2015 ISAF WMRT – Adjusted expectations for Corbett Racing Team

by Corbett Racing on 19 May 2015 2015/16 World Match Racing Tour – The Corbett Racing match racing team is in high spirits after a great week in Long Beach for the 51st Congressional Cup – the opening event. Bringing together 12 of the best teams in the world, including five-time world champion Ian Williams, in identical boats led to some close and intense racing.

Finishing the round robin phase of the event in second place, the team got to choose their opponent for the quarter final. With no easy choices, the team elected to face Bjorn Hansen, one of the most experienced match racers on the circuit. It was neck and neck in a nail biting series of races, going all the way to a fifth match. In the end, Bjorn Hansen and his team emerged victorious, leaving Corbett Racing to take fifth place overall. Frustrated after the loss, Reuben Corbett had this to say: ‘Coming into the event we were targeting the quarter finals, now after a week of racing we know we can mix it into the best and realise we should be aiming for the semi finals if not higher. We have plenty to work on going forward and hope to improve as the season goes on. Now we are getting prepared for next event in Langenargen, Germany.’

With no respite, the team flies straight to South Germany for the second leg of the World Match Race Tour which starts 21st May. This time the event will be contested in Bavaria 40s, on a picturesque lake notorious for fickle winds. Jay Halligan the bow man on Corbett Racing was optimistic about the event. ‘Corbett Racing has never been to Match Race Germany and we always look forward to seeing new places and experiencing new events. Despite a good result in Long Beach we know we have our work cut out again to get the result we want.’

World Match Racing Tour 2015/16 Event schedule:
World Championships events

13 - 17 May 2015 Congressional Cup Long Beach, USA
21 - 25 May 2015 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany 29 June - 4 July 2015 Stena Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden 29 July - 1 August 2015 Energa Sopot Match Race Sopot, Poland 23 - 27 September 2015 Dutch Match Cup Lelystad, Netherlands 6 - 11 October 2015 Argo Group Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda
26 - 30 January 2016 Monsoon Cup Malaysia Johor Bahru, Malaysia