World Number one, Mathieu Richard, winner of MIMR 2008

[Source: Marseille International Match Race] The sixth edition of the Marseille International Match Race drew to a close on Saturday.

Four days of racing, with the wind setting the tone and the pace. Two days in extreme conditions with wind speeds of more than 30 knots and heavy seas, a morning of nothing at all, and at last optimal conditions for Match Racing.

The 2008 edition MIMR was once again extraordinary! An impressive line-up, varied sailing conditions to allow everyone to express their skills, we experienced some fantastic moments on the water and saw some wonderful duels.

And in the end, the World Number One was the winner of the 2008 MIMR, so the hierarchy of the sport was respected.

Mathieu Richard and Paolo Cian fight during the Marseille International Match Race final. Marseille, 15 March 2008. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget

They said

Mathieu Richard, World N° 1, Winner of the 2008 MIMR
"It's fantastic! This grade 1 MIMR has been really positive for our team. After a long winter break, our objective was to get back up to speed, find our marks, our reflexes on board. We sailed really well and won lots of matches. We are all the happier with our performance that the line-up was of a really high level, with some very motivated teams. We have taken part in every single edition of the MIMR since the beginning - it's really promising for the rest of the season."

Paolo Cian, World N° 3, 2nd in MIMR 2008
"We did well in the semi-finals, as we beat Sébastien Col 2 matches to 1 in pretty shifty conditions – I'm satisfied with those matches. The final is another story. Mathieu Richard was better in the prestarts, we were faster in the upwind beat but Mathieu's team handled the kite more confidently and and was faster.

The MIMR is our first big event for Shosholoza in 2008 and finishing second, in these conditions in a final with the world number 1 is really great. This is our second time in the MIMR, and we are second again – things will be different next time!"

Sébastien Col, World N° 4, 3 rd MIMR 2008
Sébastien Col recently joined the Yachting Club de la Pointe Rouge, Organising Club of the MIMR. "I'm disappointed, but in Match Racing there is only one winner! In all our matches in the semi-finals we started well and stayed ahead for most of the race but systematically we failed to maintain our lead on our adversary.

We found it hard to take the right decisions when in contact with the other boat. I must say it's a classic failing of a crew that's not used to sailing together. We need to work on our communication on board. To do that we'll be going on a training course next April with Ian Williams, World number 2.