Mirsky Racing Team sit comfortably after Day 1 in Portugal

11:16 PM Wed 17 Jun 2009 GMT

'Mirsky Racing Team prepare for the start in Troia Portugal Match Cup' Mirsky Racing Team &copy Click Here to view large photo

After completing five matches in light winds, and strong tide, MRT have notched up three wins and two losses at the Troia Portugal Match Cup, putting them in good stead for the remaining races of the round robin.

MRT's most nerve racking race was against Blackmatch (Adam Minoprio).

Blackmatch won the prestart with MRT having to return from the oncourse side of the line. Blackmatch continued out to the left side of the course where MRT saw a glimpse of a right hand shift early on, backing their judgement paid off in the end as MRT extended to quite a large lead in the shifty conditions.

MRT went on to take the race against their young rivals from across the Tasman.

'In these shifty conditions its actually quite hard to defend a large lead, its almost easier being two boat lengths ahead so you can block every move they throw at you, but when you have 50degree wind shifts they can catch up quite easily' commented MRT trimmer Kinley Fowler after the tough days racing.

Tomorrow the race committee will aim to complete the round robin, but with light winds forecasted again it may be another long day on the water at the 2009 Portugal Match Cup.

A special thanks to Line7, Harken and the Royal Perth Yacht Club for their support.

Results:

Yanmar Racing - Peter Gilmour AUS 5-0
French Match Racing Team - Phillip Presti FRA 4-1
Team French Spirit - Mathieu Richard) FRA 4-1
Bahrain Team Pindar - Ian Williams GBR 3-2
Mirsky Racing Team - Torvar Mirsky AUS 3-2
ETNZ Blackmatch - Adam Minoprio NZL 3-2
K-Challenge - Seb Col FRA 3-2
Team Onboard - Bjorn Hansen SWE 2-3
Waka Racing - Phil Robertson NZL 2-3
Ian Ainslie RSA - 1-4
Seth Sailing - Alvaro Marinio POR 0-5
Andrew Arbuzov RUS - 0-5

For more information please visit www.mirskyracingteam.net

by Mirsky Racing Team media