Countdown to Monsoon Cup

by Sean McNeil on 27 Nov 2006 What: Monsoon Cup, Stage 6 of the 2006 - 07 World Tour

Where: Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

When: Nov. 29 December 2006

Organizing Authority: T-Best Events

Host: Terengganu Heritage Bay Club & Marina

Prize Purse: MYR 1 million (approximately $275,000)

Boat type: Foundation 36

Racing Area: Pulau Duyong Basin

Who’s Entered: Twelve teams including the reigning ISAF Match Racing World Champion and event champion, the current leader of the ISAF Match Racing World Championship standings, five of the top eight in the world championship standings, six of the top 10 in the ISAF Open Match Race Rankings, and six teams representing syndicates for the America’s Cup, including defender Alinghi.


ENTRY LIST

Jesper Bank (DEN) United Internet Team Germany — Tied for 3rd in World Championship standings

Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza — Tied for 3rd in World Championship standings

Sébastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge — Placed 7th in World Championship standings

Peter Gilmour (AUS) Pro Sailing Team — Reigning ISAF Match Racing World Champion and event champion

Björn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.net — Placed 14th in World Championship standings

Peter Holmberg (ISV) Alinghi — Placed 17th in World Championship standings

Tiffany Koo (MAL) Team Selangor Gapurna — Winner Malaysian Match Racing Championship, first Malaysian woman to compete in Grade WC match-race regatta

Adam Minoprio (NZL) Black Match Racing — Winner Asia Match Racing Championship

Wearn Haw Tan (SIN) China Team — Placed 13th at St. Moritz Match Race in August

Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team — Placed 6th in World Championship standings

James Spithill (AUS) Luna Rossa Challenge — Placed 20th in World Championship standings

Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar — Leader of World Championship standings

ABOUT STAGE 6

The Monsoon Cup has become one of the biggest sporting events in Malaysia. It was founded to help promote both the sailing industry and tourism in the eastern state of Terengganu, as well as the Terengganu Heritage Bay Club, a resort property development. Now in its 2nd year, the Monsoon Cup is the world’s richest sailing event with a MYR 1 million (approximately $275,000) prize purse. The winner earns MYR 250,000 (approx. $70,000). Last year’s event generated MYR 73 million (more than $20 million) in gross media value, and this year’s event will again have live coverage.

AT STAGE 5 — Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle

England’s Ben Ainslie, a helmsman for Emirates Team New Zealand, continued an unusual trend on the World Tour this year by winning the Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle in San Francisco last month. Ainslie became the fifth consecutive first-time winner on the Tour. But it was another Briton, Ian Williams of Team Pindar, who solidified his lead in the World Championship by placing fourth overall.

ABOUT THE WORLD TOUR

Skippers earn points towards the ISAF Match Racing World Championship at the 15 events of the World Tour. The skipper with the most points at the end of the season is the world champion.

The World Tour is sanctioned by ISAF, sailing’s world governing body. The World Tour Partner and Official Car is BMW (Munich, Germany). World Tour sponsors include Sebago (Rockford, Mich.), the Official Footwear Supplier, Travel Places (West Sussex, England), the Official Travel Partner, and Wedgwood (Stoke-on-Trent, England), the Official Trophy Sponsor.

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.