22nd Match Race Germany - Preview

2018 Match Race Germany - Day 3 © NIco Martinez / MRG

The fleet for the 22nd Match Race Germany has formed up and is heading for Langenargen: Ten teams from seven countries are ready for captivating Whitsun duels in front of the picture-book backdrop of Montfort Castle and the Swiss alps.

The field of the Duelsailing Specialists is led by world-ranked runner-up Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Race Team. Hamburg's skipper Max Gurgel and his team Vmax Yachting are the only Germans to fight for the German Grand Prix. For Austria, Max Trippolt's Team Segelmanufactur will be in action. For the experienced MATCHRACERS from Europe and overseas, the only German Grade One event involves five racing days for prize money, Match Race Super League points, world ranking points and plenty of prestige. The chosen discipline is the DUEL. The one-on-one battles are commented live and accompanied by a large festival program in Langenargen's Gondola Port.

Match racing has a long and dazzling history. This very special discipline of sailing has become famous in and with the America's Cup since its premiere in 1851. Also, in the most important competition of international sailing match racing is the format until today. Therefore, on top of their usual skill set, the sailors have to put additional qualities in the balance. "Match racing is a mixture of boxing and chess on the water", Germany's most successful sailor Jochen Schümann once described duel sailing. Only one team can win. Second is already last. And those who finish second too often in a regatta like Match Race Germany have to leave early.

"We love match racing because it is a great test of teamwork and decision making, with many exciting moments," says Nick Egnot-Johnson, who, with his team KNOTS Racing is representing the proud sailing nation of New Zealand. The kiwis are members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Performance Programme. The club is the current Defender of the America's Cup an dexhibits the Auld Mug in its rooms.

Polish helmsman Szymon Jablkowski, whose team will be competing for the second time in Germany after last year's premiere, knows: "Match racing is the most demanding sailing discipline. There is no room for any error. Moreover, the best sailors in the world take part in match racing events. This is where the true tactical masterpieces come from." The 25-year-old helmsman announced last year that he wanted to get into the Top 50 of the Matchrace World Rankings as quickly as possible. He and his team have been more than successful in no time at all: This year, Jablkowski is already placed 19th in the international rankings.

Also the youngest helmsman of the 22nd edition of Germany's Grand Prix enjoys the direct encounters with the competition. Emil Kjaer (17) from the Royal Danish Yacht Club in Copenhagen says: "I like the intensity that occurs when two teams with the same goal confront with only one of them will be able to succeed." Max Gurgel agrees. Says the skipper from the Hamburg Sailing Club: "The intensity in each race and the tension over a whole series are what makes match racing so attractive. Plus the big yachts on Lake Constance create a very special challenge. We enjoy that al lot." Austrian Max Trippolt from Team Segelmanufactur knows: "Every opponent has own tricks, which you have to anticipate. It is a great honor for us to attend such a high-profile event yet again. "

The top favourites among the ten teams are Switzerland's Eric Monnin and his Capvis Swiss Match Race Team. Due to their perfect teamwork and flawless maneuvers, the Swiss have earned themselves the nickname "Swiss Clockwork" in matchrace circles. Monnin's passion for performance has a reason: "It is fascinating to build a team and to achieve progress together." In recent years, the Swiss have achieved exactly that in an outstanding manner. They led the world rankings until April of this year and start as World Ranking No. 2 into Match Race Germany with the clear goal to recapture the top spot, but also lay the foundation stone to defend the title of Match Race Super League Champions in 2017 and 2018.

"We look forward to observe tight and intense duels and the art of matchrace our opponents display," says Sports Director Eberhard Magg, who himself was once part for nearly two decades of Germany's most successful match race team led by helmsman Markus Wieser. "Again this year, we will be writing a new chapter for the match-race story, cheering the sailors and seeing who are the best performers on the lake."

Match Race Germany starts on May 5th with the free practice of the crews. The qualifying Round Robin (with each crew facing each other once) starts on the 9th May at 9am. The series ends with the finals and the award ceremony on Whit Monday.

Season start for the Match Race Super League

The Match Race Super League has already started with the first two regattas into its third season. Following the Szczechin Match Race in Poland and the NJK Open Spring Cup in Finland, the two Polish skippers Patryk Zbroja and Lukasz Wosinksi are leading the international series with one victory and 25 points respectively. Both start at Match Race Germany and stand every chance to take over the sole lead in the Match Race Super League with a good result in Germany.

The Match Race Super League has 12 events this year. With the Matchrace summit in Germany the next valuable point packages are on offer. Match Race Germany is followed by Super League regattas in Slovenia, the USA, New Caledonia, Estonia, Bahrain and many more. The Match Race Super League offers prominent and experienced match racers, as well as talented newcomers a world-wide stage to establish and present themselves in duel sailing, as the series is being watched intensively by professional teams from all over the world.

More information at mrsuperleague.org

Zbroja defended his title in Szczecin

Szczecin Match Race has been the opener of the 2019 Match Race Super League. Racing had first taken place on Dabie Lake, the finals were held on the Odra river in the city center. 12 crews took part in the series, including teams from Denmark, Estonia, Brazil, Sweden, France, Finland, Great Britain and Poland. Patryk Zbroja claimed victory in Szczecin Match Race.

Szczecin Match Race was the main event held this May, with strong winds and many surprises. Mati Sepp, ranked 6th, joined the competitions and finished the first day strong, winning his every match. In the seventh flight two masts were damaged, one of them broke, following a spectacular crash between Zbroja and Sawicki.

The two top ranked skippers from the Round Robin were going straight to the semi-finals and four crews raced for that privilege: Pierroz, Zbroja, Sepp and Jeppe Borch a helmsman leading a young Danish team, with the famous Joachim Aschenbrenner being part of the crew. Zbroja and Pierroz were safe for the semis, the rest tried sail the quarter-finals including Piotr Harasimowicz, but that round couldn't be finished. Racing commenced on Saturday on Odra river, leaving both matches with 1-1 score (Harasimowicz-Borch, Sepp-Whitfield), followed by the semi-finals.

Zbroja beat the French team (2-0) and Borch qualified for the Grand final after emotional duels with Sepp by 2-1. The Petite Final ended with Pierroz's win and Borch didn't get a chance to face Zbroja until the end. KS Dobra Marina with Patryk Zbroja in helm and the rest of the crew: Maciek Gonerko, Krzysztof Zeludziewicz i Marcin Zubrzycki won this second event as well!

Szczecin Match Race Overall Results: (3-5 May, Grade 2)

1. Patryk Zbroja - Klub Sportowy Dobra Marina POL
2. Jeppe Rørholm Borch Team Faraway DEN
3. Aurélien Pierroz - MatchAgain by Normandy Elite Team - FRA
4. Mati Sepp - EESTI MATCH RACE LIIT - EST
5. Matt Whitfield - Dragon Racing - GBR
6. Piotr Harasimowicz - HRMRacing Team POL
7. Szymon Jablkowski - Jablkowski Sailing Team POL
8. Rafal Sawicki - Sawicki Racing POL
9. Sylvain Escurat CVSAE - Team Pari Match - FRA
10. Kim Kling - Caprice Match Racing Team - SWE
11. Jon Eriksson - FIN
12. Bernardo Low-beer - BRA