iShares Cup France - Capsizing and Super Star Sailing - News and Video

Hyères, France - As the fleet of Extreme 40's prepare for tomorrow's second leg of the iShares cup, thoughts are on yesterday's capsize of Holmatro and today's capsize of TEAM ORIGIN, and what these calamities predict for tomorrow's racing. There is, after all, a reason these boats are called "Extreme."

While training in 25 knots of wind yesterday, Holmatro "turtled" suddenly (when a multi-hull capsizes, it can't get back up). Bowman Gerd Habermuller was injured after flying through the air and hitting the hull on his way down. He was released from hospital care, but will be replaced on the crew by Ed van Lierde. According to Mischa Heemskerk from the Holmatro Crew: “We were sailing with two reefs in the main so the boat was pretty under control, but we went for a bearaway, dug the nose in and the rudders came out of the water. Andreas [Hagara's helmsman] knew what was happening because he’d lost the steering, and I knew what was happening so I held on, but the other guys didn’t.”

TEAM ORIGIN went belly-up in today's informal races (all crew are OK), which were called after the third race. The informal publicity races allowed at least one sailor a chance to try the Extreme 40's, as French Superstar Francis Joyon took his chance to sail one of these rockets for the first time. "It was a really great day! I discovered a new boat, learn how to steer it, how to allow it to fly. It's powerful and fast, exactly what I like!” he enthused.

Joyon sailed aboard iShares during training in the morning, and then took part in some informal races in the afternoon. “This afternoon was more serious with three races on three different boat. Shirley Robertson on JPMorgan Asset Management allowed me to be a crew in the second race so I really discovered the pressure during a race."

BT and Oman Sail now share the lead at the Ishares Cup in Hyères, France. Six races are scheduled tomorrow afternoon, and we'll keep you posted here at YachtPals.com as things develop.

Video: Team Origin capsizes at the iShares Cup in France.

Read more about the iShares Cup.