Ian Williams (GBR), with crew Andy Estcourt (NZL) and Mark Nicholls (GBR), defeated a former winner, Mark Mendelblatt (USA), 3-2 in a thrilling final to be crowned King of the Mountain on St Moritzersee in 2007. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/www.myimage.ch
by SailRaceWin and Yvonne Reid
Strong Line-up for St Moritz Match Race
The sixth event in the 2008 World Match Racing Tour commences in St Moritz, Switzerland, today, with a practice day for the crews, and runs until 7th September. The entrants have been divided into two groups for Round Robins, based on the ISAF match race rankings of 6th June 2008.
Round Robin Group A is comprised of: Mathieu Richard (FRA), Sebastien Col (FRA), Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Philippe Presti (FRA), Eric Monnin (SUI) and Michael Hestbaek (DEN). There should be some good racing in this half-French group.
To SailRaceWin, Round Robin Group B looks slightly tougher: Ian Williams (GBR), Paolo Cian (ITA), Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Adam Minoprio (NZL), Peter Wibroe (DEN) and Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN). Both Williams (2007) and Cian (2006) have won the St Moritz Match Race, and been crowned 'King of the Mountain', before.
Ian Williams, accompanied by Andy Estcourt and Mark Nicholls, lifts the King of the Mountain trophy at the prizegiving in St Moritz in 2007. Image copyright Max Ranchi/www.maxranchi.com
Crew List for St Moritz Match Race 2008
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team / French Spirit
Crew: Greg Evrad, Olivier Herledant, Jean Marie Dauris
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar
Crew: Mark Nicholls, Richard Sydenham, Gerard Mitchell
Paolo Cian (ITA) Shosholoza
Crew: Teva Plichart, Pierluigi de Felice, Pierluigi Fornelli
Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team / K Challenge
Crew: Christophe André, Gilles Favennec, Fred Guilmin
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team
Crew: Anders Jönsson, Fredrik Ekman, Mathias Bredin
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Crew: Graeme Spence, Tudur Owen, Kinley Fowler
Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing / Team New Zealand
Crew: Tom Powrie, Nick Blackman, Dave Swete
Philippe Presti (FRA) French Match Racing Team / French Spirit
Crew: Erwan Israel, Julien Falxa, Gilles André
Eric Monnin (SUI) search.ch
Crew: Jean-Claude Monnin, Marc Monnin, Simon Brügger
Peter Wibroe (DEN) Wibroe Sailing Team
Crew: Jeppe Rasmussen, Phillip Guhle, Fredrik Aurell
Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Mascalzone Latino / Trifork Team
Crew: Mads Ebler, Chris Keene, Frederik Sparvath
Michael Hestbaek (DEN) Team Hestbaek
Crew: Peter Poulsen, Thomas Hartvig, Niels Gramkov
This year, the St Moritz Match Race uses a new boat for the competition. Some crews, including Tour leader, Ian Williams, have already test-sailed the Blu26.
Blu26 One Design
The Blu26 sail plan has been adapted for the Swiss Lakes and uses a 21 m2 Mainsail, 19 m2 Genoa and 14 m2 Jib. Image copyright Max Ranchi.
The Blu26 One Design was designed by Naval Architect Christian Bolinger for Bluboats in Switzerland. The architect worked closely together with Match Racing Sailor and St. Moritz Match Race event organiser Christian Scherrer.
The goal was to produce an easy transportable boat which is optimised for Match Racing, but can also be used for Fleet Racing and Corporate Sailing. With a weight of 1,2 tons and a deck layout like a bigger yacht the Blu26 is also meant to develop new talent in Switzerland for the international Match Racing Circuit.
The 8 metre sport boat is raced with a crew of 4. Its sail plan is adapted for the Swiss Lakes and uses a 21 m2 Mainsail, 19 m2 Genoa and 14 m2 Jib. The Class Boat has a Masthead Spinnaker with 71 m2. For Match Racing a Fractional Spinnaker with 54 m2 is used.
Ian Williams test sails the Blu26 on St Moritzersee. Image copyright Max Ranchi.
The Blu26 is not only used at the St. Moritz Match Race but also at different stages of the national Swiss Match Racing Tour which counts for the Swiss Match Racing Championship as a Qualifier event for St. Moritz Match Race.
SPECIFICATIONS
LOA — 8 m
LWL — 7.19 m
Beam — 2.20
Draft — 1.80 m
Displacement — 1200 kg
Mainsail — 21 m2
Genoa — 19 m2
Jib — 14 m2
Spinnaker — 54 m2 for Match Racing / 71 m2 Class
St Moritz Match Race
World Match Racing Tour
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