Match racing champion Kate Spithill and Volvo Ocean Race sailor Stacey Jackson will head-up an all Australian crew 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, and the duo will take on the fleet of eight elite Extreme 40s as they battle it out at the end of season showdown, from the 10–13 December. Spithill and Jackson will be joined onboard ‘33 South Racing’ (33SR) by multiple A-class world champion Steve Brewin and World Match Racing Tour sailor Henry Kernot, with a fifth crew member to be announced in the coming weeks.
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 finishing her navigation around the world competing with Team SCA in the latest edition of the Volvo Ocean Race, Jackson is ready for the next challenge, trading in the open ocean for 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.
The Extreme Sailing Series Act 8, Sydney presented by Land Rover Race Village will be open to the public from Friday 11 December, located at Mrs Macquarie’s Point. It is free to enter and spectators can watch the unique Stadium Racing and cheer on their home team as the fleet fight to be crowned 2015 Extreme Sailing Series champions.
33SR Crew List
Kate Spithill (AUS) – Skipper
Stacey Jackson (AUS) – Bow/Trimmer
Steve Brewin (AUS) – Main
Henry Kernot (AUS) – Trimmer
Master snapper Andrea Francolini went out on Sydney Harbour with the team in November and captured these images.
