Thousands of spectators filled the Extreme Sailing Series Race Village in Boston and were treated to a spectacle of 49er racing followed by eight first-class Extreme 40 races. A good sea breeze allowed the Extreme 40s to showcase how this style of stadium racing works, with live onboard commentary from US sailor Cam Lewis and Britain’s Andy Green.

Check out this video of Red Bull Air Force skydiver Jeff Provenzano landing at the Race Village before hitching a ride with the Extreme 40…

The top five places on the overall leaderboard remain unchanged with Artemis Racing holding the top spot, although three races from the end of day the Swedish team momentarily lost their lead to The Wave, Muscat. Leigh McMillan had a wobbly start to the day posting a 9th and a 6th giving Dean Barker’s Emirates Team New Zealand to chance to overhaul the Oman team. But a last place in the fifth race of the day for the Kiwis, gave McMillan’s team the opportunity to get back. Pierre Pennec’s all-French team on Groupe Edmond de Rothschild had a mixed bag of results – their best a 1st place in the third race of the day, and their worst a 9th – but they are still only 2 points behind the Kiwis: “Racing was good for us,” said tactician Hervé Cunningham. “It could have been much better as we had a few penalties which was not ideal. We have the speed, we need to be a bit more aggressive on the starts. Tomorrow we will try to finish every race in the top three.”

Max Sirena’s Luna Rossa team had a better day, leaving them just 4 points adrift of the French at the halfway stage. However, the ‘stand-out’ team of the day was the Swiss team Alinghi, posting three race wins: “It is the first time in the season that we have three race wins in one day, so we are very happy,” said Tanguy Cariou. “The beginning of the event was quite tough for us and we were disappointed with that but we have tried to close the gap. We have been more aggressive with our sailing and had some good starts.”

Britain’s Ian Williams, skipper of Team GAC Pindar, nearly scored their first race win of Act 4 and were leading round the final top mark in the fourth race of the day before a twist in the gennaker spoiled ruined that prospect. However, the team’s improved performance today allowed them to leap-frog Roland Gaebler’s Team Extreme on the overall leaderboard.

Going into the penultimate day 22 races have been staged so far and with a potential 12-14 races still on offer the teams have plenty of points to play for. What is clear now is that every point counts.

Extreme Sailing Series
Current overall standings after 22 races, Day 3 (2 July 2011)

1st Artemis Racing (SWE) 169 points
2nd The Wave, Muscat (OMA) 159 points
3rd Emirates Team New Zealand (NZL) 158 points
4th Groupe Edmond de Rothschild (FRA) 156 points
5th Luna Rossa (ITA) 151 points
6th Red Bull Extreme Sailing (AUT) 148.2* points
7th Alinghi (SUI) 141 points
8th Niceforyou (ITA) 114 points
9th Oman Air (OMA) 106 points
10th Team GAC Pindar (GBR) 83 points
11th Team Extreme (EUR) 72 points

* Points after redress