7:25 PM Thu 1 Apr 2010 GMT
The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the premium global match racing series, culminating in crowning the ISAF Match Racing World Champion at the end of 10 international events. This year's Tour will be starting next week in Marseille with 'Match Race France' running from 6 - 11 April at Yacht Club Pointe Rouge.
This is the second time that Marseille has hosted the WMRT; the area is blessed with excellent match racing courses and is a much loved destination for global stars of the sailing world. The is a diverse range of competitors, including; young hot shot, Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team legend Bertrand Pac? (FRA) Aleph Sailing and WMRT top standing regular, Mathieu Richard (FRA).
Marseille will be catering to the local Tour fans, as well as the general public; the racing will be free to view from just fifty metres off Escale Borely Beach and depending on weather conditions, the boats will be within touching distance of the break water.
Dimitri Deruelle, Off-shore Commission YCPR and match racing coach stated, 'New for 2010, we will have the finals weekend dedicated to an entertainment village at Escale Borely Beach, the public will have a range of on-shore activities available to them, from remote control boats, to a knots workshop and free access to a spectator boat, as well as being able to follow the match racing duels live on the giant outdoor screen with 3D virtual images and commentary by professional match racers. The daily action will be rounded off by a public press conference with the racing skippers so everyone can really understand firsthand the thrills of on-the-water wins and losses'
Match Race France's competitor line-up includes twelve skippers from six different nations. The racing will be intense, with the current top five 2009 WMRT standing skippers attending, as well as others, such as Italian Francesco Bruni who will be racing fresh from his recent win at the Congressional Cup and is a hot favourite for Marseille.
The unique strength of the Tour, is that it involves match racers from across the spectrum of the sport, introducing the new generation to the highs of racing against the seasoned pros.
Match Race France, Official Skipper Line Up:
Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Teamorigin
Peter Gilmour (AUS) Yanmar Racing
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
S?bastien Col (FRA) All4One
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia
Philippe Presti (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzura
Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA)
Bertrand Pac? (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team
Gian Luca Perris (MON)
Some new faces that Tour fans will be keen to get to know during the series, running from April through to December include; Western Australia's Torvar Mirsky, at just 24 years old and from a non-sailing family, Torvar has already achieved Junior Mirror World Champion position and has more recently dedicated himself to the discipline of 'boat on boat' quick thinking match racing action.
Adam Minoprio, current ISAF Match Racing World Champion appreciates the power of the Tour for international match racing virgins, 'the Tour is a great springboard for all sailors but as they say, you have to walk before you can run, and it is this entrance opportunity that is incredibly rare in the elite match racing world, that is very much advocated through annual wild cards offered to those who deserve to experience certain events and show their skills.'
Peter Gilmour, Acting President of World Match Racing Tour commented, 'The World Match Racing Tour has already developed considerably since the start of 2010. We now have a new Asian based ownership, an adjusted Tour Card entry system, an additional event venue in Vietnam, improved website and an annual awards programme dedicated to not only the sailors, but all the organisers that make WMRT events possible.
We are now keen to get Match Race France started this April and are looking forward to the Tour being the topic of conversation for the next nine months, across ten events all over the world. I wish each team the best of luck for their 2010 racing and may the very best team win!'
2010 Tour Card Holders
Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch - ISAF Match Racing World Champion (2009)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team - Finished second in 2009
Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin - Finished third in 2009
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzura
Peter Gilmour (AUS) Yanmar Racing
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain
Tour Standings in 2009
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 138 Points
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 97 Points
3. Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin 95 Points
4. Peter Gilmour (AUS) Yanmar 93 Points
5. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team Racing 89 Points
6. Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain 83 Points
7. Sebastian Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team 55 Points
8. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 48 Points
by WMRT.com
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