Mathieu Richard leads Korea Match Cup; World First for TV Umpire

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Day 2 of Korea Match Cup displayed the world’s first global sailing and international TV umpiring. The ISAF World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has introduced a new innovation as the TV umpire to match racing - ‘The TV umpire’ for decisions on race incidents. The ‘TV flag’ proved to be very useful today during the race between the two Italians skippers; Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia and Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra.

Currently on the water umpires have two sources of information, the wing boat and on board observers who ride with them. ‘The TV umpire’ offers an additional source of information in order for them to make an overall decision. If an umpire is not certain of the outcome after an incident they have the option of raising a ‘TV flag’. This roles straight over to the ‘TV umpire’ who sits on-shore at World Match Racing Tour Head Quarters for clarification on the incident.

Mathieu Richard leads the Korea Match Cup on its second day. Jeongok Marina, 10 June 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / SubZero Images

This is a natural progression for the sport of match racing following in the footsteps of mass participation sporting events such as football, rugby, cricket and baseball. The Tour is using LIVE TV operations now extensively available on this 10 event world series in order to enhance the quality of umpire decisions on issuing penalties.

Unlike rugby and football where the video umpire can have the ultimate decision, the final outcome will rest with the umpire on the water. The footage display is a back up to the decision making process and is an additional judging eye for umpires to run through. For match racing the ‘TV umpire’ has 3 available calls; black out – where the incident has not been caught on camera, pending – meaning the TV umpire is in the process of replay for the incident and lastly their decision on a penalty call where the incident is recorded in good visibility.

WMRT are pushing through new boundaries by transforming the TV Umpire into a match racing context. It is part of a strategic approach in continuing the quality of umpiring throughout the Tour series and maintaining their status as an industry authority on premium match racing.

Ian Williams rounds the mark too close and hooks the anchor rope around his rudder. Jeongok Marina, 10 June 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / SubZero Images

Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team has remained the leader in the light winds and will start day 3 with a win of 5-2. “We are happy with the way we have sailed since yesterday - it will be a new start on the quarter finals so for the moment we are going step by step”.

As the tide ebbed, the race course became ever smaller and the sun set, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team put in solid results. The Swedes beat Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, current ISAF Match Racing World Champion and Richard, currently ranked top of the World Match Racing Tour standings. Berntsson back on the Tour scene with a wild card entry to Korea Match Cup showed his true colours today having won the Argo Group Gold Cup back in 2008. Berntsson shared his goals for 2010, “our main goal is to do as many stages of the WMRT as possible this year”.

Eyes will be on the Scandinavian helms throughout Stage 3 to see if Berntsson can secure a lead over Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team who is one of only nine Tour card holders for the 2010 circuit. To date Berntsson leads Hansen by one win.

The Tour has also celebrated the achievements of Korea Match Cup in presentation of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Best Event Award acknowledged in 2008. Dong Young Kim, Korea Match Cup Event Promoter was presented with the plaque for total commitment to professionalism. Young commented, “It’s an acknowledgement from the World Match Racing Tour to Korea Match Cup’s commitment in producing a world class event that meets the sailors, sponsors, media and public expectations – all requirements to sustain and produce a successful international sport event”.

Great day for Johnie Berntsson. Jeongok Marina, 10 June 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / SubZero Images

Day 2: Current Round Robin Standings

Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 5-2
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4-3
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 4-3
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 4-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 4-1
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team 3-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 3-4
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 3-4
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 2-3
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 2-3
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing Team 1-4
Park GunWoo (KOR) Busan Match 1-6