Ainslie and Radich Set to Clash in Final of Argo Group Gold Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The stage is all set for a fitting finale to the eighth stage of the 2010 World Match Racing Tour, with Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and Jesper Radich (DEN) Gaastra Racing Team set to go head-to-head in a repeat of the final of the Stena Match Cup Sweden earlier in the 2010 World Match Racing Tour.

Both skippers stormed to victory in their first two semi-final matches, leaving Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team and Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team with an immediate battle to survive the first to three points knock-out round. Monnin and Berntsson fought back in style, however, with Monnin taking the advantage at the start of his next match, set-up nicely to windward of Radich, to take a two-length lead. However, on the first run Radich closed the gap and completed a double gybe manoeuvre to establish luffing rights, pin a penalty on the Swiss skipper and sail him well past the layline to the leeward mark.

Highlights from the Quarterfinals and Semifinals of the Argo Group Gold Cup. Hamilton, 9 October 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

On the next beat Radich failed to keep clear of a boat in the other semi-final match, collecting a penalty himself and handing Monnin a second chance. However, Radich maintained his lead to finish five to six lengths ahead and complete his semi-final round with a clean 3-0 score. “This is my third final this season out of three events. It will be a re-match of the Stena Match Cup Sweden, a final which I’m not proud of so we’ve got a second chance. I’m sure we can give Ben a really good fight this time.”

Ainslie, the 2009 Argo Group Gold Cup champion had an even bumpier ride to the final – his clash with Berntsson, the winner in 2008, was only just heating up. The two skippers started their third match with a huge scrap for the buoy end of the line, a position won by the Swedish team. By the time they reached the windward mark it was clear why both skippers had been so keen to control the left-hand side of the course. Having benefited from stronger winds and favourable shifts, Berntsson now enjoyed a substantial lead that Ainslie was never able to threaten.

Spectators couldn’t fail to hear the hefty collision as Berntsson tried but failed to cross behind Ainslie 60 seconds before the start of their fourth match. The boats came together again within 30 seconds as the Swede tried to pin a penalty on Ainslie. A tense few seconds followed while the on-water umpires debated their call. When they finally reached for a flag it was a second penalty for Berntsson. However, that wasn’t the end of the Berntsson’s woes – at the start gun he was over the line and by the time he had returned and completed the first of his penalties Ainslie was more than six lengths ahead.

With the race course peppered with gusts and light patches of wind, the British skipper sailed a tactically conservative race, keeping a loose cover on Berntsson. On the final run Ainslie sailed into a hole, enabling Berntsson to power forward to close his deficit to just two lengths. However it wasn’t enough and Ainslie took the winner’s flag for a third time.

Ainslie is now assured of moving up into third place on the World Match Race Tour standings, placing him firmly back in contention for the overall ISAF Match Racing World Championship title at the Monsoon Cup. Radich will no doubt be a force to contend with in Malaysia – having secured at least a top 2 result in Bermuda he moves up to 6th place in the Tour standings , earning an automatic invite for the last event of the World Match Racing Tour.

Mirsky, Ainslie, Radich and Holmberg advance to Stena Match Cup Sweden semis

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The mind games commenced on day 3 of 2010 Stena Match Cup Sweden as the quarter finals started with a first to 3 points scenario taking care of semi finals runner and riders selection for Stage 5 of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour. All 8 teams had a tight rope to walk today balancing out joint commitments to both match racing boat positioning and on course strategy looking for the pressure in between shadowed pools near the two headlands.

Out of harm’s way and into the semi finals are only 4 remaining helms. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN was first to go through ahead of Mathieu Richard (FRA) on a clean score sheet today at 3-0, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team was the second bright eyed skipper back to the dock going through to the semis beating Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team on 3-1. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team has put the whole of Sweden on a high coming in with 3-1 over Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar and after tight tactics Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team took out Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 3-2.

Torvar Mirsky is on a roll in the Stena Match Cup Sweden. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

There were a number of defining moments today during the quarter flights. For Ainslie’s third and final match of the day against the 2010 WMRT’s current overall leader, Mathieu Richard, the triple gold medalist went for a clean start as spectators witnessed Richard opting to focus on trying to pin a penalty on Ainslie. This was big mistake for Richard as he took his mind off the bigger picture and disrupted his boat speed momentum for the first beat so essential in these lighter airs. Ainslie never looked back motoring off into clean air and a comfortable lead.

Ainslie explained why he concentrated on boat speed for the start in match 3, “The first two starts we had struggled pushing back to the line as it was a bit lighter and there was current against us coming back to the line and so the last start we led back. We were in a really strong position although we had a pretty close incident when Mathieu tacked and luffed us and we didn’t really have any room to keep clear but we managed to and it was a green flag which was really good for us as he was then late giving us a nice start”.

After yesterday’s upsets some of the Tour’s stars have been confined to the shore working in the favour of WMRT fans with Cameron Dunn, crewman onboard Peter Gilmour’s (AUS) YANMAR Racing team commentating in tandem with ‘Tour über blogger’ Mark Chisnell. Dunn followed all movements and emphasized the impact of only 7-10 knots out on the water today, “You must lead into the starts when it is like this, there is one boat that leads and the other that must just follow in match racing”.

Team Origin's Ben Ainslie had no problem at all thrashing the current Tour leader Mathieu Richard 3-0 in the quaterfinals. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

Mirsky and Iehl at the younger end of the Tour’s spectrum mixed things up today producing welcomed action afloat. Iehl has been dubbed ‘the black sheep of the French flock’ preferring to shake things up in boat on boat battles. Mirsky however, was a slave to time on distance today taking beautifully timed runs to the start line bang on time. During one maneuver Mirsky opted in fact to drop his genoa to preserve his forward momentum and expertly activating a soft slam dunk over his opponent. The Mirsky Racing Team sailed smoothly and calmly today with his whole team in perfect harmony and their weight exactly in the right places at the right time.

During the play with the genoa, the sail was hoisted again when the boat was at the ultimate angle to catch the wind and the whole crew kept pulse rates low in the moderate airs. “It was a big moment for us, Damien and ourselves were at 1-1 going into our 3rd race, he crossed ahead of us on the beat up to the windward mark and we knew the right was quite strong near the rocks and he wanted to protect it so he crossed on starboard, then tacked on top on port and we luffed up on port and in that situation it’s who can coast to windward the best so we dropped our genoa really quickly and we were all patting our pitman on the back because Damien also dropped it straight away and we coasted up inside and were able to hold there and protect the right side. We ruffled Damien’s feathers as he got really upset with his crew and the umpires”.

Bruni and Radich proved the ultimate viewing experience today with a set of cat and mouse matches. Both helms tried desperately to upset each other’s rhythms, with Radich introducing some unorthodox moves even attempting reverse circling during the pre-start of match 3. Bruni held on throughout the uncharacteristic set of radical moves and led into the start text book style only to be hit with a penalty from the umpires that he needed to offload, a very negative feeling followed.

Radich made a big impact at the last Tour event he competed in this year after a successful 2nd place at Match Race Germany. His past has been training in this style of boat but this was 6 years ago now, “I think we take some advantage in having some past in the boats but the most important things is we are still learning and we learnt a lot today, I wasn’t even planning on doing match racing this year but I am really enjoying racing on the Tour and want to do more next year”.

Jesper Radich fought hard and beat Francesco Bruni 3-2 in the quaterfinals. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

Holmberg shot from the hip today also with a strong emphasis placed on time and distance. The Tour’s style of racing really brings out the natural talent in these more experienced helms. There are no technical advantages available on the race boats as witnessed in the America’s Cup, the skippers must instead use their core skills. Holmberg perfected this traditional approach today delighting the Swedes lining the castle’s parapets, all cheering as he commanded the left hand side of the race course and not even becoming flustered when Iehl in a different match to him affected his wind on the track. “Before we started we said we felt the left was strong so that’s where we wanted to go and it seemed like the right call but then again it can change quick”. Holmberg has made the semis here now 11 times out of 16, but he modestly credited his crew today with his victories and looked forward to more Marstrand racing.

Support on the shore is winding up for finals day in the women’s division tomorrow with Lucy Macgergor (GBR), Katie Pellew (AUS), Ekaterina Skudina (RUS) and Renee Groeneveld (FRA) fighting it out in the semi finals. Followed by the World Match Racing Tour’s men’s finals and half way point of 2010’s Tour calendar on Sunday.

Semi-Finalists
Jesper Radich (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team

Quarter-Final Results
Jesper Radich (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team v Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra (3-2)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team v Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team (3-1)
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN v Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team (3-0)
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team v Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar (3-1)

Gilmour and Williams eliminated from Match Race Germany semis

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] There were a series of Quarter Final fights for first place today on Day 4 of Match Race Germany. Two previous ISAF Match Racing World Champions; Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing and Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar were knocked out in the quarters whilst Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing and Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team remained.

Radich is back in the game after a two year break from match racing, “It’s great to be back behind the wheel, I can definitely feel that I’ve taken time out but it’s all coming back to me. My crew have been amazing”, said a satisfied Radich.

Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the current World Champion, sailed through to the semi finals after defeating Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team clinched victory over Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing after a controversial call by Gilmour’s team which took them round the wrong windward mark and Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team destroyed the hope of a semi final spot for Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar.

Highlights from Day 4 of Match Race Germany. Langenargen, 23 May 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

This is a turning point for Mirsky who according to Gilmour has a “long and high profile career ahead of him” – he has beaten his master, who Mirsky back in Marseille said was his ‘inspiration’ to take up this sport.

Minoprio was confident yesterday that he could beat Holmberg and did not disappoint. This is a major achievement for Minoprio as Holmberg is renowned as one of the most competitive sailors in the match racing scene having been involved with the Tour circuit since 1991, representing Sweden in the Olympics 3 times as well as having 2 America’s Cup campaigns under his belt. A hungry Minoprio after 10 hours of racing chatted about the time he put in training with Holmberg before Stage 2, “I was worried at one point today that the training I put in with Holmberg would actually have worked against me and that he might beat us”.

The race committee cracked straight on into the semi finals as the skippers’ prayers for a more stable wind were answered. Minoprio came out on top against Mirsky beating him in 2 matches and Radich is 2 wins up on Richard.

The umpire team, boasting some high profile names, has had an enthralling start to the semi final with a collision between the youngest contenders. Jack Lloyd current Race Director for the Volvo Ocean Race and originally rules advisor to Emirates Team New Zealand during the 2007 America’s Cup is enjoying the WMRT work. After a lengthy debrief Lloyd talked through his views on the WMRT, “The World Match Racing Tour is really striving to create an atmosphere for the public, bringing the racing closer in and building the entertainment factor that match racing has, basically what’s not to like”.

Great performance by Jesper Radich who knocked out former world champion Ian Williams. Langenargen, 23 May 2010. Photo copyright Subzero Images / World Match Racing Tour

Meanwhile, the semi-final of the Match Race Germany 2010 has attracted a staggering 50 sponsors with multinational brands intent on establishing an association with this World Series. BAVARIA has been the official ‘Boat Sponsor’ for Stage 2 of the Tour since 2004 and has signed up for further activity next year. Jasmin Müller, Marketing Manager of BAVARIA, has been hosting guests today at the 17th century castle, “Match Race Germany is key for our involvement with an international racing series. We are really pleased today that the WMRT enabled one of our guests to actually race on board a Bavaria 35 match with the elite crews”. This sponsor initiative is common place now on the Tour, where a ‘hot seat’ position is made available for VIPs to have a ‘once in a lifetime racing experience’.

One of the top players in the automobile industry, Alfa Romeo - part of the Fiat Group, is using Match Race Germany as an exhibition vehicle. This is the first year for Alfa Romeo’s association with match racing. Fiat’s Brand Marketing and Communications Manager, Alexander Knesewitsch, notes the success of having an onsite presence, “It’s excellent to have some of our newest models on display at the event village. The sheer number of people that this sports event draws in is incredible, we have benefited from this footfall with a lot of registered interest in the 8C Spider.” In fact independent quantitative reports show annual figures of 45,000 spectators flocking to this 5 day event.

‘Logistics company for the world’, DHL, one of the top sponsors at Match Race Germany, is proud to support the Tour. “It is always a pleasure for us to invite our guests from all over the world to Langenargen where they are sure to be indulged with a unique experience”, said Ernst Wallaschek representing DHL this year.

Richard got racing this afternoon during the start of the semis and has put his continued success down to maintaining a long term relationship with his crew, “I’ve been racing with my crew now for 10 years – in top teams you find that the crews are very stable, the good results come when you have a consistent crew. It’s a really key point to have the same crew. I think Gilmour is an example of what happens when you change your team line up too much”.

Adam Minoprio and Torvar Mirsky yell, asking for penalties. Minoprio is leading Mrisky 2-1 in the semifinals. Langenargen, 23 May 2010. Photo copyright Subzero Images / World Match Racing Tour


Day 4: Results

Day 4 Semi Finals after 3 Races
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team vs Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Sailing Team 1-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing vs Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 2-1

Quarter Final results
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing vs Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 3-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar GRB vs Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Sailing Team 3-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team vs Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 3-1

Overall Standings:
5 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar
6 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
7 Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge
8 Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia
9 Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo
10 Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
11 Kathrin Kadelbach (GER) EWE Sailing Team
12 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team