St. Moritz Match Race - King of the Mountain trophy at stake

by World Match Racing Tour on 26 Aug 2009
The St. Moritz Match Race will commence from September 1 through to September 6.

The coveted ‘King of the Mountain’ trophy will be awarded to the best performing team from the five day match racing event, Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team, are the current leaders of the World Championship ranking and second in the ISAF rankings, as well as the current ‘defender’. He won the 2008 edition of the event ahead of Ian Williams (UK) Team Pindar.

Racing will take place on Lake St. Moritz, a natural amphitheatre that provides a perfect and natural viewing platform from the shore. The local Maloja thermal breeze blows daily from 8 to 20 knots and with a little help from the sun the breeze picks up, guaranteeing a fantastic show to the numerous spectators who flock to see their sailing heroes in action.

Twelve teams representing eight nations have been selected for this regatta. MathieuRichard (FRA), the current leader of the world ranking will be a firm favourite competing for the title however there will be tough competition amongst the line up, which include fellow French man Sébastien Col, the helmsman of K-Challenge’s America’s Cup team. Ian Williams of Team Pindar and current number one match racer Adam Minoprio and his BlackMatch. Peter Gilmour of Yanmar Racing is a veteran of five America’s Cups and quadruple winner of the world match racing title. Currently seventh of the world ranking, he is one of the event’s outsiders. Last but not least, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) has confirmed his participation and has a history of giving all the Tour regulars a run for their money.

Eric Monnin, from Switzerland, will be the local sailor of the event. Eighth last year, Monnin and his crew finished 3rd in 2007 and 6th in 2004. Their local knowledge of the lake will give them a slight advantage over fellow competitors.

The St. Moritz match race will once again take place on Blu26 one-design sailing boats. Conceived by the Swiss Bluboats, the Blu26 are 8 m. long and 2,2 m. wide. They are perfectly adapted to match racing.

The teams:

(Name of skipper, team (World Tour Ranking), nationality, ISAF ranking

Adam MinoprioBlack Match / Team New Zealand (2)NZL1
Mathieu RichardFrench Match Racing Team (1)FRA 2
Sébastien ColFrench Match Racing Team / K-Challenge (8)FRA 3
Ian WilliamsTeam Pindar (5)GBR4
Torvar MirskyMirsky Racing Team (4)AUS6
Philippe PrestiFrench Match Racing Team (11)FRA 7
Johnie BerntssonBerntsson Sailing Team (15)SWE9
Björn HansenOnBoard Saling Team (10)SWE10
Peter GilmourYanmar Racing Team (3)AUS11
Alvaro MarinhoSeth Sailing Team (-)POR17
Eric MonninSwiss Match Race Team (-)SUI31
Francesco BruniJoe Fly Match Race (14)ITA50

Event website: click here
WMRT website: click here

AFG, UBS and the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel have confirmed their support to the event as main partners.