For the first time in its class history eight Extreme 40s, the biggest fleet to date, will gather to compete in the iShares Cup at Skandia Cowes Week from 3-5 August. In addition to three days of racing, teams will also put on some exhibition racing on 7-9 August off The Green by the Royal Yacht Squadron. British team Basilica, skippered by Rob Greenhalgh, currently leads the four event series winning 10 of 15 races at each of the previous two events, and is fast becoming the favourite for the overall iShares Cup title.

Sailing superstars competing in the event include: double Olympic gold medallist Shirley Robertson OBE, helming JPMorgan Asset Management; Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby onboard BT, skippered by Round the World sailor Nick Moloney; Volvo Ocean Race winners Rob Greenhalgh and Justin Slattery, racing Basilica; America’s Cup sailors Andrew McLean on Volvo Ocean Race, and David Carr on JPMorgan Asset Management; and Holmatro skipper Carolijn Brouwer.

At this event, the penultimate in the series, Basilica will go head to head with seven other highly experienced crews. Rob Greenhalgh commented, “We noticed in Marseille that with a fleet of seven boats the racing was tougher so with eight boats in Cowes the racing should be even more interesting, fun and competitive. The more boats on the water the better!”

iShares Cup Race Manager Alan Hillman predicts that this event could be the most competitive so far in the iShares Cup. “With eight boats on the start-line and with the unique sailing conditions found on the Solent, this regatta is going to throw a whole new set of variables at the teams. Basilica is currently showing strength in the series so it will be interesting to see if the team can pull off a hat-trick in their own backyard.

“Many of the teams will bring in sailors with local knowledge but putting together a winning team will require a blend of great boat handling, close quarter boat on boat tactics and an intimate knowledge of the local wind and tide variations. With the back drop of Skandia Cowes Week and the memories of the iShares Cup, Marseille fresh in the mind, this event is going to be one of the best Extreme 40 events to date.”

The winning Extreme 40 will be berthed nightly at Shepards Wharf.

Current iShares Cup Standing/Team Name/Crew/Overall Points

1.BasilicaRob Greenhalgh, Pete Greenhalgh, James Grant, Justin Slattery20pts
2.HolmatroCarolijn Brouwer, Sebbe Goddefroid, Greg Homann, Aren van Bergeijk16 pts
3.Tommy HilfigerStan Schreyer, Jonathon Farrar, Mark van Gelderen, Richard Feeney13 pts
4.BTNick Moloney, Darren Bundock, Glen Ashby, Hugh Styles13 pts
5.Volvo Ocean RaceAaron McIntosh, Mark Kennedy, Ryan Houston, Andrew McLean13 pts
6.Team SLAM DenmarkErik Pedersen, Michael Svensson, Lars Orun Nielsen, Peter Baeksted, Henrik Boje10 pts
7.ABN AMROJonnie Hutchcroft, Sam Chaddar, TBC, TBC0 pts
8.JPMorgan Asset ManagementShirley Robertson, David Carr, Fraser Brown, Nick Hutton0 pts