Excellent lineup at Monsoon Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] With racing scheduled to begin Wednesday, Nov. 29, the lineup has been confirmed for the Monsoon Cup, Stage 6 of the 2006-’07 World Match Racing Tour and the richest sailing event in the world.

The 12 skippers and crews will be chasing a prize purse of MYR 1 million, approximately $275,000. It is the largest prize purse offered in sailing. The winner will earn MYR 250,000, or nearly $70,000. Racing is scheduled Nov. 29-Dec. 3.

Heading the lineup is the event reigning champion and match racing world champion Peter Gilmour of the PST team from Australia. Another entrant is current world championship leader Ian Williams of Team Pindar from Great Britain.

America’s Cup syndicates are represented by Jesper Bank of United Internet Team Germany, Paolo Cian of Team Shosholoza, Sébastian Col of Areva Challenge, Peter Holmberg of Alinghi, James Spithill of Luna Rossa Challenge and Wearn Haw Tan of China Team.

The 2nd annual Monsoon Cup features the first ever appearance by a Malaysian woman in professional match racing. Tiffany Koo won the Malaysian Match Racing Championship in September to gain the berth. Koo turns 22 years old on Nov. 29.

The crews are scheduled to sail a single round robin with the top eight advancing to the quarterfinals. The four winners from the quarterfinal knock out round advance to the semifinals, while the vanquished advance to racing for 5th through 8th places.

The semifinal and final rounds are first to 3 points. Racing will be held in the Foundation 36, designed by New Zealander Brett Bakewell-White, and will be conducted on Pulau Duyong Basin, in front of the Terenggan Heritage Bay Club.

The events of the World Tour serve to determine the ISAF Match Racing World Champion. Next year the Monsoon Cup will be the final event of the 2006-’07 season, and will crown the 2007 World Champion.

Monsoon Cup Provisional Entry List (as of Nov. 20)
Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza
Sébastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge
Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST
Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net
Peter Holmberg (ISV) Alinghi
Tiffany Koo (MAL) Team Selango Gapurna
Adam Minoprio (NZL) Black Match Racing
Wearn Haw Tan (SIN) China Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team
James Spithill (AUS) Luna Rossa Challenge
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar