| BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES-(30-4-2006) Team Holmatro was boarded by a Pirate on the second day of the Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series which resulted in a successful day for the team.
Pirates of the Caribbean team member Anthony Merrington (AUS) enjoyed a day away from the Volvo Open 70 and joined Olympic medallist Mitch Booth and crew of Herbert Dercksen and Taylor Booth for a day onboard the 40 ft catamaran.
Providing an exciting display for the thousands of spectators who lined the dockside, the five Volvo Extreme 40’s zipped around Baltimore’s Inner Harbour in ten knots of wind and under bright sunshine.
After a disappointing performance in the previous grand prix event in Rio de Janeiro, Merrington brought Team Holmatro some luck and additional skills as they went on to win three races and finish runners up in the final race of the day. This result was good enough to push them to the top of the leader board, three points in front of second placed Tommy Hilfiger helmed by Randy Smyth (USA).
Merrington commented: “We certainly need more of these boats - as soon as the breeze kicked in it was great! There was lots of position changing and the shifty winds gave everyone a chance, as well as providing some excitement for those watching from onshore.”
Team Basilica helmed by British sailor Alister Richardson was the pre-race favourite coming into the Baltimore series after victory in Rio. With Team Basilica’s results improving as the day went on, finally finishing on a high with a race win, they are currently placed third overall nine points behind Tommy Hilfiger.
Team Basilica crew member Peter Greenhalgh commented; “The third race of the day was the closest and fastest racing you could have had in a location such as this. It was fantastic.”
The Volvo Extreme 40 grand prix series continues through until Wednesday 3 May.
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