Sail-World.com : Minoprio extends his Tour lead, but Marstand lies ahead
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Minoprio extends his Tour lead, but Marstand lies ahead |
London, UK (24 June 2009) – In having achieved a runner-up performance to Troia Portugal Match Cup winner Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Adam Minoprio (NZL) and his Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch team have earned 20 points for their standing on the World Match Racing Tour leader board. This extends what was a shaky one-point lead to twelve points over a new runner-up, reigning match race World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) and his Bahrain Team Pindar, who finished 3rd in Troia.
But Williams does not enjoy the same buffer to his closest rivals, as only one point separates him from Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team in third, and Mirsky is only 3 points behind in fourth.
This is a race which now is looking more promising for the reigning World Champion, who has gotten off to a slow start this year. And having Richard only one point back is reminiscent of two years ago when Richard and Williams were neck-and-neck all season going right into the final event in Malaysia at the Monsoon Cup.
But the ascendancy of fresh new talent in Minoprio and Mirsky has put tremendous pressure on these and other Tour veterans this season. It is remarkable to consider these two teams, with an average crew age in their 20’s, are meeting and beating the world’s best, who have twice as much or more experience on both the World Tour and the America’s Cup.
“The Young Guns have definitely come out blazing this year,” says World Tour Director Craig Mitchell. “Minoprio in Marseille, and now Mirsky in Troia – it’s a testament to their training, focus, and talent to see them doing this well.”
But next week’s Match Cup Sweden, the fifth stage in the 2009 World Tour, may bring surprises for these teams, as some of the same faces seen in Troia will be back to challenge them, this time in the DS 37’s used in this event. There will also be Scandinavian-based teams who are experts in these boats there to provide some spectacular match race action on the Marstrand fiord.
Tour Standings
(After 4 of 10 events)
1.Adam Minoprio, (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch, 61 Points
2.Ian Williams, (GBR) Bahrain Team Pindar, 49 Points
3.Mathieu Richard, (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 48 Points
4.Torvar Mirsky, (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 46 Points
5.Ben Ainslie, (GBR) Team Origin, 40 Points
6.Damien Iehl, (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 32 Points
7.Paolo Cian, (ITA) Shosholoza Team, 31 Points
8.Peter Gilmour, (AUS) YANMAR Racing, 31 Points
About the World Match Racing Tour:
• The World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring 10 World Championship events across the globe
• The World Tour is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status
• The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money
• Points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the ‘ISAF Match Racing World Champion’
• Events utilize the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.
• Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 600 million households in excess of 90 countries around the world.
• World Match Racing Tour sponsors include Line 7, Pindar, Custom House, Travel Places, Wedgwood and Sail.TV
STAGE DATE EVENT LOCATION
1 March 10 - 15 Marseille International Match Race Marseille, France
2 May 27 - June 1 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany
3 June 2 - 7 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, Korea
4 June 16 - 21 Portugal Match Cup Troia, Portugal
5 June 29 – July 5 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden
6 September 1- 6 St Moritz Match Race St Moritz, Switzerland
7 September 9 - 13 Danish Open Aarhus,Denmark
8 September 22 - 27 Brasil Sailing Cup Brazil
9 October 5 - 11 King Edward VII Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda
10 December 1 - 6 Monsoon Cup K. Terengganu, Malaysia
For information on the World Match Racing Tour:
Yvonne Reid
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 679613
Mob: +44 (0) 7809 149268
E-mail: yreid@f10marketing.com
Website: www.worldmatchracingtour.com
For information on the Monsoon Cup Malaysia:
RURRUM Communications Sdn Bhd
Audrey Lakai at Mobile: 012 3094377
Email: audrey.lakai@rurrum.com
by WMRT Media
7:18 AM Wed 24 Jun 2009 GMT
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