Extreme Sailing Series and 49er Class Announce Partnership

Fuente info Scuttlebutt europe



With growing acknowledgement that high performance classes are the best way to showcase the sport of sailing, the Extreme Sailing Series and the International 49er Class Association have today announced a strategic partnership to help broaden the media appeal of sailing.

Starting in 2011, the Extreme Sailing Series will see the 49er racing alongside the Extreme 40, as part of the 'Stadium' showcase entertainment that the award-winning professional sailing circuit is renowned for.

OC ThirdPole's Sailing Events Director, Gilles Chiorri, commented, "The Extreme Sailing Series combines top professional racing with challenging and innovative short-course race formats that are also entertaining for a growing fanbase around the world - at the events and online. The 49er is the current Olympic class that offers the most attractive way for us to add another small boat 'act' in support of the Extreme 40 racing - as part of a strategy of providing up to 8 hours of entertainment for the public and VIPs who visit our events around the world. The 49er is also a class that has been a stepping stone for 2009 and 2010 Extreme Sailing Series winning helmsmen Chris Draper and Paul Campbell-James. The collaboration with the 49er Class is an exciting addition for us as we scale up the event for 2011 and beyond."

The 49er Class is still relatively young, but over the last 10 years many of its top sailors have gone on to achieve successful professional sailing careers: 49er Class sailors made up half of the eight helmsmen in the last edition of the Volvo Ocean Race.