Wednesday the boats will race in front of the stunning historic backdrop of the Old Town in Muttrah in Muscat before returning, in a 20km coastal race, to Almouj, in the first race of this duration in Extreme Sailing Series history. The schedule will then return to three days of spectacular Stadium Racing in front of the Almouj Golf.
David Graham, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Sail, partners to the Muscat Act explained: “The world will be watching the first Act of the 2016 as the fleet fly on foils for the first time. We are delighted to host the opening Act and to be able to welcome the international sailors to experience Oman, which is becoming renowned as one of the best sailing venues in the world. It will be a spectacle for the ever-growing global audience and the sailing fans of Oman.”
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 titles.
Following his success in 2015, Leigh McMillan, former skipper of The Wave, Muscat, will also be back on the water in Oman. However this time he will be on board with the Land Rover BAR Academy youth team crew, helping these talented youngsters, including skipper Bleddyn Môn, learn the ropes. Alinghi’s former helmsman Morgan Larson will head up the Omani entry, Oman Air, alongside Nasser Al Mashari who sailed to Series victory last year aboard Al Mouj Muscat (The Wave Muscat). Starting the season on home turf, Nasser Al Mashari, previously a teammate of McMillan’s, races this year for Oman Air. He is hoping the local boat can excel in front of its home crowd. “Sailing on home waters in front of a Muscat crowd full of friends and family will be exciting and with a bit of breeze it will be spectacular for the public watching,” said Mashari. “The training event in Dubai last month was a fantastic opportunity to practice with the new Oman Air crew together, led by skipper Morgan Larson. We are a new team but we are a strong team with a lot of fight.”
In the next 10 months of global touring, the 2016 Extreme Sailing Series will visit eight urban venues spanning three continents — Muscat, Qingdao, Cardiff, Hamburg, St Petersburg, Istanbul, Lisbon, and Australia.
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Best place to watch

The public Race Village, set on the Almouj’s beautiful white beach, provides the perfect viewing platform for Stadium Racing. Entry to the Race Village is free. Day one will see the fleet really open up as they race from Muscat Old Town, 20km along the coast to the Almouj, before three days of Stadium Racing.
The onshore entertainment will include paddleboats, foosball, fairground games, a bouncy castle, camels and a local market, ensuring there is something for everyone on site.

Event Schedule
Thursday 17 March
10:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Opens
11:00 Race Village Opens
14:00 – 14:45 Pro Am Racing
15:00 – 17:30 Stadium Racing
18:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Closes
18:00: Race Village Close
Friday 18 March
10:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Opens
11:00 Race Village Opens
11:00 – 11:40 Optimist Racing with Sailors
14:00 – 14:45 Pro Am Racing
15:00 – 17:30 Stadium Racing
18:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Closes
18:00 Race Village Closes
Saturday 19 March
10:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Opens
11:00 Race Village Opens
14:00 – 14:45 Pro Am Racing
15:00 – 17:00 Stadium Racing
17:30 Prize-giving Ceremony
18:00 Land Rover Experience Zone Closes
18:00 Race Village Closes