ST. Moritz Match Race 2008: with a new boat, the Blu26, and a new Qualifier Event, the Open Espana

(c) Jürg Kaufmann go4image.com

ST. MORITZ – The 6th St. Moritz Match Race, which takes place from 2-7 September this year, will be competed for using the new Blu26 boats, a decision recently reached by the event’s organising committee. In addition, it has also been announced that the Open Espana Regatta in Calpe will count as a Qualifier Event for the Match Race in St. Moritz.

The 4-man blu26 boat has been especially developed by Bluboats for match- and fleet-racing, and has been designed with Switzerland’s particular wind and weather conditions in mind. The result is a highly developed and refined racing yacht, which, at 8m long and with a width of 2.2m, is ideally suited for racing on Lake St Moritz. In fact, the Blu26 was trialled here during last year’s Match Race event.

Also in the news is the fact that the Spanish Grade 1 Regatta, Open Espana in Calpe, is now an official Qualifier Event of the World Match Racing Tour for the St. Moritz Match Race 2008. This Regatta was held from 8-12 April, and the winner Paolo Cian, as well as Eric Monnin, the Swiss Match Racing Champion 2007, have received starting slots for the Match Race in the Swiss mountains.

Besides Paolo Cian (ITA) and Eric Monnin (SUI), reigning World Tour champion Ian Williams (GBR) and Sebastien Col (FRA) have confirmed they will be taking part. Other match-racing specialists to have declared their interest for this year’s edition is the current No 1 of the world-ranking list Mathieu Richard (FRA), and America’s Cup skippers Ed Baird (USA), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Jochen Schümann (GER) and Ben Ainslie (GBR). Confirmation of more top sailors is expected shortly.