After three days of burning sun and temperatures over 30 degrees it was slightly more ‘Northern European’ conditions in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, today. Rain, challenging visibility – which all suited SAP Extreme Sailing Team rather well!
SAP Extreme experienced their best day of the event so far earning an excellent 54 points (6, 1, 3, 2, 1, 4, 7 and 6).
Jes Gram-Hansen, Co-skipper:
”It was exciting today. Again we had very changeable wind conditions, both in speed and direction, but we got to grips with it and showed the consistency that we have been working so hard this year to achieve. It was a little disappointing that we finished with a 7th and 6th in the last two races, but that doesn’t change the fact that we sailed very well today. It’s a very good sign for next year”.
SAP Extreme Sailing Team finish the event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in 5th place with a combined 166 points. For the Extreme Sailing Series 2012 the team finished in a creditable 6th place, quite an achievement in a debut year in such a competitive and experienced class – the challenging Extreme 40 Catamaran.
Rasmus Køstner: ”We have not focused on the overall result this year, but instead on the individual events. It is across the individual events that we can see how we are improving, step by step, across each event. We have shown that we are a team to be reckoned with in the future, and we are certainly looking forward to 2013! We are ambitious and we have our eyes firmly fixed on the podium next year. At the last two events we have shown a more stable competitiveness and to finish the series as we have done today gives a great deal of confidence for 2013.”
The team is now heading home for a well-earned Christmas break and the boats are being sent directly to Oman for the beginning of the 2013 challenge at the beginning of March.
Final result of the final act, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (30 races):
1. The Wave Muscat – 192.2p
2. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild – 192p
3. Oman Air – 181p
4. Red Bull Sailing Team – 179p
5. SAP Extreme Sailing Team – 166p
6. Alinghi – 152p
7. GAC Pindar – 129.6p
8. ZouLou – 119p
9. Team Brazil – 92p
Final Classification Extreme Sailing Series 2012 (7 events)
1. The Wave Muscat – 76.5p
2. Oman Air – 65p
3. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild – 64.5p
4. Red Bull Sailing Team –59p
5. GAC Pindar – 45.5p
6. SAP Extreme Sailing Team – 42p
7. Alinghi – 33.5p