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Berntsson and Hansen to St. Moritz |
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Picture: www.maxcomm.ch
The St. Moritz Match Race will commence from September 1 through to September 6.
The coveted ‘King of the Mountain’ trophy will be awarded to the best performing team from the five day match racing event, Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team, are the current leaders of the World Championship ranking and second in the ISAF rankings, as well as the current ‘defender’. He won the 2008 edition of the event ahead of Ian Williams (UK) Team Pindar.
Racing 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 be a firm favourite competing for the title however there will be
tough competition amongst the line up, which include fellow French man
Sébastien Col, the helmsman of K-Challenge’s America’s Cup team. Ian
Williams of Team Pindar and current number one match racer Adam
Minoprio and his BlackMatch. Peter Gilmour 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. Last but not least, Johnie Berntsson (SWE) has
confirmed his participation and has a history of giving all the Tour
regulars a run for their money.
Picture: www.maxcomm.ch
Eric Monnin, from Switzerland, will be the local sailor of the event.
Eighth last year, Monnin and his crew finished 3rd in 2007 and 6th in
2004. Their local knowledge of the lake will give them a slight
advantage over fellow 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.
AFG, UBS and the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel have confirmed their support to the event as main partners.
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