Sunday 7 September 2008

Adam Minoprio Rises Up World Tour Rankings; Williams Extends Overall Lead


Ian Williams (Team Pindar, GBR), current World Match Racing Tour leader. Image copyright Mark Lloyd/World Match Racing Tour.

by SailRaceWin

After the sixth event in the 2008 World Tour Match Racing, New Zealand's Adam Minoprio has risen up the rankings, from 11th to joint 7th place overall, with Paolo Cian. Britain's Ian Williams has extended his overall lead to 20 points over second placed French skipper Mathieu Richard, who overtakes compatriot Sebastien Col by five points on the leader board after Richard's win in St Moritz.

Australia's Torvar Mirsky is in fourth place on the 2008 World Tour, with 45 points, while Sweden's Bjorn Hansen is fifth, on 40 points. Adam Minoprio and the BlackMatch Racing Team have 33 points, one less than the 2008 Match Cup Sweden winner, Mattias Rahm.

The 2008 World Match Race Tour consists of 9 events in different countries around the world. The top 5 event placings are used to make up a skipper's total score towards the rankings.

With 25 points on offer for the winner of each event, Ian Williams could still potentially be beaten by even the twelfth placed Damien Iehl. The Tour remains wide open, despite Williams' current 20-point lead.


The Championship Trophy of the World Match Racing Tour, from sponsor Wedgwood. Image copyright Guido Cantini/Sea&See.

There are currently nineteen teams with points on the World Match Racing Tour scoreboard. Five of these teams are from France, including two of the top three, showing how seriously the French are taking their match racing. Given this, it is perhaps surprising that there are no World Match Racing Tour events located in France this year, although Marseille International Match Race acts as a qualifying event for Match Cup Sweden. Then again, there are no events in Britain, despite a British team leading the Tour.

There are three more events on the 2008 World Match Racing Tour; the Portugal Match Cup this month, the Bermuda Gold Cup in October, and the Monsoon Cup in December. Adam Minoprio and BlackMatch are competing in all three events.

World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top 12)

1st Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar 92 points
2nd Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit 72 points
3rd Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge 67 points
4th Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 45 points
5th Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team 40 points
6th Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team 34 points
7th= Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing 33 points
7th= Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza 33 points
9th Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Mascalzone Latino/Trifork Racing 32 points
10th Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge 31 points
11th Peter Wibroe (DEN) Team Wibroe 26 points
12th Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25 points

BlackMatch Racing
World Match Racing Tour

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