World Match Racing Tour
Encyclopedia
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is a professional sailing series, featuring 9 World Championship
events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF
) with “Special Event” status. The tour currently spans 3 continents and is now the only professional monohull match racing series since the September 2010 decision of the America's Cup to organise only multihull races at their events.
The World Match Racing Tour awards over $1.5 million (USD) in prize money, with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. A $500,000 USD overall prize pool for the 2011 World Match Racing Tour is now on offer.
Events utilise the same 'match race' format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identical supplied racing yachts which change for each event and which place a firm focus on team work and skill to win the race. Racing takes place close to the shore in order for the general public to follow the races as if they were in virtual on-the-water stadiums.
The arrival of a new CEO, Mr James O'Toole, in July 2010 has led the Tour to announce a 3 year plan to expand the championship from nine events to fifteen per season. Mr O'Toole commented “We are committed to growth and have identified a 15-stage Tour as a realistic and achievable goal for the 2013 season".
Media and television highlights coverage spans the globe, reaching millions of households in over 183 countries around the world.
. Match racing has its own set of rules, which are slightly different from the regular sailing boat racing rules and these create very close, aggressive competition in which collisions can easily occur. Match racing also has on-the-water judging, with umpires dispensing "instant justice" on the water. Match racing is tremendously exciting for those participating and, unlike some other sailing competitions, match racing can be equally thrilling to watch. Before the start, the boats vie for control, circling each other and trying to wipe each other off into spectator boats in an elaborate game of cat and mouse.
• If the wind comes across the same side of the boats and there is no overlapping, the boat behind (astern) must keep clear.
• Should the wind come across the same side of the boats and there is overlapping, the boat on the leeward (downwind) side of the other has the right-of-way.
• Umpires follow each race and make instant penalty decisions. A boat (colour flag on back) with a penalty (colored ball on umpire boat) must do a 270-degree penalty turn before the finish.
• Visit Appendix C of the ISAF's Racing Rules of Sailing to view the rules for match-racing.
• Windward Leg: On the course the boats commence an upwind battle; the lead boat spilling turbulent air off its sails to slow the boat behind. Furious tacking is likely to ensue with the latter trying to force a crew error in order to rob their aggressor of the advantage.
The end of the first windward leg provides an opportunity for the trailing boat to seize the edge by creating an inside overlap within two lengths of the mark, forcing the lead boat to allow room which usually means relinquishing its place.
• Downwind Run: On the downwind run the trailing boat has a chance to attack from behind, positioning itself so it's spinnaker casts a wind shadow over the leader. To escape, the boat may gibe away, creating heart-pounding onboard action - and spectacular sailing - as each crew furiously swings spinnakers from side to side.
• Dropping the Spinnaker: At the bottom mark the same overlap rules apply and the action intensifies as crews drop the spinnaker and prepare the boat for the next leg while the skipper jostles for position.
• The Finish: Once more around the course and the battle is over. Often the winner is not determined until the final few boat lengths.
Championship points are awarded to the top ten skippers at each event as follows:
A World Match Racing Champion has been named annually since 1988. Since 2006 the World Match Racing Tour champion has been named ISAF World Match Racing Champion. Peter Gilmour an America's Cup
veteran and regular team skipper at the World Match Racing Tour is the only skipper to have held the title World Match Racing Champion 4 times.
World championship
A world championship is the top achievement for any sport or contest. The title is usually awarded by contests, ranking systems, stature, ability, etc. This determines the best nation, team, individual in the world in a particular field. Certain sports do not have a world championship, instead...
events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF
International Sailing Federation
The International Sailing Federation is recognised by the International Olympic Committee as the world governing body for the sport of sailing....
) with “Special Event” status. The tour currently spans 3 continents and is now the only professional monohull match racing series since the September 2010 decision of the America's Cup to organise only multihull races at their events.
The World Match Racing Tour awards over $1.5 million (USD) in prize money, with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. A $500,000 USD overall prize pool for the 2011 World Match Racing Tour is now on offer.
Events utilise the same 'match race' format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identical supplied racing yachts which change for each event and which place a firm focus on team work and skill to win the race. Racing takes place close to the shore in order for the general public to follow the races as if they were in virtual on-the-water stadiums.
The arrival of a new CEO, Mr James O'Toole, in July 2010 has led the Tour to announce a 3 year plan to expand the championship from nine events to fifteen per season. Mr O'Toole commented “We are committed to growth and have identified a 15-stage Tour as a realistic and achievable goal for the 2013 season".
Media and television highlights coverage spans the globe, reaching millions of households in over 183 countries around the world.
Match Racing
When only two sailing boats are on the starting line of the race, the race is called match racingMatch race
A match race is a race between two competitors, going head-to-head.The term may be best known as a race between two sailing boats racing around a course...
. Match racing has its own set of rules, which are slightly different from the regular sailing boat racing rules and these create very close, aggressive competition in which collisions can easily occur. Match racing also has on-the-water judging, with umpires dispensing "instant justice" on the water. Match racing is tremendously exciting for those participating and, unlike some other sailing competitions, match racing can be equally thrilling to watch. Before the start, the boats vie for control, circling each other and trying to wipe each other off into spectator boats in an elaborate game of cat and mouse.
General Rules
• When the wind comes across the sides of the boats in the opposite direction, the boat with the wind on the left (port) side gives way to the boat with the wind on the right (starboard) side.• If the wind comes across the same side of the boats and there is no overlapping, the boat behind (astern) must keep clear.
• Should the wind come across the same side of the boats and there is overlapping, the boat on the leeward (downwind) side of the other has the right-of-way.
• Umpires follow each race and make instant penalty decisions. A boat (colour flag on back) with a penalty (colored ball on umpire boat) must do a 270-degree penalty turn before the finish.
• Visit Appendix C of the ISAF's Racing Rules of Sailing to view the rules for match-racing.
Strategy
• The Start: A 7-minute starting gun signals the beginning of an intricate, heated pre-match dogfight, with the two boats engaging in a furious one-on-one battle to gain the leading position on the race course. Additional gun shots indicate the countdown to the beginning of the race at 5 minutes to go, 3 minutes to go and finally the beginning of the race.• Windward Leg: On the course the boats commence an upwind battle; the lead boat spilling turbulent air off its sails to slow the boat behind. Furious tacking is likely to ensue with the latter trying to force a crew error in order to rob their aggressor of the advantage.
The end of the first windward leg provides an opportunity for the trailing boat to seize the edge by creating an inside overlap within two lengths of the mark, forcing the lead boat to allow room which usually means relinquishing its place.
• Downwind Run: On the downwind run the trailing boat has a chance to attack from behind, positioning itself so it's spinnaker casts a wind shadow over the leader. To escape, the boat may gibe away, creating heart-pounding onboard action - and spectacular sailing - as each crew furiously swings spinnakers from side to side.
• Dropping the Spinnaker: At the bottom mark the same overlap rules apply and the action intensifies as crews drop the spinnaker and prepare the boat for the next leg while the skipper jostles for position.
• The Finish: Once more around the course and the battle is over. Often the winner is not determined until the final few boat lengths.
Scoring
The World Match Racing Tour is a season long points championship for the ISAF Match Racing World Championship.ISAF Match Racing World Championship Scoring
- There are 132 points allocated to the top 10 places at every World Tour event except for the final event of the season, the Monsoon CupMonsoon CupThe Monsoon Cup is a yacht race in Malaysia, held in the state of Terengganu. The tagline for the race is: "You wouldn't want to miss it".-Overview:...
, which offers 50% more points. - Skippers will count their best 5 scores through the season towards the Championship as well as their points from the final event of the season.
- The skipper with the highest points score at the end of the season will be recognized as the ISAF Match Racing World Champion.
Championship points are awarded to the top ten skippers at each event as follows:
- 1st Place - 25 points (Monsoon Cup - 38 points)
- 2nd Place - 22 points (Monsoon Cup - 33 points)
- 3rd Place - 19 points (Monsoon Cup - 28 points)
- 4th Place - 16 points (Monsoon Cup - 24 points)
- 5th Place - 14 points (Monsoon Cup - 21 points)
- 6th Place - 12 points (Monsoon Cup - 18 points)
- 7th Place - 10 points (Monsoon Cup - 15 points)
- 8th Place - 8 points (Monsoon Cup - 12 points)
- 9th Place - 4 points (Monsoon Cup - 6 points)
- 10th Place - 2 points (Monsoon Cup - 3 points)
2011 Tour Calendar
| Stage | Date | Event | Location | Teams | Boats | Purse | Winner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | May 10–15 | Match Race France | Marseille Marseille Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
12 | J/80 J/80 The International J/80 is a fixed keel One-Design sportsboat certified for offshore sailing, normally crewed by 3 to 5 people. As well as its mainsail & headsail, the J/80 has a gennaker for downwind sailing, which when the wind rises over 15 knots gets the boat on the plane downwind.With over... |
€ | French Match Racing Team |
http://www.matchracefrance.com |
| 2 | May 24–29 | Match Race Germany | Langenargen Langenargen Langenargen is a town in the district of Bodensee in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.- Sports :Langenargen is an ideal venue for sports such as sailing. The town's location on the shores of Bodensee provides smooth waters even when windy. Langenargen is the host city of Match Race Germany part of the... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
12 | Bavaria 35 Match Bavaria Yachtbau The Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH is a German major yacht builder, with its headquarters in Giebelstadt, Bavaria, Germany. The model range consists of both sailing and motor yachts, of which especially the sailing yachts are very common. With ca. 600 employees, ca... |
$ | Bruni Racing |
http://www.matchrace.de/ |
| 3 | June 7–12 | Korea Match Cup | Gyeonggi, South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... |
12 | KM36 | Mekonomen Sailing Team |
http://www.koreamatchcup.com/ | |
| 4 | June 22–26 | Portimão Portugal Match Cup | Portimão Portimão Portimão is a Portuguese town located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
12 | Team GAC Pindar |
|||
| 5 | July 4–10 | Match Cup Sweden Stena Match Cup Sweden Stena Match Cup Sweden is a sailing event on the World Match Racing Tour held in Marstrand, Sweden in the beginning of July every year. Organizers of the Stena Match Cup Sweden are The Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and Brandspot.... |
Marstrand Marstrand Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The... , Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
16 | DS37 | Team GAC Pindar |
||
| 6 | August 24–28 | Danish Open | Bornholm Bornholm Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
12 | ||||
| 7 | August 30 - September 4 | St Moritz Match Race | St Moritz, Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
12 | BLU 26 | http://www.stmoritz-matchrace.ch/ | ||
| 8 | October 3–9 | Argo Group Gold Cup | Hamilton Hamilton, Bermuda Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:... , Bermuda Bermuda Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida... |
24 | IOD International One Design The International One Design is a class of sail boat developed for yacht racing. It is a 33-foot open cockpit day sailer used for day racing, rather than for overnight, or ocean races, such as the Newport–Bermuda Yacht Race... |
$ | The Wave Muscat |
http://www.bermudagoldcup.com/ |
| 9 | November 22–27 | Monsoon Cup Monsoon Cup The Monsoon Cup is a yacht race in Malaysia, held in the state of Terengganu. The tagline for the race is: "You wouldn't want to miss it".-Overview:... |
Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu -Transport:The city is connected to other towns via a good network of roads and also some ferries that ply the Terengganu River. The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a bridge over the Terengganu River, provides a road link to both banks of the river... , Malaysia |
12 | Foundation 36 | USD | Team GAC Pindar |
http://www.monsooncup.com.my/ |
2011 Participants
- Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
- Francesco Bruni (ITA) Mascalzone Latino
- Peter GilmourPeter GilmourPeter Gilmour is an Australian sailing skipper of great note. He is an America's Cup veteran and was named Western Australian Sportsman of the Year in 1987. He is also the only 4 time World Match racing Tour Champion...
(AUS) YANMAR Racing - Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
- Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
- Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team
- Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
- Phil Robertson (NZ) WAKA Racing Team
- Ian WilliamsIan Williams (sailor)Ian specialises in match racing competing in the World Match Racing Tour. In 2008 following winning the tour and therefore the World Championship title he was shortlisted by the International Sailing Federation for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards...
(GBR) Team GAC Pindar
2011 Tour Results
| Placing | Skipper | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team GAC Pindar | 144 | |
| 2 | Bruni Racing | 112 | |
| 3 | Berntsson Sailing Team | 106.2pts | |
| 4 | The Wave Muscat | 105.8pts | |
| 5 | YANMAR Racing | 102.8pts | |
| 6 | Adrian Lee & Partners | 99.2pts | |
| 7 | Mekonomen Sailing Team | 90pts | |
| 8 | Team China powered by WAKA Racing | 74.4pts | |
| 9 | French Match Racing Team | 74pts | |
| 10 | French Match Racing Team | 72.6pts | |
2010 Tour Calendar
| Stage | Date | Event | Location | Teams | Boats | Purse | Winner | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 6–11 | Match Race France | Marseille Marseille Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
12 | J/80 J/80 The International J/80 is a fixed keel One-Design sportsboat certified for offshore sailing, normally crewed by 3 to 5 people. As well as its mainsail & headsail, the J/80 has a gennaker for downwind sailing, which when the wind rises over 15 knots gets the boat on the plane downwind.With over... |
€50,000 | French Match Racing Team |
http://www.ycpr.com |
| 2 | May 19–24 | Match Race Germany | Langenargen Langenargen Langenargen is a town in the district of Bodensee in Baden-Württemberg in Germany.- Sports :Langenargen is an ideal venue for sports such as sailing. The town's location on the shores of Bodensee provides smooth waters even when windy. Langenargen is the host city of Match Race Germany part of the... , Germany Germany Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate... |
12 | Bavaria 35 Match Bavaria Yachtbau The Bavaria Yachtbau GmbH is a German major yacht builder, with its headquarters in Giebelstadt, Bavaria, Germany. The model range consists of both sailing and motor yachts, of which especially the sailing yachts are very common. With ca. 600 employees, ca... |
$50,000 USD | ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing |
http://www.matchrace.de/ |
| 3 | June 8–13 | Korea Match Cup | Gyeonggi, South Korea South Korea The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south... |
12 | KM36 | ₩300,000,000 KRW | French Match Racing Team |
http://www.koreamatchcup.com/ |
| 4 | June 22–27 | Portimão Portugal Match Cup | Portimão Portimão Portimão is a Portuguese town located in the District of Faro in the Region of Algarve, the southern coast of Portugal. It was formerly known as Vila Nova de Portimão . In 1924, it was incorporated as a cidade and became known merely as Portimão. The town has 41,000 inhabitants and the Portimão... , Portugal Portugal Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the... |
12 | SM40 | €50,000 | YANMAR Racing |
http://www.portugalmatchcup.com/ |
| 5 | July 5–11 | Match Cup Sweden Stena Match Cup Sweden Stena Match Cup Sweden is a sailing event on the World Match Racing Tour held in Marstrand, Sweden in the beginning of July every year. Organizers of the Stena Match Cup Sweden are The Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and Brandspot.... |
Marstrand Marstrand Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The... , Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
16 | DS 37 | $100,000 USD | TEAMORIGIN |
http://www.matchcupsweden.com |
| 6 | August 31 - September 5 | St Moritz Match Race | St Moritz, Switzerland Switzerland Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition.... |
12 | BLU 26 | 100,000 CHF | French Match Racing Team |
http://www.stmoritz-matchrace.ch/ |
| 7 | September 8–12 | Danish Open | Bornholm Bornholm Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
12 | DS 37 | kr245,000 DKK | ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing |
http://danishopen.kdy.dk/ |
| 8 | October 4–10 | Argo Group Gold Cup | Hamilton Hamilton, Bermuda Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:... , Bermuda Bermuda Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida... |
24 | IOD International One Design The International One Design is a class of sail boat developed for yacht racing. It is a 33-foot open cockpit day sailer used for day racing, rather than for overnight, or ocean races, such as the Newport–Bermuda Yacht Race... |
$100,000 USD | TEAMORIGIN |
http://www.bermudagoldcup.com/ |
| 9 | November 30 - December 5 | Monsoon Cup Monsoon Cup The Monsoon Cup is a yacht race in Malaysia, held in the state of Terengganu. The tagline for the race is: "You wouldn't want to miss it".-Overview:... |
Kuala Terengganu Kuala Terengganu -Transport:The city is connected to other towns via a good network of roads and also some ferries that ply the Terengganu River. The Sultan Mahmud Bridge, a bridge over the Terengganu River, provides a road link to both banks of the river... , Malaysia |
12 | Foundation 36 | $475,000 USD | TEAMORIGIN |
http://www.monsooncup.com.my/ |
2010 Participants
- Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing
- Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
- Ben AinslieBen AinslieCharles Benedict Ainslie, CBE is an English sailor and three-times Olympic gold medalist. He started sailing at the age of 8 and first competed at the age of 10...
(GBR) Team OriginTeam OriginTeam Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid... - Francesco Bruni (ITA) Team AzzurraAzzurraAzzurra is a yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing out of the yacht club Yacht Club Costa Smeralda.-Early history:Managed by Luca Cordero di Montezemolo and funded by Aga Khan IV and Gianni Agnelli, Azzurra began to compete in 1982...
- Peter GilmourPeter GilmourPeter Gilmour is an Australian sailing skipper of great note. He is an America's Cup veteran and was named Western Australian Sportsman of the Year in 1987. He is also the only 4 time World Match racing Tour Champion...
(AUS) YANMAR Racing - Bjørn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team
- Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing TeamAleph Sailing TeamAleph Sailing Team is an all-French yacht racing team that competes in America's Cup style sailing.-Team French Spirit:The team was founded in 2009 with Philippe Ligot as managing director and Bertrand Pacé as skipper. It first competed in the 2009 Louis Vuitton Trophy as Team French Spirit. In...
- Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
- Ian WilliamsIan Williams (sailor)Ian specialises in match racing competing in the World Match Racing Tour. In 2008 following winning the tour and therefore the World Championship title he was shortlisted by the International Sailing Federation for the ISAF World Sailor of the Year Awards...
(GBR) Team GAC Pindar
2010 Tour Results
| Placing | Skipper | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Team Origin Team Origin Team Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid... |
126 | |
| 2 | French Match Racing Team | 111 | |
| 3 | Mirsky Racing Team | 106 | |
| 4 | ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing | 90 | |
| 5 | Team GAC Pindar | 87 | |
| 6 | Gaastra Racing | 82 | |
| 7 | Team Azzura | 65 | |
| 8 | YANMAR Racing | 60 |
History
The World Match Racing Tour has had a proud and eventful racing heritage since its establishment in 1988, but its origins lie in match racing history. Match race sailing, as opposed to fleet racing, evolved through the America's Cup races, whose foundations were laid 144 years ago, and which have seen steady growth since. The first 'match race' in a one-design racing yacht i.e. technically identical boats, was the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda (now known as the Argo Gold Cup), that was first sailed in 1937. The skipper who won it was Briggs Cunningham, who was also the skipper to win the first America's Cup. The Argo Gold Cup is still a key event in the World Match Racing Tour calendar.A World Match Racing Champion has been named annually since 1988. Since 2006 the World Match Racing Tour champion has been named ISAF World Match Racing Champion. Peter Gilmour an America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
veteran and regular team skipper at the World Match Racing Tour is the only skipper to have held the title World Match Racing Champion 4 times.
World Champions
| Year | World Champion | Venue | Tour Winner | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | World Tour | Team GAC Pindar | 144 points | ||
| 2010 | World Tour | Team Origin Team Origin Team Origin is Great Britain's bid to compete in the 33rd and 34th America's Cups. The syndicate was founded by Sir Keith Mills, the man behind London's successful 2012 Olympic bid... |
126 points | ||
| 2009 | World Tour | BlackMatch Racing | 138 points | ||
| 2008 | World Tour | Bahrain Team Pindar | 110 points | ||
| 2007 | World Tour | Team Pindar | 172 points | ||
| 2006 | World Tour | Pizza-La Sailing Team | 113 points | ||
| 2005 | Calpe Calpe Calp is a coastal town located in the comarca of Marina Alta, in the province of Alicante, Spain, by the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 23.5 km² and a population density of 855.45 persons/km². The town is located 67 km from the city of Alicante, lying at the foot of the Natural... , Spain Spain Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula... |
Pizza-La Sailing Team | 117 points | ||
| 2004 | Ekaterinburg, Russia Russia Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects... |
Pizza-La Sailing Team | 135 points | ||
| 2003 | Riva del Garda Riva del Garda Riva del Garda is a town and comune in the northern Italian province of Trentino. It is also known simply as Riva. The estimated population is 15,151.- History :... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and... |
Team Radich | 111 points | ||
| 2002 | Stockholm Stockholm Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area... , Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
Oracle BMW Racing | 120 points | ||
| 2001 | None | None | Team Stora Enso | 104 points | |
| 2000 | Split Split (city) Split is a Mediterranean city on the eastern shores of the Adriatic Sea, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian and its wide port bay. With a population of 178,192 citizens, and a metropolitan area numbering up to 467,899, Split is by far the largest Dalmatian city and... , Croatia Croatia Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... |
Team New Zealand | 114 points | ||
| 1999 | Copenhagen Copenhagen Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region... , Denmark Denmark Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark... |
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| 1998 | Hayama Hayama, Kanagawa is a town located in Miura District, Kanagawa Prefecture, on central Honshū, Japan. As of 2010, the town had an estimated population of 32,386 and a density of 1,900 per km². The total area was 17.06 km²... , Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
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| 1997 | Marstrand Marstrand Marstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The... , Sweden Sweden Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund.... |
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| 1996 | Dubrovnik Dubrovnik Dubrovnik is a Croatian city on the Adriatic Sea coast, positioned at the terminal end of the Isthmus of Dubrovnik. It is one of the most prominent tourist destinations on the Adriatic, a seaport and the centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. Its total population is 42,641... , Croatia Croatia Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ... |
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| 1995 | Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... , New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
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| 1994 | La Rochelle La Rochelle La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988... , France France The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
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| 1993 | Long Beach Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257... , United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
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| 1992 | Perth Perth, Western Australia Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000.... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
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| 1991 | Hamilton Hamilton, Bermuda Hamilton is the capital of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda. It is the territory's financial centre and a major port and tourist destination.-Geography:... , Bermuda Bermuda Bermuda is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. Located off the east coast of the United States, its nearest landmass is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, about to the west-northwest. It is about south of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, and northeast of Miami, Florida... |
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| 1990 | Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... , New Zealand New Zealand New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga... |
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| 1989 | Lymington Lymington Lymington is a port on the west bank of the Lymington River on the Solent, in the New Forest district of Hampshire, England. It is to the east of the South East Dorset conurbation, and faces Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight which is connected to it by a car ferry, operated by Wightlink. The town... , United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
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| 1988 | Perth Perth, Western Australia Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000.... , Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
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External links
- World Match Racing Tour Official Site
- Link to BBC H2O interview with Sir Robin Knox-Johnston recorded 15 April 2010
- Independent Newspaper article 'All-Australian final at Portimao, Portugal Match Cup' 28 June 2010
- Elite Traveler article - St Moritz Match Race 2010 published 31 July 2010
- CNN Stena Match Cup Sweden video presented by Shirley Robertson 19 August 2010
- Travel Places Tour destinations info
- Latest 'World Match Racing Tour' Business News
- 'Boats on TV' coverage of Portimao, Portugal Match Race Cup '10
- 'World Match Racing Tour' coverage of Danish Open Final '10