Dunstan takes on the Big Guns at the Cento Cup

by Murray Walters on 14 Jun 2003 In his first appearance at a Grade 1 Match Racing event, young Sydney sailor, Michael Dunstan, has taken on some of the world’s top match racers at the Cento Cup on Lake Garda in Italy, his youth and inexperience not deterring him.

Racing has begun at the Cento Cup Grade 1 match racing event on Lake Garda, in what has been a strange affair, with Italy experiencing high temperatures for the last week and the famous Lake Garda breeze, which is a northerly in the morning and southerly in the afternoon, has gone mysteriously missing.

This was the case, particularly for the practice day for 21 year-old Sydneysider Michael Dunstan, and his team. As the only team at the event not to have sailed on the Dolphin 8.1m class yachts, it was surely a disappointment not to get any breeze for practice.

‘We were really looking forward to getting some good miles under our belts before the start of the event, so it was tough to find the lake glassy these last few days’ said Dunstan

Day one of racing and the 12-boat fleet is divided into two groups. Dunstan (ranked 24 in the world), is in the group as Jes Gram-Hansen (2), Ed Baird (5), Bjorn Hansen (6), Mathieu Richard (9) and Maxim Taranov (23); a huge task for the youngster who is competing in his first Grade 1 event.

Racing began in a moderate northerly and short chop. Dunstan showed no quarter to Sweden's Bjorn Hansen, to aggressively lead him off the line. It took all of Hansen's skills to finally pip Dunstan in the dying seconds of the match.

On to Ed Baird, and the experienced America’s Cup and multiple World champion taught the youngster a lesson, finishing almost a minute in front. This was the only match that Dunstan failed to lead at some stage.

Gram-Hansen, Taranov and Richard were also given huge shocks as Dunstan showed them that he is tough to race - even at this level. Each race was tight and down to the wire with Dunstan failing to get the points by the barest of margins, which is sure to change once he gains some experience.