Sydney Announced as Final Act for 2015 Extreme Sailing

Extreme Sailing Series™ organiser OC Sport has today confirmed Sydney as Host Venue for the final Act of the 2015 season, in partnership with the New South Wales Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

After successfully hosting the spectacular grand finale to the 2014 season, Destination NSW and the Extreme Sailing Series™ have confirmed the 2015 eight-Act global tour will culminate in Sydney from 10-13 December. NSW Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said: “The NSW Government is pleased to have again secured the Extreme Sailing Series for Sydney, through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW. Taking place on the spectacular Sydney Harbour, it promises to be a fantastic experience for competitors and spectators alike.”

One of the largest and most beautiful natural harbours in the world, Sydney is an iconic haven for avid sailors and all types of watersports enthusiasts, and the Extreme Sailing Series Act 8, presented by Land Rover, will be a highlight of Sydney’s action-packed summer events calendar.

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the waterfront at the world famous Royal Botanic Gardens to watch as the best in the business, including some Australian homegrown talent in Seve Jarvin and the crew on GAC Pindar, go head-to-head on a racecourse set between Garden Island and the Royal Sydney Opera House. “You can’t really beat the feeling of racing on home waters,” Jarvin said. “I’ve sailed here since I was six years old with my family so it’s exciting to come back with such a high profile fleet and I have no doubt the public will get behind the racing again this year. December in Sydney is always beautiful conditions for racing and the guys can expect a north east sea breeze and lots of sun – it should be perfect.”

Andy Tourell, Extreme Sailing Series Event Director, is delighted the Series is returning to the city. “Destination NSW understand what the Extreme Sailing Series is all about - the combination of elite level racing and entertainment, competing directly in front of the spectators.Against the stunning backdrop of the Sydney Opera House, racing just metres from the shore in Farm Cover the easy to understand format, it is not just aimed at sailing fans, but at everyone.

The race village, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, will provide the prime viewing position and plenty of free entertainment for the whole family. The natural love for sport within the country makes this a really unique venue in terms of the passionate welcome and overwhelming support we received in 2014. I have no doubt we will experience that again this year,” added Tourell.

The award-winning global circuit is now in its ninth year, and so far in 2015 has visited Singapore, Muscat (Oman), Qingdao (China), Cardiff (UK), and Hamburg (Germany), with Saint Petersburg (Russia), Istanbul (Turkey), and Sydney (Australia) all to come.

In addition to being a world class sailing venue, Sydney has so much more to offer. From performances at the Royal Opera House, live music in Kings Cross, climbing the Harbour Bridge, or walking around the Royal Botanic Gardens, it is full of things to cross off your bucket list.

*Image credit: LloydImages