21 races in four days, 264 points distributed and, at the end, only three small points separating SAP Extreme Sailing Team and Alinghi, who finished in 2nd. Oman air completes the podium, five points behind. The numbers speak for themselves and reflect the level of competition at the top of the table. Once again, the final order of the podium was in play until the last race, which, counting for double points, meant that the result was not secure and that the racing would be tense until the last. Nils Frei, headsail trimmer, said: "It was a good day. We sailed really well in a light air, but unfortunately it was not quite enough to win the event. We had a lot to catch-up after the first day, which left us 11 points behind, but we narrowed that gap at the end to three. We sailed really solidly, but then so did SAP, who deserve the win here. Overall, it’s a good result, with 2nd better than 3rd, for sure – it was the first day that probably cost us the victory.” Pierre-Yves Jorand, team leader, said: "It was today a great performance from the team. We had a hard first day, but then, they sailed super well. Overall we are one point ahead in the season rankings and we are already looking forward to the next event. Goodbye Madeira, it has been a fantastic venue with a wonderful crowd every day coming to watch the races."   Tim Lapauw, foil regulator and trimmer, said: "There were good races today in light wind. We were strong, but so too were SAP and we finish second. Of course, we started the week wanting to win, and that's what we'll aim for in the next event in Barcelona."   Click here to review the live prize ceremony on Facebook and the interviews of Nils and Pierre-Yves after the podium presentation. After this stage in Portugal, Alinghi scores 34 points and still leads the provisional overall standings, one point ahead of SAP and four ahead of Oman air. We will be meeting in Barcelona from Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 July for Act 4 of the Extreme Sailing Series.  Click here for overall standings of Act 3   Click here for provisional overall standings of the championship To find out more www.extremesailingseries.com   Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo  //  #Extremesailing   If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi’s team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need by following this link. Photos credit Lloyd Images

On this third day of the racing in Madeira, the wind played with the nerves of the competitors, but also with those of the race committee. The wind? There was certainly some...Maybe a little too much sometimes, with Red Bull even capsizing. Maybe not enough at other times. But above all, the direction from which the wind blew did not stop shifting throughout the slot allocated for the regatta. Not 10 or 15 degrees, but regularly 180 degrees. As sailors say, the wind was doing 360°. As such, it was dIfficult, if not impossible in these conditions to launch a fair round. Nevertheless, just before the deadline for the day's racing, the committee managed to launch one. The result? A victory for Alinghi. Arnaud Psarofaghis, co-skipper and helm said: "I think today we did everything we could. Only one race sailed, which we won, so that was really good. We gained only one point back on SAP and two on Oman Air, but tomorrow everything is on the table and we're looking forward to some racing." Click here to view Arnaud's interview in its entirety. Alinghi is still in 3rd place on the podium tonight and now only two points behind Oman air and nine on SAP. See you tomorrow at 2pm (local time, i.e -1h in relation to the time in Switzerland) for the last day of this competition, which you can follow directly from our Facebook page at the start of the races. For overall standings www.extremesailingseries.com/results Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo  //  #Extremesailing   If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi’s team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need by following this link. Photos credit Lloyd Images

In eight races on the second day in Madeira, the leading trio scored almost exactly the same number of points! SAP Extreme Sailing Team: 84 points. Oman Air: 85 points. Alinghi: 85 points. The battle rages around the marks and no crew intends to give an inch. At the halfway point of Act 3, there is no major change at the top of the table, except for the small point gained by the Omanis and the Swiss on the Danes leading the fleet, six points ahead of Oman Air and ten on Alinghi. Tim Lapauw, foil regulator and trimmer said: "Great day, though a bit tiring with eight races in just three hours, but so it goes! The venue is superb, it is a bit complicated to read the wind shifts, but it’s nice, it is hot and there were good sailing conditions with a wind blowing between 8 and 12 knots. “We can see the public coming to follow the regattas and on each finish line we hear the applause and encouragement, which is great for us.   “The key to success tomorrow will be making good starts. We know that if we are ahead at the first mark, we have all the strengths to remain so until the end." Click here to view Tim's interview in its entirety. He discusses in detail this second day of racing and returns to his recent experience at the Red Bull Youth America's Cup, with Team France Jeune (A good exercise to practice your French ;) Check back tomorrow at 2pm (local time, -1 hour from Swiss) for the continuation of this competition, which you can also follow live (video & 3D graphics) by clicking here from 2pm. For overall standings www.extremesailingseries.com/results   Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo  //  #Extremesailing   If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi’s team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need by following this link. Photos credit Lloyd Images

Seven international crews, a magnificent setting, some wind and six races run in front of hundreds of spectators. Such was the setting for the first day of the 3rd Act of the 2017 season. However, in sailing and especially on the Extreme Sailing Series circuit, winning the day’s first race does not necessarily mean that it’s going to be an ideal day! Alinghi subsequently recorded two 5th places, one 4th, one 3rd and was then disqualified tonight on a 2nd place scored having been flagged over the line too early at the start of race 3.   The team stands in 4th position tonight, 11 points behind SAP Extreme Sailing Team, but as our bowman, Yves Detrey, says "It's not over until it's over!" And, given there are still three days in which to race under the Madeiran sun, that is very much the case. Click here to view the Yves interview in its entirety.  See you tomorrow at 2pm (local time) for the continuation of this competition, which you can also follow live with the 3D graphics displayed on our Facebook page. For overall standings www.extremesailingseries.com/results   Hashtags for the event #GoAlinghiGo  //  #Extremesailing   If you want to know more about how to follow the racing, about Alinghi’s team, or just about this regatta in general, you will find all that you need by following this link. Photos credit Lloyd Images