Peter Gilmour wins the Monsoon Cup

by Rob Kothe on 4 Dec 2005 Sail-World has reported live from the Monsoon Cup in Kuala Terengganu. Australian Peter Gilmour has won the 50th Swedish Match Tour event, beating Russell Coutts 2-1.

Gilmour, his tactican Rod Dawson and his Japanese crew are all smiling now its over. Here is the blow by blow story of the finals.

Unseasonable blue skies greetd the start of the 2005 Monsoon Cup, with a breeze of 11-12 knots.

Coutts starts by chasing Gilmour deep into the box. Gilmour is favouring the left hand side. A yellow flag, and a penalty on Peter Gilmour.

At the gun, Coutts is to leeward, just ahead. Gilmour crosses behind Coutts. On the second cross Coutts forces Gilmour to tack away. Now on the lay line Coutts leads around the first mark. Down the run Gilmour is attempting to roll over the top, with Coutts' kite starting to flutter. Coutts has gybed away and is tidy around the mark. Gilmour is a length back, with a penalty outstanding.

Split tacks,a sensation as there's a big gain for Gilmour, now well through his rival and probably three boat lengths clear, as Coutts shoots the mark, with strong current sweeping his boat towards the mark.

Gilmour maintains his lead up the next leg. Now on the run, Gilmour has his penalty to do, as he approaches the finish line. Any second Gilmour is expected to drop his kite and spin with probably only five lengths between the boats. This is very tight.

Gilmour is just short of the line, and with perfect execution completes his 360 penalty and crosses half a length ahead of Coutts.

A popular first win with the big Malaysian crowd who recognise the enormous committment from Gilmour, who has been a key player in the foundation of this inaugural Monsoon Cup.

Race 2 - into the starting Box, two minutes to go. Coutts on the right. He tacks away. Split tack start. A small duck from Gilmour behind Coutts, as he heads right.

Gilmour is on the right. Coutts is right on the edge of the island. Now heading towards the cross, Coutts has gained and will be clear ahead at the top mark, clean on the layline. Gilmour, squeezes on the mark, but it costs him a boat length. Now down the run, Coutts is sounding more confident, three boat lengths ahead at the bottom mark.

Coutts covers as Gilmour tacks and then does it again as the Australian goes back again.

Coutts is on the top mark, nice around and a clean hoist. Gilmour has closed up and is now only three boat lengths back.

Coutts has a nice line of pressure on the right, closing on the bottom mark. Gilmour is calm behind. There is another lap to go.

Gilmour tacks, Coutts covers, then back again. Coutts covers in spite of a lift.

Coutts is round the top mark for the last time, three boat lengths ahead of Gilmour. Gilmour is closing the gap, with a puff, Gilmour has speed.

Coutts wins by 7 seconds. Now its 1-1.

Race 3 on the box, a blue flag against Coutts, a penalty against him. Gilmour has sailed right, keeping clear. Gilmour crosses a length ahead, lamps on Coutts who tacks away.

Gilmour rounds the top mark two lengths ahead, with Coutts still to do his penalty. Gilmour goes right, Coutts left.

Gilmour is looking fast, Coutts gybes first as they approach the mark. Gilmour covers and rounds the mark, still two lengths ahead.

A shift to the right, Coutts tacks, Gilmour covers. Coutts has gained, but Gilmour is still ahead. That penalty is proving costly.

Gilmour has his foot on Coutts' neck. Coutts has to attack and force a counter penalty.

They have closed up, Gilmour cannot cross, Gilmour has the inside. Coutts breaks right again. Now up the last beat. Gilmour is well clear, he lamps on Coutts who is forced away again. Gilmour is just under the port lay. Coutts is going for pressure on the right.

Gilmour is round the top mark, clean hoist, with three lengths back to Coutts still a penalty behind.

Gilmour just has to remain mistake free down the last last run, in the last race in the 2005 Monsoon Cup.

Peter Gilmour is 12 boat lengths from the finish, Coutts is four lengths behind.

Its over. Peter Gilmour has won the Monsoon Cup!!

Peter says from the boat;'this is fantastic. I can't believe it, the boys did a great job.'

Russell Coutts; 'They were a little sharper, we made a couple of errors, we were out of phase a couple of times.'

Gilmour won the 2003-04 Swedish Match Tour championship with 150 points - a Tour record. His Pizza-La Sailing Team (Rod Dawson, Mike Mottl, Kazuhiko Sofuku and Yasuhiro Yaji) finished with four 1sts and two 2nds in their final scoreline, also a Tour record.

Swedish Match Tour Results
2003-'4 'Tour Champion
2000-'1'6th Overall
2000 '4th Overall

Core Crewmembers
Rod Dawson (NZL)
Mike Mottl (AUS)
Kazuhiko Sofuku (JPN)
Yasuhiro Yaji (JPN)

America’s Cup Affiliation
OneWorld Challenge 'Skipper, 3rd place Louis Vuitton Cup 2003
Nippon Challenge 'Skipper, 4th place Louis Vuitton Cup 2000
Nippon Challenge 'Coach, 4th place Louis Vuitton Cup 1995
Spirit of Australia 'Helmsman, 6th place Louis Vuitton Cup 1992
Kookaburra Syndicate 'Helmsman, lost America’s Cup to Dennis Conner’s Stars & Stripes

Three-time World Champion of Match Race Sailing (1990, '7, '8)

Gilmour is one of the most respected and feared competitors on the Swedish Match Tour. He is a three-time World Champion of Match Race Sailing and one of the most knowledgeable skippers on the Tour.

www.monsooncup.com.my
www.swedishmatchtour.com



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