World Match Racing Tour - New Points System and 2011 Tour Schedule

by WMRT on 26 Nov 2010
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has unveiled a new scoring system for the 2011 season to give a more even spread for teams in the top ten. The plans will see points awarded down to 10th place rather than eighth at each stage, while the spread in points between each position will be reduced.

With Tour Card Holders being guaranteed invites to six stages, the new scoring system will still see the team’s best five events count towards their overall position plus the points from the season finale, the Monsoon Cup which carries points worth 1.5 times more.

Under the new scheme the winner of each stage will still win 25 points but the runner up and third place will now receive 22 and 19 respectively compared to the existing model of 20 and 15. The table below shows the proposed breakdown, which will reward teams that perform consistently throughout the season.

WMRT will have nine places available for Tour Card holders in 2011, who will be competing for a bonus prize fund which has been doubled to USD500,000. The top three teams in this year’s WMRT will be guaranteed access to a card - the winner will receive their card for free while the second and third place will be able to secure their cards for USD10,000 and USD20,000 respectively.

Should any of the top three choose not to take up their card next year they will be able to transfer it to another top flight skipper, under the condition that the team taking it up consists of at least 60% of the same crew that won the Tour Card. Invitations for applications for Tour Cards are being distributed this week and must be returned by 17 January. Sailors wishing to find out more can contact WMRT Tour Director Craig Mitchell via www.wmrt.com.

The 2011 Tour will consist of a minimum of nine stages kicking off at Match Race France from 10-15 May and once again finishing with the Monsoon Cup from 22-27 November – a full schedule of events is also listed below.

2011 ISAF MATCH RACING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Stage	Date	Event	Location	Teams	Boats
1	May 10 – 15	Match Race France	Marseille, France	12	J80
2	May 24 – 29	Match Race Germany	Langenargen, Germany	12	TBC
3	June 7 - 12	Korea Match Cup	Gyeonggi, Korea	12	KM36
4	June 22 - 26	Portimao Portugal Match Cup	Portimao, Portugal	12	SM40
5	July 4 – 10	Match Cup Sweden	Marstrand, Sweden	16	DS37
6	August 24 – 28	Danish Open	Bornholm, Denmark	12	DS37
7	Aug 30 – Sept 4	St Moritz Match Race	St Moritz, Switzerland	12	Blu26
8	October 3 - 9	Argo Group Gold Cup	Hamilton, Bermuda	24	IOD
9	Nov 22 – 27	Monsoon Cup	K.Terengganu, Malaysia	12	F36

 

With the Tour actively seeking to add a further six new venues by 2013, it is currently engaged in conversations with a number of interested parties. It is the aim of the Tour to provide new events with a specialist sailing advisor who can offer expert sailing experience and event management skills and is inviting people to apply for the shortlist of special advisers. Those interested should also contact Tour Director Craig Mitchell.

Mitchell commented, 'The Tour is never standing still as we’re always looking to improve the experience for the teams, fans, media and public. We feel that the current scoring system is a little top heavy with some teams that perform well being left behind on the leaderboard. Even though match racing is a winner takes all sport we hope that the new system will keep the championship podium open for as long as possible, providing drama and excitement until the final cross.'

2011 Scoring System Compared to 2010

Position	2011 Points (standard race)	2010 points (standard race)	2011 Points (Monsoon Cup)	2010 Points (Monson Cup)
1	25	25	38	38
2	22	20	33	30
3	19	15	28	22
4	16	12	24	18
5	14	10	21	15
6	12	8	18	12
7	10	6	15	9
8	8	4	12	6
9	4	N/A	6	N/A
10	2	N/A	6	N/A

How the current standings would look with new scoring system

Skipper	2010 Points	Points under Proposed 2011 System
Matthieu Richard	105	113
Adam Minoprio	90	102
Ben Ainslie	88	98
Torvar Mirsky	76	92
Ian Williams	72	88
Jesper Radich	60	66
Francesco Bruni	53	73
Peter Gilmour	51	65
Bjorn Hansen	33	47
Magnus Holmberg	29	41

www.wmrt.com