The Extreme Sailing Series at Fan Pier Splashes into Boston as part of Boston Harborfest's 30th Anniversary

BOSTON, MA, June 15, 2011 (Press-News.org) The Extreme Sailing Series at Fan Pier headlines the 30th anniversary of Boston Harborfest, the largest Fourth of July celebration in the United States. This fast-paced, highly competitive stadium sailing Act comes to North America for the very first time in its five year history and runs from Thursday, June 30 through Monday, July 4, 2011 at Fan Pier.

Boston's waterfront will showcase close combat racing on high-tech, high-speed catamarans raced by some of the world's best skippers. This 11-month global tour spans three continents with eleven top-class teams from eight nations. The award-winning circuit brings together sailors from fifteen different nationalities, including Olympians, America's Cup winners, world champions and two-time Olympic Gold medalists who race against each other on identical boats along the heart of Boston's inner harbor. Previous stops for the Extreme Sailing Series included Muscat, Oman; Qindao, China; and Istanbul, Turkey and will conclude with races in the United Kingdom, Italy, France and Spain before their final stop in Singapore.

"Boston is proud to be the first U.S. city to host the 2011 Extreme Sailing Series to our waterfront for the city's July 4th celebration - one of the largest in the nation," said Thomas M. Menino, Mayor, City of Boston.

There will be a maximum of eight races every afternoon, lasting up to fifteen minutes each, with live commentary on location at Fan Pier. The dynamic stadium seat viewing will bring spectators right along the edge of Boston Harbor to watch the 11 catamarans (also known as Extreme 40s) racing in close proximity, sometimes coming within yards away from land. Each sailboat in the Extreme 40 fleet are 40 feet in length, weigh 2,645lbs and carry a 62-foot mast. They are raced by 4-man crews with an additional 5th man guest spot available for a media member, VIP guest or lucky person chosen from the crowd.

"Fan Pier is the perfect place for spectators to experience this up-close-and-personal extreme water sport," said Joseph Fallon, CEO and President of The Fallon Company. "We plan to make this the most spectacular event in the circuit with fireworks, a race village filled with activities for families, on-site television coverage and a fun-filled, five-day event for Boston area residents and visitors."

Other highlights at the Extreme Sailing Series at Fan Pier will include the Race Village, open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day during this historic event. In addition to all of the previously mentioned racing activities, the Race Village will also include Red Bull energy stations and Red Bull Air Force displays, fireworks displays, live entertainment and dancing, oyster shucking from Legal Sea Foods, additional samplings provided by Lydia Shire and Shrine, and an interactive family friendly area.

For the most up-to-date information and full schedule of events for the Extreme Sailing Series at Fan Pier in Boston, visit us at http://facebook.com/ESSFanPier and follow us at http://twitter.com/extremesailing.

About the Extreme Sailing Series : The Extreme Sailing Series is a unique concept, pitting some of the very best professional sailing teams in the world against each other on identical Extreme 40 catamarans, on challenging, tactical courses, but close to shore to provide spectacular, stadium-style entertainment for the public. The award-winning circuit will visit Muscat (Oman), Qingdao (China), Istanbul (Turkey), Boston (USA), Cowes (UK), Trapani (Italy), Nice (France), Almeria (Spain) and, finally, Singapore starting in February until December 2011. The on-the-water action will, once again, be complimented by bespoke VIP corporate hospitality and attracts international media attention including a TV-series distributed in over 100 countries. The Extreme Sailing Series has been granted "Special Event Status" by ISAF, the sport's governing body, and is a strong supporter of promoting sailing in to new markets and to new audiences.

About Fan Pier:
Fan Pier is a 21-acre site on Boston's waterfront spanning nine city blocks with over three million square feet of planned mixed-use development. Currently, the luxury waterfront property is home to the internationally acclaimed Institute of Contemporary Art, famed Boston retailer LOUIS, Salon Mario Russo and restaurants including Sam's and Strega Waterfront. Fan Pier's first office building at ONE Marina Park is already occupied, and the destination includes a new public park, a Harbor Walk, and a state-of-the-art marina. When complete, Fan Pier will have a five-star hotel, luxury condominiums, additional offices, retail and restaurants. The Fallon Company is owner and developer.

About Boston Harborfest:
Boston Harborfest 2011 is a six-day long Fourth of July festival that showcases the colonial and maritime heritage of the cradle of the American Revolution: the historic City of Boston. The award-winning festival strives to honor and remember the past, celebrate the present, and educate the future with reenactments, concerts, historical tours and much, much more. Now in its 30th year, Boston Harborfest is considered to be the largest patriotic celebration in the nation with visitors enjoying more than 200 activities during the festival.

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