(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Oman Air will look to make an impact in the penultimate Act of the 2017 Extreme Sailing Series (ESS) as the seventh Act begins in San Diego, US, on Thursday.
San Diego is new territory for the high-speed GC32 foiling catamarans, but all six of the regular crews – along with two wildcard entries – will see the southern Californian venue as an opportunity to stake their claim to a top spot before the eighth and final Act in Mexico next month.
A third place podium finish in Cardiff in August has out Oman Air second in the overall standings, just two points behind leader - SAP Extreme Sailing Team.
Led by skipper Phil Robertson, Oman Air's crew comprises Pete Greenhalgh, Nasser al Mashari, James Wierzbowski and Ed Smyth. The team is three points clear of defending ESS champion Alinghi, who is in third place.
'We are definitely going to San Diego with confidence,' said Greenhalgh, mainsail trimmer and tactician on Oman Air.
'Coming third in Cardiff was a bit of a let down so we are looking forward to getting a good series in and really gathering some momentum, and San Diego is the event to do it,' he added.
Omani bowman Mashari said, 'We want to be right on the heels of SAP or even level or in front of it at the end of the San Diego Act.
'Being up with it will give us the real opportunity to win the season overall at the last event in Mexico, which carries double points, and that is what we are working towards.'
As the only team to have finished on the podium at every Act this season, Oman Air has consistency – as well as a pair of back-to-back outright victories – to sustain its challenge.
And it is bringing a little extra with it to San Diego, with Greenhalgh having raced with Robertson at the recent Chicago Match Cup all the way to a place in the final.
'It was the first time I had the opportunity to race with his match race crew,' said Greenhalgh.
'It was definitely a great experience and one we can take into San Diego.
'The more time you spend racing with each other, and analysing and debriefing, the closer you get to communicating perfectly, being on the same page all the time and being in synch, it's what we are looking for.'
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