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Second Kiwi challenger enters ESS Muscat

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MUSCAT: OC Sport, the owner and organiser of the Extreme Sailing Series, has on Tuesday confirmed a ninth entry for Act one of the 2017 circuit which starts off in Muscat in Oman on Wednesday.


NZL Sailing Team is to join the fast-paced world of Stadium Racing as a wildcard for Act 1. The second of two youth Kiwi teams alongside Tawera Racing, the NZL Sailing Team crew is using the Series to gain experience in the high-performance world of foiling multihull sailing.


Yachting New Zealand’s Aon Fast Track Programme played a large part in putting together the NZL Sailing Team squad, who all hail from the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. Other talented sailors from RNZYS competing this season include the Kiwis on board Tawera Racing, Oman Air’s Phil Robertson, SAP Extreme Sailing Team’s Adam Minoprio and Red Bull Sailing Team’s Stewart Dodson and Will Tiller.


The young sailors, whose ages range from 19-23, are headed up by Logan Dunning Beck, 2016 Weymouth Sailing World Cup champion in the 49er. Dunning Beck returns to the Series having competed on board wildcard team RNZYS Performance Programme in Sydney last season alongside the co-skippers of Tawera Racing, Chris Steele and Graeme Sutherland.


Dunning Beck, who will helm the boat, is looking forward to competing in Muscat: “We are excited about going toe-to-toe with experienced sailors and tackling a steep learning curve; it is a great opportunity for the team,” he said.


“The fleet is larger than we have sailed against previously and we will be pushing harder in the racing. But we are ready for the challenge this presents.”


“We are a new team all below the age of 24, and everyone is fit, strong and excited to race. We are looking to build experience at this event and of course race hard,” added Dunning Beck, whose team will be competing in the Red Bull Youth America’s Cup in Bermuda in June, alongside British team Land Rover BAR Academy and fellow Muscat wildcard Team Tilt.


In a similar set-up to Land Rover BAR Academy, NZL Sailing Team trimmers Isaac McHardie and Harry Hull will rotate roles throughout the Act.


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