One week to the start of the St. Moritz Match Race

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The St. Moritz Match Race will commence from September 1 through to September 6.

The coveted ‘King of the Mountain’ trophy will be awarded to the best performing team from the five day match racing event, Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team, are the current leaders of the World Championship ranking and second in the ISAF rankings, as well as the current ‘defender’. He won the 2008 edition of the event ahead of Ian Williams (UK) Team Pindar.

Racing will take place on Lake St. Moritz, a natural amphitheatre that provides a perfect and natural viewing platform from the shore. The local Maloja thermal breeze blows daily from 8 to 20 knots and with a little help from the sun the breeze picks up, guaranteeing a fantastic show to the numerous spectators who flock to see their sailing heroes in action.

Twelve teams representing eight nations have been selected for this regatta. MathieuRichard (FRA), the current leader of the world ranking will be a firm favourite competing for the title however there will be tough competition amongst the line up, which include fellow French man Sébastien Col, the helmsman of K-Challenge’s America’s Cup team. Ian Williams of Team Pindar and current number one match racer Adam Minoprio and his BlackMatch. Peter Gilmour of YANMAR Racing is a veteran of five America’s Cups and quadruple winner of the world match racing title. Currently seventh of the world ranking, he is one of the event’s outsiders. Last but not least, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) has confirmed his participation and has a history of giving all the Tour regulars a run for their money.

Eric Monnin, from Switzerland, will be the local sailor of the event. Eighth last year, Monnin and his crew finished 3rd in 2007 and 6th in 2004. Their local knowledge of the lake will give them a slight advantage over fellow competitors.

The St. Moritz match race will once again take place on Blu26 one-design sailing boats. Conceived by the Swiss Bluboats, the Blu26 are 8 m. long and 2,2 m. wide. They are perfectly adapted to match racing.

Adam Minoprio Black Match / Team New Zealand NZL 1
Mathieu Richard French Match Racing Team FRA 2
Sébastien Col French Match Racing Team / K-Challenge FRA 3
Ian Williams Team Pindar GBR 4
Torvar Mirsky Mirsky Racing Team AUS 6
Philippe Presti French Match Racing Team FRA 7
Johnie Berntsson Berntsson Sailing Team SWE 9
Björn Hansen OnBoard Saling Team SWE 10
Peter Gilmour Yanmar Racing Team AUS 11
Alvaro Marinho Seth Sailing Team POR 17
Eric Monnin Swiss Match Race Team SUI 31
Francesco Bruni Joe Fly Match Race ITA 50