CONSOLATION FOR THE W.A. BOYS - 27th April 2008
 
By John Roberson

Torvar Mirsky and his W.A. crew can take some comfort from a fifth place finish in the Brazil Sailing Cup, that concluded in Vitoria, Brazilon Saturday.

They were bundled out of the event in the quarter-finals by the eventual winners, Italian Paolo Cian and his crew from the South African Shosholoza America's Cup challenge, a vastly experienced skipper and crew.

Taking fifth place, all of those who beat them, and some of those below them on the leaderboard could be regarded as the "old guard",sailors who have been around for a while.

Certainly all those who finished ahead of the Royal Perth Yacht Club boys have well funded sponsorship packages, as do at least three of those behind him.

Torvar and his crew of Graeme Spence, Tudur Owen, KinleyFowler and Matty Adams, have no sponsorship, so the U.S. $13,500 (Aus $14,460) prize money should just about cover their airfares and accommodation.

It would be a disappointment to this young and eager team,that their chances to sail against other skippers and gain more experience would have been terminated by their elimination at the quarter-finals.

Their next event on the World Match Racing Tour is MatchRace Germany, at Langenargen on Lake Constance in Germany from 7thto 12th May.

FINAL RESULTS:

1. Paolo Cian - $36,000
2. Bjorn Hansen - $21,000
3. Ian Williams - $18,000
4. Magnus Holmberg - $15,000
5= Torvar Mirsky - $13,500
5= Mattias Rahm - $13,500
7. Pierre Antoine Morvan - $10,500
8. Peter Wibroe - $9000
9. Adam Minoprio - $7500
10. Henrique Haddad - $6000
11. Juan Grimalidi
12. DanielGlomb