Alinghi performs during the Extreme Sailing Series Act 2 in Qingdao, China on May 2, 2016. (Lloyd Images/ Extreme Sailing Series / Red Bull Content Pool)
Team Australia (L) and the fleet cross the start line in their GC32 hydro-foiling catamarans during day 3 of the eighth and final act of the Extreme Sailing Series in Sydney, Australia on December 10, 2016 (Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool)
Dean Treml
The Extreme Sailing Series wrapped up its final race the week of Dec. 8 in Sydney, Australia, with Alinghi, based out of Switzerland, winning the competition overall. Becoming the first team to do so on foils, the Swiss speed demons bested Oman Air and Red Bull Sailing placing second and third, respectively.
With each race arranged in a unique stadium format, the Extreme Sailing Series has seven stops—stretching throughout the year—that deliver high-octane sailing action to fans around the world. This season marked a new entry into the competition, the super-light GC32 catamarans that are capable of reaching speeds of up to 46 mph.
Coming into the last race with a minor lead, Oman Air fell behind to Alinghi once the final scores were tallied in Sydney. Alinghi helmsman Arnaud Psarofaghis told Red Bull Media, “We’re really happy, and pretty relieved too. It was a really intense day—halfway through Oman Air were still able to come back, but when we sailed our own race away from the pack we were really fast, and that was the key for us.” Though it was the first time the Swiss raced the GC32 catamarans, it was the team’s third Extreme Sailing Series it competed in.
Enjoy a recap of the year-long sailing saga in the photos below.
Red Bull Extreme Sailing team skippered by Roman Hagara performs in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on February 10, 2016 (Samo Vidic/Red Bull Content Pool)
Alinghi performs during the Extreme Sailing Series Act 2 in Qingdao, China on May 2, 2016 (Lloyd Images/ Extreme Sailing Series / Red Bull Content Pool)
Participants performs during Extreme Sailing Series in Lisbon, Portugal on October 7, 2016 (Hugo Silva/Red Bull Content Pool)
Hugo Silva
Participants perform during the Extreme Sailing Series Act 5 in St Petersburg, Russia, 3 September, 2016 (Lloyd Images/Extreme Sailing Series/Red Bull Content Pool )
Lloyd Images
Red Bull Sailing Team performs during the Extreme Sailing Series, Act 6, in Madeira, Portugal 24 September, 2016 (Lloyd Images/Extreme Sailing Series/Red Bull Content Pool )
Mark Lloyd
Alinghi of Switzerland compete in their GC32 hydro-foiling catamaran during day 3 of the eighth and final act of the Extreme Sailing Series in Sydney, Australia on December 10, 2016 (Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool)
Dean Treml
Second placed SAP Extreme (L) of Denmark, event winners Alinghi (C) of Switzerland and third placed Oman Air of Oman on the podium during the final day of the eighth and final act of the Extreme Sailing Series in Sydney, Australia on December 11, 2016 (Dean Treml/Red Bull Content Pool)
Dean Treml
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