Robertson has a good 'Phil-ing' about Asian Match Racing titles

by Monsoon Cup 2010 on 17 Oct 2010 New Zealand’s Phil Robertson is confident of emulating compatriot Adam Minorpio, who went from being the Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC) winner to ISAF World Match Racing Champion in just a few seasons.

Minoprio emerged victorious in the AMRC in 2006 and 2007 and last year stunned the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) when he claimed the world title.

Robertson, who has been following Minoprio’s career very closely, said winning the AMRC last year has given him the confidence of one day emulating his fellow New Zealander’s feats.

We are very confident of following Adam, who went from being an Asian Champion to World Champion,' said Robertson. 'We have seen where he has come from, how he has done it and where he is now. He has set a great model of how to achieve the goal. We have used his team as an example, and will build on that to do it even better.'

He added that as the defending AMRC winner, he and his WAKA Racing Team crew are looking forward to being the team with a big bullseye on their foreheads.

'It (being defending champions) won’t affect us at all. We have competed in many competitions where we were the team to beat and performed just as well, if not better,' said a supremely confident Robertson. 'There will be many great teams in the AMRC. Skippers such as Peter Nicholas, David Gilmour and Reuben Corbett will be our biggest rivals. However, we have an intense training schedule which will have us peaking for the Asian Championship.'

Robertson, who has developed his racing skills through Optimist and 420 class events, is a good example of how sailors can graduate from the Optimist and 420 class to race professionally on keelboats and match racing.

The AMRC will be held from Oct 25–28 at the purpose built world-class match racing venue of Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa in Pulau Duyong, Terengganu. It follows the Malaysian Match Racing Championship, which will be held at the same venue from Oct 20-23.

The winners of both events will each earn a ticket to the Monsoon Cup, the final race of the WMRT 2010 season.

For more information, please contact:
Mira Navaretna
mira@tbest.com.my
+603-22833324
or visit www.monsooncup.com.my