EXTREME 40
KATIE SPITHILL AND STACEY JACKSON TEAM-UP FOR EXTREME 40 SHOWDOWN
CLUB YACHTING
Match racing champion Katie Pellew- Spithill and Volvo Ocean Race sailor Stacey Jackson ( winner of the RPAYC Trygve Halvosen award 2014-15 and YA Awards Female Sailor of the Year Finalist ) will head-up an all Australian crew on 33 South Racing ( 33SR ) as the wild card entry for the 2015 Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 8 , Sydney presented by Land Rover .
It will be the first time an Extreme 40 team has been led by a female skipper since double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson in 2009 . The Australian female duo will take on the fleet of eight elite Extreme 40s as they battle it out at the end of season showdown from 10 – 13 December on Sydney Harbour . Spithill and Jackson will be joined onboard ‘ 33 South Racing ’ ( 33SR ) by multiple A-class catamaran world champion Steve Brewin and World Match Racing Tour sailor Henry Kernot . A fifth crew member will be announced soon .
The SR33 team will be managed by Joshua Chant , the founder of 33 South Racing , an organization created to promote Australian involvement in elite level sailing and provide unique sailing experiences .
Elite sailing runs in the Spithill family . Katie ’ s brother James Spithill won the America ’ s Cup twice as helmsman for the USA in the 2010 and 2013 Cup series raced in high performance catamarans .
Lining up alongside 40 of the world ’ s best sailors from 12 nations , the competition will be tough . “ We know there are going to be some highly polished teams in the fleet . We are going to use every available minute in the build up to focus on preparing for the challenge that lies ahead ,” said Spithill .
Training on Sydney Harbour throughout November in preparation for the Act , the 33SR crew will be hoping that home water advantage will play in their favour , after seeing Series heavyweights The Wave , Muscat walk away with the penultimate Act win last week in Istanbul with two races to spare .
After sailing around the world with Team SCA competing in the latest Volvo Ocean Race , Jackson is ready for the next challenge - switching from the open ocean to close quarters Stadium Racing within metres of the shore .
“ To be able to sail in front of a home crowd with a completely Australian Team is really exciting . Hopefully we will be able to hear the supporters cheering from the shore ,” commented Jackson .
For the Extreme Sailing Series Act 8 , Sydney presented by Land Rover , the Race Village will be located at Mrs Macquaries Point which will be open to the public from Friday , 11 December . It will be free to enter and spectators can watch the unique Stadium Racing and cheer on their home team as the international teams fight to be crowned Champion of the 2015 Extreme Sailing Series .
33SR CREW LIST
• Kate Pellew-Spithill ( AUS ) – Skipper ;
• Stacey Jackson ( AUS ) – Bow / Trimmer ;
• Steve Brewin ( AUS ) – Main ;
• Henry Kernot ( AUS ) – Trimmer
SOURCE : YA WEBSITE
30 YACHTSMAN