Video: Highlights from day 2 of the Sunseeker Australia Cup

Highlights from day 2 of the 2010 Sunseeker Autralia Cup. Perth, 25 November 2010. Video copyright Sunseeker Autralia Cup

Phil Robertson leads Sunseeker Australia Cup undefeated

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] With skill and guile that belies his age, the young Kiwi skipper Phil Robertson manoeuvred his way through the first day of the Sunseeker Australia Cup undefeated in a field that would over awe considerably older skippers.

Most notable of the scalps he collected on the first day was last year’s winner Torvar Mirsky, the home-town boy who is currently fourth on the World Tour leader board, and hoping to capture the world title next week in Malaysia.

In other matches he downed fellow Kiwis Reuben Corbett and Will Tiller, who is one of his former crew, and another Perth skipper Peter Nicholas. Last week Robertson won the New Zealand Championships, one of the toughest national competitions on the planet.

Talking about the day’s action he said, “we’ve just come off our nationals, so the team is in pretty good shape, we’re just trying to improve on the small things now. I like the small race course here, it makes it that much more exciting, and it makes the pre-start that much more important, it’s good racing out there. I think in most of the races we came off pretty fair in the pre-start, which created a decent lead, but Torvar was definitely the hardest.”

Phil Robertson reports on day 1 of the Sunseeker Australia Cup. Perth, 24 November 2010. Video copyright Waka Racing

Behind Robertson the ladder is crowded with Frenchman Mathieu Richard, England’s Ian Williams and Torvar Mirsky all on a 3 – 2 score line.

Making up the top half of the leader board is British golden boy Ben Ainslie with three wins from five races.

The Swan River was at its best, with a healthy 15 to 18 knot seabreeze, and a cloudless sky. The Sunseeker Australia Cup is hosted by the Royal Perth Yacht Club and run by Swan River Sailing.

Results after day 1
1. Phil Robertson (NZL) 4 – 0
2= Mathieu Richard (FRA) 3 – 1
2= Ian Williams (GBR) 3 – 1
2= Torvar Mirsky (AUS) 3 – 1
5. Ben Ainslie (GBR) 3 – 2
6= Keith Swinton (AUS) 2 – 3
6= William Tiller (NZL) 2 – 3
8. Peter Nicholas (AUS) 1 – 4
9. Iain Ainslie (RSA) 0 – 2
10. Reuben Corbett (NZL) 0 – 4

Mirsky Racing Team Wins 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup

Great Britain’s most celebrated sailor Ben Ainslie faced Australian favourite and Perth local, Torvar Mirsky in the finals showdown at the 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup.

Pride was on the line to return the Cup to Australian waters, after it was won by Peter Gilmore (an Australian skipper) for team USA when the Australia Cup was last contested in 2001.

Ainslie was part of Gilmore’s winning crew in 2001 and had every confidence of repeating the win – this time as the skipper. “I was looking forward to defending my title but failed and am extremely disappointed,” Ainslie said.

Torvar Mirsky sails to victory against Ben ainslie in the 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup. Perth, 29 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

The final was the best of three races with Mirsky overpowering the Great Britain team from the beginning winning the first two matches.

Mirsky led the first match and had good control throughout, playing the wind shifts like a true master and created a comfortable initial win.

In the second match, Ainslie won the start and controlled the race leading by 5 sec at the first mark. Mirsky won a penalty against Ainslie in a luffing dual at the bottom mark creating an opening for the Mirsky Racing Team.

Although Ainslie led around the bottom mark, Mirsky made some nice shifts to get his bow ahead to win by a boat length at the finishing line with the Ainslie yet to complete the penalty.

Mirsky said his team has taken the competition one step at a time. “For us it was not so much about winning but about perfecting our craft. We’re just lucky enough that those steps have taken us to the top,” he said.

"Holding the Australia Cup itself is a huge step forward for our team. There is a lot of personal pride invested in lifting the profile of the sport in our home town," Mirsky said.

"We are extremely proud to win the Aust Cup because it means we are in top form racing against some of the best teams in the world. This gives us a lot of confidence heading into the Monsoon Cup World Tour Championships next week. I think Perth is a great contender for the official world tour, we have some of the best sailing conditions in the world. It’s about time an Australian city played host to the World Match Racing competition,” he said.

Mirsky and Ainslie into the 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup Finals

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Just a few days before the start of the Monsoon Cup in Terengganu, Malaysia, the final round of the World Match Racing titles, where seven of the Monsoon Cup field are racing, Torvar Mirsky and Ben Ainslie are heading towards a show down in Perth in the finals of the 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup.

Yesterday Perth local Keith Swinton knocked Ian Williams, the winner of the last two World Match Racing Championships, out of this event in the quarter finals. While some expressed surprise, it was not a new situation for Swinton, he beat Williams during the round robin stage of the 2008 Monsoon Cup.

At the same time World Match Racing number two, Perth sailor Torvar Mirsky accounted for Francesco Bruni, who just a week ago won the Louis Vuitton Trophy in Nice, France.

Young gun Torvar Mirsky beats fellow countryman Keith Swinton and advances to the finals. Perth, 29 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

In the first match of the Australia Cup semi-finals, Torvar Mirsky on the left was faster than Keith Swinton, who crossed behind his rival on the CBD shoreline edge and headed left. But the right paid, there was a big gain for Mirsky on that side of the course and he had a 25 seconds lead at the top mark. Torvar went on to win.

But Swinton was still fighting, while the Race 2 start was won by Mirsky who lead to the top mark, down the first run on port gybe Swinton managed to get clear ahead.

Luffing hard, Swinton forced Mirsky away from the mark, then headed back to the mark and rounded two lengths ahead. Up at the top mark still the same gap and Swinton held on to win.

Race three was all Mirsky, he lead from the start and was untroubled. Now it was 2-1.

With match point against him, Swinton took another aggression pill and hounded Mirsky around the start box. Swinton was in a commanding position from the start line in Race 4, but at the top mark there was a penalty against Swinton and Mirsky sailed through him and sailed to victory.

Torvar Mirsky commented after racing 'This is the first time in eight years this event has been sailed, it's an honor to represent Australia in the final.'

Ben Ainslie and Team Origin beat Adam Minorio and BlackMatch Racing in the semifinals. Perth, 29 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

Now to the other pairing; off the start line Adam Minoprio was at least two lengths ahead of Ben Ainslie but as the two boats came back from the right hand shore, Ainslie gained the upper hand.

At the bottom mark Ainslie was 10 seconds ahead and committed to the right, extended to 60 seconds at the top mark and sailed to a emphatic win.

Disaster for Ainslie in his second match with Minoprio, an unforced error as Ainslie was about two seconds early on the start. He had to swing back and restart but meanwhile Minoprio was six lengths up the course.

At the end of the first lap, Minoprio still had the same six lengths lead and went on to win. Now it was 1-1.

In Match 3 Ben Ainslie was penalized in the dial up. Minoprio headed hard left, looking up the course there was a left shift coming. Minoprio did well up the first beat and down the run.

On the second beat it appeared the right was favoured and Ainslie was gaining but Minoprio powered away down the left hand side of the course with more pressure to lead 2-1.

The winds were lifting towards 18 knots and the sails were switched from genoas to jibs.

Racing has been suspended as the fleet relocates to Perth Water course above the Narrows Bridge.

Race 4 was all Ainslie, he won the start and cleared away from Minoprio. Now the score was 2-2

So it was a winner takes all fifth match.

An even start but in a luffing duel Minoprio was penalised for failing to give room to tack, although he had luffing rights. Ainsie was ahead, then in the soft conditions at the top mark there was a dial down and Minoprio incurred another penalty. It was all over

Torvar Mirsky and Keith Swinton through to Sunseeker Australia Cup semis

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Day 3 of the Sunseeker Australia Cup had a blustery easterly of 16-20 knots at the start of racing at 0900 when the quarter finalist opponents went out on the water in Matilda Bay.

With a forecast temperature of 35 degrees in Perth it was only a matter of time before the easterly started to fade and the sea breeze set in, which it eventually did after the race officer John Rosser relocated the course from Matilda Bay in front of the Royal Perth Yacht Club to the Perth Water racecourse at the foot of the Perth CBD.

The sea breeze eventually fought off the easterly and settled into a 10-12 knot south westerly at 3.00pm. With the quarter finalists Francesco Bruni up against the winner of the round robin Torvar Mirsky and dual World Champion Ian Williams matched against local Keith Swinton in the first to win three match quarter finals.

Torvar Mirsky sails to victory in quarter final race against Francesco Bruni. Perth, 28 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

Torvar Mirsky (Aust) V Francesco Bruni (Italy)

Winner from the Round Robin, Torvar Mirsky was probably regretting his decision in selecting Italian Francesco Bruni for the quarter final match, as Bruni completely outsailed Mirsky in the first two matches to go 2-0 up in shifty 8-12 knot SW breezes.

Mirsky then went on to claw back a well deserved win in the third match. In the fourth match, with Bruni sitting on match point, Bruni had the slight advantage on the beat but incurred a penalty for tacking too close to Mirsky. Mirsky did a great job to keep the match close and with Bruni trying to clear the penalty around the finish mark, crashed his bow into the side of Mirsky before he had completed his penalty to incur a second penalty gifting the race to Mirksy to even the score up at two all.

Subsequent to the finish, the umpires deemed the damage to be significant and deducted a full point penalty from Bruni, making the scoreline Mirsky 2, Bruni 1. In the final match of the day, with the sun creeping closer to the horizon, with Mirsky now 2-1 up on Bruni with the collision from the fourth flight, Mirsky dominated in a fading 8-10 knot south westerly. And although Bruni tried every trick in the book, he couldn’t make in-roads on the slender Mirsky lead to allow Mirsky to advance to the semi final stage, with a 3-1 win.

Young gun Keith Swinton upsets the form book and eliminates Ian Williams. Perth, 28 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

Keith Swinton (Aust) V Ian Willams (Great Britain) – ‘Major Upset’

In the Swinton versus Williams quarter final match one, Swinton did a nice job of getting a penalty on Ian Williams in the prestart and kept the match close so on the final run, Williams were in front and slowed down to try and clear the penalty and in a luffing manoeuvre whilst going through the penalty tack with Swinton but the umpires deemed that he didn’t do it in the one smooth manoeuvre, so kept William’s penalty flag up and in a tight tousle to the finish Williams incurred a second penalty just on the finishing line to give Swinton first blood.

In the second race with Williams comfortably in front at the bottom mark his port winch failed with a pawl jamming making the winch inoperative and with Swinton throwing a series of tacks at Williams, his lead quickly evaporated. Swinton went on to win the second match. In the third match, Williams led from start to finish in a closely fought match to claw back a win to make the score line 1-2. In the fourth match, although close, Swinton dominated to advance three wins to 1.

The surprise entry into the final day of racing is Australian Keith Swinton who, in the upset of the tournament, knocked out favourite Ian Williams in three consecutive matches. The young Perth contender, who won only 3 of 9 matches in the initial Round Robin competition, rose to the occasion in the semi finals knocking out reigning double World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams.

Executive officer of Swan River Sailing and former Australia II America’s Cup crewman, Skip Lissiman said the slightly warmer conditions meant a delay in afternoon racing but added the delay was worth the wait.

“We were forced to delay racing on Perth water till 3.00pm but the wait was worth it ensure the skippers had to creative to force wins from each other. There was slightly less wind today which has ensured the competitors have had a full range of conditions over the past three days of the Sunseeker Australia Cup. This provides them with exceptional practice for the Monsoon Cup next week in Malaysia,” he said.

“We are looking forward to a thrilling finals competition tomorrow between some world class skippers and their crews. The crowd on the shoreline had a bird’s eye view and we expect a big crowd for tomorrow’s final action,” he said.

Adam Minoprio and Ben Ainslie advance to Australia Cup semis

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Sunseeker Australia Cup Quarter Final time. Day three started with a brisk morning breeze and some even brisker morning racing in the first quarter final flights being sailed off the Royal Perth Yacht Club in Matilda Bay.

The first pairing on the water was 2009 World Match Racing Tour leader Adam Minoprio from New Zealand sailing against France’s Mathieu Richard, currently fourth on the Tour. Richard has been sailing consistently in recent years; third overall in 2008 and second in 2006 and 2007.

Despite some aggressive pre-start battles between the two, Minoprio won all three races.

In the first two matches, with winds at 12-15 knots from the east, Minoprio positioned himself for the windward starts, on the left hand side with a gauged start. He was protecting the starboard advantage and the left was certainly paying.

As the wind eased before the start of the last match, with a start in seven to eight knots, he put himself close to leeward.

It was only in this, the third match, that Richard looked like he might upset the applecart. With conditions getting a little fluky, he took the lead downwind, but Minoprio gained on the right hand side and sailed to a narrow victory.

The Tour leader was through to the semis and the French team headed for Perth's Cottesloe Beach for lunch.

Mathieu Richard was ‘disappointed to miss the semis. The conditions on the Perth Waters course are quite tricky, but it’s a superb place to sail.

'We are aiming for a podium finish on the 2009 World Tour, so a win in Terengganu would suit us perfectly and if Adam happens to come seventh and Torvar sixth, that would give us the World Tour Championship.'

Ben Ainslie sails to victory in quarter final race against Phil Robertson. Perth, 28 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail World Australia

The battle between the triple Olympic Gold Medallist Ben Ainslie and the newly crowned Asian Match Racing champion, Aucklander Phil Robertson was next.

Robertson, who came the New Zealand Youth Match Racing program does not hold back. Sailing aggressively he pushed Ainslie hard in the first race.

Robertson was pushing the envelope; the umpires were busy with plenty of flags flying. Robertson got a penalty on Ainslie downwind and lead at the bottom mark and held on to win.

In the second race, Ainslie headed left, Robertson right, when they came together Ainslie was just ahead, there was a tussle at top mark, but Ainslie held onto his lead.

In the third match, both received penalties at the top mark. But Ainslie went on to win and he did the same in the fourth and final match.

Minoprio and Williams fight for Lead at Sunseeker Australia Cup

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] Great Britain’s reining World Match Racing champion and day one Sunseeker Australia Cup leader, Ian Williams is now sharing the number one ranking with World Tour leader Adam Minoprio (New Zealand).

Both Williams and Minoprio have won five of their six races, although when competing against each other Williams was the easy victor crossing the line a comfortable 50 seconds ahead of the New Zealander.

Not to be outdone by Cup darkhorse and Britain’s most successful skipper in history Ben Ainslie, who is currently undefeated with 4 wins from 4 races. (He currently doesn’t lead the regatta table because he has raced less than Williams and Minoprio who have competed 6 round robins.)

Day two has also witnessed numerous yachts running aground on the tight and challenging course where Skippers are stretching the course area to its extreme to gain the elusive advantage in the two yacht tousles.

Executive officer of Swan River Sailing and former Australia II America’s Cup crewman Skip Lissiman said the action on day two has seen some near collisions and repeated close finishes.

Ben Ainslie and Adam Minoprio racing in the Sunseeker Australia Cup round robins. Perth, 27 November 2009. Photo copyright Sail-World Australia

“This Perth tight water course is creating some interesting challenges for the Skippers and it also ensures the sailing action is fast-paced and full of surprises for those watching from the shore,” he said.

The morning began with the 7th flight of the Round Robin competition, with Ben Ainslie (Great Britain), Mathieu Richard (France), Phil Robertson (New Zealand), Torvar Mirksy (Aust), Keith Swinton (Aust) and Adam Minoprio (NZ) battle it out in Matilda Bay waters.

Triple gold and silver Olympic medallist Ben Ainslie (GB) comfortably won against France’s Matheiu Richard by 53 seconds, followed by Phil Robertson’s (NZ) first win of the tournament against the previously undefeated Mirksy (Aust) team. In match three of the flight, Adam Minoprio took out Perth Skipper Keith Swinton.

In flight eight, it was the European sailors who stood out from the pack, with Ainslie getting one ahead of Mirsky, Italy’s Francesco Bruni beating Keith Swinton (Aust).

The most controversial race for the day featured Britain’s Ben Ainslie and Torvar Mirsky (Aust) with the initial race being restarted due to the Mirsky team running aground after a large gust of wind.

Ainslie said his team got off to a great start with the wind starting to pick up making the tight course alight with streaming yachts.

“It was all cylinders blazing as we competed for the finishing line. By the time we came up against the Mirksy team, the winds were really strong and we were pushed off course and ran aground into shallow water, which is an automatic resail,” he said.

“When we resailed the match, Mirsky ran over a committee boat’s anchor chain, which enabled us to take the lead and win by over a minute. A combination of strong winds and a tight course area leaves no margin for error. The skippers have to exploit every opportunity to gain the advantage,” he said.

The Foundation 36 Yachts then crossed over into Perth waters for flight nine, which witnessed even closer finishes for Adam Minoprio (NZ) and Francesco Bruni (Italy), who won against Phil Robertson (NZ) and Evan Walker (Aust) in six and seven seconds respectively.

Torvar Mirksy (Aust) broke Ian Williams’ (GB) winning streak by 57 seconds in the ninth flight.

Lissiman said the 15 knot SSW winds that reached 21 knots at 4.15 this afternoon has created some of the best racing and exciting sailing tousles he has seen for Foundation 36 yachts.

“Matches like this provide plenty of drama and spectacle, with the teams pushing to the very last centimetre to get ahead. Going into the weekend’s racing, the standout performers are Williams, Minoprio and Mirsky, but at this stage with some of the younger up-and-comers finding their feet, it could be anyone’s competition,” Lissiman said.

The round robin competition will be finished this afternoon, with eight teams going into the quarter finals tomorrow (Saturday) and the final raced on Sunday 29 November.

Sunseeker Australia Cup - Results after Day 2
1. Ian Williams 5/6
2. Adam Minoprio 5/6
3. Torvar Mirsky 4/6
4. Ben Ainslie 4/4
5. Keith Swinton 2/4
6. Francesco Bruni 2/6
7. Seve Jarvin 2/6
8. Mathieu Richard 1/3
9. Phil Robertson 1/4
10. Evan Walker 0/7

Williams ahead after day one of Sunseeker Australia Cup

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] At close of day one at the 2009 Sunseeker Australia Cup, reigning double World Match Racing Champion, Skipper Ian Williams from Great Britain, is the current leader after winning a spectacular four from four matches.

Not to be outdone by local Perth talent Torvar Mirsky (Australia) and Adam Minoprio (New Zealand) who both won three from three matches respectively. Sunseeker Australia Cup organiser and former America’s Cup winner Skip Lissiman said Williams was the standout performance after day one.

“We had challenging conditions that were very flustery and a new course in Perth waters that none of the Skippers had sailed in so it is impressive that Williams won four from four on day one,” Lissiman said.

Skip added he was very pleased with how well the Perth water course and worked after a 145 year racing absence. “The tight course in Perth waters puts incredible pressure on the crews which ensures we have some incredible viewing near the Barrack street jetty area. I even had people saying they watched the racing action from their offices,” he said.

Perth skipper Torvar Mirsky said he enjoyed getting back out on water this morning. “The team hasn’t sailed together since the Match Cup in Sweden, so it was great to get back on the water together and go through our paces,” Mirksy said.

“We had three races in Matilda bay and won all three and I am happy with that result. We’ve had great conditions so far, the wind was strong and it looks like it staying here. It will be good to get back out and race the rest of the ten teams and firm up a solid lead,” he said.

Conditions were excellent, with strong SSW winds blowing at 12 knots with morning racing occurring in Matilda Bay and then the afternoon contests in Perth Waters. The teams are ready for some fierce competition during day two, with the tight Perth Waters course and close shoreline viewing aiming to please competitors and spectators alike.

Current Skipper wins at the close of day one

1. Ian Williams (Great Britain) 4/4
2. Torvar Mirsky (Australia) 3/3
3. Adam Minoprio (New Zealand) 3/3
4. Seve Jarvin (Australia) 1/4
5. Mathieu Richard (France) 1/1
6. Keith Swinton (Australia) 1/1
7. Ben Ainslie (Great Britain) 1/1
8. Francesco Bruni (Italy) 0/4
9. Evan Walker (Australian) 0/5

World’s Best Skippers in Perth to pursue Australia Cup Glory

[Source: Sunseeker Australia Cup] With a cohort of sailing greats arriving in Perth for the Sunseeker Australia Cup, Western Australia is again on the world sporting stage.

The ten world ranked skippers and their teams touchdown mid-week for this exclusive invitation only event from 26-29 November.

The action packed racing schedule will see the who’s who of professional sailing battle it out in Foundation 36 one design Yachts, marking the first time city waters has hosted competitive sailing in Perth’s 145 year history.

Swan River Sailing Executive Officer and former America’s Cup winner, Skip Lissiman said the four day event is sure to produce some exhilarating match racing, with unprecedented close shoreline viewing and a tight course sure to flaunt the skill and team work of these elite athletes.

“With the course so close to land and a tight challenging space you can be guaranteed some fast action-packed sailing. This is your chance to see the world’s best yacht racing right on the city’s doorstep, the opportunity to see a mini America’s Cup on Perth waters - don’t miss it!” Lissiman said.

The impressive line-up of world ranked competitors, featuring America’s Cup teams and skippers, consists of:

- Triple gold and silver Olympic medallist, Ben Ainslie from Great Britain, 6th ranked on the Tour

- Current World Match Racing Tour leader, New Zealand’s Adam Minoprio

- Perth’s own rising superstar, Torvar Mirsky, current 2nd ranked on the Tour

- Reigning double World Match Racing Tour champion, Ian Williams from Great Brittan, 3rd ranked on the Tour

- 4th ranked on the Tour, skipper Mathieu Richard from France.

- 25th ISAF ranked, skipper Phil Roberston from New Zealand

- 21st ISAF ranked, Keith Swinton from Australia

- 27th ISAF ranked, Francesco Bruni from Italy

- 61st ISAF ranked, Evan Walker from Australia

- 455th ISAF ranked, Seve Jarvin from Australia

Perth has built a reputation as one of the World’s more renowned and reliable sailing cities; and this unique event promises to cement Perth’s place a prestigious sailing hub of the Southern Hemisphere – a precursor to next year’s America’s Cup and Malaysia’s Monsoon Cup next month.

The Monsoon Cup is the ultimate decider of the 2009 Match Racing Tour, and with final positioning and considerable prize money at stake; top Tour skippers are keen to fine-tune crew skills and experience at the Sunseeker Australia Cup just one week prior to the showdown.

Sydney rising talent and current Australian Match Racing Champion Seve Jarvin said Perth is a popular sailing location for competitors as it boasts some of the best sailing conditions in the world.

“Perth is a great location for match racing as there is always a good breeze and warm weather, which is a pleasant change compared with many of the other events on the Tour,” Jarvin said.

“The Sunseeker Australia Cup is great for us young teams to get back into match racing and compete against some of the best teams in the world. The international teams treat the Sunseeker Australia Cup is as a warm up to the Monsoon Cup finals next month, so there will be some tough competition with teams trying their best to take out the first place,” he said.

Local Perth skipper Keith Swinton is looking forward to competing in his hometown, and believes it is the excellent quality boats, well-structured events and some of the best sailing conditions in the world year round which keep the top teams coming back.

“It is always a good experience to be a part of another regatta, particularly the Australia Cup where I can compete in front of family and friends,” Swinton said.

“Match Racing is definitely the most spectacular type of sailing, and when combined with great sailing conditions and facilities and the excellent Foundation 36 yachts, you can understand why such an event is appealing to the best skippers on the tour,” Swinton said.

For more information visit the event's website at www.australiacup.org.au