1010 4G International Match Racing Champs - Hong Kong

by RHKYC on 9 May 2013 This weekend’s 1O1O 4G Match Racing International Regatta, organised by Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club (RHKYC), has attracted a clutch of top match racers from around the world including four times and current world champion Ian Williams.

Eight visiting skippers will be joined by Hong Kong’s top four match racing teams, based on last weekend’s 1O1O 4G Match Racing Hong Kong Nationals, in which Peter Backe (SWE) triumphed over Seah Chin Yew (HKG) 3-2 to lift the silverware. They are joined by third-placed Laurence Mead (GBR) and Lui Kam (HKG).

Match racing is a brutal one-on-one sailing contest where the rules aren't used to keep boats apart, instead being used to try and inflict a penalty turn on the opposition. Winning margins are slim and the skills required include a keen knowledge of the racing rules, lightning fast reflexes and nerves of steel as the leader fights with attack after attack from the boat behind. The regatta will pit competitors against each other in a double round robin format, with the top four teams progressing to the knockout stages. The semi-finals will serve to produce the two teams which will contest the grand final.

COMPETITORS (Current World Ranking)
1. Ian Williams (1) GBR
2. Phil Robertson (4) NZL
3. William Tiller (7) NZL
4. David Gilmour (27) AUS
5. Morten Jakobsen (100) THA
6. Maximilian Soh (107) SIN
7. Jon Eriksson (196) FIN
8. Gunwoo Park (395) KOR
9. Peter Backe (225) SWE
10. Chin Yew Seah (250) HKG
11. Laurence Mead (628) GBR
12. Lui Kam HKG HKG

OFFICIALS
Chief International Umpire Marianne Middelthon (NOR)
International Umpire Paco Quiñonero (ESP)
International Umpire Masaaki Tanaka (JPN)
Race Officer Inge Strompf-Jepsen (HKG)