A USA boat, the Lupe Tortilla Demetrio, flies during the competition. Photo by Chris Stone
The Extreme Sailing Series featuring hydro-foiling catamarans is making its local debut this weekend on San Diego Bay.
Forty-five world-class sailors and teams are competing in identical GC32 catamarans on short but tactical courses along Harbor Island through Sunday.
Five of the eight racing boats turn in San Diego Harbor. Photo by Chris Stone
Wind conditions were good Friday. The boats were speeding upwards of 20 knots or 23 mph. Wind speeds of a least 8 knots (9.2 mph) are needed for the boats to be able to get up on their foils.
The Race Village at Harbor Island Park opens each day at 10 a.m. and continues to 5 p.m. with foil kiteboarding stunts and racing, a parachute jump and six catamaran stadium races each day depending on wind conditions.
The competition began Thursday.
The village includes interactive and hands-on activities, food, drinks and a beer garden.
The sailing teams from throughout the world have won America’s Cup, Olympic and world championship competitions. Teams accumulate points throughout the series.
Although the five-member crews are made up of sailors from different countries, the eight teams represent the United States, Switzerland, Great Britain, New Zealand, Omar, Denmark and Austria. Its last stop will be from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 off Los Cabos, Mexico.
This year is the 11th of elite level stadium racing for the Extreme Sailing
Series, which has visited eight cities on three continents over 10 months, including Oman, China, Portugal, Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom.
Sailors lean out to counterweight the boat during a race. Photo by Chris Stone
Parking is limited, though. The Extreme Sailing Series has a rideshare program with Lyft, offering passengers 20 percent off two rides with code EXTREMESAILING.
