Match Racing Worlds - Kiwis win $1million at Marstrand

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com NZL on 9 Jul 2016 New Zealand's Phil Robertson Racing team skippered by Phil Robertson has won a drama-filled World Match Racing Final and has taken the biggest prize purse in sailing - $1million US dollars (NZD$1.370m).

Sailing in M32 catamarans, the final was sailed in strong winds which gusted to over 25kts creating challenging conditions for the two finalists.

Sailing against Taylor Canfield (USA), Robertson took the first race, largely through a more daring sailing style downwind, which saw Phil Robertson Racing gybe short of Canfield's layline and then pouring on the power to drive off to leeward and get the advantage.

A serious collision at the top mark in the second race as Robertson bore off to pass astern of Canfield at the mark, resulted in Robertson being penalised and then being Black-flagged by the umpires for causing serious damage. The US boat was holed in several places in her stern section and took on a considerable amount of water - forcing the race to be abandoned.

Phil Robertson Racing (skipper Phil Robertson with Will Tiller, James Wierzerbowski, and Stewart Dodson) lost their point from the first race, and Canfield was awarded a point for being denied a chance of a win in Race 2. The umpires also decided that the first boat to win two races would be the winner of the world championship.

After changing boats, while Robertson stayed out on the water comparing the conditions in the Swedish summer to being similar to a New Zealand winter. He also had time to contemplate the consequences of not winning - having to face a hefty damage charge when he got ashore for his error in Race 2.

When the racing resumed, Canfield was on 1point and needing only one win to take the richest prize ever offered in sailing, Robertson was on zero points and needing to win two races to get out of jail.

The third race got away to a clean start with Canfield rounding ahead at the first mark with a thrilling chase down the next leg with just the narrowest of gaps between the two boats as they raced down the leg at 25kts barely under control.

The race was determined upwind rather than down with Robertson doing the better in a couple of crucial tacks - always difficult in the seaway in the M32, which has mainsail only and gennaker - which get partially unfurled to blow the bow around in the tack.

That win squared the score setting the scene for the last race thriller - which over-delivered on tension and drama.

The lead see-sawed through the race, with Taylor Canfield enjoying the most of it and looked to have the title and cheque in hand until the final tack for the final rounding of the race. Both boats went to the starboard boundary with Robertson slightly forward and to leeward, being pinned by Cranfield.

The USA skipper was obliged to give the New Zealander room to complete their tack and failed to do so as the two outriggers touched. Canfield was given a penalty requiring him to drop clear stern of Robertson. He failed to do this quickly enough and copped a second penalty for his laxity.

Robertson meanwhile managed to lay across to the windward mark without having to tack again. Canfield watched his chances go into freefall, as he missed the mark and had to do a second tack to round and then had to clear a double penalty.

Phil Robertson Racing meanwhile tore off downwind in a shower of spray as the Kiwis began whooping victory cries ahead of the fast approaching finish line.

After crossing the line, the Kiwi's catch-cries turning into a dance of jubilation on the trampoline celebrating a treble win - the prestigious Swedish Match Cup, the World Match Racing Championship and a winner's cheque for $US1million.