(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman Air skipper and current World Match Racing Tour champion Phil Robertson is confident that the experience of his crew members will stand in good stead as they set eyes on another podium finish in Act Two of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series (ESS) in the Chinese city of Qingdao from April 28-May 1.
Robertson, who took over Oman Air only this season, steered the team to a third-place finish after a close battle with runner-up Alinghi in Act One of the ESS in Muscat last month. SAP Extreme Sailing Team had taken the top honours in Muscat.
A podium finish on his debut with Oman Air has given the confidence to Kiwi helmsman Robertson, who clearly has now greater ambitions in China.
'Oman Air is an impressive team that goes a lot deeper than the five sailors on the water. There is a reason the team has been so successful,' said Robertson.
'We were satisfied with the podium finish in Muscat but not entirely happy. We were in a great position going into the last day and we didn't execute it as we planned. It has definitely stirred us up for Qingdao; the goal is to do better.'
Robertson has competed in Qingdao only twice but has an experienced crew in Britain's Pete Greenhalgh, and Kiwi Ed Smyth, who have sailed regularly in Qingdao in ESS since 2011.
'Our team is extremely experienced and that's vital when you sail in venues like Qingdao. Pete [Greenhalgh] and Ed [Smyth] have probably done the most sailing in Qingdao out of the entire fleet and that's a very valuable asset to have onboard,' said Robertson.
Omani sailor Nasser al Mashari and Aussie James Wierzbowski complete the Oman Air crew.
Wildcard entry Team Extreme is set to join the six full-season squads in the Act Two for the Mazarin Cup in Qingdao's Fushan Bay, an Olympic sailing venue notorious for its temperamental weather that has previously seen multiple capsizes caused by its unexpected gusts.
'Qingdao is a tricky place to sail – it can throw anything at you. It is always a hard event to compete in for that reason. We're expecting anything to come at us but are well-prepared,' said Robertson.
ESS leaderboard [after Act One]: 1 SAP Extreme Sailing Team (12 points), 2 Alinghi (11), 3 Oman Air (10), 4 Red Bull Sailing Team (9), 5 Tawera Racing (8), 6 Land Rover BAR Academy (7).
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