events - Extreme Sailing Series™ 2012

June 07-June 10 2012

Marinepool is "Official Technical and Lifestyle Clothing Supplier to the Extreme Sailing Series™, Team Extreme and Oman Sail

December 2011, Cowes, UK

2012 EXTREME SAILING SERIES™ CONTINUES ITS AWARDWINNINGGLOBAL TOUR, WITH 8 ACTS ON 3 CONTINENTS

After an extraordinary and nail-biting finish to what was another groundbreaking, and high quality racing year for the Extreme Sailing Series™,the award-winning Stadium Sailing event confirms its 2012 circuit.The same award-winning format, but two new countries and three newvenues will accompany five proven Host Cities from the highly-charged2011 circuit.

The ‘ISAF Special Event’ circuit continues its 9-month globetrotting tour as it enters its sixth year of competition, with 8 eventsspanning 3 continents – once again in the GCC region, Europe, Asia andnew for 2012, South America. The circuit will start in Muscat, Oman andthis time conclude in Brazil, home of the 2016 Olympics. The host venuesrepresent a mix of iconic cities, established sailing venues, and newmarkets where professional sailing remains in its infancy. “The circuitcontinues to represent perfectly the developments in the world at large,with its balance of east and west, different cultures and languages, andvariety of conditions,” said Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of theorganising company OC ThirdPole. “Year on year the commercial value ofhosting the event for the Host Cities has increased, and this is reflectedin the 2012 developments.

”The costs for a competitive team will, once again, be squeezed down in2012 yet the return is expected to increase for their sponsors. A coreobjective of the circuit remains to be the most commercially sound wayfor brands and host venues to benefit from the great offer thatprofessional sailing can present. This philosophy has been at the heart ofthe product since its inception in 2006, with the majority of teams since2007 being sponsorship funded.

In addition to the host venue partnerships, and local sponsors for each event, Marinepool continue as Official Lifestyle and Technical Clothing Supplier having now launched an outstanding Extreme Sailing Series merchandising collection which is sold at events, online on www.extreme-sailing-series-store.com and in Marinepool’s extensive network of retailers, and GAC Pindar, recently confirmed as Official Logistics Partner to the 2012 circuit. GAC Pindar will bring their expertise and global footprint to help the organisers and teams deliver what is an exacting schedule and logistics operation spanning the planet. Further partners at both series and local level willbe announced in the New Year along with a complete team line up whichwill be at the very highest level in sporting terms, and draw sailors frommore than a dozen countries. Some wildcard entry slots remain for newteams building towards a full 2013 season.

2012 circuit spanning Europe, Arabia, Asia and South America

The 2012 Extreme Sailing Series™ will start in the Sultanate of Oman inFebruary before heading back to Qingdao, China for Act 2. Istanbul,Turkey, the gateway between Europe and Asia, will host Act 3 before theExtreme 40 fleet heads to Porto, Portugal, a new host venue in 2012.After the habitual visit to the UK in August, the circuit will return to theSicilian port of Trapani for the third consecutive year. The iconic city ofNice will be the final stop in Europe before the 2012 finale to be staged inBrazil for the very first time (there will be an official media event inJanuary where the precise location will be unveiled).

OC ThirdPole has worked hard to manage dates around other majorevents in the complex professional sailing calendar, and have been inregular contact with the America’s Cup organisers to try and co-ordinatethese complementary events. Not an easy task for either party, and withsome ACWS events still to be confirmed, Extreme Sailing Series has hadto publish its final calendar without being able to ensure zero clashes.

Event Format: the highest level of sporting integrity in theshort,sharp and simple Stadium Sailing format

As in 2011, at every Act, three of the racing days are staged in theStadium open to the public and VIP guests. This game-changingprofessional sailing circuit attracted over 287,000 spectators in 2011 withits unique blend of ‘stadium’ short-course racing, including all the variousdisciplines and courses used already from fleet racing to match racingand straight line duels, whilst maintaining its high-level of competitionwhich was borne out by producing 6 different winners from the nineevents. 2011 saw a big step in the evolvement of the publicentertainment, with an extended mix of entertainment on the public daysthat included supporting on water acts like the Olympic 49er class racing,Moth demo sailing, the NeilPryde Windsurfing Series and kids racingOptimists. On shore family-orientated entertainment from kids activities,dance and music took place within the Extreme Race Village. Alongsidethis event formula, stood the premium VIP facilities that is a vital part ofthe Extreme Sailing Series offering, that includes the unique guest sailingexperience onboard the Extreme 40s.

Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of OC ThirdPole, commented: “We’reproud to be going in to our sixth year and proud to have delivered such ahigh level sporting competition– yet at the same time in a format thatalso entertains. It can be challenging to manage the needs of all ourdifferent stakeholders that include host venues and event sponsors,teams and their partners, some of the best professional sailors in theworld, sailing fans and the general public that are seeing the sport forthe first time. But it’s a challenge that a relatively small but dedicatedteam has risen to, and we look forward to delivering a great year in2012, once again across numerous languages, cultures and landscapes.At the start of the 2011 season we took control of the Extreme 40 Classto allow us to develop the rules of both event and boat in unison toensure a more equal chance to win, and also drive down many of thecosts for the teams. I think we still have plenty to improve and develop,on site and in communications terms, even if we have seen a verysignificant increase in media value this year across all our channels andplatforms, in particular quality TV coverage. We have to squeeze out alot from a relatively small budget compared with all the three other ISAFSpecial Events (America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and the World MatchRacing Tour). We have made great progress in 2011 but there is more todo especially on the video front – we have a fantastic visual product with extraordinary characters involved.”

2012 Calendar & Host Venues:

2012 EXTREME SAILING SERIES™ CONTINUES ITS AWARDWINNING

GLOBAL TOUR, WITH 8 ACTS ON 3 CONTINENTS

After an extraordinary and nail-biting finish to what was another groundbreaking, and high quality racing year for the Extreme Sailing Series™,

the award-winning Stadium Sailing event confirms its 2012 circuit.

The same award-winning format, but two new countries and three new

venues will accompany five proven Host Cities from the highly-charged

2011 circuit. The ‘ISAF Special Event’ circuit continues its 9-month globetrotting tour as it enters its sixth year of competition, with 8 events

spanning 3 continents – once again in the GCC region, Europe, Asia and

new for 2012, South America. The circuit will start in Muscat, Oman and

this time conclude in Brazil, home of the 2016 Olympics. The host venues

represent a mix of iconic cities, established sailing venues, and new

markets where professional sailing remains in its infancy. “The circuit

continues to represent perfectly the developments in the world at large,

with its balance of east and west, different cultures and languages, and

variety of conditions,” said Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of the

organising company OC ThirdPole. “Year on year the commercial value of

hosting the event for the Host Cities has increased, and this is reflected

in the 2012 developments.”

The costs for a competitive team will, once again, be squeezed down in

2012 yet the return is expected to increase for their sponsors. A core

objective of the circuit remains to be the most commercially sound way

for brands and host venues to benefit from the great offer that

professional sailing can present. This philosophy has been at the heart of

the product since its inception in 2006, with the majority of teams since

2007 being sponsorship funded.

In addition to the host venue partnerships, and local sponsors for each

event, Marinepool continue as Official Lifestyle and Technical Clothing

Supplier having now launched an outstanding Extreme Sailing Series

merchandising collection which is sold at events, online and in

Marinepool’s extensive network of retailers, and GAC Pindar, recently

confirmed as Official Logistics Partner to the 2012 circuit. GAC Pindar will

bring their expertise and global footprint to help the organisers and

teams deliver what is an exacting schedule and logistics operation

spanning the planet. Further partners at both series and local level will

be announced in the New Year along with a complete team line up which

will be at the very highest level in sporting terms, and draw sailors from

more than a dozen countries. Some wildcard entry slots remain for new

teams building towards a full 2013 season.

2012 circuit spanning Europe, Arabia, Asia and South America

The 2012 Extreme Sailing Series™ will start in the Sultanate of Oman in

February before heading back to Qingdao, China for Act 2. Istanbul,

Turkey, the gateway between Europe and Asia, will host Act 3 before the

Extreme 40 fleet heads to Porto, Portugal, a new host venue in 2012.

After the habitual visit to the UK in August, the circuit will return to the

Sicilian port of Trapani for the third consecutive year. The iconic city of

Nice will be the final stop in Europe before the 2012 finale to be staged in

Brazil for the very first time (there will be an official media event in

January where the precise location will be unveiled).

OC ThirdPole has worked hard to manage dates around other major

events in the complex professional sailing calendar, and have been in

regular contact with the America’s Cup organisers to try and co-ordinate

these complementary events. Not an easy task for either party, and with

some ACWS events still to be confirmed, Extreme Sailing Series has had

to publish its final calendar without being able to ensure zero clashes.

Event Format: the highest level of sporting integrity in the

short,sharp and simple Stadium Sailing format

As in 2011, at every Act, three of the racing days are staged in the

Stadium open to the public and VIP guests. This game-changing

professional sailing circuit attracted over 287,000 spectators in 2011 with

its unique blend of ‘stadium’ short-course racing, including all the various

disciplines and courses used already from fleet racing to match racing

and straight line duels, whilst maintaining its high-level of competition

which was borne out by producing 6 different winners from the nine

events. 2011 saw a big step in the evolvement of the public

entertainment, with an extended mix of entertainment on the public days

that included supporting on water acts like the Olympic 49er class racing,

Moth demo sailing, the NeilPryde Windsurfing Series and kids racing

Optimists. On shore family-orientated entertainment from kids activities,

dance and music took place within the Extreme Race Village. Alongside

this event formula, stood the premium VIP facilities that is a vital part of

the Extreme Sailing Series offering, that includes the unique guest sailing

experience onboard the Extreme 40s.

Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of OC ThirdPole, commented: “We’re

proud to be going in to our sixth year and proud to have delivered such a

high level sporting competition– yet at the same time in a format that

also entertains. It can be challenging to manage the needs of all our

different stakeholders that include host venues and event sponsors,

teams and their partners, some of the best professional sailors in the

world, sailing fans and the general public that are seeing the sport for

the first time. But it’s a challenge that a relatively small but dedicated

team has risen to, and we look forward to delivering a great year in

2012, once again across numerous languages, cultures and landscapes.

At the start of the 2011 season we took control of the Extreme 40 Class

to allow us to develop the rules of both event and boat in unison to

ensure a more equal chance to win, and also drive down many of the

costs for the teams. I think we still have plenty to improve and develop,

on site and in communications terms, even if we have seen a very

significant increase in media value this year across all our channels and

platforms, in particular quality TV coverage. We have to squeeze out a

lot from a relatively small budget compared with all the three other ISAF

Special Events (America’s Cup, Volvo Ocean Race and the World Match

Racing Tour). We have made great progress in 2011 but there is more to

do especially on the video front – we have a fantastic visual product with

extraordinary characters involved.”

2012 Calendar & Host Venues:

Act 1 : Muscat, Oman 28th February – 2nd March

Act 2 : Qingdao, China 19th – 22nd April

Act 3 : Istanbul, Turkey 7th – 10th June

Act 4 : Porto, Portugal 5th -8th July

Act 5: UK August

Act 6 : Trapani, Italy 13th – 16th September

Act 7 : Nice, France 18th – 21st October

Act 8 : Brazil 29th November – 2nd December

In each case the event is open to the public and VIP guests on days 2-4

only.

2011 Key Stats:

9 Acts

3 continents

301 races

11 teams / 2 wildcards

6 different Act winners (see below)

287,000 spectators

5 capsizes

5 crashes

15 nationalities

42 TV broadcasters

1 million YouTube view