5 October 2023
Racing is underway in Los Alcázares, Spain with Live Ocean Racing competing in the final event of the 2023 season in the ETF26 SERIES. At the end of day one they’re in 6th place.
Skipper Liv Mackay says the calibre of racing in the fleet of fast foiling cats has shifted up a gear at this event, which is the last of five in the 2023 series.
“The level among the seven boats here is much higher. Seriously good racing, really tactical, fun and full-on,” she said.
Five races were sailed with upwind starts and two laps of the course.
“We had 8-10 knots, and it was super patchy and pretty shifty as well,” said Mackay describing the conditions.
In an up-and-down day, good starts converted to solid results and in the opener and the third race Live Ocean Racing scored two 3rds. Across the rest of the races they collected two 7ths and a 5th.
“We had two good starts and the others not so good.”
Mackay was positive about the team’s overall performance. “Even though some of our starts weren’t great, I felt like today we produced some of our best racing. We’ve put in a lot of work between events, and we executed a lot of that out there today which was cool.”
Live Ocean Racing’s day one point-score tallies to 25 with a narrow two-point gap between them and the two boats in 4th and 5th place.
Live Ocean co-founders Pete Burling and Blair Tuke sent messages of encouragement to Liv and the racing team ahead of the regatta.
“Quick message for Liv and the Live Ocean Racing team as you head into the final event ETF series… Send it. Can’t wait to support, you guys have done so well this year, made huge gains. Finish it off strong,” said Tuke.
“Just wanting to wish the Live Ocean Racing team best of luck this weekend. Last event of the season. Go hard,” said Burling.
The three French flagged teams to dominate the podium this season opened strongly in Los Alcázares too. Entreprises du Morbihan top the leaderboard after finishing top two in all five races today. Behind them are Blue Shift Racing and TeamPro.
Racing resumes tomorrow with three more days in the regatta.
Live Ocean Racing day one results: (provisional)
Overall position: 6th
Race 1 – 3rd
Race 2 – 7th
Race 3 – 3rd
Race 4 – 7th
Race 5 – 5th
Racing runs over four days from 4-7 October, 2023.
How to follow the action; @itsliveocean on Instagram for Live Ocean Racing updates.
The 2023 ETF26 SERIES will comprise of five European based events;
Spi Ouest-France / April 7 to 10, 2023 / La Trinité sur Mer (France)
Raid Quiberon / May 31 to June 3, 2023 / Quiberon (France)
Foiling Week / June 28 to July 1, 2023 / Lac de Garde (Italy)
Grand Pavois La Rochelle Foiling Event / September 20 to 23, 2023 / La Rochelle (France)
Grand Prix Foiling Mar Menor / October 4 to 7, 2023 / Los Alcazares (Spain)
ABOUT LIVE OCEAN RACING
Live Ocean Racing is a New Zealand racing team committed to action for the ocean. Established by Peter Burling and Blair Tuke, Live Ocean Racing will bring together a talented and diverse team to compete at the highest level. With innovation and purpose baked into our DNA, we race on and for the ocean.
