Issue date
The NZL Sailing Team are on a steep learning curve at the Extreme Sailing Series and it's exactly why they ventured to Oman this week.
(Tawera Racing, skippered by Chris Steele. Photo: Extreme Sailing Series)
The five-man crew, skippered by Logan Dunning Beck, are preparing for June's Red Bull Youth America's Cup in Bermuda and received a late wildcard entry to compete in Oman.
They collected one eighth and four ninths in last night's (NZ time) five races sailed in 12-14 knots and sit in ninth overall with 60 points after two days of racing. It is their first racing together and they are up against a handful of professional outfits.
Kiwis have been to the fore at the regatta off the coast of Muscat.
Oman Air, helmed by Phil Robertson, jumped to the top of the leaderboard with some consistent performances that included one win and two runner-up finishes overnight.
Day one leaders SAP Extreme Sailing Team, helmed by New Zealand's Adam Minoprio, looked set to retain their position at the head of the overall standings thanks to two race wins and a second but in the final race of the day they got caught in a patch of light wind and had to settle for eighth, relegating them to third overall, tied on points with Austria’s Red Bull Sailing Team.
Only three points separate the top four teams, with defending series champions Alinghi also in the mix in fourth.
Tawera Racing, sailing out of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and skippered by Chris Steele, collected a third in the day's first race and sit in seventh overall on 90 points.
Racing continues today.
Extreme Sailing SeriesAct 1, Muscat standings after Day 2, 12 races
Position / Team / Points
1st Oman Air (OMA) Phil Robertson, Pete Greenhalgh, James Wierzbowski, Ed Smyth, Nasser Al Mashari 117 points.
2nd Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) Roman Hagara, Hans Peter Steinacher, Stewart Dodson, Adam Piggott, Will Tiller 116 points.
3rd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) Adam Minoprio, Rasmus Køstner, Mads Emil Stephensen, Hervé Cunnigham, Richard Mason 116 points.
4th Alinghi (SUI) Arnaud Psarofaghis, Nicolas Charbonnier, Timothé Lapauw, Nils Frei, Yves Detrey 114 points.
5th Team Tilt (SUI) Sebastien Schneiter, Jéremy Bachelin, Florian Trüb, Arthur Cevey, Jocelyn Keller 93 points.
6th Team ENGIE (FRA) Sébastien Rogues, Gurvan Bontemps, Jules Bidegaray, Antoine Joubert, Benjamin Amiot 93 points.
7th Tawera Racing (NZL) Chris Steele, Graeme Sutherland, Shane Diviney, George Anyon, Josh Salthouse 90 points.
8th Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) Rob Bunce, Owen Bowerman, Will Alloway, Adam Kay, Oli Greber 66 points.
9th NZL Sailing Team (NZL) Logan Dunning Beck, Harry Hull, Isaac McHardie, Matthew Kempkers, Luca Brown 60 points.
- The NZL Sailing Team are trying to raise funds to get to June's Red Bull Youth America's Cup in Bermuda so they can defend the title New Zealand won in 2013. To 'give a little', visit here
