Ainslie Maestro of Marstrand and Richard Remains Top of World Match Racing Tour Standings

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] During a penalty flag festooned semi final today on the last day of Stena Match Cup Sweden Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team smoked Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 3-0. Living legend Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN dominated Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team going through to the final on 3-1. The ultimate show down came between Ainslie and Radich with Ainslie storming through with 2 comprehensive wins over Radich in light, twitchy conditions. The Brit got what he wanted today becoming 2010’s ‘Maestro of Marstrand’. Holmberg kept in the picture wining 2-1 over Mirsky appearing on the podium in 3rd place.

Ainslie kept his foot on Radich’s throat at all match moments today giving Radich Racing Team no room to breath. There was a constant dialogue onboard TEAMORIGIN, this tight team sailed smart and fast without any inkling of these professionals freezing up under pressure. Boat on boat contact was registered between Ainslie and Radich during the final stages of the pre-start to match 2. The umpires were quick to act and gave Radich a red flag penalty requiring him to take it immediately. The ball was then very firmly in Ainslie’s court as he took clear advantage and led right round the course.

A forward thinking Ainslie is looking into building a solid World Match Racing Tour campaign for the final half of this 2010 Tour season. “It looks like we can do a couple more events now, we can do the Argo Group Match Cup in Bermuda and there’s the new Qingdao Match Cup event so it gives us the opportunity to hopefully get enough scores in. I think it’s going to be hard because we’re not doing as many events as the others, so the strike ratio for us has to be a lot higher”.

Ben Ainslie proves he's one of the world's best match racers. Marstrand, 11 July 2010. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

The Tour will be rewarding Marstrand’s organisers for their branding efforts during last year’s event at the Closing Ceremony dinner this evening. Stena Match Cup Sweden was awarded the ‘ISAF World Match Racing Tour Best Branding Award’ to highlight their commitment to on site event branding during the 2009 Tour event. With such a successful event 2010 could also be an award winning year for this highly organised venue.

At the beginning of Sweden Ainslie and Radich were equal in the WMRT standings at 7th with 20 points. After Ainslie’s win today he now overtakes Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing and moves up into 5th place. Radich now actually drops down into 8th position overall even though he was 2nd this week. The rise and falls in the standings demonstrates how every point counts. Richard still remains out on top 17 points clear of Mirsky.

The first half of this year’s 10 event World Series has provided World Match Racing Tour teams with ample racing travelling round Europe and to Asia. The teams will now be analysing the first half of their 2010 Tour and strategising for the final half which kicks off at St Moritz Match Race towards the end of August with the Tour culminating in Malaysia at the Monsoon Cup during December.

Ben Ainslie proves he's one of the world's best match racers. Marstrand, 11 July 2010. Photo copyright Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2010 Overall Standings

1 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 25 Points
2 Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 20 Points
3 Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 15 Points
4 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 12 Points
5 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 10 Points
6 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 8 Points
7 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6 Points
8 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 4 Points
9 Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team
10 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
11 Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
12 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
13 Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing
14 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team
15 Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing
= Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 5 of 10)

1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 77 Points
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 60 Points
3. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 54 Points
4. Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 52 Points
5. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 45 Points
6. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 43 Points
7. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 41 Points
8. Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team 40 Points
9. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 29 Points
10. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 16 Points

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)

Video: Highlights from Day 1 of the Stena Match Cup Sweden

Highlights from Day 1 of the Stena Match Cup Sweden. Marstrand, 6 July 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

Richard and Williams lead Stena Match Cup Sweden unbeaten

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The wind switched on early for day one of Stena Match Cup Sweden. The 16 teams were separated into Groups A and B with flights concentrated into one morning race session. Five fast flights were completed in a stable 15 knots with stand out scores from Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team and Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar on a clean 4-0.

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team are next up at a respectable 3-1. The Swedish contingent experienced a brutal day afloat, both Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team and Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team are yet to score having lost all four of their races to date. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra are tied at 2-2. While Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing and Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing are both in a precarious position testing their fans nerves currently in cliff hanger spots at 1-3 which could see either of these Tour card holders leave Stage 5 earlier than anticipated.

Great start for Mathieu Richard with four straight wins. Marstrand, 6 July 2010. Photo copryight Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

Williams smiled his way back to the dock and ran through his final match of the day where he slammed a win over Gilmour, “We actually lost 3 out of 4 starts and in the last match against Gilmour we were behind up the first beat, he got good pressure out of the left to get ahead of us. I guess with Gillie having done well on the left we thought we would give it a try on that side and it came out well for us, we managed to get back into him and get a piece of him on port and then they put a leebow tack in onto port underneath us and we were then able to lift to windward. We got very close to the windward mark and he did a big luff and then we did a couple more luffs. When we eventually peeled away we did a slightly nicer job of the speed build and managed to cross him on port when we came back together at the top mark. We were then in the lead and defended from there”.

Ian Williams also caused some ructions in his match against Ainslie where he snuck past the triple Olympic gold medalist who finished in bottom position at Stena Match Cup Sweden last year. A bad spinnaker drop from Ainslie’s team allowed Williams to sail around the outside as they exited the mark which forced Ainslie to tack away. TEAMORIGIN Bowman Matt Cornwell then spent much of the second beat untangling the spinnaker. Ainslie commented on his equipment malfunctions today, “We had a couple of problems with the boat, the jib halyard wasn’t holding upwind and then we had an issue with the spinnaker at the bottom mark in the match against Ian which was a bit to do with the halyards and also user error. It was a frustrating race because we had a nice lead over him and we should win those but it happens sometimes”.

Ian Williams prevailed over Ben Ainslie and is now leading Group B with four straight wins. Marstrand, 6 July 2010. Photo copryight Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

A fatigued Richard, who is currently 17 points clear of Minoprio, on the World Match Racing Tour Championship leaderboard, commented after racing, “I don’t know if this will be another big points scoring event for my team yet because today it is just the beginning and in match racing the beginning is not as important as the end of the event. But it is always good to start well because with this format you need points at the start if you want to go through to the quarters. It will be tough for Minoprio I think for instance and this is why it is good to start well as there are only 4 spots in our group for the quarter finals”.

Bruni who has been in back to back match racing events since the start of the season thought that he hadn’t quite peaked in the performance stakes yet this week, “So far Sweden has been pretty good for us, we are on 2-2 so can’t complain. We had good starts out there but we missed a point against Richard due to a mistake from my side letting him get to the right of us, after which he managed to get a penalty on us. Apart from that it was good we always had good leads at the start. For this event we all want Richard to not be in the top 4 but that doesn’t mean we don’t want to play against him at all. It’s just a pity that we wasted a point against him in Portugal, but there is nothing we can do now, we have to move forward”.

The round robin stage at Stena Match Cup Sweden is considerably more pressurized than at previous Tour events. In each group of 8 teams only 4 will go through to the quarters resulting in seriously ramped up aggression in all the Swedish matches to date.

If only the French football team was as good as the French match racers in Match Cup Sweden. Damien Iehls beats Adam Minoprio and is second in Group A. Marstrand, 6 July 2010. Photo copryight Loris von Siebenthal - myimage

Day 1: Current Round Robin Standings

Group A
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 4-0
Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-1
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 2-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 1-3
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 0-4
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team 0-0
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 0-0
Reuben Corbett (NZL) Black Sheep Racing 0-0

Group B
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 4-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 3-1
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 2-2
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 1-3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 0-4
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing 0-0
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Sigma Racing Team 0-0
Jesper Radich (DEN) Rudy Project Sailing Team 0-0

New partner to Stena Match Cup Sweden

In one month it’s time for Stena Match Cup Sweden, and Sigma will appear amongst the boat sponsors In addition, as the official strategic IT-partner Sigma has developed an on-line strategy to integrate the digital communication with the overall experience.

“The company is in an exciting stage of development and it is important for us to involve our clients and co-workers on this journey. Stena Match Cup Sweden will serve as a good, high quality activity and a special way to get together. The efforts we have put into the sponsorship so far have really paid off and we can already see a strong commitment internally,” says Magnus Edvardsson, Business Area manager at Sigma.

As a boat sponsor, Sigma will brand one of the eight boats, which are used in the ISAF World Match Racing Tour event. In addition, they have big plans on-site during the event between the 5th-11th of July.

The event organizer is excited with the new partnership in many ways.

“It’s great to have Sigma as partner to the event and our cooperation got off to a flying start. Sigma has an innovative organization and great skills, which will benefit the event in many ways. Shortly, we will have the pleasure to launch a digital platform for our overall communication, which adds a new dimension to the entire event, all thanks to Sigma,” says Martin Sohtell, Event manager of Stena Match Cup Sweden.