Marseille International Match Race, an unforgettable match between Deruelle and Holmberg

Start of Second Stage Round Robin

The first six from the first Round Robin moved on to a second Round Robin which started at the beginning of this afternoon.  There was only one flight as the wind fell off but it allowed Neugodnikov to beat Col, Deruelle to beat Holmberg and Presti to come in in front of Cian. The rest of the Round Robin should be raced tomorrow...

 

An unforgettable match between Holmberg and Deruelle

In the first flight of the second stage Round Robin, Peter Holmberg, representing Alinghi and a highly experienced match racer met Dimitri Deruelle, a young match racer just beginning to make a name for himself.

 

On the starting line, Holmberg showed all his talent by taking a considerable lead – after the first turn round the windward mark, he was 8 boatlengths in front of the Marseillais just as the wind started to drop.  Deruelle managed to reduce the lead on the downwind leg but it was the second windward leg which killed Holmberg off. Deruelle bore off to the right and the wind turning with allowed him to make the mark without jibing.  When Holmberg managed to get back in touch, he was obiged to tack, getting stuck in the "Doldrums" just as Deruelle hit a fresh breeze giving him a lead he kept to the finish.

 

Deruelle's is the only crew to have beaten Holmberg since the start of the regatta.  The spectators on the water were absolutely thrilled to share in this performance.