World Match Racing Tour launches worldwide qualifying series

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The ISAF World Match Racing Tour is pleased to announce its new ‘Tour Qualifier Series’, a group of nineteen events which will act as official qualifier regattas to the ten stages of the 2008 World Match Racing Tour.

The concept behind the Tour Qualifier Series is to provide up and coming match racing teams a structured gateway to competing on the World Match Racing Tour. As Tour Director Craig Mitchell explains:

“In the past, each stage of the World Match Racing Tour has hosted qualifier events in their own country. The new Tour Qualifier Series offers up to two qualifier events to each of the Tour stages, and also in different countries to the host country. The result is the series extends the opportunity for foreign teams to gain entry to the official Tour events”

The Tour Qualifier Series events for 2008 are as follows:

Tour Stages	TQS Events	Dates
Brasil Sailing Cup	BSC Qualifier (BRA)	20 - 21 Apr 2008
	Brasil Women's Cup (BRA)	TBC
Match Race Germany	German Championship (GER)	Already Completed
	Berlin Match Race (GER)	Already Completed
Latium Match Cup	RYA Winter Challenge (GBR)	19-20 Jan 2008
Korea Match Cup	KMC Qualifier (KOR)	Jun 2008
	KMC Qualifier 2 (KOR)	TBC
Match Cup Sweden	GKSS Spring Cup (SWE)	31 May - 1 Jun 2008
	Marseille Int Match Race (FRA)	11-15 Mar 2008
Portugal Match Cup	PMC Qualifier (POR)	12-14 Jul 2008
	Marseille Int Match Race (FRA)	TBC
Danish Open	TMC Grill Cup (DEN)	7-8 Jun 2008
	Sails of the White Knights (RUS)	4-8 Jun 2008
St Moritz Match Race	Swiss MR Championship (SUI)	Already Completed
	Open de Espana (ESP)	8-12 Apr 2008
Bermuda Gold Cup	Bermuda MR Championship (BDA)	TBC
	Knickerbocker Cup (USA)	19-24 Aug 2008
Monsoon Cup	Malaysian MR Championship (MAS)	Sep 2008
	Asian MR Championship (MAS)	Sep 2008

The winner of each Tour Qualifier Event will automatically receive an invitation to the corresponding Tour Stage.

“The Tour Qualifier Series is a tremendous development for the Tour” commented Tour President Scott Macleod. “We are constantly receiving requests for entries to the Tour and these qualifier events provide an ideal opportunity for teams to earn their place against the top sailors competing on the Tour”.