Ready to Race: 4 Days of Stadium Racing in Cardiff
Credit: Rutger Pauw / Red Bull Sailing Newsroom
Red Bull Sailing, third in the overall standings of the Extreme Sailing Series 2013, is ready to attack for the top spots and climb up the standings in Act 6 in Cardiff, Wales this week. An eight-strong fleet and a full starting grid with two further entries still to come are preparing for a tight four-day racing bonanza between August 23-26.
When double Olympic champions Roman Hagara and Hans-Peter Steinacher take to the water with their catamaran in Cardiff this week, they have only one aim in mind: consistency. After a solid start to the series, the Austrian team have stumbled in the last two acts in China and Portugal, but are a long way away from throwing in the towel, determined to fight back.
Hagara and Steinacher just returned in time from San Francisco, where the Austrian sport stars lead the Red Bull Youth America´s Cup (01-04 September 2013) as Sports Directors. “It is important for us – after the bad results in Qingdao and Porto – to sail with a clear mind and sail consistently, taking it race per race,” said tactician Steinacher. “Our team is strong and we have a lot of energy and spirit.“
After a down-to-the-wire battle between close rivals Alinghi and The Wave, Muscat at Act 5 in Porto just three weeks ago, the teams now tied on points at the top of the overall Series leaderboard. While the Omani team has chosen to keep the same crew, Alinghi will welcome Olympic gold medallist and two-time ISAF World Sailor of the Year Anna Tunnicliffe.
Red Bull Sailing are in third spot in the series table despite the efforts of the Danish duo of SAP Extreme Sailing Team who have been pushing the team hard over the last two Acts. After Cardiff the fleet will head to Nice, France, for the penultimate Act of 2013 before the season’s grand finale in Brazil.
