Knickerbocker Cup - Corbett leads

9:29 PM Sun 30 Aug 2009 GMT

'Knickerbocker Cup' Paula Davis

2009 Knickerbocker Cup, and after the fourth round of the six-team quarter finals Reuben Corbett (NZ), Black Sheep Racing, leads with four wins, followed by Phil Robertson (NZ), Waka Racing, with three wins, leaving Keith Swinton (AUS), Black Swan Match Racing, Dave Perry (USA), Team Perry, with two wins each, and Anna Tunnicliffe (USA), Gus, and Rick Fornander (SWE) with one win each. Sunday morning's last flight in the quarter finals is crucial as it will determine which three teams will advance to the semis along with Corbett, who has already secured a spot.

When the Knickerbocker Cup began, we knew the competition would be tight, a prediction that proved to be correct. By mid day on Saturday, at the end of the full round robin, Chief Umpire Bruce Cook and the Race Committee had to break two four-way ties. Speaking of the teams competing this year, Cook commented, 'These ties reflect the quality and closeness of the competition here at the Knickerbocker Cup.'

Once the ties were broken and team position determined, racing continued with the semi finals which also were cliff hangers. One team was black flagged after committing two penalties in the pre-start, followed by hitting the Committee Boat. Finishes were extremely close with a delta of a few seconds in several matches.

Wind conditions on Manhasset Bay were great in the afternoon with winds sustained at 12 knots with gusts to 15, which resulted in fast action, exciting mark roundings, and a masterful display of boat handling.

Sunday will be match racing at its best. With competition this fierce, and the stakes so high, one minor mistake will make or break a team's getting into the finals. Sometimes there is an obvious front runner to win the Cup by the last day of racing, but not this year. You can bet that no one will be willing to call 'a winner' until the very end. That's the beauty of match racing.

Results after 4 of 5 Flights in Quarter Finals

1. Reuben Corbett (NZ) 4-0
2. Phil Robertson (NZ) 3-1
3. Dave Perry (USA) 2-2
3. Keith Swinton ((AUS) 2-2
5. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) 1-3
6. Rick Fornander (SWE) 0-4

Results of the Full Round Robin:

1. Dave Perry (USA) 9-2
2. Anna Tunnicliffe (USA) 7-4
3. Keith Swinton (AUS) 7-4
4. Phil Robertson (NZ) 7-4
5. Rick Fornander (SWE) 7-4
6. Reuben Corbett (NZ) 6-5
7. Sally Barkow (USA) 5-6
8. Taylor Canfield (ISV) 5-6
9. Laurie Jury (NZ) 5-6
10. Chris Van Tol (USA) 5-6
11. Juan Ignacio Grimaldi (ARG) 3-7
12. Jakub Pawluk (POL) 0-12

For more information: click here

by Andrea Watson

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Knickerbocker Cup - Corbett leads

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