VIDEO - Jordi Xammar happy to slow down after setting speed record with Team Abu Dhabi

Spain’s Jordi Xammar, one of the rising stars of world sailing, has set his own personal speed record on the water in Abu Dhabi, but the young Spaniard was happy to slow down dramatically on the World Cup stage today.

Xammar was thrilled to accept an invitation from Team Abu Dhabi to drive their mighty XCAT (Extreme Catamaran) on the sidelines of the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final.

Enjoy a video below:

Jumping into the cockpit alongside throttleman Rashed Al Tayer, he was soon up to 110kmh off Abu Dhabi Sailing and Yacht Club in the boat which could bring the 2015 XCAT World Series title to the UAE capital next month.

It was only half way to the top speed achieved by Al Tayer and his regular partner, Saleh Al Mansoori, in best race conditions, but Xammar finished the run to say, “It was incredible – one of the most beautiful experiences of my life.

“It was amazing. Everything goes by so fast. It’s was certainly a lot faster than the speed we are used to in our boats, and I want to thank the Team Abu Dhabi guys for the experience.”

Al Tayer said, “Jordi drove really well. He’s a fast learner, probably because of his sailing background. Maybe he’ll change his sport to XCAT racing one day.”

The first priority for Xammar, however, was to reach the 470 class medal race in the climax to the 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final tomorrow.

With the top ten finishers qualifying, Xammar and Spanish team-mate Joan Herp were placed 7th, and looking for a repeat of the form which gave them victory in the medal race at the recent 470 World Championships.

Currently lying second in the 2015 XCAT World Series with two rounds remaining, Al Tayer and Al Mansoori hope to land the title on home waters when the championship concludes at Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club from 25-27 November.

RESULTS / ENTRIES
Results will be available throughout here – http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/results/index.php

LIVE TRACKING
The racing will be available to watch in 2D and 3D via the live tracking. Live tracking will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/multimedia/tracking.php
 
Live Tracking via the Sailviewer-3D Tablet App will be available for devices with 7″ or greater screens.
Click here to download the iOS Application – https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sailviewer-3d/id912801278
Click here to download the Android Application – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stsportservice.sailviewer

COMPETITION STATUS
The Competition Status Screen feeds in straight from the Race Committee boats with the teams inputting data such as race times, course type, the status of each race and the plan moving forward. The competition status screen will be available when racing commences via – http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/multimedia/tracking.php

SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the event on ISAF’s social networks:
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ISAFWorldSailing
Instagram – https://instagram.com/isafworldsailing/
Twitter – @ISAFupdates

More event details can be found at http://www.sailing.org/worldcup/home.php

ISAF Sailing World Cup
The ISAF Sailing World Cup is a world-class annual series for Olympic sailing. It is open to the sailing events chosen for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition. Its centre piece is the ISAF Sailing World Cup Final in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

The 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup will consist of five regattas for all ten Olympic events and where possible, Formula Kite Racing. Qualification places for the ISAF Sailing World Cup final are up for grabs at each event. The final will bring together the top 20 boats in each Olympic event and an Open Kiteboarding event where the World Cup Champions will be crowned

2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup
Melbourne – 7-14 December 2014
Miami – 25-31 January 2015
Hyères – 20-26 April 2015
Weymouth and Portland – 8-14 June 2015
Qingdao – 14-20 September 2015
2015 Final Abu Dhabi – 27 October to 1 November 2015

http://www.sailing.org/worldcup