World Match Racing Tour, ad Hamilton iniziano i quarti
Match RaceVelaWorld Match Race Tour 8 Ottobre 2010 Zerogradinord 0
World Match Racing Tour – Hamilton – Tra ieri e oggi l’Argo Group Gold Cup di Hamilton ha prodotto e produrrà i primi verdetti. L’elevato numero di partecipanti rende infatti un pò macchinoso l’avanzare dei turni di qualificazione, turni che hanno decretato l’inattesa eliminazione di Mathieu Richard per mano di Jesper Radich, approdato al turno successivo con lo score di sei vittorie e una sconfitta.
Con Richard fuori dai giochi, l’attenzione si è spostata su Adam Minoprio, Ben Ainslie e Ian Williams. Per loro, raggruppati in un girone di elevatissimo livello, la consapevolezza che non tutti potranno passare ai Quarti di Finale.
Tra i sicuri promossi, oltre al già citato Radich, figurano Torvar Mirsky, sicuro nell’avanzare grazie a sei vittorie e nessuna sconfitta, la sorpresa Taylor Canfield, Eric Monnin, Johnnie Berntsson e Rueben Corbett.
Quarter Finalists
Torvar Mirsky, 6-0
Jesper Radich, 6-1
Taylor Canfield, 6-1
Eric Monnin, 5-1
Johnnie Berntsson, 5-1
Reuben Corbett, 4-2
Video courtesy World Match Racing Tour.
WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR, READY FOR THE QUARTER FINAL
[World Match Racing Tour Press Release] Adam Minoprio, Ben Ainslie and Ian Williams all face a restless night with the knowledge that at least one of them will be a casualty tomorrow in the final Qualifying Session at the Argo Group Gold Cup. It will cap a remarkable few days in Bermuda, which also saw overall World Match Racing Tour leader Mathieu Richard ultimately knocked out of the competition by Jesper Radich.
In contrast to the 10-18 knot winds of the previous two days, today required sailors to adopt an altogether different skill set to deal with a very fickle and incredibly light wind. The reigning champion, Adam Minoprio has a second chance to qualify tomorrow for the Quarter-Finals having failed to qualify directly however he faces formidable competition – this group of six teams includes four of the top 10 names in the ISAF Match Racing Rankings. Björn Hansen, Minoprio, Williams and Ainslie, are also joined by Alvaro Marinho (ranked 15), and Phil Robertson (ranked 21).
Competitors were not alone in finding the fickle conditions frustrating – PRO David Campbell-James was in a no-win situation, but did a great job with what he had: “It was a 360-degree day, with the wind swinging right round the compass as the day progressed.”
Johnie Berntsson, one of the six skippers to qualify directly for the Quarter-Finals, reflected: “It was important for us to beat Marinho in Qualifying Session 3. We feel really confident about this week – we’re sailing well have yet to make a tactical mistake. It’s our fourth time here and we have similar boats at home so we are benefiting from having been able to practice there.”
Minoprio, Williams and Ainslie will take some comfort into tomorrow knowing they each won their first races in the Qualifying Play-Off however their toughest matches will come tomorrow. The morning will see a return of 12-18 knots of breeze but with tropical storm Otto heading towards Bermuda, the wind is expected to increase considerably later on, giving skippers in the Quarter-Finals an extra challenge with which to contend.
Quarter Finalists
Torvar Mirsky, 6-0
Jesper Radich, 6-1
Taylor Canfield, 6-1
Eric Monnin, 5-1
Johnnie Berntsson, 5-1
Reuben Corbett, 4-2
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