Jesper Bank romps into semis at Match Race Germany

Jesper BankSkipper / Helmsman of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info mixed boatspeed and deft crew work to roll undefeated through the Quarterfinal Round of Match Race Germany, Stage 7 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour.

Bank, the Danish skipper of the United Internet Team Germany syndicate, went 7-0 and led Peter Gilmour (2nd, 5-2), Ian Williams (3rd, 4-3) and Staffan Lindberg (4th, 4-3) into the semifinals. In the next round Bank will face Lindberg and Gilmour takes on Williams, as per the sailing instructions.

“It doesn’t get much better. We’re feeling good and sailing quickly,” said Bank, who finished runner-up to Gilmour last year in Germany. “After four matches we knew we were in the semis. I prefer to have the matches spelled out before hand.”

Jesper Bank helms from leeward for a close look at a windward mark rounding. Photo copyright: Richard Walch / World Match Racing Tour

Gilmour has a chance tomorrow to wrap up his third consecutive World Tour championship. Lindberg is the only skipper with a chance to upend the reigning Tour champ, but would have to win or place second with Gilmour third or fourth to keep the championship open until Stage 8, the Toscana Elba Cup.

A win for Gilmour would be his 10th career World Tour victory and third consecutive Match Race Germany championship.

“This year I’ve sailed with more guys than usual,” Gilmour said. “Some of the regulars, Mike (Mottl), Rod (Dawson) and Fuku (Kazuhiko Sofuku), are off with Cup teams. If we seal it tomorrow, it won’t be just Peter Gilmour winning but everyone else that’s helped out. My expectation is that it will always go down to the wire, so winning early would be quite a surprise.”

Conditions for the day were beautiful for Lake Constance, sunny skies and 5 to 8 knots of wind. The wind started from nearly west and then backed to the south.

Action at Match Race Germany on the Bodensee, or Lake Constance, with Switzerland in the background. Photo copyright: Richard Walch / World Match Racing Tour

One of Gilmour’s two losses was to Bank, in another close match between last year’s finalists. Gilmour was hindered when he received a pre-start penalty for failing to keep clear as the windward boat. Gilmour thought Bank’s luff was quick and that he did all he could to keep clear, but the umpires sided with Bank.

Saddled with the penalty, Gilmour led Bank around the racecourse, but by no more than one length. On the run to the finish the wind shifted left and forced the competitors to reach down the leg. Gilmour took Bank well outside the committee boat end of the line trying to hook him and get an offsetting penalty, but Bank kept clear and sneaked around the committee boat for the win while Gilmour did his turn.

Gilmour, who entered the match at 1-1, termed it critical. “It was desperate strokes for desperate blokes. We had to make a desperate move to get a victory,” Gilmour said. “In my experience, you have to win just over half your matches to get to the semis.” Although Gilmour stood at 1-2 after the match with Bank, he won the next four to move on. “The boys did a great job to drag me through it,” he said.

Lindberg ran his unbeaten streak to nine races this morning after winning his first two flights of the quarterfinals. The streak has helped restore some confidence to the frazzled Finnish skipper of the Alandia Sailing Team.

“I’m out of the hole, I hope,” said Lindberg. “I feel I’ve been sailing well and back to strength. I’m feeling good in the boat.”

Williams has advanced to his first Semifinal Round of a World Tour event and feels confident about his chances against Gilmour. “We’ve never sailed him in a knock-out series,” said Williams, “but we’re ahead in head-to-head matches.”