2015 Stena Match Cup Sweden – Simone Ferrarese returns + Video

by Fabian Bengtsson on 24 Jun 2015 2015 Stena Match Cup Sweden – Despite vigorous Olympic Finn training in preparation for Rio 2016, match racing still has a strong pull for the talented Italian skipper, Simone Ferrarese. Now he has received the third wild card invitation to Stena Match Cup Sweden – Ferrarese, a spectator favourite is returning to Marstrand.

Two years ago, Simone Ferrarese and his team delivered one of the most memorable moments in Stena Match Cup Sweden’s 20-year-history. The Italian team had local hero Björn Hansen pinned with 2-0 in the windy semi-final of Stena Match Cup Sweden 2013, but the Swedes came back and won the match. As Ferrarese was about to cross the finish line in the deciding race, his spinnaker hooked on to a buoy, which was then lifted up in the air as thousands of thrilled spectators cheered on the cliffs.

”2013 was a Stena Match Cup highlight for Ferrarese Racing Team. Not just finishing third on the podium, winning the round robin, or participating in one of the wildest semi-final of the all times against Bjorn, but hooking the mark with the boom and the spinnaker up at the finish line with 25 knots of wind in the last win or die match with the local hero, that was a highlight that we’ll never forget,” says Simone Ferrarese.

Simone Ferrarese’s wild card to compete in Stena Match Cup Sweden 2015 means he will make an anticipated and brief comeback to the World Match Racing Tour. This will be the third time the 27-year –old enters the event at Marstrand, but his long-term goal is to win Italian gold in the Finn-class at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016. This endeavour hasn’t made it possible to keep competing regularly on the tour, but an invitation to Marstrand was an offer he could not turn down.

”Marstrand is a really special event, and after one year out of match racing there’s no better place to make a comeback”, says Ferrarese.

”Our primary goal is to go to Marstrand and enjoy the week! We were out of match racing for one year but I’m sure that if we can sail through our initial rustiness in the first state, pass the first stage, then we will be right back into the game”.

14 teams will join the fray in Marstrand. Seven of these are Tour Card holders, two have qualified for the event at the Volvo Spring Cup and the remaining spots in the line-up will be Wild Card entries.

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2014 attracted over 118 000 visitors to Marstrand and the crowds followed Björn Hansen's Swedish team on their way to win their third consecutive title in the regatta. The event is organized by Brandspot together with the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and this year's edition of the event will take place on June 29th – July 4th.

The Team
Simone Ferrarese - Skipper
Massimo Bortoletto - Maintrimmer
Phillip Kai Ghule -Sailtrimmer
Frederico Melo- Pit
Lorenzo de fFelice- Bow

Line-up Stena Match Cup Sweden 2015

1. Ian Williams (GBR)
2. Björn Hansen (SWE)
3. Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
4. Keith Swinton (AUS)
5. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN)
6. Phil Robertson (NZL) with Team TREFOR (DEN)
7. Eric Monnin (SWZ)
8. Reuben Corbett (NZL)
9. Rasmus Viltoft (Denmark) – Volvo Spring Cup
10. Anna Östling (SWE) – Volvo Spring Cup
11. Taylor Canfield (American Virgin islands) – Wildcard 1
12. Sam Gilmour (AUS) – Wildcard 2
13. Simone Ferrarese (ITA) – Wildcard 3
14. TBC

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2014 attracted over 118 000 visitors to Marstrand and the crowds followed the Swedish team behind Björn Hansen on their way to win their third consecutive title in the regatta. The event is oraganized by Brandspot together with the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and this year's edition of the event will take place June 29th – July 4th.

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