High Fives for Robertson and Ainslie but Williams in Trouble

by Rurrum, K. Terengganu on 4 Dec 2009 Team New Zealand WAKA Racing led by Phil Robertson and Ben Ainslie’s Team Origin gave awesome displays by winning all their five races today to position themselves in a firmly for the quarter-finals berth.

However, it was a great day for Robertson as his team scalped the two top teams on the World Match Racing Tour – Adam Minoprio’s Black Match Racing, also from New Zealand and Torvar Mirsky’s Mirsky Racing from Australia. Adding to that glamorous wins, Robertson also inflicted defeat on Peter Gilmour’s YANMAR Racing.

Yesterday, the Robertson also defeated Ian Williams’ Team Pindar.

'This is the best day of our team’s performance anywhere on the Tour. The five wins on a single race day is by far the most on the Tour circuit,' said Robertson.

If that was something to cheer about, then one of his crew Adam Martin (bowman) is also a lucky charm for the team. Last year, Martin, 21, raced for Keith Swinton’s team who on the Asian Match Racing Championship. About a month ago, Martin switched to WAKA Racing team and again he helped them to win the Asian Match Racing Championship three weeks ago.

'It’s true I went on board with both the teams – Swinton and Robertson - and won on both occasions. I don’t know how to describe this. I guess I brought the team good luck but luck alone does not determine everything. Match Racing is a team effort and luck may have contributed in a small way in both the wins,' said Martin.

But Robertson says it could be Adam’s (Martin) luck: He added: 'Yes, lady luck was smiling on us, but that’s not all, we teamed up perfectly well and that was our key to all our wins today.'

Ainslie tops the table thus far with seven wins and two defeats, followed by Robertson and Mathieu Richard with six wins and three defeats each. Three others Torvar Mirsky (Mirsky Racing Team), Sebastien Col (French Match Racing Team/ALL4ONE) and Magnus Holmberg (Victory Challenge) have five wins each.

Ainslie said it was good t see some interesting races today.

'Obviously we are happy with the wins. The difficult part is if we can still hold on for tomorrow’s races because the ground conditions are not always the same. Today’s conditions suit us well and thus we were able to take control of the boat well,' he said.

Richard however, said the team is improving and they hope to continue their good work tomorrow.

'All the races were close and the course was a bit better today - a little bit forgiving compared with yesterday. There was a little bit more play today,' he said.

Sadly, reigning world champion Ian Williams and his Team Pindar are facing an early exit. Boasting of only three wins and six defeats after two days, Williams said he was worried.

'Things didn’t go our way. We are in trouble. It was very frustrating for us today,' said Williams, adding to he has to win all his remaining races tomorrow to stay alive for the quarter-finals.

The Monsoon Cup is a project of the Malaysian Ministry of Youth and Sports and it is proudly hosted by the State of Terengganu and is supported by key sponsors Richard Mille, TM, Cartrade Group (CTG), Astro, Firefly Airline, and Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa.

The Monsoon Cup will be streamed live to the Internet throughout the day at www.monsoon.tv, www.sail.tv and www.wmrt.org/sailtv. Daily half hour highlights shows will be broadcast worldwide along with short news highlights and key matches. The action will be broadcast Live on Saturday and Sunday between 3-5pm local time. Key networks include Eurosport, Eurosport Asia Pacific, Fox Sports Australia, Fox Sports US, SKY NZ, ESPN Star, Showtime Middle East, America One, SKY UK, Sport Max Caribbean, CNBC Asia Pacific, BT Vision.
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WMRT 2009 Tour Standings (after 8 of 9 events)

Tour Standings - (After 8 of 9 events)
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 100 Points
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 88 Points
3. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar 75 Points
4. Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team Racing 74 Points
5. Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR 71 Points
6. Ben Ainslie, (GBR) Team Origin 65 Points
7. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 48 Points
8. Sebastien Col, (FRA) French Match Racing Team 41 Points

About the World Match Racing Tour:
• The World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring 9 World
Championship events across the globe
• The World Tour is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with 'Special
Event' status
• The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money
• Points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the ‘ISAF Match Racing
World Champion’
• Events utilize the same 'match race' format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking
place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill.
Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-
the -water stadiums.
• Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 600 million households in excess of
90 countries around the world

About The Monsoon Cup
The Monsoon Cup 2005 celebrated its debut as the 50th official event of the Swedish Match Tour (now known as the World Match Racing Tour), and serves as the Malaysian leg for the international sailing event. This professional sailing series was formed in 2000 to unite the world's best match-race regattas under one banner.
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) comprises nine events in nine specially selected locations around the world. As the leading professional sailing series in the world, the Tour events are recognized as must-attend regattas on the match-race circuit.
The Monsoon Cup 2009 will be held at Pulau Duyong, Terengganu, from the 1st to 6th December 2009. Website : www.monsooncup.com.my

For information on the World Match Racing Tour:
Yvonne Reid
Tel: +44 (0) 1590 679613
Mob: +44 (0) 7809 149268
E-mail: yreid@f10marketing.com
Website: www.worldmatchracingtour.com

For more information on the Monsoon Cup :
RURRUM Communications Sdn Bhd
Name : Audrey Lakai
Mobile : 012 309 4377
Email: audrey.lakai@rurrum.com