Hard lessons at Extreme 40 regattas

The high winds of the first three days of the Cowes regatta of the Extreme Sailing Series dropped away today to the extent that racing was delayed while the breeze filled in.

The Emirates Team New Zealand team of Adam Beashel,Andrew McLean, Chris Ward and Richard Meacham, continued their debut at top-level multihull raci

Lessons learned at Extreme Sailing Series regattas –short, sharp fleet races in fast catamarans on tight courses – are a valuable part of the transition from a monohull to multihull racing team.

Dean Barker remembers his first Extreme 40 regatta at Almeria, Spain, last year. It was the last regatta of the season and the novice Emirates Team New Zealand crew found the going tough against the seasoned opposition.

“We had a mortgage on last place well before the last day and that was probably be the best thing that ever happened to us.” he said. “It was a hard lesson but we were playing a longer game.

“The reason for being there was very much about getting an insight into what we didn’t know about racing multihulls.

“Now, with a clash of dates – an regatta at Cascais is on at the same time – we are t giving other members of the sailing team a taste of multihull racing and to learn about handling a cat,control, starting techniques and mark roundings.

“Once you’ve seen been in the thick of it its much easier to see a way forward and improve at the next event.”