Where you from ?

Hi readers
from time to time I go and take a look at the statistics on our match race portal, as today.
2 years ago we thought we need a platform for us in Switzerland, and we were completely wrong, today the Swiss readers are only 23% the rest is from all over the world.
A very surprising fact is Argentina at the 6th position with 4%.

What's next? This weekend we will umpiring the Berlin match race, hope it will not be to cold....maybe dreaming about Argentina.

Thank you readers, this stuff keeps us motivated.

Jürg

Berlin Match Race 2007

This weekend will be the 2007 Berlin Match Race, we will be onsite and keep you up to date with news from the event.

These are the skippers:

Staffan Lindberg FIN5

Björn Hansen SWE6

Damien Iehl FRA8

Torvar Mirsky AUS11

Eric Monnin SUI14

Andreas Willem GER20

Jesper Radich DEN26

Marek Stanczyk POL31

Stefan Meister GER46

Rasmus Viltoft DEN47

Markus Wieser GER91

Michael Hestbaek DEN149

Event website

Mahesh wins 1st Doha Match Race Cup 2007

Mahesh Ramchandran, Indian skipper ranked 45, won ISAF Grade 3 event 1st Doha Match Race Cup held in Qatar.
After the tight fight with German Sven-Eric Horsch, who won all matches in double roun robin, Mahesh managed to beat his opponent 3:1 and took the prize money of 5000 USD. The final matches consisted of red flag protests which resulted in one re-sail and one disqualification. Despite high temperatures not only in the air but also in finalists blood the last day of racing was very successful. In petit final another Indian team lead by Mongia beat 2:0 the team from Bahrain helmed by Mohamed.
Whole atmosphere aroung the regatta was remarkable and organizers already announced that 2nd Doha Match Race Cup will be held in October 2008 with more surprises to come.

Final results of 1st Doha Match Race Cup 2007:
1. MAHESH – India 1
2. HORSCH - Germany
3. MONGIA – India 2
4. MOHAMED - Bahrain
5. BASHIR – India 3
6. SATTAR – Qatar 1
7. HARE – Doha Sailing Club
8. YOUSRY – Qatar 2

Horsch leads after RR in Doha

During two days of racing in 1st Doha Match Race Cup we managed to complete double Round Robin consisting of 56 matches.
The conditions were pretty tricky especially in the morning when due to shifty wind RC was forced to postpone the start scheduled on 9 a.m local time. This however did not prevent us from fulfilling the daily plan thanks to flexibility and professionalism of the RC lead by British NRO Peter Pollock.
For majority of competitors these are first experiences with match racing and it is great to notice huge improvement on tactical maneuvres.
Tommorow we go for semi-finals and on Saturday final and petit final are on the timetable.

Results after double round robin
1. Horsch - Germany
2. Mahesh - India
3. Mongia - India
4. Mohamed - Bahrain
5. Bashir - India
6. Sattar - Qatar
7. Hare - Doha Sailing Club, Qatar
8. Yousry - Qatar

Balck Flag Q&A on Match Race Academy

During the MR Europeans in Sopot there was an unusaual situation, collision between two boats, cameraman not able to remain on board, read what's the official ISAF interpretation of this case.

Click here to read details

1st Doha Match Racing Cup 2007, Qatar

photo by: Klaas Lingbeek - van Kranen

Hi All,

nice to notice match racing is so rapidly growing into strenght and gets to every corner of the globe. This time we write from Doha, Qatar where 1st Doha Match Racing Cup 2007, ISAF Grade 3 event, will take place. After 2 days of preparations racing finally starts tommorow. 8 skippers from 4 countries will fight until Saturday for the prize money of US$5000. The boats to be used are Beneteau First Class 7.5 with spinnakers which just now went for practise.
The event is organized by Qatar Sailing & Rowing Federation which does a great job in providing participants in suitable service.

List of eligible skippers:
1. R. Mahesh
2. Sven-Eric Horsch
3. Shahid Bashir
4. Aashim Mongia
5. Abdul Aziz Al Mohamead
6. Amro Sattar
7. Amro Yousry
8. Simon Hare

Stay with us and follow this unique performance, in majority of "fresh" match racers from Asia and Africa.
Regards, Sofia

Alinghi and BMW Oracle welcomes prompt resolution

Source: Alinghi Following today’s hearing, Justice Herman Cahn of the New York Supreme Court, reserved his decision on the litigation brought by the Golden Gate Yacht Club against the Société Nautique de Genève, the America’s Cup defending yacht club, over the validity of the Challenger of Record, Club Náutico Español de Vela.
Justice Cahn allowed the parties to argue their positions and he focused his questions on the legitimacy of Club Náutico Español de Vela as Challenger of Record under the Deed of Gift.
Alinghi General Counsel Hamish Ross comments: “We are happy with the way the hearing went and look forward to a result. The argument is a technical one. It is a straight out legal interpretation of the Deed of Gift.”
Justice Cahn indicated he would issue a written decision which is expected in the coming weeks.
Société Nautique de Genève remains firm on the demands of BOR, a team which is still not party to the event and who has repeatedly tried to shift the focus from the validity of CNEV to a multitude of items linked to the Protocol and the Rules.
This said the SNG is still in communication with BOR and would welcome an appropriate resolution to allow the parties to move forward with the 33rd America’s Cup.


Source: Golden Gate Yacht Club The Golden Gate Yacht Club said today it welcomed the prospect of a speedy court ruling in resolving the issues surrounding the protocol for the next America’s Cup.
After a hearing in the New York State Supreme Court where Justice Herman Cahn said he would deliver his decision soon, the club’s spokesman, Tom Ehman, said the American team had presented a strong case that the Club Náutico Español de Vela (CNEV) challenge was invalid and the new protocol unfairly advantaged the defender.
“We were very pleased with today,” Ehman said. “Justice Cahn understands the issues. He said he would rule soon which is what we have sought from the start.”

Beside this statements GGYC published today on their webpage a copy of the 7 signed letters from challengers complaining about the 33rd protocol

Free spot available on Gr. 3 9-11 Nov. in Trapani

Dear All,

we have a spare place for a foreing crew in our event. The event will be in Trapani (SICILY) and will be a grade 3.
There are a lot of cheap flight with Trapani airport and we have very good connection also with the Palermo airport.
If someone of you is interested in it, please send an email

(salvoaltavilla@altavillaascensori.it) before Nov 1.

Details click here

There is no winner !

Photo (c) Gilles Martin Raget

33rd America’s Cup just entered in the startbox

What a situation, we just had the most interesting cup since ever with great races and since months two big guys of our sailing world are demonstrating their power.

Saturday GGYC came up with a new press release telling that Alinghi is not quite open to find a amicable settlement...

Sunday Alinghi came up saying we want to find a solution, we are ready to meet monday morning in New York....

Hard to belive, who is right who is wrong, that's up to the judge of the New York court to decide, but I have a strong feeling that one of these two teams will come out as a looser. Is it SNG or GGYC?

Wee will se...

Probably the 33rd cup just entered the start box and the boats instead of a nice and calm dial up they just crossed each other with contact.

Now the question is did yellow (Alinghi) altered the course and infringe rule 16 or did blue failed to keep clear by rule 10....this time it's not an umpire call but the court of New York.

Must be a quite hopeless task to go back to the team a say, guys we lost in court but now we go a win on the water....lets hope that the cup itseleve will not be the looser.

Good luck

Jürg

Read the latest press release from the GGYC

Read the latest press release from Alinghi

Richard wins in Bermuda!

source by: Sean McNeill

Mathieu Richard of France became the third consecutive first-time winner of the King Edward VII Gold Cup today when he defeated Sweden’s Björn Hansen, 2-0.

Richard and his Saba Sailing Team crew of Greg Evrard (mainsail and tactics), Olivier Herledant (headsails) and Yannick Simon (bow and traveler) rolled through the regatta with a 12-2 record and won $35,000 of the $100,000 prize purse.

“I don’t know what to say,” said Richard, 31, of Nantes, France. “We went 3-0 in the quarterfinals and semifinals and 2-0 today. I guess it was our week. Everything worked well onboard. To win such a prestigious event is great for us.”

King Edward VII Gold Cup Final Standings
(Skipper, Country, Team, Record, Prize Money)
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 12-2, $35,000
(Crew: Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant, Yannick Simon)
2. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 15-5, $20,000
(Crew: Martin Stromberg, Johan Tempelman, Will Thompson)
3. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 10-4, $15,000
(Crew: Rodney Ardern, Lorenzo Mazza, Piet Van Nieuwenhuyzen)
4. Blythe Walker (BER) Team Max, 8-8, $8,000
(Crew: Adam Barboza, Carola Cooper, Somers Kempe)
5. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 7-4, $7,000
(Crew: Pierluigi de Felice, Pierluigi Fornelli, Salvatore Pavoni)
6. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 6-6, $6,000
(Crew: Johan Backman, Johan Barne, Björn Lundgren)
7. Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 7-6, $5,000
(Crew: Michael Brown, David Hochard, Payson Infelize)
8. Glenn Astwood (BER), 5-6, $4,000
(Crew: Eddie Bardgett Stephen King, Blair Simmons)

Final Round
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 1-1—2
Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 0-0—0

Petite Final
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 1-1—2
Blythe Walker (BER) Team Max, 0-0—0

Hansen, Richard to meet for Gold Cup

source by: Sean McNeill

Björn Hansen of Sweden will meet Frenchman Mathieu Richard in tomorrow’s final of the $100,000 King Edward VII Gold Cup after each won their semifinal match 3-0 in racing here today.
Richard, the world’s No. 2-ranked match racer, manhandled Ed Baird of the U.S., winning with calm and ease. Hansen, ranked No. 6, took down local favorite Blythe Walker. Tomorrow’s final between Hansen and Richard means that for the third consecutive year the Gold Cup champion will be a first-time winner.

Semifinal Racing
Match 1
Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 1-1-1—3
Blythe Walker (BER) Team Max, 0-0-0—0

Match 2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 1-1-1—3
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 0-0-0—0

Racing for 5th – 8th Place
Flight 1
M1: Johnie Berntsson d. Brian Angel
M2: Paolo Cian d. Glenn Astwood

Flight 2
M1: Brian Angel d. Glenn Astwood
M2; Paolo Cian d. Johnie Berntsson

5th: Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza
6th: Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
7th: Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team
8th: Glenn Astwood (BER)

Walker goes to max to advance in Bermuda

source by: Sean McNeill

Bermudian Blythe Walker kept alive the hope of a Royal Bermuda Yacht Club member winning the $100,000 King Edward VII Gold Cup when he won a five-set quarterfinal match against Brian Angel of the U.S.
Walker, who finished third last year, trailed Angel 2-0 before running off three straight for a 3-2 victory.

Final Repechage Round Standings
(After 5 of 5 flights)
1. Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 5-0
2. Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 3-2
3. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 3-2
4. Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth.pt Team, 2-3
5. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Team Alandia, 2-3
6. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 0-5

Quarterfinal Round Matches
Match 1
Blythe Walker (BER) Team Max Capital, 0-0-1-1-1—3
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 1-1-0-0-0—2

Match 2
Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 1-1-0-1—3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 0-0-1-0—1

Match 3
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 1-1-1—3
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 0-0-0—0

Match 4
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 1-1-1—3
Glenn Astwood (BER), 0-0-0—0

Semifinal Matches
(First to 3 points wins)
Match 1
Blythe Walker (BER) Team Max Capital
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net

Match 2
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team

Read more at Match Race Events

Collision course

It's not about matchracing, but take a look....

Welcome to Team Morvan on matchrace.ch

Since today we have a new team on our website, it's Pierre Antoine Morvan with his crew. right now he is number 7 in the world ranking list.
Link to P. A Morvan's website

Baird, Lindberg and Cian looking strong

source by: Sean McNeill

As the rounds robin at the King Edward VII Gold Cup wind down, time’s running out for some crews in Hamilton, Bermuda.
The three group leaders – American Ed Baird, Staffan Lindberg of Finland and Italy’s Paolo Cian – are all undefeated at 4-0.

Read more at Match Race Events

Group A Standings
(After 5 of 7 flights)
1. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 4-0
2. Blythe Walker (BER), 4-1
3. Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth.pt Team, 2-2
4. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 2-2
5. Scott Dickson (NZL) Dickson Racing Team, 2-3
6. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Monnin, 1-3
7. Peter Wibroe (DEN), 0-4

Group B Standings
(After 5 of 7 flights)
1. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, 4-0
2. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba SailingTeam, 3-1
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 2-2
T. Jon Eriksson (FIN), 2-2
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 2-3
T. Chris Van Tol (USA), 1-3
7. Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Sailing, 1-4

Group C Standings
(After 5 of 7 flights)
1. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 4-0
2. Glenn Astwood (BDA), 4-1
3. Daniel Glomb (BRA), 3-1
4. Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 2-2
T. Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 2-2
6. David Tabb (GBR), 0-4
7. Robbie Allam (GBR), 0-5

Baird undefeated after first day of racing in Bermuda

source by: Sean McNeill

In a classic Bermuda day resplendent with sunshine and a westerly wind around 15 knots, the 59th annual King Edward VII Gold Cup got underway today with three flights in all three round robin groups. The 21 teams have been split into three groups of seven for the initial round robin racing.

America’s Cup-winning helmsman Ed Baird of the U.S. is the only skipper to go 3-0 on the day and leads Group A. He’s closely followed by the event’s reigning champion Ian Williams of the U.K., who’s at 2-0.
In Group B there’s a three-way tie between Johnie Berntsson of Sweden, Staffan Lindberg of Finland and Mathieu Richard of France, each at 2-0.
Group C is led by Paolo Cian of Italy and Daniel Glomb of Brazil, both with 2-0 records.

Group A Standings
(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 3-0
2. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 2-0
3. Blythe Walker (BER), 2-1
4. Alvaro Marinho (POR), 1-2
5. Scott Dickson (NZL) Dickson Racing Team, 1-2
6. Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Monnin, 0-2
T. Peter Wibroe (DEN), 0-2

Group B Standings
(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Johnie Berntsson (SWE), 2-0
T. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, 2-0
T. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba SailingTeam, 2-0
4. Jon Eriksson (FIN), 1-2
T. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 1-2
T. Chris Van Tol (USA), 1-2
7. Sally Barkow (USA) Team 7 Sailing, 0-3

Group C Standings(After 3 of 7 flights)
1. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 2-0
T. Daniel Glomb (BRA), 2-0
3. Glenn Astwood (BDA), 2-1
4. Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Race Team, 2-1
5. Björn Hansen (SWE), 1-1
6. Robbie Allam (GBR), 0-3
T. David Tabb (GBR), 0-3

Read more at Match Race Events

I Polish Match Race Champion title decided!

On Sunday Alfa Romeo I Polish National Championship, ISAF Grade 3 event, has ended. First title of Polish Match Race Champion went to Alfa Romeo Yacht Racing Team helmed by Marek Stańczyk, ranked 31 in ISAF Ranking. During 3 days of competition 33 flights of Round Robin were completed as well as semi finals and finals. The weather as for Polish October was pretty warm with very good racing conditions. Organizers did a great job in providing the event in full TV coverage and spectating opportunities.

Final results:
1. Marek Stańczyk, Dominik Niśkiewicz, Maciej Kołosiński- Alfa Romeo Yacht Racing Team
2. Patryk Piasecki, Marcin Czajkowski, Krzysztof Kierkowski - Polish Olympic Team
3. Andresen Jan-Eike, Ziegelmayer Max, v. Meyerinck Felix - Germany
4. Rafał Sawicki, Piotr Szwoch, Przemysław Zagórski - YKP Gdynia
5. Patryk Zbroja, Paweł Szklarz, Marcin Zubrzycki - SLAM Szczecin
6. Piotr Wojewski, Paweł Górski, Adam Singer - Curver Sailing Team
7. Artur Pomorski, Mateusz Pomorski, Łukasz Czaja - Tradewinds Szczecin
8. Tobiasz Zajączkowski, Jakub Wierusz, Maciej Wierusz - Zegrze Sailing Center Warszawa
9. Maciej Cylupa, Tomasz Szymański, Marcin Spałek - Alfa Romeo Yacht Racing Team 2
10. Radosław Żurek, Dariusz Krysiak, Marcin Pietrzak - Ssang Yong Sailing Team
11. Viacheslav Frolov, Piotr Tarnacki, Przemysław Płóciennik – Russia/Poland
12. Lars Hoffmann, Johannes Bording, Henrik Boss – Denmark

Gaastra Dutch Open Matchrace

written by: Jelle Roos

The Dutch Team Roos (Jelle Roos, Frans Hin and Ivan Peute) and the French Team Ponthieu ended equal at the Gaastra Dutch Open Matchrace.

On Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of October the Gaastra Dutch Open Matchrace Nationals where held at the RZV in Rotterdam. Twelve teams competed in two groups of six. In group A the Teams of Christian Ponthieu (FRA) won all their races. In Group B it was the team of Jelle Roos (NED) who came out to be unbeatable. The teams of Carsten Kemmling (GER) and team Max Gurgel (Ger) became second in the poules.

On Sunday semi finales and round robins for the groups 5-8 and 9-12 where scheduled. Unfortunately the wind completely disappeared Saturday evening and never came back. Therefore sailing on Sunday was not possible and team Roos and Ponthieu became both winners on equal points. Due to the fact that only one day racing was possible and for a National Championship two days are required, there is no new National Champion. The Team of Jelle Roos will keep their title for another year.

Results:
1) Jelle Roos (NED)
1) Christian Ponthieu (FRA)
3) Cartsten Kemmling (GER)
3) Max Gurgel (GER)
5) Jeroen den Boer (NED)
6) Jurjen Feitsma (NED)
7) Rui Boia (POR)
7) Fabio Mazzoni (ITA)
9) Persijn Brongers (NED)
10) Gaston Loos (NED)
11) Markus Bohren (SUI)
11) Lennart Gernand (NED

KING EDWARD VII GOLD CUP REGATTA

source by: Sean McNeill

The 21 teams split into three groups of seven including the reigning event champion and runner-up, the America’s Cup-winning helmsman, the world’s top three and six of the top 10-ranked match-racers and the No. 4-ranked women’s match-racer
will take part in King Edward VII Gold Cup Regatta held from 9 to 14 Ocober in Hamilton, Bermuda.

ENTRY LIST
Robbie Allam (GBR) — Competing in first Gold Cup
Brian Angel (USA) King Harbor Match Racing Team — Winner of 2007 US Match Racing National Championship
Glenn Astwood (BDA) — Winner of 2007 Bermuda National Match Racing Championship
Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi — America’s Cup-winning helmsman for Alinghi
Sally Barkow (USA) Team Seven — Women’s No. 4-ranked match-racer
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) — World No. 18-ranked match-racer
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza — World No. 3-ranked match-racer
Scott Dickson (USA) — Competing in seventh consecutive Gold Cup
Jon Eriksson (FIN) — Competing in first Gold Cup
Daniel Glomb (BRA) — Competing in first Gold Cup
Björn Hansen (SWE) — World No. 6-ranked match-racer
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge — Skipper of Sweden’s Victory Challenge
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team — World No. 5-ranked match-racer
Alvaro Marinho (POR) — Competing in second Gold Cup
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Monnin — Placed 4th at 2006 Gold Cup
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team — Placed 2nd at 2006 Gold Cup
David Tabb (GBR) — Competing in first Gold Cup
Chris Van Tol (USA) — Competing in first Gold Cup
Blythe Walker (BER) — Placed 3rd at 2006 Gold Cup
Peter Wibroe (DEN) — World No. 10-ranked match-racer
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar — Reigning Gold Cup champion and World No. 1-ranked match racer

Alfa Romeo I Polish Nationals in Match Racing

Tommorow Alfa Romeo I Polish Nationals in Match Racing will take place in Gdynia, Poland. This are the first Polish Nationals in Match Racing in Polish history of sailing. 12 skipers will take part in this ISAF Grade 3 event that is going to last till Sunday.
List of eligible skipers is based on 8 best Polish sailors qualified in Polish Match Racing Cup, 3 teams from abroad and one team consisting of Polish Olympic Team members. The Chief Umpire is our friend Jurg Kaufamnn who came to Gdynia 3 days ago to run the match racing national training for umpires and rules session for Polish Olympic Team.
The high level of organization was possible thanks to great efforts of sailing club YKP Gdynia, MT Partners company co-operating with Polish Yachting Association and supported by titular sponsor of Alfa Romeo.

List of participants:
1. Maciej Cylupa
2. Marek Stańczyk
3. Tobiasz Zajączkowski
4. Artur Pomorski
5. Radoslaw Zurek
6. Patryk Zbroja
7. Rafal Sawicki
8. Piotr Wojewski
9. Jan-Eike Andresen
10. Lars Hoffmann
11. Viacheslav Frolov
12. Patryk Piasecki

We will keep you informed!
Sofia