Red Bull Sailing Team hit back from capsize

The Austrian outfit finished fourth overall in the Madeira round behind winners SAP Extreme Sailing, Alinghi and Oman Air but came out of the weekend with encouraging momentum heading into the next round in Barcelona from July 20-23.

Hagara explained: “Yesterday we had the capsize when the rudder came off, and then today not much time to sail before the racing started.

“In the end it worked out well. We had two race wins and won the final race. It was a good finish. Definitely up and down with emotions.”

Fourth overall in the standings behind leaders Alinghi, Hagara and his crew know they need a strong fourth round in Spain to bridge the gap to the Swiss outfit.

Alinghi co-skipper and helm Arnaud Psarofaghis added: “We secured second place overall, so it was a really good day for us. Barcelona is another race and a new story, and we’re really looking forward to that.”

In the Flying Phantom Series, Red Bull Sailing Team was crowned champion of the regatta, having been a clear leader since the beginning with the two-man crew of Jason Saunders and Thomas Zajac.

They came fourth and third in the Nacra 17 class at Rio 2016 ahead of the international 12-strong fleet competition, which joined the Extreme Sailing Series for the first time in Madeira.

2017 Extreme Sailing Series Madeira result

1. SAP Extreme Sailing (DEN)
2. Alinghi (SUI)
3. Oman Air (Oman)
4. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT)
5. NZ Extreme Sailing (NZL)
6. Land Rover BAR (GBR)
7. Team Extreme (POR)

2017 Extreme Sailing Series overall standings

1. Alinghi (SUI) 34
2. SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 33 
3. Oman Air (OMA) 30
4. Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 26
5. Land Rover BAR Academy (GBR) 25
6. NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL) 23

Remaining 2017 calendar

July 20-23 – Barcelona, Spain
August 10-13 – Hamburg, Germany
August 25-28 – Cardiff, UK
October 19-22 – San Diego, USA
Nov 30-Dec 3 – Los Cabos, Mexico