Can Gilmour win third consecutive title - WMRT

by Sean McNeill on 31 May 2006 What Match Race Germany, Stage 7 of the 2005-’06 World Match Racing Tour

Where Langenargen, Germany

When June 1-5, 2006

Host Yacht Club Langenargen

Prize Purse 20,000€ (approximately $25,000), 1st place: 4,800€ (approx. $6,100)

Boat Bavaria 35 Match

Racing Area Bodensee (Lake Constance)

Who’s Entered Five of the top eight skippers of the World Tour; reigning World Tour champion and Match Race Germany champion Peter Gilmour

Entry List (as of May 4, 2006)

Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Shosholoza – Afterguard for South Africa’s America’s Cup challenger

Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany – Placed 2nd at Match Race Germany ’05; skipper of Germany’s America’s Cup syndicate

Tino Ellegast (GER) – Placed 8th at Match Race Germany ’04

Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST – Aiming for third consecutive Match Race Germany championship

Björn Hansen (SWE) – Placed 3rd at Monsoon Cup last December

Michael Hestbaek (DEN) United Internet Team Germany – Strategist for America’s Cup challenger Team Germany

Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team – Placed 8th at Match Race Germany ’05

Sten Mohr (DEN) – Placed 6th at Match Race Germany ’05

Eric Monnin (SUI) – Ranked 31st on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings

Evgeniy Neugodnikov (RUS) – Ranked 9th on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings

Mathieu Richard (FRA) – Ranked 8th on ISAF Open Match Race Rankings

Ian Williams (GBR) Williams Sail Racing – Placed 7th at Match Race Germany ’05


About Stage 7

Match Race Germany is one of three events that has been part of every World Tour schedule. This year it celebrates its 10th anniversary of its founding, but is the ninth running overall. The 1999 event had to be canceled when the combination of heavy rain and an unusually large quantity of snowmelt in the Alps led to major flooding along the Bodensee, or Lake Constance, which borders Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

At Stage 6

Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson won his first World Tour event in six starts with an impressive display of boatspeed. Berntsson and his Team Semcon crew were the fastest all week and won with a 24-5 record. World Tour leader Peter Gilmour placed third, missing a chance to win his 10th career World Tour event but extending his overall lead to 18 points. Gilmour is the reigning champion of Match Race Germany and a win would give him three consecutive titles along with his 10th career victory.


About the World Tour

Skippers earn points towards the world championship at the nine events of the World Tour and the highest scoring skipper at the end of the season is the ISAF Match Racing World Champion. The World Champion wins a BMW X3 3.0i from World Tour partner BMW AG and a $30,000 cash bonus from the World Tour.

The World Tour is sanctioned by ISAF, sailing’s world governing body. The World Tour Partner is BMW AG (Munich, Germany), the official car of the World Tour. Sponsors include Sebago (Rockford, Mich.), the Official Footwear Supplier, Musto (Essex, England), the Official Clothing Supplier, and Travel Places (West Sussex, England), the Official Travel Partner.

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, its competitors and events, please visit the official World Tour Web site, www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com. World Match Racing Tour television programs may be viewed on demand by clicking on the television icon on the home page of the Web site.