Monsoon Cup Results and Match information Day Two

10:20 AM Thu 4 Dec 2008 GMT

'Mirsky v Swinton' Sail-World.com/ AUS &copy Click Here to view large photo

Race day two in the 2008 Monsoon Cup. Flight reports and results follow -

Flight 4

Col v Richard
Result - Col d Richard
At the start Col tacked over to port and then Richard forced him to tack back. Col was then back on port and Richard sailing across to right hand side of the course. Both boats had good boat speed in the light airs. At their first cross Col had to duck Richard. At the first mark Richard was ahead by one boat length. By the bottom mark Richard had extended the lead to two boat lengths. Col headed out to the left-hand side of the course, but Richard still held the lead.

Ricahrd reported at the race end 'it was an interesting race. We had an equal start and got the right side. We were ahead. Col passed us on the second run. He got the pressure and covered us. After the gybe he did a good job of covering us.

'Obviously we need more wins. The current is difficult and the wind is very shifty. We are not sure where we are going wrong. We are sailing as well as we can.'

Cian v Minoprio
Both boats headed to right-hand side of the course before tacking. It was incredibly close racing.
Result - Cian d Minoprio

Nurul Ain v Mirsky
Result - Mirsky d Nurul Ain

Willams v Gilmour
It was a tight battle on start in the light airs with Gilmour getting an excellent start. Gilmour tacked away immediately to pick up right-hand tide. Williams followed. Gilmour appeared to have more pace lifting slowly. Williams then took a lift to get bow up. At the first cross Williams tacked away to avoid Gilmour. Williams was behind to leeward. They were neck to neck on the first work. At the top mark for the first time Williams took the inside with the boats seeming to touch. A penalty flag against Gilmour and Williams took the lead downwind. Williams then had to watch out for the rip in his spinnaker. Williams led the second work. Gilmour got an overlap and took the inside position, but not for long as Gilmour was forced to tack away. At the top mark Gilmour was behind. At the bottom mark again Williams still led as Gilmour took the right hand mark. Williams then took a left hand shift to extend his lead. Williams went around the top mark ahead by about five lengths.
Result - Williams b Gilmour
After the match Gilmour said on being told by the umpires he was penalised for luffing too hard at the top mark, 'I will have to check rule book tonight. I think he (Williams) sailed pretty nicely in that match'.

Flight 5

Mirsky v Cian
Mirsky starts this match with one race up winning against Nurul Ain.
Result - Cian d Mirsky
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Williams v Nurul Ain
This is the match between the veteran and the novice.
Result - Williams d Nurul Ain

Gilmour v Holmberg
Result - Holmberg d Gilmour

Minoprio v Swinton
Two young guns on the start line. Minoprio has more experience on the international circuit with Swinton coming to the Monsoon Cup after winning the Asian Championship. Minoprio went into this match one match down today when he lost to Cian.
Swinton copped a penalty at the start trying to get out of trouble as Minoprio got a confident start. Swinton got back into the game keeping a close cover on Minoprio. A luffing duel near the top mark ensued with Minoprio taking the advantage sneaking away from Swinton. Minoprio then led at the top mark by a matter of a few metres. Swinton still remained right in the game. By the bottom mark for the first time Minoprio continued to cover Swinton. It was very tight racing for these two young teams. Picking up the shift on the upwind leg, Swinton kept abeam of Minoprio. At the top mark again they were still neck and neck. Swinton was poised to attack taking the right hand side on the last work.
The last time around the top mark Minoprio opened his lead by about four boat lengths. But, Swinton seemed to be sailing down in a better breeze. However it was not enough to allow Swinton to challenge Minoprio. Swinton showed has the skill to be a great match racer in the future.
Result - Minoprio d Swinton

Flight 6

Holmberg v Williams
Result - Williams d Holmberg
Red Flag protest from Williams as he was carrying a sixth man, but Holmberg was not carrying a sixth person.
The match between Williams and Holmberg was re-sailed late in the afternoon after Williams protested the committee for allowing Holmberg to sail with a sixth man. Somewhere along the line the allocation of a VIP, or sixth man, did not happen for Williams boat. The frist match was sailed with Williams winning. But, on hearing the protest, the decision was made for a re-sail. The drama did not stop there with two huge collisions between the two boats in the pre-start doing nothing to help the tension between the two teams as they lined up for second attempt at their match race.

Minoprio v Gilmour
In pre-start manoeuvres, Minoprio and his Black Match Racing Team were outfoxed by the master Gilmour (Yanmar) and earned a green flag. Glmour went left at the start, whereas Minoprio headed directly to the centre of the course and out into the current. A short time later, Gilmour too headed towards the centre of the course, Minoprio crossing Gilmour, then both teams headed to the top mark for the first time. Minoprio rounded ahead of Gilmour and hoisted the kite. Minoprio held their kite better than Gilmour in the fluky breeze, Minoprio clearing out to a handy lead. Half way down the second leg Minoprio completed his penalty turn which enabled Gilmour to take the lead heading down to the bottom mark. Gilmour rounded ahead of Minoprio and both teams tacked and gybed back up the course in search of better breeze and current. Gilmour maintained the lead at the top mark and after a good spinnaker hoist headed towards the finish line. The length of Gilmour's lead varied on this last leg, a determined Minoprio never giving in. As they approached the finish line, Minoprio gained ground on Gilmour and forced Gilmour into a tactical battle right at the finish line. Minoprio gained the upper hand and crossed ahead of Gilmour, after what appeared to be an error by the Yanmar Racing Team while trying to hoist their spinnaker approaching the finish line.

Swinton v Ainslie
Result - Ainslie d Swinton

Nurul Ain v Berntsson
Result - Berntsson d Nurul Ain

Flight 7

Ainslie v Minoprio
Result - Minoprio d Ainslie
A dramatic start for Ainslie. Both teams were battling closely when they approached the start line close to the start boat. Minoprio pushed Ainslie from behind forcing him close to the boat. Battling the strong tide, Ainslie collected the anchor line on the start boat while Minoprio sailed away comfortably.
Minoprio reported at the end of the match, 'we were working our way back up to the line, trying to maintain a controlling position over him (Ainslie). He lead back to the line and the tide made him 30 seconds early. He tried to circle the start boat and by that stage the gun had gone so we started. We thought we were cutting it quite close to the boat. Next thing we saw was the anchor chain go tight and Ainslie hit the start boat.'

Berntsson v Gilmour
Result - Gilmour v Berntsson
Gilmour led off the start line, but struggled to keep a commanding position against Berntsson. Gilmnour held the tlead in the first downwind leg, just ahead by two boat lengths. At the bottom mark Gilmour increased his lead as they sailed through the tide in 12 knots. The second windward leg Berntsson picked up a better breeze getting more height and taking some distance out of Gilmour. But, Gilmour continued to hold the lead, just, to win the match.
Gilmour came into this match with only one win and three losses. This win will balance out the books a bit better.

Swinton v Col
Result - Swinton d Col
Swinton beat out Col for his first win of the event. This is a great result for a new person to the international match racing circuit against Col who is placed second on the leader board for the World Match Racing Championship.

Nurul Ain v Richard
Result - Richard de Nurul Ain

Flight 8

Nurul Ain v Col
Result - Col d Nurul Ain

Richard v Berntsson
Result - Berntsson d Richard

Gilmour v Cian
Result - Cian d Gilmour
Bright sunshine and good breeze greeted the two teams in this late afternoon match.
A 'must win' for Gilmour to stay in contention for the Monsoon Cup. Going into the match, Cian had six wins and one loss.
With one minute to go both skippers were circling around each other, in order to get the right hand advantage. Cian was on the lead from Gilmour, but Gilmour was holding him and had him under pressure. Glimour then made a costly mistake and hit the committee boat. Glimour and his Yanmar Racing crew pushed themselves clear of the committee boat but carried the penalty. Cian cleared away and just needed to sail his own race to win. Gilmour could not make up for his start line mistake and Cian went onto take an easy win.

Swinton v Mirsky
Result - Mirsky d Swinton
This was an all-West Australian match. Swinton must have gone into this match feeling more confident in his match racing skills after beating Sebastien Col in his last match. A tussle in the pre-start and the penalty was against Swinton.
A penalty to Mirsky right on the start offset the previous Swinton penalty. Swinton tacked right in front of Mirsky forcing Mirsky to tack away. Both them worked the shifts as they worked towards the top mark. At the top mark, Swinton lead around the mark by one boat length. Swinton gybed, but Mirsky sailed through him to take the lead on the first downwind leg. Another gybe by Swinton, but Mirsky was under control until Mirsky lost distance on the mark rounding. Then Swinton was back in the match. At the first cross in the second work Swinton had to duck Mirsky. Sailing very close to each other they swapped tacks right up the working leg. Mirsky was in control as Swinton wore the effect of sitting in Mirsky's bad breeze. At the top mark for the second time, Mirsky was around with only a boat length ahead. Mirsky defended his position in the final two legs to take out the match.

Flight 9

Gilmour v Richard
Result - Gilmour d Richard

Berntsson v Cian
Result - Cian d Berntsson
Cian came into this match with a four win score. Cian was in trouble on the start line with Berntsson tacking over to the right hand side, the favoured side. Berntsson had control over the match on the first leg sailing to windward and abeam of Cian. Cian luffed and Berntsson responded. Cian pulled away as to the left hand and Berntsson sailed into a soft patch. He pulled out of the soft patch and rounded the top mark first in shifty breezes. Cian closed the gap to shadow Berntsson who responded with a covering gybe. At the bottom mark for the first time Cian had a slow rounding ensuring Berntsson was able to hold the lead. Cian lucked a shift to pick up the lead on the second work. Downhill Berntsson closed the gap on Cian, staying within shouting distance of each other. Close enough to make a difference with a clever tactical call. Too late for Berntsson as Cian took match.

Swinton v Williams
Result - Swinton d Williams

Mirsky v Holmberg
Result - Mirsky d Holmberg

Flight 10

Cian v Swinton
Result - Cain d Swinton

Holmberg v Berntsson
Result - Holmberg d Berntsson

Minoprio v Mirsky
Result - Minoprio d Mirsky

Ainslie v Williams
Result - Williams d Ainslie

Flight 11

Berntsson v Mirsky
Results - Mirsky d Berntsson

Willams v Minoprio
Results - Minoprio d Williams

Col v Holmberg
Result - Col d Holmberg
Interesting pre-start manoeuvres and with just 100 metres to the committee boat, Holmberg rounded in front of Sebastien Col. With 35 seconds to go, both boats appeared to be early approaching the start line. Holmberg tacked to use up time, Holmberg was very close to the line, hanging on and crossing. Both boats were clear at the start, with Col winning it by about half a boat length.
Holmberg went right, but Col got the better of his competitor as the wind shifted.
Holmberg found good pressure and got a lift, closing the gap on Col.
Suddenly Col got the lift and powered away, but then Holmberg got another shift on the left.
Going into the mark Col led by a boat length and a half, the current pushing both boats down. Holmberg gybed trying to gain an advantage, but Col appeared to pull away.
Holmberg did not give an inch and he attacked and gybed, causing Col's spinnaker to collapse. Col dropped his spinnaker ahead of Holmberg, Col then heading to the right hand mark. Holmberg gained the advantage in good pressure.
Col came back at Holmberg, but Holmberg chose to stay on the left believing he had the better breeze. Col suddenly lost his breeze, allowing Holmberg to close the gap even further. Col was still ahead by two boat lengths as they headed to the windward mark. Holmberg squeezed around the mark but Col took a more direct route, rounding and hoisting his spinnaker, then pulling away from his rival.
Col extended his lead and half way down the last leg Col was well ahead of his rival.
With less than 200 metres to the finish, Col was in control and crossed the line first.
It was Sebastien Col and his French Sailing Team/K Challenge crew's fourth win of the regatta.

Nurul Ain v Ainslie
Result - Ainslie d Nurul Ain
Not a great day for Ainslie and his star studded crew. A gear failure on his boat caused his jib to fall down, and as they headed to the finish Ainslie was just three boat lengths ahead of his rival, Nurul Ain. Ainslie managed to hang on and take the match.

Holmberg v Williams resail (due to sixth person onboard in previous encounter).
Result - Subject to Protest. Holmberg d Williams
Williams had to win this resail to stay in contention for the Monsoon Cup.
In the prestart, Williams immediately showed his determination to win and had Holmberg on the ropes.
Suddenly there was a huge collision between the two, resulting in damage to the boats. Williams was given the penalty. Unbelievably they crashed into each other again, this time Holmberg incurring the penalty.
Williams came into the start line with momentum, held his nerve and swerved through to take the start.
Williams got a lift on the left, but there was nothing between the two as they traded tacks heading up the course, Holmberg to windward.
At the top mark for the first time, Holmberg was ahead of Williams and after a good spinnaker hoist, extended his lead.
After two ordinary gybes by Holmberg, Williams started to gain ground and put the pressure on Holmberg. At the mark Holmberg was only just ahead.
Holmberg however gained the upper hand and headed to the top mark in a dominant position.
Magnus Holmberg and his Victory Challenge crew held their position and took the win from Ian Williams and his Bahrain Team Pindar crew.
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A summary report of today's racing will be available on www.monsooncup.com.myat the end of today.
Check out the live vision on www.sail.tv.

Asia's ESPN Star Sport telecast each night at 10.30pm highlights from the day's racing. Other broadcasters showing race day reports and highlights are: (check your local guide for times.):
Eurosport - Europe
Sky New Zealand - NZ
Showtime Arabia - Middle East (Dubai)
Setanta - UK/Ireland
SuperSports Network TV - Germany
Eurosport Asia - Pacific
American 1 Sports TV - USA
Eurosport.com - International and China
Sports Max Caribe
Eurovision - Switzerland/U.K
BT Vision - UK
Viasat VOD - Europe
Al Jazeera - International
Moto TV - Egypt
Euro News - Europe

by Tracey Johnstone and Al Constable