Promising start at Nice and then a drifter….

Day 4 at the Extreme Sailing Series at Nice and again it was light, tricky and frustrating for regatta organisers and crews alike.

The fleet went out early to take advantage of the northerly breeze coming off the land. Dean Barker estimated the breeze was a good eight knots initially, more to the liking of the Emirates Team New Zealand crew.

As Barker explains, “Once we’re flying a hull, our heavier crew weight becomes an advantage and we are very competitive.” They showed the truth of that by taking first in race 1 and fourth in the second.

Two more races were held as the breeze began to fade, and once more Barker, Adam Beashel, Jeremy Lomas and Chris McAsey struggled to find the acceleration they needed in the very competitive fleet. Two seventh places resulted.

In the afternoon the sea breeze failed to fill in. One race was started in 2-3 knots. It was a drifter and Barker managed a credible second place. With no sign of the breeze co-operating, that was it for the day.

Barker says that after 23 races at Nice, the crew having never sailed together before on an Extreme 40, is combining much better and sailing better and better. Today’s results put Emirates Team New Zealand in sixth place overall, one place further up the leader board on 139 points.

That puts them tantalising close to fifth, Red Bull Extreme on 143.5 and fourth Luna Rossa on 152.

With 11 points for a race win (22 points in the final race tomorrow) there are plenty of points still up for grabs if the breeze fills in and the full race programme is completed. The weather forecast for the regatta’s final day is much like today.

The yachts will leave the dock early again, with racing scheduled from 8.30am – 10.30, to be followed by another afternoon session.

Extreme Sailing Series Act 7, Nice, France standings after 23 races (1.10.11)
1st Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), 173 points
2nd Alinghi (SUI), 169.5 points
3rd Artemis Racing (SWE),  169 points
4th Luna Rossa (ITA), 152 points
5th Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT),  143.5 points
6th Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL), 139 points
7th Oman Air (OMA),  132 points
8th Team GAC Pindar (GBR), 124 points
9th The Wave, Muscat (OMA), 109 points
10th Niceforyou (ITA), 100 points
11th Team Extreme Nice Côte d’Azur (FRA), 89 points