Extreme Sailing Series hit by 'challenging' conditions

Collisions and capsizes punctuated the second day of the Extreme Sailing Series regatta off the Olympic sailing venue of Qingdao on Friday.

Britain’s Ian Williams, skippering GAC Pindar, was one of four of the 40-foot catamarans to capsize and British crewman David Carr, son of Rod, the former Olympic coach and executive director of the Royal Yachting Association, was taken to hospital after being catapulted into the rigging of Oman Sail.

He was given the all-clear after being checked but the conditions on Fushan Bay were described as “challenging”, enough to restrict the programme to four races.

The others to capsize were The Wave, skippered by Torvar Mirsky, Red Bull, skippered by Roman Hagara, and Oman Air, skippered by Sidney Gavignet.

Emirates Team New Zealand held off the challenge of Alinghi, skippered by Tanguy Cariou, to lead for the second day, with Red Bull third. Williams remains in 11th place.