The Boat
The Extreme 40 is a catamaran with two hulls and a deck that is made from a trampoline-like netting stretched between the hulls. This sailing machine, innovative in design and cutting edge in racing ability, can reach exhilarating and yet still provide a great ride flying around on one hull in light winds.
At 40-foot long, the lightweight carbon fibre catamaran can be easily packed into a standard 40-foot container on its own road trailer and can be quickly assembled by its crew, making the class flexible and able to compete at many types of venue.
The Extreme 40 is constructed under a strict one design rule and a one manufacturer class, this creates a level playing field out on the water and it is down to the skills of the sailors to gain the edge over their competition.
Boat Design and Build
The Extreme 40 design brings together the excitement of a 'beach cat' ride with the power of an ocean-racing multihull.
The technology used to build an Extreme 40 is as cutting edge as the boat design and the build processes employs many of the same construction processes and ideas as a Formula 1 racing car.
In order to create a strong lightweight structure, materials used to construct the hull of an Extreme 40 are joined together in a mould and then placed in an autoclave, a pressurized oven that allows an intense vacuum on the materials while baking the hull at 120°C.
The Extreme 40 is the largest production boat ever built in an autoclave and has set a new standard in mid-size multihull construction.
Boat Spec
Length (LOA): 40ft (12.19m)
Beam: 26ft (7.92m)
Displacement: 1250kg
Mast height: 62ft (18.89m)
Mainsail: 75msq (upwind and downwind sailing)
Jib: 25msq (upwind sailing)
Gennaker: 78msq (downwind sailing)
Top speed: 40 knots
The Crew
The Extreme 40 is sailed by four top-level, physically fit sailors who in the iShares Cup are accompanied by a VIP guest. While the Extreme 40 is not a complicated boat to sail it requires its crew to maintain seamless teamwork and good communication to ensure they remain at the top of the fleet. Clumsy maneuvers and bad sail trimming will have a detrimental effect on a boat's positions in a race so all teams aim to be velvety smooth in their timing and in their onboard dialogue.
Helmsman: The helmsman, is responsible for steering the boat using an extended tiller arm. This sailors is the equivalent to the driver in a rally car, taking direction from his crew of co-drivers and best steering his vehicle on the best and fastest course on the track ahead, from the stat of the race, to the end of the race. The helmsman will also communicate information back to his team telling them when he plans to alter direction, pick up speed or change sails.
Mainsail trimmer/ Tactician: As the acceleration man, the mainsail trimmer controls the biggest sail on the boat, responsible for the blistering speeds that the Extreme 40 can achieve. This crew member still just in from of the helmsman and puts the pedal to the floor by pulling the sail in and can slam on the brakes by letting the same sail out. Getting the correct sail trim takes skill and practice and a good mainsail trimmer can help a team achieve a slight difference in speed over other competitors. The mainsail trimmer my also act as a tactician, providing information to the helmsman during the race. The role of the tactician is similar to that of a co-driver, providing information on the up-coming track, positions of other rivals and shifting weather conditions that may impact the fastest way to the finish line.
Headsail trimmer: Also responsible for the speed, acceleration on the Extreme 40 is the Headsail trimmer who controls the jib and the gennaker via a winch at the front of the boat. This crew member will work closely with the bowman who looks after the front of the boat and has one of the most physically demanding roles on the boat.
Bowman: Often seen running back and forth on the trampoline as he pulls sails up and down is the Bowman. This super agile crew the responsible for deploying and retrieving sails during the race. Ready to shimmy up the mast at a moments notice he is fit, quick and fearless.
About the Extreme Sailing Series Europe 2010
The 2010 circuit will visit five European venues, a mix of buzzing cosmopolitan cities and spectacular seaside resorts, each carefully chosen to provide not only the hottest racing but also the best vantage points for spectators to get up close to all the action.
For 2010 there will be races than ever before. Each regatta takes place over four days, with as many as 18 fast and furious races, each lasting around 20 minutes. Each day is a mix of corporate sailing races, giving VIP guests and media a chance to get out on the water and experience the Extreme 40 and then the real action of the Extreme Sailing Series racing itself — although there will still be ‘fifth man’ guests on board, expect the sailors to take no prisoners in the fiercely competitive races. Things will step up yet another gear for the final race of each event, which counts for double points!
Venues will be confirmed over the next few weeks, but the calendar so far is:
Event 1 Sète (France) 27th-30th May
Event 2 Cowes (UK) 31st July-5th August
Event 3 TBC 26th-29th August
Event 4 Trapani (Italy) 23rd-26th September
Event 5 Almeria (Spain) 9th-12th October
Source: www.extremesailingserieseurope.com
