SAIL

: VOLVO EXTREME 40 • Baltimore : Randy Smyth wins american races ahead of Mitch Booth

May 3 : After eighteen races, double Olympic medallist Randy Smyth and his all American team of Stan Schreyer, Jonathan Farrar and Richard Feeney took the overall victory, winning by nineteen points from Team Holmatro.

Smyth commented: “We have been racing together for a while now and I think this is what makes the difference but there is never a dull moment in these boats and especially when you are racing in the harbour like this – it is what these boats are made for.” He continued: “I think the audience that we have seen over the five days that we have raced is one of the biggest that sailing has ever had in the United States and that is so exciting. These are just such cool boats and it is great to be able to show them off.”

Olympic medallist and class founder Mitch Booth steered Team Holmatro into second place, and despite being overtaken in the regatta halfway through, was delighted to be finish on the podium after a disappointing result in Rio de Janeiro. Team Holmatro crew member and class Chief Executive Herbert Dercksen commented: “For me the most important thing has been to see so many people turn out to watch the racing. Sailing in this kind of arena has been fantastic and you get so much variety and lead changes and all of the sailors are thoroughly enjoying themselves out there. It has also been great to see the Volvo Ocean Race sailors competing and enjoying the class so much. This is what Mitch and I dreamt of, so it really is a dream come true.” Dercksen concluded by saying: “At the end of the day the best guy won. We are pleased to have moved up the leader board and with how we raced but Randy and his team did a fantastic job.”

Filling the final podium position in Baltimore was Team Basilica skippered by James Grant and with British 49er sailor Alister Richardson at the helm. Team Basilica could not quite match their performance from Rio de Janeiro, but a third place in Baltimore still sees them second on the overall series leader board, six points behind Tommy Hilfiger. The excellent improvement seen in Team Holmatro sees them move up from fifth place overall to third place after three events.

Whilst the Volvo Extreme 40 racing has come to an end, there is still plenty of activity going on in the Volvo Ocean Race Village. Tomorrow sees the Volvo Open 70s depart for Annapolis on a Parade of Sail, where they will remain until the leg six restart on Sunday 7 May which takes them from Annapolis to Portsmouth, England, via a three day pit-stop in New York.

The Volvo Extreme 40s will be unleashed again at the end of the month in Portsmouth, England. Racing in Portsmouth takes place from the 27 May to the 3 June and will conclude with the boats taking part in the Round the Island Race – a race 50 mile race around the Isle of Wight.

Final Results
 1st Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1,2,4,5,3,1,1,4,4,1,2,1,1,1,2) 149 pts
 2nd Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,2,3,5,3,2,5,3) 130 pts
 3rd Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5,5,2,2,1,2,2,3,1,4,4,2,DNF,2,1) 123 pts
 4th Motorola-CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,5,3,2,3,4,DNF,3,5) 98 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race, USA (3,5,5,4,4,5,4,5,5,4,2,5,5,1,DNF,DNF,4,4) 91 pts

Overall Series Rankings (after three events)
 1st Tommy Hilfiger 26 pts
 2nd Basilica 20 pts
 3rd Holmatro 19 pts
 4th Motorola-CHR 18 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race 16 pts

May 2 : All change at the top on day four

The penultimate day of the Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series saw a dramatic lead change as American Randy Smyth sailing Tommy Hilfiger overtook Team Holmatro skippered by Mitch Booth. The wind challenged the five teams on the fourth day of racing as the sailors had to contend with 3-8 knots of wind which flickered around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour.

America’s Cup legend John Bertrand was the guest of honour for the day, sailing with Cam Lewis on Team Volvo Ocean Race for the first two races and then helping to lead Tommy Hilfiger to victory in the final and longest race of the day. Pirates of the Caribbean sailor Anthony Merrington can not keep away for the exciting new class and stepped back onboard Team Holmatro for the day. Unfortunately the team could not quite match the results from his last outing, and they forfeited their overall lead which they had held since day two.

With a one-two-one score line, Randy Smyth on Tommy Hilfiger and his team comprising of Stan Schreyer, Jonathan Farrar and Richard Feeney, have a nine point lead going into the final day of racing. Smyth commented: “I had a good day and really enjoyed it out there – until I got thrown in by Conrad (Humphreys). I guess that is what happens when you’re leading the regatta.”

Mitch Booth and Team Holmatro are currently placed second overall, eleven points in front of the all British boat, Team Basilica. Conrad Humphrey’s Motorola had Brunel skipper Grant Wharington onboard as a guest but unfortunately could not move up from fourth place overall. Leigh McMillan, helm of Motorola-CHR commented: “It is always good fun when you are racing on a 100m width course - it is close and exciting with the potential of many position changes and protests.”

Despite sitting at the bottom of the leader board, Cam Lewis and his team of Greg Homann, Doug Deaver and Larry Harteck finally started enjoying the racing and even pulled off their best result so far in the regatta – their first race win. Lewis said: “We had a wonderful days racing today and Team Volvo Ocean Race are really happy to have two near podium finished and a first place.”

The Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series concludes tomorrow and then the boats get packed up and shipped to Portsmouth, England for the penultimate grand prix venue of Portsmouth.

Results, day 4
 1st Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1,2,4,5,3,1,1,4,4,1,2,1) 121 pts
 2nd Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,2,3,5,3) 112 pts
 3rd Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5,5,2,2,1,2,2,3,1,4,4,2) 101 pts
 4th Motorola – CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,5,3,2,3,4) 84 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race, USA (3,5,5,4,4,5,4,5,5,4,2,5,5,1,5) 77 pts

May 1 : Brasil 1 sailor jumps ship for the day

Brasil 1 sailor Roberto Bermudez from Spain jumped ship for the day to make a guest appearance during the third day of the Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series in Baltimore. Many of the sailors that are normally seen onboard the Volvo Open 70s have been attracted by the speed and excitement of the Volvo Extreme 40s and the talented sailors have caused a bit of a shake up in the fleet.

Team Holmatro has been the biggest beneficiary and with Pirates of the Caribbean sailor Anthony Merrington competing yesterday and Bermudez today, they have elevated themselves from the bottom of the leader board to the top. Olympic medallist Mitch Booth who, along with Bermudez, was joined by his regular crew of son Taylor and Volvo Extreme 40 CEO Herbert Dercksen, put in another great performance for the second day in a row scoring nothing out of the top three to maintain their overall lead.

Team Holmatro was not the only boat to recruit the skills of a Volvo Ocean Race sailor. Onboard the all British Team Basilica ABN AMRO ONE sailor Robert Greenhalgh, brother of regular crew member Peter, joined the crew for the final two races helping the team on their way to victory in the final race of the day.

Rob Greenhalgh commented: “We finished the day on a good note with a race win. This close quarters stuff is what you miss when you sail around the world and I can’t wait to get back in a small boat again.” With twelve knots of breeze and racing in the confined space of Baltimore’s Inner Harbour, the day was not without drama and there was plenty of close tussles and even a few red protest flags on display. Olympic Tornado silver medallist Johnny Lovell, who was guest onboard Team Motorola-CHR commented: “Today was great fun. We had some very exciting and very close racing out there.”

With two more days remaining of the series, Team Holmatro holds on to a three point lead from Tommy Hilfiger helmed by American Randy Smyth who won two of the day’s races and placed fourth in the remaining ones. The all British Team Basilica helmed by Alister Richardson is currently in third place, nineteen points in front of Motorola-CHR helmed by Leigh McMillan. Team Volvo Ocean Race skippered by American Cam Lewis is still learning the art of controlling these 40ft flying beasts and are currently placed fifth.

The Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series continues through until Wednesday 3 May before heading to their penultimate grand prix venue of Portsmouth.

Results, day 3 (subject to protest)
 1st Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2,1,1,1,2,3,3,1,2) 96 pts
 2nd Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1,2,4,5,3,1,1,4,4) 93 pts
 3rd Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5,5,2,2,1,2,2,3,1) 84 pts
 4th Motorola – CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3,3,3,3,4,4,5,5,3) 65 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race, USA (3,5,5,4,4,5,4,5,5,4,2,5) 58 pts

April 30 : Three races wins for Mitch Booth’s crew who takes the lead ahead Randy Smyth

Team Holmatro was boarded by a Pirate on the second day of the Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series which resulted in a successful day for the team. Pirates of the Caribbean team member Anthony Merrington (AUS) enjoyed a day away from the Volvo Open 70 and joined Olympic medallist Mitch Booth and crew of Herbert Dercksen and Taylor Booth for a day onboard the 40 ft catamaran.

Providing an exciting display for the thousands of spectators who lined the dockside, the five Volvo Extreme 40’s zipped around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour in ten knots of wind and under bright sunshine. After a disappointing performance in the previous grand prix event in Rio de Janeiro, Merrington brought Team Holmatro some luck and additional skills as they went on to win three races and finish runners up in the final race of the day. This result was good enough to push them to the top of the leader board, three points in front of second placed Tommy Hilfiger helmed by Randy Smyth (USA).

Merrington commented: “We certainly need more of these boats - as soon as the breeze kicked in it was great! There was lots of position changing and the shifty winds gave everyone a chance, as well as providing some excitement for those watching from onshore.”

Team Basilica helmed by British sailor Alister Richardson was the pre-race favourite coming into the Baltimore series after victory in Rio. With Team Basilica’s results improving as the day went on, finally finishing on a high with a race win, they are currently placed third overall nine points behind Tommy Hilfiger. Team Basilica crew member Peter Greenhalgh commented; “The third race of the day was the closest and fastest racing you could have had in a location such as this. It was fantastic.”

The Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series continues through until Wednesday 3 May.

• Results, day 2
 1st Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2,1,1,1,2) 66 pts
 2nd Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1,2,4,5,3) 63 pts
 3rd Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5,5,2,2,1) 52 pts
 4th Motorola – CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3,3,3,3,4) 46 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race, USA (3,5,5,4,4,5,4,5) 37 pts

April 28 : Clean sweep for Randy Smyth on inaugural day

It was a clean sweep for Tommy Hilfiger on the first day of the Baltimore Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series. Randy Smyth and his all American team scored straight wins in the four races that took place in the Inner Harbour within a stones throw of the shoreline and underneath the towering office blocks that line the waterfront.

Spurred on by wanting to impress their sponsor, the fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger, who took an afternoon out of his busy schedule to enjoy zipping around the Inner Harbour with his victorious team.

Smythe and his team did a good job of reading the tricky wind conditions which saw the breeze go from nothing to 15 knots within minutes. After four races Tommy Hilfiger has established a healthy twelve point lead over second placed Team Holmatro skippered by Tornado Olympic medallist Mitch Booth.

After day one Team Motorola-CHR is placed third overall one point in front of Rio grand prix winners Team Basilica.

Herbert Dercksen, CEO Volvo Extreme 40 commented: “Today was amazing. I felt really proud as this kind of racing is exactly what we designed and built the Volvo Extreme 40 for.”

“At one point we looked up at a neighbouring office tower block and there were people waving out of the windows on five floors.”

Tomorrow sees the teams enjoy a lay day whilst the Volvo Open 70’s that are competing in the Volvo Ocean Race 2005-06 take part in the in-port race. The Volvo Extreme 40 racing recommences on Sunday and continues through until Wednesday 3 May.

Results, day 1
 1st Tommy Hilfiger, USA (1,1,1,1) 40 pts
 2nd Team Holmatro, NED (2,3,3,2) 28 pts
 3rd Motorola – CHR, GBR (5,2,4,3) 23 pts
 4th Team Basilica, GBR (4,4,2,5) 22 pts
 5th Volvo Ocean Race, GBR (3,5,5,4) 19 pts

Remaining Volvo Extreme 40 Grand Prix Series Dates
 Portsmouth, UK 27 May-3 June, 2006
 Rotterdam, Netherlands 9-14 June, 2006