Barcelona wildcards bring Spanish flair to Extreme Sailing Series™
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but legendary catamaran racer Mitch Booth isn't prepared to accept that.
Sunday 23rd July 2017
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but legendary catamaran racer Mitch Booth isn’t prepared to accept that.
Booth has been at the cutting edge of sailing for 30 years with a glittering career that has included two Olympic medals from five appearances at the Games, numerous world titles and twice being named Australian Yachtsman of the Year.
Along with designer Yves Loday, Booth created the ground-breaking Extreme 40 catamaran that went on to become synonymous with the Extreme Sailing Series™ for a decade.
Now living in Barcelona, Booth is back at the helm of a wildcard team at the fourth round of the Extreme Sailing Series on his adoptive home waters but there’s one difference – the boats used in the global Stadium Racing tour now fly.
The Extreme Sailing Series switched to foiling GC32 catamarans at the start of the 2017 season, adding a new dimension to racing – and a new challenge for Booth to conquer.
Despite the changes, Booth insists the fundamentals of sailing these superfast catamarans remains the same as when he took bronze on the same waters of Barcelona at the 1992 Olympics.
“The boats might be different but the principles are still very much the same,” he said. “It’s a slightly different game now the boats are flying but the old dog can still learn some new tricks!”
Booth handpicked his crew – called Team Extreme - combining his wealth of experience with the strength and passion of a host of youth sailors that include his sons Jordi and Ruben.
“When I heard there would be a Barcelona round this year I jumped at the chance to be involved,” he added.
“We pulled together a team of young guys at the last minute, including my two boys, and here we are. What an opportunity it is for these young guys to sail one of these amazing boats against the best professional sailors in the world.
“We’ve got big ambitions to be part of the Extreme Sailing Series next year and so competing here is a big step towards that goal.”
Booth’s Team Extreme aren’t the only ones getting their first taste of flying in the Extreme Sailing Series.
Fellow Barcelona crew FNOB Impulse boast an impressive line-up of Spain’s most promising young sailors, led by 23-year-old Olympian Jordi Xammar.
As Barcelona celebrates the 25th anniversary of the 1992 Olympics, Xammar and his team are living proof of its legacy.
“I wasn’t born when the 1992 Olympics took place in Barcelona but my parents still talk about how amazing it was,” Xammar said. “The legacy of those Games still lives on in Barcelona. Although I wasn’t here when they took place I like to think that I am continuing that legacy.”
After just three days of sailing in the GC32 catamarans Xammar’s men have proved fast learners, pushing the more established teams hard and almost winning a race.
It is invaluable experience for the talented youngsters, who competed in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup as Spanish Impulse.
“We saw these boats racing at the Extreme Sailing Series in Lisbon last year, and we were just amazed by how cool they were. Less than a year later here we are competing in the Extreme Sailing Series in our home city of Barcelona. We couldn’t ask for more - it has been very special for us.”
The final day of racing will commence at 14:00 local time (UTC+2) and can be watched live on the Extreme Sailing Series Facebook and YouTube channels.
