Chris Dickson and Magnus Holmberg lead groups into quarterfinals of Portugal Match Cup

(Source: World Match Racing Tour)Day two of Stage 1 of the 2006-‘07 World Match Racing Tour season, the Portugal Match Cup, saw the quarterfinals take shape with six teams advancing to the next round.

Chris Dickson (NZL), BMW Oracle Racing, won all five of his round robin races and led Group A into the quarters. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge, won Group B with a 4-1 record.

With the initial round robin complete the event moved to the Repechage Round, and the racing intensified. Four out of the six teams are tied after three of the five flights.

Magnus Holmberg in the second day of the Portugal Match Cup. Cascais, 20 July 2006. Photo copyright: ImagePress / Portugal Match Cup

Ian Williams (GBR), Williams Sail Racing, Chris Law (GBR), The Outlaws, Mathieu Richard (FRA), Saba Sailing Team, and Przemek Tarnacki (POL), Tarnacki Racing/Sopot MR Center are all 2-1 in the repechage round.

With teams sailing late into the evening, two flights remain tomorrow to decide which teams will take the two remaining places in the quarters. Only the top two move on.

The 3rd annual Portugal Match Cup features 12 teams competing for a $100,000 prize purse, with $30,000 earmarked for the champion. The crews enjoyed glorious sunshine racing the SM40s in 10 to 12 knots, near-perfect conditions in the beautiful Bay of Cascais.

Chris Dickson and Thierry Peponnet in the second day of the Portugal Match Cup. Cascais, 20 July 2006. Photo copyright: ImagePress / Portugal Match Cup

Group A saw Dickson and Thierry Peponnet (FRA), Areva Challenge, in a close match in Flight 8, with Dickson just nabbing the win over his America’s Cup rival. Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST, the three-time reigning Tour champion, won his final two matches in Group A to also advance.

“We had a solid day with even starts, better speed and better crew work and a couple of solid wins,” said Dickson, the CEO and skipper of BMW Oracle. “We’re getting better with every race we do and are looking forward to tomorrow.”

Fresh from Louis Vuitton Act 12 Dickson added, “BMW is a key and very important partner in our BMW Oracle Racing team and their involvement in the World Tour gives us an added incentive, although none is really needed to come to Portugal. But, it’s added incentive for us to be here and we’re pleased with their involvement in the Tour. They’re a great partner with the America’s Cup program and with the Tour as well.”

Magnus Holmberg and Ian Williams in the second day of the Portugal Match Cup. Cascais, 20 July 2006. Photo copyright: ImagePress / Portugal Match Cup

In Group B, Holmberg took first place with Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN), Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia, and Staffan Lindberg (FIN), Alandia Sailing Team, placing second and third.

The six teams in the repechage battled until late in the day. The remaining two flights will be intense because each of the top four has a loss and no one has a clear cut advantage. It’s likely the two advancing teams won’t be known until after the final flight, when Richard races Tarnacki and Law faces Williams.

Lotte Meldgaard (DEN), HSH Nordbank, scored a well deserved victory in the repechage over Chris Law (GBR), The Outlaws, after a close battle. Álvaro Marinho (POR), Quebramar Match Racing Team, surprised local supporters when he failed to score a win.

Chris Dickson and Peter Gilmout in the second day of the Portugal Match Cup. Cascais, 20 July 2006. Photo copyright: ImagePress / Portugal Match Cup