Test Event 2007 - summary

This year's Qingdao International Regatta 2007 was the last test before next year's Olympic Games Beijing 2008.
Sailing will face in Qingdao a great challenge as wind conditions play with competitors' performance. Will participants of 11 olympic events manage to deal with such difficulty?
This we will find out next August and as for now I invite you to read a short summary of this year's Test Event here

Best regards,
Sofia

Katie Spithill about...

photo taken from www.wimra.org

Hi Everyone,

today I have a pleasure to welcome on MATCHRACE.CH silver medalist of ISAF Women's Match Racing World Champrionship Australian Katie Spithill.
Katie will share with us her view on women's match racing as well as the goals that are taken by Women's International Match Racing Associotion in which she is an active member.

I encourage you to read the interview with Katie Spithill by clicking here

Best regards,
Sofia

Chris Van Tol wins at Knickerbocker Cup

American Chris Van Tol, ranked 89, surprisingly won Knickerbocker Cup held in New York beating his higer ranked opponents.
Polish Team TARNACKI Racing finished the event at 7th place and commented the regatta as follows:
"We are not satisified with our performance in New York but it is not a tragedy. We have had few very good and tight matches. We were short of good starts but it was the wind who was playing cards with us. I would like to thank my crew for huge help in tactics in these tough conditions." - said skipper Przemek Tarnacki, ranked 42

Final results of Knickerbocker Cup:
1) Chris Van Tol, USA,
2) Andrzej Arbuzov, RUS
3) Martin Angsell, SWE
4) John Loe, USA
5) Dave Perry, USA
6) Keith Swinton, AUS
7) Przemek Tarnacki, POL
8) Mateo Simoncelli, ITA
9) Brian Angel, USA
10) Pierre Antonie Morvan, FRA
11) Nick Cherry, GBR
12) Robert Gibbs, USA

2007 Swiss Match Race Champion Team Monnin

After 3 days not losing one match, this weekend in St. Moritz Eric Monnin together with his brothers Jean Claude and Marc got the well deserved title of Swiss Match Race Champion.

Final scooring is:
1. Eric Monnin
2. Matthias Renker
3. Nicolas Dénervaud
4. Sacha De Micheli
5. Lukas Erni
6. Marcel Walser
7. Alain Stettler

Match Race St. Moritz

ST. MORITZ – A new ‘King of the mountain’ will be crowned at St. Moritz this week, the latest stop on the World Match Racing Tour. The St. Moritz Match Race begins on Tuesday, with 12 of the top match racers in the world, including Jochen Schuemann (GER), who is fresh off his victory at the America’s Cup with the Swiss defender, Alinghi.
At St Moritz, the 12 deep field is competing for a prize purse of 150 000 Sfr (approximately US$ 125 000) in addition to critical ranking points on the World Match Racing Tour. This event features the top four ranked sailors on the tour, including the defending champion at St Moritz, Paolo Cian (ITA), who will be eager to get back on a winning track after a disappointing result (11th) at the Danish Open last week.

Read more in the event section.

Leroy wins the World title

source by: www.sailing.org

Claire LEROY (FRA) is the 2007 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Champion. The French world #1 skipper defeated Katie SPITHILL (AUS) in the final to take the World title on her home waters in St Quay Portrieux.

LEROY overcame SPITHILL 2-1 in the final, which was cut short due to a late start.
The wind initially refused to co-operate on the final day in St Quay Portrieux, but eventually a light 5 knot breeze kicked in and racing got underway. LEROY came back from 2-1 down to win her semi-final against world#2 Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) 3-2, whilst SPITHILL was 2-0 down before overcoming Josie GIBSON (GBR) by the same scoreline.
MELDGAARD PEDERSEN won the petit-final 2-0 to take the bronze medal, before LEROY won the decisive third match in the final.

Results
Final
Claire LEROY (FRA) d. Katie SPITHILL (AUS), 2-1

Petit-Final
Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) d. Josie GIBSON (GBR), 2-0

Radich wins Danish Open 2007

source by: Flemming Vitus

Danish eyes were smiling today at the Danish Open. Both finalists Jesper Radich (DEN) and Peter Wibroe (DEN) are products of the Royal Match Race Center here in Skovshoved and gave the enthusiastic crowd an amazing display of Match Race sailing. In a close fought battle Radich emerged victorious with a 3-1 score line and a cheque for 100,000 Dkr (approx. $18,000). Read more here

Final Results
1 Jesper Radich (DEN)
2 Peter Wibroe (DEN)
3 Ian Williams (GBR)
4 Sébastien Col (FRA)
5 Björn Hansen (SWE)
6 Jesper Bank (DEN)
7 Sten Mohr (DEN)
8 Philippe Presti (FRA)
9 Staffan Lindeberg (FIN)
10 Mathieu Richard (FRA)
11 Paolo Cian (ITA)
12 Rasmus Viltoft (DEN)

Nail biting at Danish Open 2007

source by: Flemming Vitus

The fight to secure a semi final place in the Danish Open went down to the last match of the Round Robin. As predicted from yesterdays results the teams have been going all out to make the semi final cut. The results of the last three matches were critical to decide the semi final places. There were potentially 7 teams that were in the hunt for the 4 places during the last flight.

The tension was mounting all afternoon as racing was suspended at 1400 due to a lack of wind. After a three and a half hour wait the last flight resumed during a thunderstorm.

Read more at Match Race Events

Open Russian MR Championship "I.Korotkevich Cup – 2007

The semi-finalists of the Open Russian MR Championship "I.Korotkevich Cup – 2007" are determined On the 11th of August the wind was strong in the morning. The Quarterfinal among the best 6 teams started. After the third race the wind calmed down and became shifty, but races continued. It goes without saying that the Hero of the day is Sergey Musikhin. He won all races today and he will choose his opponent for the semi-final tomorrow. The 2nd place in the Quarter final – Mahesh Ramchandran, 3rd – Andrew Arbuzov. The 4th semifinalist is Sergey Goroshanskiy. Vladimir Abdulgazin took the 5th place of the event, Petr Kochnev – 6th.
The Semifinals will start tomorow.
Yana Dobzhitskaya specially for www.matchrace.ch

Team Wibroe show how it is done

source by: Flemming Vitus

Recently crowned European Champions, Team Wibroe, have taken the Danish Open by storm today. With 7 wins out of 8 matches they easily lead the event in one of the strongest fields one could imagine.

A fine example of the superb sailing today was the duel between Wibroe and Ian Williams of Team Pindar. In an exhibition of world class match racing Williams and Wibroe were at each others’ throats from the first moment they entered the gate...

Read whole story here

Open Russian Match Race Championship ISAF grade 3 event I.Korotkevich Cup – 2007

Open Russian Match Race Championship "I.Korotkevich Cup – 2007" started on the 8th of August on a beautiful Turgoyak lake in the Urals and will go on till August 12th.
12 skippers from Russia and India participate here and will fight for the title of a Match Race Champion of Russia.
The supposed format of the event is Round Robin, Quarterfinal, Semifinals and finals.
The first races have already begun. The wind is strong and shifty. Spectators are enjoying the fast and exciting show.

Yana Dobzhitskaya specially for www.matchrace.ch

DEAN BARKER TO MOVE TO BMW ORACLE?

Source: Valencia Sailing

It seem that Dean Barker, the helmsman of Emirates Team NZ in the 32nd America's Cup, moves to BMW Oracle. It's officially unconfirmed, that the young New Zealander has signed or is about to sign an agreement with Russell Coutts, the brand new CEO of BMW Oracle, in order to become the helmsman on the American team.
It is a plausible rumor given the fact Dean Barker was in Palma last Saturday and was seen at the yacht club. Palma was of course where the Copa del Rey took place last week and Russell Coutts was calling tactics aboard the Swedish TP52 boat Artemis. It is believed Barker was not in the Spanish city for holidays but in order to have talks with Coutts. Unlike 2006, Barker hasn't taken take part in any of the Breitling Medcup races so far this year.

Cheaty wind at Danish Open 2007

source by: Flemming Vitus

The first day of the Danish Open 2007 brought three skippers to the front after the first five flights of the Round Robin have been completed. Jesper Bank (DEN), Jesper Radich (DEN) and Bjorn Hansen (SWE) all recorded three victories out of five. Ian Williams (GBR), Sebastien Col (FRA) and Sten Mohr (DEN) all scored two victories apiece.

There was a northerly breeze of 5-8 knots which was very shifty during the early matches. Competitors also had to contend with a south running current.

Read more at Match Race Events

Before quaterfinals of ISAF Women's MR Worlds

source by: Sport Nautique de Saint-Quay-Portrieux

After the 17 matches of round robin, four crews are already selected for the quarter final of ISAF Women's Match Racing World Championship that will be run on Friday.
The quarter finalists are:
1)Claire Leroy (France)
2)Josie Gibson (GB)
3)Katie Spithill (Australia)
4)Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen (Denmark)
Tomorrow they'll have a day off while the other eight crews will run to reach the other two quarter finale.

Here are the results of the top seven crews:
Claire Leroy (France): 11-0
Josie Gibson (GBR): 9–2
Katie Spithill (Australia): 7–4
Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen(Denmark): 7–4
Christell Philippe (France): 7-4
Silke Hahlbrock (Germany): 6–5
Jessica Smyth (New Zealand): 5–6

ISAF Women's MR Worlds - Leroy does not let go

After the first day of ISAF Women's Match Race World Championship French Claire Leroy has most wins on her account. By winnig 3 matches in the row Leroy managed to beat Katie Spithill, Josje Gibson and Jessica Smyth. The second skipper who did not lose any match is Lotte Pedersen, ranked 2 in ISAF Women's Ranking who did not yet race against Leroy.

British Gemma Farrel and her crew for whom this are the first ISAF Women's World Match Racing Championship, have lost the two "flights" they've run so far. Gemma, Rebecca, Lucy and Rachel are aware of the very high level of the other crews. Yesterday, they said: "For sure, we'll try to get to the semi-finals, yet whatever the results, that will be a beautiful experience."

Today another matches of round robin.
More news to come. Stay with us.

The Danish Open 2007

source by: Flemming Vitus / Gordon Smith

Round ten of the World Match Racing Tour, The Danish Open 2007, begins on Thursday following Wednesday’s practice. The prize purse for this year’s event has been raised to $60,000 dollars. Competing for the prize purse are crews from six different countries as well as six skippers who have just returned from one form or another of America’s cup duty. This truly strong field also includes the recently crowned ISAF European Champion in Match Racing, Peter Wibroe.
Included in the field is Ian Williams (GBR) who is currently ranked number 1 on the ISAF open ranking as well as being ranked number 3 on the World Match Racing Tour. Sebastian Col also returns to Skovshoved after his first appearance and first World Match Racing Tour win here last year. Sebastian will no doubt be keen to continue his record (from last year’s Danish Open and the America’s Cup) against Dane Jesper Bank ( the 2005 winner of the Danish Open), Jesper for his part will want to return to winning form after a disappointing America’s Cup campaign. Frenchman Mathieu Richard has a long and successful career in Match Racing and he must be considered a serious threat.

Read more at Match Race Events

ISAF Women's MR World Championship 2007

source by: www.sailing.org as amended by matchrace.ch

Yesterday the opening ceremony officially marked the start of the 2007 ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship in St Quay Portrieux, France. Racing begins today and continues through to 11 August with world #1 Claire LEROY (FRA) the favourite as she bids to become the first Frenchwoman to lift the ISAF Women’s Match Racing World Championship Trophy.

Twelve of the world’s top women match racer skippers are in St Quay Portrieux for the ninth edition of the ISAF Women’s Match Worlds, hosted by the Sport Nautique de Saint Quay-Portrieux. The competition will take place in First Class 8 type boats with a crew of four. A round robin will be followed by a repechage and then quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final.

List of participants:
Claire LEROY - Team Ideactor - HH - Sodifac Roubaix (France)
Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN - Team HSH Nordbank (Danish)
Klaartje ZUIDERBAAN - Team Netherlands (Netherlands )
Silke HAHLBROCK - Musto Team HSC (Germany)
Katie SPITHILL - Team Acuity (Autralia)
Jenny AXHEDE - Team Schenker (Sweden)
Josie GIBSON - e1 Business / Andark Diving (Great Britain)
Christelle PHILIPPE (French)
Nicky SOUTER - Wild Oats Chardonnay (Australia)
Gemma FARREL - Team Sail 4 Cancer (Great Britain)
Jessica SMYTH - Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Women's M. R. (New Zealand)
Sandy HAYES (USA)

Qualifyer for Yava trophy Gr 3 Ekaterinburg Cup – 2007 results

"Ekaterinburg Cup 2007" ISAF grade 3 Match race event came to the end on 5th of August, 2007. The weather was not so good - from calm to thunderstorm, that is why the intended format was shortened. There were round robins in two groups completed and then semi-finals and finals. In Petit-final Alexey Stupka has won against Vadim Korukov 2:0. In Grand-final Andrew Arbuzov became a winner against Sergey Musikhin.
Since Andrew Arbuzov is in the list of participant of the "YAVA Trophy 2007" already, two best skippers from the qualifying event "Ekaterinburg Cup" who will participate in the "YAVA Trophy 2007" ISAF grade 1 Match race event are Sergey Musikhin and Alexey Stupka.

Yana Dobzhitskaya specially for www.matchrace.ch

Team Wibroe in the hunger for...

source by: Flemming Vitus

Skipper Peter Wibroe and his crew got a lift in the run up to the Danish Open 2007 when they carried off the European Championship in Match Racing last month in Poland, and they are now pursuing the goal of competing at the America’s Cup in the 2009.

The sailors from the Royal Matchrace Centre were second place at the European Championships last year, but managed one better last month. Team Wibroe consist of Skipper Peter Wibroe, Philip Guhle, Jonas Hviid, Jeppe Bo Rasmussen, and Christoffer Olesen. However in this case Christoffer was not sailing as the competition was for crews of four, happily he is reunited with the rest of the crew for the Danish Open.

What does Team Wibroe have to say about it? Read it here

Rahm Wins Preem Lysekil Women’s Match 2007

source by: www.wimra.org

Linda Rahm (SWE) wins the Preem Lysekil Women’s Match 2007 in a thrilling Final 3-1 over Marie Bjorling. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen beat Katie Spithill 2-1 to take third place.

Final Results:

1. Linda Rahm
2. Marie Björling
3. Lotte Meldgaard Pedersen
4. Katie Spithill
5. Jenny Axhede
6. Malin Millbourn
7. Silja Lehtinen
8. Nina Braestrup
9. Liz Baylis
10. Silke Hahlbrock
11. Camilla Ulrikkeholm
12. Delphine Casas

For more information, please visit www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

Sten Mohr's big dream

source by: Flemming Vitus / Gordon Smith

”I am certain that it is possible to establish a Danish America’s Cup project. It is a long way from being un-realistic even though it is going to take a lot of money. I don’t mean that the money is the only question; following on from my experience with 2 ½ America’s Cup projects in Valencia, it is clear to me the organisational element is even more important,” tells Sten Mohr, who returns to the Match Racing circuit on Thursday at the Danish Open sailed off from Skovshoved Harbour, north of Copenhagen.

Read more at Match Race Events

Preem Lysekil Women’s Match 2007

source by: Josefine AS

Linda RAHM (SWE) is in pole position at the ISAF Grade 1 Preem Lysekil Women’s Match in Sweden, leading defending champion Lotte MELDGAARD PEDERSEN (DEN) 2-0 in their first-to-three semi-final match. The other semi is all square, with Marie BJÖRLING (SWE) and Katie SPITHILL (AUS) tied at 1-1.

Twelve of the world’s top women match racers are in Lysekil where the 2007 title will be decided tomorrow. Currently RAHM is hot favourite to line up in the battle for the Stena Bulk Trophy; after winning the opening round robin she qualified from the quarter-finals and now is just one win away from victory in her semi-final match against MELDGAARD PEDERSEN.

BJÖRLING, who won the first Lysekil Women’s Match back in 2004, won her opening semi-final match against SPITHILL, but the young Australian skipper battled back to level at 1-1.

Earlier in the week RAHM, MELDGAARD PEDERSEN and BJÖRLING topped the round robin leaderboard, all with 8-3 records and went through to the quarter-final along with SPITHILL, Malin MILLBOURN (SWE) and Jenny AXHEDE (SWE). In a very close battle for the semi-final places, RAHM, MELDGAARD PEDERSEN, SPITHILL and BJÖRLING went through, all on 3-2 records.

Other places:
5. Jenny Axhede, SWE
6. Malin Millbourn, SWE
7. Silja Lehtinen, FIN
8. Nina Braestrup, DEN
9. Liz Baylis, USA
10. Silke Hahlbrock, GER
11. Camilla Ulrikkeholm, DEN
12. Delphine Casas, FRA

For more information, please visit www.lysekilwomensmatch.se

Bermuda Gold Cup

source: Sean McNeill

With additional support from new sponsors Correia Construction, Ace Limited and a group of Royal Bermuda Yacht Club members, Les Crane, Event Organizer for the King Edward VII Gold Cup, announced today that the event prize purse has increased to $100,000.
The centennial anniversary Gold Cup, scheduled Oct. 9-14, has 20 of the 24 skipper slots allocated. Early entries include last year’s finalists, England’s Ian Williams of Team Pindar and France’s Mathieu Richard of the Saba Sailing Team. Williams defeated Richard, 3-1, last year in the first Gold Cup final for both skippers.

Read more at Match Race Events

Polish Match Tour Racing Team reports...

source: Maciej Kolosiński www.atomic.sails.pl

French Championship in Match Racing has started yesterday. Among 12 teams there is also the team of Marek Stanczyk from Poland, ranked 30 - Polish Match Tour Racing Team.
Here it's what they have to say after the first day:
8 races, 8 defeats but not lost races. We got the huge lesson and we are richer in new experience after the races with an absolute world top and teams from the last edition of America's Cup - said Maciej Kolosinski, crew of PMT Racing Team

Read more here

BPH TFI Olympic Cup

photo by: Magdalena Lasocka www.magdalena-lasocka.com
on the photo: winners of BPH TFI Olympic Cup Danish Peter Hansen/Soren Hansen

Hi Everyone,

just thought that we can have a short break from match racing and have a quick look at high performance racing. Last week in Olsztyn, Poland we had 49er event that had a big international participation of 11 teams from 7 countries which for 3 days raced in medal race format. A lot of adrenaline, tight fight and fun that we had convinced me to share with you this extreme racing. Not only match racing can be exciting...
I invite you to find out more here

Best regards,
Sofia

International Match Race ISAF grade 3 event "Ekaterinburg Cup – 2007"

"Ekaterinburg Cup 2007" ISAF grade 3 Match race event was started on 1st of August, 2007 in Ekaterinburg (Russia). The event is holding from 1st to 5th of August on the Verkh-Isetskiy pond (Yacht-club KOMATEK). 12 skippers from Russia and India will participate here and two of best crew will win a right to take part in the "YAVA Trophy 2007" ISAF grade 1 Match race event, that will be held in Moscow from 28th of August to 2nd of September, 2007. The supposed format of the event is Round Robin, Semifinals and finals. The first racing day will be tomorrow 2nd of August.
--
Yana Dobzhitskaya specially for www.matchrace.ch