Mirsky and Richard lead Match Race Germany

[Source: World Math Racing Tour] Competitors at Match Race Germany, Stage 2 of the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour (WMRT), have provided a series of slow motion ballet duets for the start of the Round Robin. The 4 to 5 knots of wind on Lake Constance from the South West has brought out the best in lake sailing ability, with some skippers like Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team preferring these conditions having been taught on ‘Lac de Maine’. Richard has noticed that there are a number of match racing regattas run on lakes and now simulates these lake conditions on the Atlantic Coast of France. “To create the experience just like racing on a lake I train with my team really close to the shore, this mirrors the light and shifty conditions when the breeze is off the land”.

Those who have mastered Bodensee's light wind condition are overall leaders Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and the current 2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour leader, Richard, both winning all 3 of their matches from today.

Highlights from Day 1 of Match Race Germany. Langenargen, 20 May 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

There is then a block of four skippers who are all at 2-1, namely Adam Minoprio, (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, Ian Williams (GBR) under his new team name Team GAC Pindar, Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing and Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo . This is a very tight set group and the balance could shift instantly with the likes of Gilmour involved. Gilmour has the best record of any skipper at Match Race Germany, having previously won this Stage three times in a row from 2004 through to 2006.

Mirsky highlighted that Gilmour is ‘the man to beat at Langenargen’ saying, “I think Peter is going to be tough to beat on Lake Constance -- he has a great record here. He likes tricky conditions and big boats”. Mirsky has been working on his skills in the light wind since his disappointment at Match Race France. Taking part in ‘Open de Espana Match Race’ with light wind has definitely worked in the 23 year old’s favour and Gilmour has related that after growing up in the Australian wind conditions, understanding light weather sailing is down to ‘hard work’.

Mirsky said “we actually feel pretty lucky today, we created some luck but we also received some in the process. We had some good starts and managed to make the best of them. The race committee had done the best they could do in these conditions, the wind comes in they get the races off quickly which leads to a good half of the race. It then gets shifty and it can be hard to stay on top of these shifts. We anticipated the conditions here and are really pleased to have clinched some wins”.

Torvar Mirsky leads Match Race Germany. Langenargen, 20 May 2010. Photo copyright Gareth Cooke / Subzero Images / World Match Racing Tour

The depth of talent on this year’s Tour has not disappointed the growing fan base The latest ISAF World Match Race Rankings released included 8 of the WMRT tour card holders in the top 10 standings. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing the current ISAF World Match Racing World Champion, leads the ranking ladder in front of the youngest contender on the Tour, Mirsky, and Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN.
Twenty six-year-old Kathrin Kadelbach (GER) EWE Sailing Team, Match Race Germany’s first ever female skipper, will have to set herself a new goal tomorrow as she has already won a match against Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team. The 2012 Olympic hopeful who is campaigning in the 470 class to race at Weymouth and Portland, is definitely a player in this male dominated event.

Day 1: Round Robin Results
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 3-0
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 2-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 2-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-1
Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo 2-1
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 1-2
Kathrin Kadelbach (GER) EWE Sailing Team 1-2
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing 1-2
Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 1-2
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team 0-3
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 0-3