Jesper Bank is defending his title at Danish Open

Starting today, Jesper Bank and his team from United Internet Team Germany will try to defend their Danish Open title from 2005, where they beat Gavin Brady in the finals. Bank and his crew defeated Gavin Brady (NZL) to win the regatta, which was secured on countback when the final round was halted in a 2-2 tie due to lack of wind and the time limit.

The 10th Danish Open is the second stage of the 2006-2007 World Match Racing Tour. Chris Dickson (NZL), BMW ORACLE Racing, took the early lead in the World Championship points race with a victory at the season-opening Portugal Match Cup two weeks ago. Dickson defeated Sweden’s Magnus Holmberg of the Victory Challenge 3-2 for his first career Tour win. Dickson, Holmberg and Peter Gilmour (3rd) aren’t entered in Denmark, but 4th-placed Jes Gram-Hansen (a two-time Danish Open winner) of Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team is.

The list of participating skippers and their crews is as follows:

1. Jesper BankSkipper and Helmsman of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info (United Internet Team Germany)
Crew Henrik BlakskjaerTactician of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Thomas JacobsenTraveller of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Matti PaschenTrimmer of United Internet Team Germany

Click for more info, Jan SchoepePitman of United Internet Team Germany

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2. Sébastien ColHelmsman of Areva Challenge

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Crew Christophe AndréAfterguard of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, Jean-François CuzonNavigator of Areva Challenge

Click for more info, Gilles Favennec, Teva Plichart

3. Mads Ebler (DEN)
Crew George Bry, Niels Kinch, Roar Teglers, Søren Tønder

4. Jes Gram-HansenHelmsman of Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team

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Crew Rasmus Kostner Trimmer of Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team

Click for more info, Chris Pedersen, Chresten Plinius, Frederik Sparvath

5. Björn Hansen (Team Apport.net)
Crew Mathia Bredin, Oskar Ljung, Johan Qviberg, Anton Wester

6. Dorte O. Jensen (Team Sjælsø Gruppen)
Crew Jeppe Blak, Niels Gramkov, Thomas Hartvig, Henning Lambertsen

7. Staffan Lindberg (Alandia Sailing Team)
Crew Nils Bjerkås, Niklas Carlzon, Martin Krite, Daniel Wallberg

8. Simon Minoprio (Vision Yachting)
Crew Willie Beavis, Charlie Carter, Luke Cross, Stew Gray

9. Sten Mohr (BMW ORACLE Racing)
Crew Haydon Goodrick, Tony Kolb, Kasper Helweg Larsen, Jan Neergaard

10. Mathieu Richard (Saba Sailing Team)
Crew Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant, Philippe Saliou, Yannick Simon

11. Peter Wibroe (Team Wibroe)
Crew Joachim Carlsen, Phillip Guhle, Kristoffer Olesen, Jeppe Rasmussen

12. Ian Williams (Williams Sail Racing)
Crew Morten Henriksen, Mark Nichols, Simon Shaw, Mark Williams