Barcelona baptism of fire for Extreme Sailing Series™ fleet

Barcelona's debut in the Extreme Sailing Series™ is set to get off to a wet and wild start – with winds of up to 27 knots forecast for tomorrow's opener.

Wednesday 19th July 2017

Barcelona’s debut in the Extreme Sailing Series™ is set to get off to a wet and wild start – with winds of up to 27 knots forecast for tomorrow’s opener.

Spain’s second city is expected to welcome the eight international crews with strong breeze brought on by a big low pressure system sweeping down the Catalonian coastline.

It will provide an early test for all the teams – especially the two Spanish-flagged wildcard crews – as they attempt to tame their super-fast foiling GC32 catamarans.

Weather forecasts predict a breezy morning with winds from 13 to 17 knots gusting up to 23 knots, which could result in some spectacular action from the Flying Phantom fleet that will race from 10am to 3pm local time (UTC+2).

By the time the Extreme Sailing Series™ fleet hits the water at 3pm local time the wind gods will have turned the dial up an extra notch, delivering 14 to 18 knots with gusts of up to 27.

In conditions like these the GC32s are capable of blistering speeds of as much as 39 knots, or 45mph – an incredible challenge for the crews but a real spectacle of Stadium Racing for the crowds that are expected to line the shores.

The Barcelona Act marks a welcome return to Spain for the Series. The last time it came here was in 2011 when the Andulician city of Almeria hosted the action.

Tomorrow is forecast to be the windiest of the Act but the remaining three days are currently promising an afternoon sea breeze of around 15 knots – ideal conditions for spectacular foiling racing.

The Stadium Racecourse is located in front of the W Barcelona hotel on the Plaça Rosa dels Vents in Barceloneta.

The free-to-enter race village is open each day from 10am to 7pm offering the public a chance to get front row seats for the action as well as shoreside entertainment.

If you can’t be in Barcelona fear not – the live blog will keep fans updated from 3pm to 6pm local time on July 20 and 21.

Racing will be streamed live on the Extreme Sailing Series Youtube and Facebook pages from 3pm to 6pm on July 22 and from 2pm to 5pm on July 23.