Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Crews train on eve of Marseille International Match Race

[Source: Marseille International Match Race] The Yachting Club de la Pointe Rouge has been boiling over all day. At 9am, the 12 skippers and their crews took over, to register and get weighed in.

Once the administrative details were dealt with, they only wanted one thing: to get onto the J80's and get out onto the water to start sizing up the Southern Bay.

Two groups of 6 teams went out, taking advantage of the great weather conditions to perfect their skills and carry out the final adjustments on board (moderate sea, wind force 4 to 5).

America's Cup holder Ed Baird faces world match racing champion Ian Williams. Marseille, 10 March 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / MIMR

Even though most of the skippers this year have already taken part in the Marseille International Match Race, this year’s regatta is really special as it is the first of the 10 stages of the World Match Racing Tour. Some extra pressure on the teams which are starting the year with what could be a decisive event for the rest of their season.

Racing at full earnest starts on Tuesday and at 9am, 8 crews(*) will leave the harbor to take part in the first flights.

Tough wind conditions have been forecast for tomorrow. The morning’s North-Westerly force 6 – 7 is set to strengthen to force 8 – more than 60kph. The Race Committee hopes to be ready on the water as soon as possible, to start the first flights and get a head start before the coming weather conditions... which might be too hard to allow racing to continue.

(*) Richard, Ainslie, Cian, Morvan, Williams, Hansen, Col, Baird

Young gun Torvar Mirsky getting ready for yet another great performance. Marseille, 10 March 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / MIMR

America's Cup holder Ed Baird faces world match racing champion Ian Williams. Marseille, 10 March 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / MIMR

Crews train on the eve of Marseille International Match Race. Marseille, 10 March 2009. Photo copyright Gilles Martin-Raget / MIMR

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