Ian Williams leading round robins at Monsoon Cup

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Ian Williams (GBR), leader of the World Match Racing Tour standings and skipper of Team Pindar, secured the top spot in the Monsoon Cup round robin today by finishing his 11 races with a 9-2 record.

Williams, who won the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda last month, ensured his win in the round robin with a 6-1 record today, the best record in another trying day of racing as light winds again kept the racecourse wide open and taxed the mental capabilities of the sailors.

“We had good starts today,” said Team Pindar tactician Bill Hardesty. “We were keeping our eye on the next puff trying to connect the puffs. That seemed more effective than looking for the next windshift.”

Williams wrapped the round robin despite eight matches remaining to complete the 17 flights. Behind him there’s a mad scramble to determine placings for the Quarterfinal Round. In the knockout round, first will race eighth, second will race seventh, third will race sixth and fourth will race fifth.

Team Pindar tactician Bill Hardesty (front) concentrated on connecting the puffs enroute to a stellar 6-1 record on Day 2 of the Monsoon Cup. Photo copyright World Tour/Guido Cantini

Jesper Bank (DEN), skipper of United Internet Team Germany, is second at 7-3, Mathieu Richard (FRA), Saba Sailing Team, is third at 6-3, and Björn Hansen (SWE), skipper of Team Apport.net, is fourth at 6-4. Hansen had the second best day with a 5-1 record.

“We sat down after yesterday and worked on our communication,” said Hansen, who finished third last year at the Monsoon Cup. “We were too much into each other’s areas, talking too much. Today we tried to work on our own areas.”

Sébastien Col (FRA), Areva Challenge, stands fifth at 6-5 and owns a tiebreak advantage over Paolo Cian (ITA), helmsman for Team Shosholoza, also at 6-5. Col and Cian have completed their round robin, so their fate is somewhat out of their hands.

James Spithill (AUS), helmsman for Luna Rossa Challenge, is seventh at 5-4, and also owns a tiebreak advantage over Peter Gilmour (AUS), skipper of PST and the reigning event champion.

On the outside looking in is Peter Holmberg (ISV), helmsman for Alinghi, at 4-5. For Holmberg to advance he’d have to win both of his remaining races and look for help elsewhere.

“For those sitting and watching the racing it’s not easy out there,” said Holmberg. “A lot of it could go either way. We’re going to have to sail loose tomorrow, otherwise this mon soon be going home.”

The wind today was from the more normal northerly direction, but still very light, rarely topping 5 knots. The rare excitement came when monsoon squalls ripped through and pumped the wind over 15 knots. The tide, however, seemed to have less influence on the racecourse than yesterday.

“The wind was from a different direction than yesterday, so tide wasn’t as much of a factor,” said Hardesty. “One noteworthy thing we noticed was the clouds coming through. They tended to shift the wind in their direction. We passed Holmberg by sailing to the cloud. It’s just like a junior sailing lecture, sail towards the clouds.”

There were a number of notable close races today and one major upset. Wearn Haw Tan (SIN), a member of China Team, took down Gilmour in Flight 13. Tan opened a big lead in the first lap but Gilmour closed up on the second upwind leg and rounded the windward mark on his rival’s transom.

The beginnings of a squall were coming through, however, and it propelled both Tan and Gilmour to the finish, reducing Gilmour’s chances of a comeback win. “If we get lucky breaks we try to stay in contact and cover our opponent,” said Tan. “We got some lucky breaks today. We have a steep learning curve. We have some new guys with us, but this will help us next year in Valencia.” “Anyone can win at this level,” said Gilmour.

Wearn Haw Tan and Peter Gilmour charge towards the second windward mark of their match, won by Tan. Photo copyright World Tour/Guido Cantini

Tiffany Koo, Malaysia’s lone female match racer who made a huge splash yesterday by winning her first ISAF Grade WC match race, nearly pulled a huge upset of Spithill. After trailing around the first lap Koo lured Spithill into a tacking duel and closed up on the second beat.

Halfway down the run to the finish she approached Spithill on port jibe, but couldn’t cross and Spithill forced her to jibe back to starboard. A slow maneuver on Koo’s part allowed Spithill to jibe away, and he crossed the finish line less than five feet ahead of Koo.

“I got nervous when he attacked there,” Koo said of the deciding moment on the last leg. “Never mind that, we have two more races tomorrow.” “I was almost passing out,” said Spithill. “She sailed a fantastic race. Full credit to Tiffany.”

Racing is scheduled to resume tomorrow around 9:45 a.m., and a busy day is planned including completion of the round robin, the quarterfinals and then, time and weather permitting, the semifinals as well.

Monsoon Cup Round Robin Provisional Standings
(After 15 of 17 scheduled flights)

1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 9-2
2. Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany, 7-3
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team, 6-3
4. Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net, 6-4
5. Sébastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge, 6-5
6. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 6-5
7. James Spithill (AUS) Luna Rossa Challenge, 5-4
8. Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST, 5-4
9. Peter Holmberg (ISV) Alinghi, 4-5
10. Wearn Haw Tan (SIN) China Team, 2-8
11. Adam Minoprio (NZL) Black Match Racing, 1-7
12. Tiffany Koo (MAL) Team Selangor Gapurna, 1-8