WIREDGOV

Extreme Sailing Series™ organisers OC Sport, have recently [20 January] confirmed details of their 2015 series during the Dusseldorf Boat Show, Germany.    2015 heralds the ninth year of this award-winning elite level stadium racing circuit that visits eight iconic venues – of which Cardiff Bay will be one.

This is the fourth year for Cardiff bay to host the event with funding from the Welsh Government.  Last year, more than 90,000 people came to see the event last year of which 34% were from outside Wales.

Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism, Ken Skates, said:

“This event is proving to be spectacular event in the summer events calendar.  We look forward to welcoming Extreme Sailing back to Wales again. In previous years, the event has provided Cardiff with a global position alongside other premium venues such as Singapore, Istanbul, Nice and Boston and has given us the opportunity to promote Cardiff Bay internationally as a world class sailing and water sports venue and to promote Cardiff and Wales as an attractive and diverse visitor destination.”

Cabinet Member for Community, Development. Co-operatives & Social Enterprise, Cllr Peter Bradbury, said:

"It’s exciting to see that the Extreme 40 fleet will return to Cardiff Bay for a fourth year running. This event has proved to be one of the most popular in the summer calendar and has attracted thousands of visitors to the Cardiff Bay waterfront to witness the adrenaline-fuelled race action with the world’s best sailors.

“High profile events like the Extreme Sailing Series positions Cardiff as a premium sailing venue and attractive visitor destination. Plus it’s a unique opportunity to promote Cardiff internationally alongside other world class destinations including Singapore and Sydney. The earlier date in June also promises an exciting launch for the 2015 Cardiff Festival.”

Mark Turner, Executive Chairman of OC Sport, said:

“The Series is now firmly established in the arena of world class professional sailing, and we have built that reputation by continually attracting some of the very best sailors in the world, supported by global brands, in iconic and attractive venues – competing annually and on a global scale. And whilst the event has never changed its core DNA – racing in a stadium environment where exciting sailing is brought right to the audience – there remains a great deal to do. We must continue to innovate, to break new ground, change people’s perceptions of our sport, find new ways to share it and engage with new audiences around the world. That’s our ongoing challenge.”

The event will kick off in Singapore on 5 February with a visit to Cardiff in June.