Sea, Sail & Surf news
World Match Racing Tour
Ian Williams wins Monsoon Cup and world title
"We are absolutely blown away. Today we thought we had a speed edge"
dimanche 2 décembre 2007 –
“What a fantastic event,” said Williams, "We are absolutely blown away. Today we thought we had a speed edge and so we could put the pressure on when we were behind. The conditions were pretty tricky but in all honesty have been brilliant for the past four days."
The finals started right on time in 12-14 knots and sunny skies. In Race 1, Gilmour made an unforced error and copped a penalty in the pre-start. However, he lead the entire way around the three lap course and with only a 40 meter lead tried to unload his penalty on the finish line to win the race. However, it was not enough as Williams crossed ahead by half a boat length.
In Race 2, Gilmour lead from the start and never relinquished the lead showing his skill and confidence in a World Tour final. Race 3, saw the most spirited race of the match. Williams copped a penalty in the pre-start but lead around the first lap. Near the first leeward mark Williams tried to luff Gilmour and push him off the course. Williams then faked a gybe to the mark and then headed back at Gilmour now on port. Gilmour was not ready for the move and copped the penalty which offset the penalty Williams already had. However the umpires had determined that Gilmour who had now rounded ahead an inside gained an advantage through the foul and gave him another penalty which cost him the race. A boisterous Gilly, had a few choice words for the umpires during the race.
In the 4th and final race, Williams drew a penalty on Gilmour in the pre-start and then lead the entire way around the course to take the win and the coveted Monsoon Cup. While regatta organizer, Dato’ Peter Gilmour has had probably more time in the racing yachts than anyone else on the World Tour, Ian Williams out maneuvered him in some close pre-start and mark rounding situations.
“Today we were simply not good enough," said Peter Gilmour "Ian sailed well but we certainly helped to open the door, which at this level you just can’t do."
In the petit-finals Bjorn Hansen and Paolo Cian went to the final race to decide 3rd & 4th places. In the final race they stayed within two boat lengths of each other throughout their race for third place in the Monsoon Cup. Paolo Cian was overlapped with Bjorn Hansen at the finish, but it just wasn’t enough. Bjorn Hansen took third place in the Monsoon Cup and Cian and Team Shosholosa were fourth. Cian’s Team Shosholosa also claimed the World Match Racing Tour World Match Racing Tour #WMRT ’s third place trophy for his finish in the Petit Final.
“This has been an incredible season and World Championship” commented, World Tour President, Scott MacLeod “After 15 stages around the world, to have this championship come down to one race with three potential winners is fantastic for the sport”
Along with the Monsoon Cup, Williams and his Pindar Racing Team were awarded the ISAF Match Racing World Championship Trophy designed by Wedgwood by ISAF Vice-President David Kellet and the Prime Minister of Malaysia. Williams graciously thanked the organizers, particularly Dato’ Peter Gilmour, for putting on a tremendous show at the Heritage Bay Club in Terengganu, Malaysia.
Overall Standings
1st Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar - 250,000.00 MYR ($100,000)
2nd Dato’ Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST - 150,000.00 MYR
3rd Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Team Apport.Net - 100,000.00 MYR
4th Paolo Cian (ITA) Shosholoza - 90,000.00 MYR
5th Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team - 80,000.00 MYR
6th Mathieu Richard (FRA) Saba Sailing Team - 70,000.00 MYR
7th Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing - 60,000.00 MYR
8th Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing - 56,000.00 MYR
9th Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team - 46,000.00 MYR
10th Sebastien Col (FRA) Areva Challenge - 46,000.00 MYR
11th Katie Spithill (AUS) Team Acuity - 30,000.00 MYR
12th Tiffany Koo (MAS) UK Halsey Gapurna Team - 28,000.00 MYRDans la même rubrique
World Match Racing Tour : Peter Holmberg wins in Malaysia
World Match Racing Tour : First win in championship for Sébastien Col
World Match Racing Tour : Dickson pips Holmberg for Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour : Gilmour secures third match race Germany
