Please select your home edition
Edition
Rolly Tasker Sails 2023 LEADERBOARD

The one million dollar Match Race

by World Match Racing Tour on 27 Jun 2016
2nd June 2016. World Match Racing Tour Newport RI Ian Roman / WMRT
Competitive yacht racing’s biggest ever first prize bonus is set to go to the winner of the 2016 World Match Racing Tour final in Marstrand, Sweden when the event concludes on 9th July. The paradise island on the west coast of Sweden annually plays host to one of the grandest and most competitive events on the World Match Racing Tour.

Here the sailing-mad locals get to cheer on their sailing stars such as three-time winner Björn Hansen and the local FLUX Team of Johnie Berntsson. However, this year it is sure to be the biggest and most competitive event yet in Marstrand, as 20 teams fight it out for the ‘winner-takes-all’ Tour bonus of a cool US$ one million. This in addition to the US$ 200,000 event prize money split between all teams with US$ 33,000 awarded to the winner.

US$ one million, is roughly Euro 885,000, AUS$ 1.35m or NZL$ 1.4m - more than enough to buy more than three of the high performance M32 catamarans that will contest the World Match Racing Tour Marstrand for the first time, taking over from the perennial D37 monohulls used at the event for the last 20 years.

Once upon a time when the World Match Racing Tour was backed by title sponsor Swedish Match, the Marstrand event was the stand-out event, the grand finale of the season. Now that the World Match Racing Tour is under Swedish ownership, the Marstrand event is set to return to its former glory. Never has the World Tour seen such a significant amount for one event and nor has the Tour bonus ever been awarded exclusively to the winner.

The big question is how will such a significant fiscal incentive affect the racing, that already in the season’s penultimate event in Newport, Rhode Island was getting aggressive. A giant winner-takes-all bonus is certain to increase this. As World Match Racing Tour owner, Håkan Svensson, observed in Newport: “You can see there are a lot nerves already and Marstrand is going to increase that pressure a lot on the teams. So the team that holds up best to that pressure will win. There are a lot of teams that are practicing every day to get better when it comes to the sailing. Taylor [Canfield] is in a good spot but he needs to keep his nerve.”

Canfield and his US One team go into the World final as stand-out favourite. The US Virgin Islands skipper has won the last three World Match Racing Tour events, the last two in Copenhagen and Newport sailed aboard the high performance M32 catamarans. While it is not relevant to who will claim the big prize, Canfield’s position in the overall World Tour rankings give a good indication of the form going into marstrand: On 122 points, he’s proved his dominance this year, leading second placed Ian Williams and his GAC Pindar team on 89 points, and Dane Nicolai Sehested’s TREFOR Match Racing Team heading up the Scandinavian skippers with 85 points.

“It is a big prize purse and a big bonus - it’ll be an awesome event, it is a great venue and there is big money up for grabs, big stakes,” says Canfield. “It is going to take some luck in that venue, especially if we get some changeable direction off the shoreline. There’s sometimes nothing you can do in the catamarans to get yourself back in the race. It is a combination of skill and luck and if we prepare as best we can, I think we have a good chance.”

As to how large the butterflies will be if he ends up in the final and its goes to match point. “It will be all on, teams will be pushing really hard. There’s a lot on the line and I don’t think anyone is going to give it up easily.”

WMRT Final Skipper Line Up:

1. Taylor Canfield - US One
2. Ian Williams - GAC Pindar
3. Nicolai Sehested - TREFOR Racing
4. Yann Guichard - Spindrift Racing
5. Phil Robertson - WAKA Racing
6. Nicklas Dackhammar - Essiq Racing Team
7. Chris Steele - 36 Below Racing
8. Mattias Rahm - Rahm Racing Team
9. Hans Wallén - Wallén Racing
10. Sam Gilmour - Neptune Racing
11. Sally Barkow - Team Magenta 32
12. Johnie Berntsson - Flux Team
13. Matt Jerwood - Redline Racing
14. Iker Martinez - Team Esp?na
15. Evan Walker - KA Match / CYCA
16. Björn Hansen - Nautiska Racing
17. Steven Thomas - RPM Racing
18. Eric Monnin - Albert Riele Swiss Team
19. Murray Jones - Full Bants Racing
20. Keith Swinton - Team Accure
Excess CatamaransSea Sure 2025Pantaenius Sail 2025 AUS Footer

Related Articles

Admiral's Cup 2025 | Welcome from Cowes
Bow Caddy Media provide an introduction and interview with Shane Guanaria from Zen Ahead of the first race, Crosbie Lorimer provides an introduction and interviews Shane Guanaria from Zen
Posted on 18 Jul
Aussies hunt 'Ashes on Water' win
The BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance in Portsmouth Fresh off a bruising weekend in New York, the BONDS Flying Roos are looking to bounce back with a vengeance as they take on long time rivals Great Britain in their home waters at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix, held in Portsmouth.
Posted on 18 Jul
4 Ultim rocketships to contest Rolex Fastnet Race
The giant 32m long by 23m wide flying trimarans are taking part in the 100th anniversary edition While the 50ft flying catamarans competing at SailGP Portsmouth this weekend will be impressive, charging out of the opposite western end of the Solent will be giant 32m long by 23m wide flying Ultim trimarans taking part in the 100th anniversary edition.
Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP comes to Portsmouth!
We speak to the sailors ahead of the weekend The Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Portsmouth takes place this weekend, with the 12 teams competing in F50 catamarans close to the waterfront, where a massive grandstand has been built for the spectators.
Posted on 18 Jul
SailGP: No practice racing at Portsmouth
The Practice Race was a fizzer, however the future of the SailGP fleet development was revealed. The scheduled Practice Day failed to fire at SailGP Portsmouth, after the forecast, admittedly light, breeze failed to male an appearance. The self propelled start marks were making a much better speed than the F50s.
Posted on 18 Jul
McIntyre Mini Globe Race Leg 3 Preview
The race to South Africa starts from Vuda Marina Fiji on 26th July In a world-first sailing challenge, 15 solo sailors from eight countries are navigating identical 5.8-meter (19-foot) self-built plywood yachts around the globe— The fleet has enjoyed a five week stopover in Fiji at the end of Leg 2.
Posted on 18 Jul
Third time Finn World No.1 for Alessandro Marega
Maintaining the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List Italy's Alessandro Marega maintains the top spot in the Finn World Ranking List for the third consecutive release. He remains World No. 1 with an 80-point lead over France's Laurent Hay.
Posted on 18 Jul
World Sailing Nations Cup to make grand return
After a seven-year hiatus, World Sailing has officially opened the bid process for host cities After a seven-year hiatus, the World Sailing Nations Cup, the ultimate event to crown the world's top match-racing nations, is making its much-anticipated return.
Posted on 18 Jul
J/99s the in Noakes Sydney Gold Coast Yacht Race
There will be a race within a race taking place in the 63 yacht fleet When the fleet of 63 yachts set off in the 2025 Noakes Sydney Gold Coast (NSGCYR) on 26 July, there will be a race within a race taking place.
Posted on 18 Jul
2025 WASZP Pre-Games in Weymouth Day 2
A classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and drizzle The second day of the WASZP Pre-Games served up a classic British summer's day as sailors launched beneath a blanket of grey cloud and with a hug of fresh drizzle.
Posted on 18 Jul