Racing

Photos: Best of the Extreme Sailing Series

As the Extreme Sailing Series heads to Russia next week, take a look back on the highlights from an exciting season of new boats, new competitors, and fast foiling.

By Extreme Sailing Series

Updated: August 25, 2016

Thousands of public flocked to the race village at HafenCity to watch the GC32s in action in Hamburg. Once again the Series has delivered, with huge crowds turning out to watch the action at each Act. © Lloyd Images

Sail Portugal – Visit Madeira blast around the track on the penultimate day of racing in Hamburg. The team, with a full Portuguese line-up, will look forward to racing on home waters in Act 6, Madeira Islands and Act 7, Lisbon. © Lloyd Images

The Danish team competes in its fifth season and, having secured a place on the podium in 2015, chases its ultimate goal of Series victory this year. Currently in fourth place overall, the team has four Acts to battle its way to the top spot. © Lloyd Images

The seemingly unstoppable Oman Air have taken three out of four Act victories so far with Morgan Larson at the helm. The team have their work cut out however with Red Bull Sailing Team and Alinghi hot on their heels. © Lloyd Images

After four Acts in the new GC32s, the teams of world-class sailors have got to grips with the foiling machines, promising more intense foiling action in the remaining four Acts. © Lloyd Images

So far in the 2016 season the fleet of hydro-foiling GC32s have raced in front of four iconic city backdrops around the world; in Muscat, Oman; Qingdao, China; Cardiff, UK and Hamburg, Germany. © Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2016

Act 2 champions, Alinghi, up on their foils during the final day of racing in Qingdao. Helmed by Arnaud Psarofaghis, the team chase Oman Air for that top spot. © Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2016

The Austrians may be newer to the foiling game, but they have got competitive quickly. The team has finished on the podium at every Act so far this year taking second in Muscat and Cardiff, and third in Qingdao and Hamburg. © Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2016

The Extreme Sailing Series™ has gone through a period of dramatic change this season as the world’s premier Stadium Racing circuit celebrates its 10th anniversary with the replacement of the Extreme 40 by a smaller, faster catamaran: the flying GC32. © Lloyd Images

Oman Air crew, Wierzbowski, Larson and Smyth at work on day four of racing in Muscat. Larson’s crew of former Extreme Sailing Series champions have barely put a foot wrong this season and show no signs of stopping. © Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2016

The British team, Land Rover BAR Academy, is relishing the chance to learn in the fast paced-world of Stadium Racing, gaining valuable experience which will stand them in good stead for the second half of the season as they work towards emulating the success of their senior racers including Sir Ben Ainslie. © Lloyd Images

Extreme Sailing Series 2016

The fleet raced in Muscat, Oman, for the 2016 season opener, where the open water racing in front of Muscat’s old town allowed the teams to stretch their legs in the foiling GC32s. © Lloyd Images

SAP Extreme Sailing Team fly through the water during the 2016 launch event in Dubai. The Series stalwarts, co-skippered by Jes Gram-Hansen and Rasmus Køstner, compete for the fifth time in the Series but for the first time in the GC32. © Lloyd Images

The fleet find their foils as they race during the 2016 Series launch against the striking backdrop of the Dubai skyline. © Lloyd Images

One of the season favourites, and the only team to deprive Oman Air of an Act victory so far in the 2016 Series, Alinghi foil in Dubai in front of Atlantis The Palm Hotel. © Lloyd Images

The Extreme Sailing Series™ has gone through a period of dramatic change this season as the world’s premier Stadium Racing circuit celebrates its 10th anniversary. An influx of fresh talent, new venues and a revised race format have all added to the hype, but the greatest evolution is the replacement of the Extreme 40 by a smaller, faster catamaran: the flying GC32.

“The switch to foiling has been the biggest transition of the last 10 years,” commented Event Director Andy Tourell. “Halfway through the season with four Acts down, we have adapted the sporting format to maximise the venues for the GC32s to deliver intense competition on the water and commercial return for all stakeholders.”

Tourell continued: “The competition on the water has been fierce as the fleet have got to grips with flying. We’ve been able to open up some of our venues like Oman and China to really stretch the boats, and in Cardiff and Hamburg we have been able to race the foilers competitively and safely in stadiums.”