Emirates Team New Zealand update

Three wins a second and a third in nine races for Emirates Team New Zealand on Day 3 of the Istanbul regatta on the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series.

Lying third overnight 19 points adrift of the leader, Dean Barker, Glenn Ashby, Jeremy Lomas and James Dagg closed the gap to eight points. With two days to go the regatta is still wide open and top placing are by no means secured.

Day 3 was dominated by a spectacular crash between Team Extreme and Alinghi. The high-speed impact resulted in a huge hole in Team Extreme’s port hull. Two crew members were thrown into the water but there were no serious injuries.

Team Extreme's hull is most probably irreparable.  Alinghi had only minor damage to their bow but broke their bowsprit.  They should be competing tomorrow.

Dean Barker was pleased with the day. “We’re getting back into it. Groupe Edmond de Rothschild was the big improver on the day and now lead this regatta but we’re happy to have closed the gap on the leader.”

 Barker missed the collision. “We had already rounded the mark on were on the run. We didn’t see the yachts until we came around again and were totally  unaware of the extent of the damage until we came ashore and saw the video playing on the big screen.”

The weather forecast for Day 4 is more of the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDyKaZH9Gxs

Extreme Sailing Series – Act 3, Istanbul

Standings after Day 3 (27.5.11)

1st Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA), 171 points

2nd Artemis Racing (SWE),  170 points 

3rd Emirates Team New Zealand 163 points

4th Luna Rossa (ITA),156 points

5th The Wave, Muscat (OMA), 153 points

6th Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT), 140 points

7th Team GAC Pindar (GBR), 121 points

8th Niceforyou (ITA), 112 points

9th Oman Air (OMA), 112 points

10th Alinghi (SUI), 111 points 

11th Team Extreme (EUR),  88 points