Fresh from Act 3 Barcelona, just over two weeks ago, the INEOS Rebels have arrived in Cascais, Portugal ahead of Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series. Racing takes place from Thursday 5th through to Sunday 8th July - with six races scheduled each day - and the competition will be heating up as the event marks the mid-season point of the series.
The Clube Naval de Cascais hosts the seven foiling GC32s and the Rebels can expect a big but shifty northly breeze and flat water all week from the Atlantic racecourse. After the four Acts the team are in fourth overall with 27 points but it’s tight at the top with Alinghi and SAP Extreme Sailing respectively tied at the top on 33 points with Oman Air just one point behind on 32 points. The team will have their sights set on a podium finish, to allow them to move up the ranks and into the top three of the fleet.
© HARRY KH
Helmsman and mentor, Leigh McMillan’s thoughts on Cascais so far, ”We got out for a shakedown sail yesterday, there was good breeze and it gave us an opportunity to look at a few things that we have been wanting to try over the last couple of events to improve boat speed.
“The sail was positive with good boat handling and boat speed so things are heading in the right direction so we are going into our last training day today [Wednesday] in good shape and are looking forward to piecing it all together for race day one.
“I had a Tornado World Championship here back in 2007 and notoriously there is really good breeze so this Act could get really exciting. There are also plenty of shifts to play with and relatively flat water, and these boats go really well on the flat water so it really should be a cracking week .”
INEOS Rebels UK continues with the same line up from Barcelona, Three times Extreme Sailing Series winner and INEOS TEAM UK senior sailor, Leigh McMillan will lead the team as helmsman and mentor, with Will Alloway as skipper. Oli Greber retains his role on the bow, with Mark Spearman as mainsail trimmer, Adam Kay as float. The INEOS Rebels UK Act 4 support team will be Andrew Walsh, a former Extreme Sailing Series and Olympic multihull sailor and coach, and boat captain Matty Adams.
The team’s will come together for pre event practice racing on Wednesday with racing proper starting on Thursday 1400 – 1700 local time. SAP will host insights and analytics on Thursday and Friday with the racing streamed live online at INEOS TEAM UK over the weekend.
INEOS Rebels UK Extreme Sailing Series Act 3 line up
Leigh McMillan – Helmsman (INEOS TEAM UK senior sailor)
Will Alloway - Skipper/Trim
Oli Greber – Bow
Mark Spearman – Main Trimmer
Adam Kay – Float
Andrew Walsh - Coach
Matt Adams – Boat Captain
Extreme Sailing Series 2018
Act 1: Muscat, 14 - 17 March – 4th
Act 2: GC32 World Championship, Lake Garda 24 May – 27 May
Act 3: Barcelona 14 – 17 June
Act 4: Cascais, Portugal 5-8 July
Act 5: Cardiff, 24 - 27 August
Act 6: San Diego, 18 - 21 October
Act 7: Los Cabos, 29 November – 2 December
2018 Extreme Sailing Series™ overall standings
Position / Team / Points
1st Alinghi (SUI) 33
2nd SAP Extreme Sailing Team (DEN) 33
3rd Oman Air (OMA) 32
4th INEOS Rebels UK (GBR), 27
5th Red Bull Sailing Team (AUT) 25
6th Team Mexico (MEX) 20
7th NZ Extreme Sailing Team (NZL)7