Double gold medallist Roman Hagara posted three wins on Monday in a dramatic start to the week in the Extreme Sailing Series Europe at Cowes, UK.
A day after a crash saw the team of Groupama 40 dive overboard, Hagara kept his nerve to steer Red Bull Extreme Sailing into fifth place, just six points behind the Ecover Sailing Team, going into day four.
Hagara is pleased, with the tides off the coast of the Isle of Wight representing a major challenge for the team.
“As it's our first time here we are not really used to the tides," he said. "A lot of things are happening with the tides, which is making things a little bit tricky but it is a nice place to sail."
Monday's performance was an improvement on the previous day when Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher secured one race win and a second place amid chaotic scenes.
With 18-20 knots of breeze, gusting over 20 at times, the nine teams were sailing close to the wind.
In Race 11, Yann Guichard’s third-placed Groupe Edmond de Rothschild hit Franck Cammas’ Groupama 40, wiping out both rudders and leaving Groupama unable to steer.
Groupama 40 were heading straight for the shore at speed so the crew leapt into the water – deciding they would prefer to get wet than be thrown forward on the boat upon collision with the rocks on the shore.
So far ignoring all of the kerfuffle, Paul Campbell-James’ The Wave, Muscat are out in the lead, 14 points ahead of Oman Sail Masirah.
Find out more about the second event in the Extreme Sailing Series Europe by clicking here
Comments
Add a comment