WMRT Fremantle, WA (2nd March 2016) The strong breezes of the Fremantle Doctor delivered a fast start to the opening day of the 2016 World Match Racing Tour season today in Fremantle, WA.
The idyllic Western Australian coastal town of Fremantle saw 20 international crews begin their fast and furious battle for supremacy in the M32 catamarans, a giant leap from the more sedate keelboats traditionally associated with world-class match racing.
However, the first two days are all about whittling down the 20 teams to the last 16 with a series of short, sharp fleet races, with the teams divided into four qualifying groups of five.
With the fast-reaching starts – another major change to the traditional format of the World Match Racing Tour – the premium on making a quick and pinpoint accurate start is higher than ever.
Reigning world champion Ian Williams and his crew on GAC Pindar pulled the trigger earlier than their competitors, and just a second too early for the start gun. The British crew was forced to furl the gennaker and wait for the fleet to cruise past before the umpires released them from their painful starting penalty. At this stage the morning breeze was still soft and fickle. Williams played the classic back marker’s card of desperation – or inspiration – gybing away from the pack in search of something different. The six-time match racing World Champion was rewarded with an extra gust of wind on his side of the course, to sail from last to first by the bottom gate marks. From then on Williams defended his new-found lead to win his first race, and then won his next two.
|
GROUP A
|
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | PTS | |||||
| 1 | Ian Williams | GAC Pindar | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | |||
| 2 | Nicolai Sehested | TREFOR Match Racing Team | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | |||
| 3 | Sally Barkow | Team Magenta 32 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |||
| 4 | Evan Walker | KA Match / CYCA | 2 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | |||
| 5 | Steven Thomas | Royal Perth Yacht Club | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 |
|
GROUP B
|
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | PTS | |||||
| 1 | Taylor Canfield | US One | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | |||
| 2 | Mattias Rahm | Rahm Racing | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 12 | |||
| 3 | Murray Jones | Full Bants Racing | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 22 | |||
| 4 | Chris Steele | 36 Below Racing | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 23 | |||
| 5 | Joachim Aschenbrenner | Royal Danish Yacht Club | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
|
GROUP C
|
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | PTS | |||||
| 1 | Phil Robertson | WAKA Racing | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | |||
| 2 | Hans Wallén | Wallén Racing | 3 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 13 | |||
| 3 | Yann Guichard | Spindrift Racing | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 14 | |||
| 4 | Matt Jerwood | Redline Racing | 2 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 20 | |||
| 5 | Mark Whittington | South of Perth Yacht Club | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 24 |
|
GROUP D
|
R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | PTS | |||||
| 1 | Nicklas Dackhammar | Dackhammar Racing | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 9 | |||
| 2 | Keith Swinton | Black Swan Racing | 5 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 16 | |||
| 3 | Eric Monnin | Albert Riele Swiss Match Race Team | 4 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 17 | |||
| 4 | Brett Burville | Edge Racing Team NYC/JBSC | 2 | 5 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 19 | |||
| 5 | Sam Gilmour | Neptune Racing | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 21 |
Related posts:
www.everysailrace.se