UK Venue Confirmed For 2010 Extreme Sailing Series

The home of UK yacht racing, Cowes on the Isle of Wight will host the only UK stop. The ‘Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week’ will build on the success of 2009 where the Extreme 40 racing was a key attraction during this world famous regatta, with celebrities Simon Le Bon, Ben Fogle and Brawn F1 chief Nick Fry vying for 5th man spots on board, and BBC Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank performing a live set in the public bar. The racing in 2010 will be held later in the day, from 5pm on some days, to ensure the sailors taking part in Cowes Week as well as the general public can enjoy the great entertainment on the water while enjoying a relaxed drink, food, commentary and music at the Egypt Point race village.

Gilles Chiorri, Event Director for OC Events, commented: “The Extreme Sailing Series at Cowes Week was a huge success in 2009 with not only the general public lining the seafront to watch the sailing, but sailors racing in other classes heading down to Egypt Point as soon as they finished their own racing to watch the Extreme 40 spectacle. We hope to continue that trend in 2010 with much of the racing starting after the main Cowes Week fleets have finished – there will be plenty to see and do at Egypt Point and we look forward to welcoming everyone there.”

Stuart Quarrie, CEO of Cowes Week Limited added, “We’re delighted to welcome the Extreme 40s back to Cowes Week in 2010. Last year the racing added hugely to the great spectacle of our regatta and, having taken onboard the feedback received, we’re delighted that some of the racing will be held later in the day enabling more Cowes Week sailors to enjoy the spectacle too.”

Four of the five venues have now been confirmed for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series European circuit with the final venue announcement due on 21 April. With more races scheduled than ever before, the 2010 circuit will see up to ten teams battling it out for the title, won in 2009 by Pete Cumming (GBR) and his crew on Oman Sail Masirah.

In a change to the 2009 format, every day of sailing will count in 2010 – four days of points scoring racing in Sète (FRA), Trapani (ITA) and Almería (ESP) – whilst the organisers, OC Events, will capitalise on the only UK leg being played out at the same time as Cowes Week with six days of racing for the teams. The opening day in each venue is a dedicated point-scoring ‘Media Day’ with all fifth man slots reserved for journalists and reporters and the remaining days will play host to not only the Media but VIP guests, with courses laid close to shore to entertain the general public.

The calendar for the 2010 Extreme Sailing Series Europe is confirmed as:

Sète, France 27 – 30 May
Cowes, United Kingdom 31 July – 5 August
Germany 26 – 29 August
Trapani, Italy 23 – 26 September
Almería, Spain 9 – 12 October