Basilica wins iShares Cup

After a last demonstration of their ability at the conclusion of racing in Amsterdam

Sunday September 16th 2007, Author: Myrrh Walker, Location: none selected
The iShares Cup final in Amsterdam has culminated in a fantastic demonstration of what Extreme 40 racing is all about - 40ft catamarans racing within inches of the spectators, who cheered and whooped as the crews raced past; pure on water drama - near capsizes, collisions, triumphs and disasters.

Robert Greenhalgh and Team Basilica swept the board winning the overall 2007 iShares Cup, taking the Amsterdam event as well, while holding off the challenge of the Dutch 'home team' Holmatro, who were leading the event until race 16 out of 18 when Basillica wrenched back control.

Incredibly close racing for the eight teams on the ij Haven canal in Amsterdam and going into the final, 18th, double points race the series remained up for grabs with the final scores revealing a slim three point margin between third, fourth and fifth.

"Coming into this event we wanted to win the series and make a clean sweep of it," commented Rob Greenhalgh. "So we worked hard to make the best of these difficult conditions. Going into the final day we were not in the lead and didn't have a great start, but we managed to overtake Holmatro and win this event. We're really pleased."

Home team Holmatro put up an excellent challenge at this event and certainly had the support of their fellow Dutchmen who cheered them around every mark and applauded each time they flew a hull. Skipper Carolijn Brouwer, with her team of Greg Homann, Sebbe Godefroid and Gert Jan Poortman, came off the water disappointed with their performance on the final day. "I haven't enjoyed sailing today. Losing is never fun and I hate losing. On Friday we sailed well, yesterday we sailed conservatively and felt we were in a strong position but today we made too many mistakes and in a small fleet if you make mistakes you end up last. I'm disappointed but this series has been the most fun racing I have ever done. I want to come back and sail again in Amsterdam where the crowd has been really good to us."

BT Better World capped off the event podium and the overall iShares Cup score in third. The team had a chance to better their result but in race 17 were called OCS and failed to re-cross the line, giving them zero points for the race.

"Being over the start-line early is a hard one to take in," a disappointed but buoyant skipper Nick Moloney commented afterwards. "We didn't realise we were over early so to come off the water and find out it cost us the second overall is really hard, but no one has had as much fun racing as we have had these last three days. The team have got on so well and we just loved the last race. We were greedy for second but we're pumped to be on the iShares Cup, Amsterdam podium and just properly stoked to be on the podium for the overall trophy."

The last race of the 2007 iShares Cup season has been sailed but there are still plenty of champagne corks to pop as the eight teams and guests settle in for a long night of celebration.

See video of this here - Day 3 Montage001.wmv
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