will fluctuate over the next two to three years given possibly two successive changes of boat? AT: Looking ahead to the next couple of years at least, GC32s will be our platform and like the Extreme 40s the teams will be commercially funded; so there is no plan to change the running costs. SH: How do enquiries from new groups compare with those from existing teams? AT: Our current teams are core and have been consulted throughout the transition process. We have run forums plus numer- ous meetings with team managers, spon- sors and sailors to provide a platform for their input. The interest from existing teams is certainly there. All the feedback we have had since announcing the change of boat has been positive. The excitement has spread across the sailing world, and there are teams from outside the series that are now looking either to come back to or enter the series for the first time. As always, some teams come and go, but we are confident of a full grid next season. SH: Looking beyond 2016, there is an option to create a fleet of new custom designs… What is the overriding philosophy that will drive these and other changes going forward? AT: We looked at doing a new design of boat in 2011 and through continued moni- toring of the industry decided it wasn’t the right time. One of the options then was a wingmasted boat, but it wasn’t right for the Extreme Sailing Series and that was definitely the right decision.
We have always been at the forefront of our sport and, whatever the technological developments are, we are continually eval- uating them but always in the context of Stadium Racing. That is key. Foiling is clearly here to stay so it’s fantastic to have the GC32s so that we can foil from the beginning of 2016. Taking a much longer view, when there is a development of a new boat, it’s going to be much more than just foiling. It will be incorporating new media systems and enhancing the guest experience with a proper guest ‘pod’ among other innovations. It will be more fit for purpose than the Extreme 40 and at the front of technological developments. SH: Are you considering longer stages in 2017, even coastal stages, or is it still stadium sailing through and through? AT: The core of the series is stadium racing and that will not change. However, the introduction of the GC32s and foiling opens up opportunities for us to refresh the format. We will look to introduce match racing and some open water racing to see the full capabilities of these boats. There will also be some Pro-Am racing, increasing the opportunity to put guests at the centre of the sailing experience. It is a hugely exciting time to reinvigorate the series, but ultimately what the sailors, the teams, our sponsors and our fans want to see is stadium racing. And that’s what we will continue to deliver. SH: And for stadium sailing, how can you really improve on the GC32 model? AT: The GC32 is a fantastic platform to
Subscriptions
PRINTED MAGAZINE The traditional printed magazine, delivered to your door every month. You can also add a digital subscription to it.
1 year Print Only
get the series foiling. We are bringing a spectacular boat into a stadium environ- ment; it is going to be a steep learning curve, the first time these boats have been raced on courses quite as small as ours. However, if you had asked us 10 years ago if the Extreme 40s could be raced in stadiums as small as ours, we would have laughed. It seemed impossible. But now we have learnt how to manage the tight courses… and the sailors have mastered how to sail on them.
The sporting integrity of the series is paramount and our race management team are confident they can race the GC32s safely in even our smallest of stadiums. The sailing world really won’t have seen anything quite like this. SH: What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the Extreme 40, and now the GC32, that you are hoping to improve upon with a new custom boat? AT: The strength of the Extreme 40 is the Extreme 40. It is an excellent boat, its design, its durability, plus it still looks spectacular when powered up and heeling over literally within metres of the shore. The weakness is that it is not foiling. The impact of that weakness has changed within the past 12 months; back at the beginning of 2014 teams were still excited by the boat and that was shown by arguably one of the strongest fleets we’ve seen. But we’ve been consulting our teams and sponsors over recent years – and now is without doubt the right time to make this transition.
UK£ EUR€ USA$ ROW£ 56
90
Print + Digital 67.20 108 Digital Only 35
40 84 76
100.80 91.20 49
35
BACK ISSUES in PRINT or DIGITAL
DIGITAL MAGAZINE A digital copy of our magazine, for reading on your computer, tablet or smartphone.
www.seahorse.co.uk/shop Tel: +44 (0)1590 610691 Fax: +44 (0)1590 671116 Email:
subscriptions@seahorse.co.uk SEAHORSE 45
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76