AkzoNobel recently announced it has entered into a two-year partnership to supply the Extreme Sailing Series™, an annual global stadium racing circuit featuring some of the latest high-performance hull coatings. The Extreme 40 catamarans to be applied with AkzoNobel’s Awlgrip yacht coating are reportedly capable of reaching speeds usually reserved for motorboats, even in medium-wind conditions. Flying a hull in as little as 8 knots of breeze (15 kph), the 40-ft-long carbon speed machine requires coordination, but also sheer muscular power from the crews during races that do not exceed 15-20 min.

“Apart from the series being an exciting event to watch and to participate in as a sailor, the races represent a great opportunity to demonstrate the high performance of our yacht coatings to sailing fans around the globe,” said Conrad Keijzer, Executive Committee member, Performance Coatings. “By bringing sports and entertainment into harbors, we are also helping to enhance the appeal of these city areas and help make our cities more enjoyable.”

For more information, visit www.akzonobel.com.