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Top line up at St Moritz Match Race |
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 The five leaders of the world ranking are confirmed. They will sail – amongst others – against kiwi talent Adam Minoprio and sailing legend Peter Gilmour, who makes an impressive come-back on the World scene after his recent victory in Marstrand.
The Grade W St. Moritz match race will take place on September 1 – 6 in the Swiss Alps. Eight members of the world’s top ten are confirmed. The Swiss World Match Racing Tour stopover is a Grade W event (W stands for World Championship); it has also been an integral part of the ISAF Match Racing World Championship since 2005 and is therefore essential to the attribution of the world champion title. A prize purse of approximately 100’000 Euros will be distributed to the best teams.
The races will take place on Lake St. Moritz, a natural amphitheatre that provides a perfect and natural viewing platform from the shore. The local Maloja thermal breeze blows daily from 8 to 20 knots and with a little help from the sun the breeze picks up, guaranteeing a fantastic show to the numerous spectators who flock to see their sailing heroes in action.
 Twelve teams representing eight nations have been selected for this regatta. Mathieu
Richard (FRA), the current leader of the world ranking will sail amongst others against his fellow competitor Sébastien Col (5), the helmsman of K-Challenge’s America’s Cup team. Ian Williams (UK, 2) of Team Pindar and Adam Minoprio (NZL 3) and his BlackMatch crew are amongst the favourites. Surprise guest of the event, Peter Gilmour (AUS, 7) of YANMAR Racing is a veteran of five America’s Cups and quadruple winner of the world match racing title. Currently seventh of the world ranking, he is one of the event’s outsiders. He won the prestigious title in Marstrand last month, and is respected by all the competitors.
The St. Moritz match race will once again take place on Blu26 one-design sailing boats. Conceived by the Swiss Bluboats, the Blu26 are 8 m. long and 2,2 m. wide. They are perfectly adapted to match racing.
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