Saturday, June 13, 2009

Adam Minoprio and Torvar Mirsky helm America's Cup boats

It was a first today for both of the young up-and-coming sailors. Torvar Mirsky and Adam Minoprio, currently holding the 4th and 5th place in the ISAF Match Racing rankings, took the helm of an America's Cup yacht for the first time ever this afternoon in Valencia.

Torvar Mirsky (helm) and Kinley Fowler (trim) were on SWE-63 while Adam Minoprio (helm) and Tom Powrie (trim) sailed on Victory Challenge's newer boat, SWE-73. Even if it was part of a corporate hospitality program and with the majority of the crew consisting of guests of the Volkswagen group, the two young sailors didn't take things lightly. It is obvious that when your grinders are car dealers or car component executives you can't be too demanding but their aggressive style could be felt in the prestarts. Still, this kind of marketing is a unique opportunity for the sport of sailing, especially under the current tough financial situation. In what other sport can you rub shoulders with the world's 4th and 5th sportsmen?

The two teams will spend Sunday training in Valencia in full earnest on two SM40's and will then head to Portugal for the Portugal Match Cup, the 4th event of this year's World Match Racing Tour.

Torvar Mirsky helming SWE-63. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Tom Powrie and Adam Minoprio during the prestart. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Kinley Fowler from Mirsky Racing Team during the prestart. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Adam Minoprio helming SWE-73 during the prestart. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

While waiting for another group of guests to come onboard SWE-73, the view of Groupama 3 passing between the two Swedish America's Cup yachts made me take this picture. What is the future of the America's Cup? Young promising sailors like Tom Powrie, BlackMatch trimmer, on old boats, or older sailors on newer trimarans? I'd rather see the former.

Groupama 3 passes between SWE-73 and SWE-63. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Groupama 3 passes between SWE-73 and SWE-63. Valencia, 13 June 2009. Photo copyright Pierre Orphanidis / Valencia Sailing

Labels: , ,

1 Comments:

At 6:53 AM, Anonymous WetHog said...

SWE-96 looks so much better without that crappy Red Bull decal on the front. Good to see it on the water again.

 

Post a Comment

<< Home