Extreme Sailing Series™ organiser OC Sport has today confirmed the bustling Mediterranean City of Nice as the Host Venue for the penultimate Act of the 2014 season, to be held 2-5 October. Hosted by Ville de Nice, the Extreme Sailing Series has been a regular feature on the city’s sporting calendar since 2011, sitting alongside other world-class international events, including the French Riviera Marathon (Nice-Cannes), the IronMan of Nice, the Nice Côte d’Azur ATP Tennis Open, the Tour de France and the Haute Route Alps.

Nestled in the heart of the French Riviera, and flanked on either side by Cannes and Monaco, Nice will be the final European Act of 2014, before the event containers are packed and shipped to Sydney, Australia for the grand finale. The 11-strong fleet will race on the Bay of Angels, and over the last three years the event has attracted thousands of spectators who line the world famous Promenade des Anglais to watch the Extreme 40 catamarans go head-to-head. Christian Estrosi, Mayor of Nice and President of the Nice Côte d’Azur Metropole spoke of the Series’ return to the city: “Nice is very pleased and proud to confirm that for the fourth consecutive year it will host the Extreme Sailing Series, this great international sailing competition. It fits perfectly with the rich nautical tradition of our city and it highlights our beautiful Bay of Angels with its spectacular racing. The choice of Nice proves once again the trust the event organisers have in our city and our ‘savoir-faire’ attitude towards global sporting events. The event is free for the public and I would like to invite all the citizens of Nice to enjoy the Extreme Sailing Series Act.”

Nice has a reputation as one of the most challenging venues on the global tour which in previous years has demanded the entire repertoire of sailing skills from the elite sailors to deal with light and fickle breeze to mistral conditions, which last year delivered gusts of over 30 knots.

For the French ‘home team’ Groupama Sailing Team, this Act in Nice will be one of the highlights of the 2014 season. Skipper Franck Cammas, one of the country’s best known sailors, commented: “I am very excited that one of the Extreme Sailing Series Acts will be hosted in France and the Mediterranean. We know Nice and its racecourse well as we have raced there quite a few times on both an Extreme 40 and on the ORMA Groupama 2 trimaran. Sailing on your home waters is always very special and the French public really support their national sailors.”

The confirmation of Nice as Host Venue is the first in a series of announcements from the organisers of the original Stadium Racing series to be revealed over the next month, including confirmation on the Host Venue selected to host the opening Act of the 2015 global tour.

Tags on NauticNews: Extreme Sailing Series, Extreme 40

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