World Match Racing Tour Highlights

by Sean McNeill on 16 Dec 2006 The highlights programs for the recently completed Stages 5 and 6 of the World Match Racing Tour are set to be broadcast in the coming weeks.

Networks such as Versus (formerly OLN) in North America, Eurosport, Gaora Sports in Japan and Sky Sports in the U.K. and New Zealand will broadcast the shows of the Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle or Monsoon Cup.

England’s Ben Ainslie of Emirates Team New Zealand captured his first World Tour victory when he defeated Alinghi helmsman Ed Baird to win the Allianz Cup at the end of October. Hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, the event was sailed in J/105s on San Francisco Bay.

Peter Holmberg, also of Alinghi, fought back from near elimination nearly two weeks ago to win the Monsoon Cup over Mathieu Richard’s Saba Sailing Team. The win placed Holmberg fourth on the World Tour’s career victories list. The event was sailed in Foundation 36s on Pulau Duyong Basin in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

The events of the World Tour serve to determine the ISAF Match Racing World Champion. Next year the Monsoon Cup will be the final event of the 2006-’07 season, and will crown the 2007 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.

Allianz Cup Presented by Oracle Broadcast Schedule*

ESPN Star Sports (Asia) — Dec. 18, TBD
Gaora Sports (Japan) — Dec. 20, TBD
Versus (North America) — Dec. 17, TBD
Sailing Channel (Italy) — Jan. 15, 2007, TBD

(*Schedule subject to change, check local listings)


Monsoon Cup Broadcast Schedule*

Eurosport — Dec. 20, 8:30 pm
Gaora Sports (Japan) — Dec. 30, TBD
Sportsnet (formerly Showtime Arabia) — Jan 16, 2007, TBD
Sky Sports NZ — Jan. 2, 2007, TBD
Sky Sports UK — Dec. 31, 7:00 pm
Versus (North America) — Dec. 24, 2:30 pm; Dec. 25, 4:30 pm
Viasat (Scandinavia) — Dec. 23, TBD

(*Schedule subject to change, check local listings)