Monsoon Cup- BlackMatch wins through to Final

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World on 7 Dec 2008
Adam Minoprio and the crew of BlackMatch have come from being 2-0 down to take the semi-final against the current World Match Racing Champion, Ian Williams (GBR)

In the other semi-final, veteran Peter Gilmour (AUS) has defeated fellow Australian Torvay Mirsky 3-0 to take the first berth in the final.

In the fifth race of the semifinal, Minoprio was to leeward of Williams as the two approached the starline. Minoprio believed they were early and luffed, as Williams squeezed between the New Zealanders and the Committee Boat. Both boats were over and had to return, Williams was assessed with a penalty for not keeping clear of Minoprio on the start line, the umpires judged tis to be so serious that he was given a red flag penalty which he had to take immediately.

The umpires then assessed that Williams had gained from the incident and gave him another penalty, (which was not required to be taken immediately).

After some very close racing, Williams took his penalty at the top mark letting Minoprio through into the lead, and from there he was never headed stretching away to a margin of over 40 minutes.

The win puts Minoprio into the Final of the Monsoon Cup against peter Gilmour and guarantees the young kiwi team of a card for the World match racing Tour for the coming year.

The racing can be viewed live on www.sail.tv commentated by Peter Montgomery and with graphics from Animation research Ltd of New Zealand.