WMRT: First Skippers Announced for St Moritz Match Race 2009

2008 King of the Mountain, Mathieu Richard and crew. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/World Match Racing Tour.

by Susi Baillods

The date and the first skippers for the St. Moritz Match Race 2009 have been set. From 1 to 6 September 2009 the world’s best skippers will be sailing to capture the crown, “King of the Mountains”. Back this year, among others, is last year’s champion, Mathieu Richard and the two previous Kings, Ian Williams (2007) and Paolo Cian (2006).

The first sailors for the St. Moritz Match Race have been announced. The World Match Racing Tour has made some changes to the rules of the Match Racing World Championship. The Tour has decided to fix six top skippers: Ian Williams (GBR), Sebastien Col (FRA), Mathieu Richard (FRA), Adam Minoprio (NZL), Paolo Cian (ITA), Torvar Mirsky (AUS) will be at the start for the St. Moritz Match Race 2009.

Two more skippers will be invited by the World Match Racing Tour. Another two will compete for one place at two Qualifier events (the Swiss Championship Match Racing Lugano and the Open Espana in Calpe). The Tour will give a wildcard to another two and finally, the St. Moritz organising committee will invite a pair. As every year, starting places in St. Moritz are coveted – Alinghi skipper Ed Baird has already expressed his interest in participating. “We welcome the new Invite Policy of the World Tour and are pleased that half of the field has been set so early in the year with the world’s best,” explained Christian Scherrer, head of the St. Moritz Match Race organising committee. “This will guarantee a top-class line-up for the seventh St. Moritz Match Race.”

The calendar for the World Match Racing Tour is now official. The St. Moritz Match Race will take place from 1 to 6 September 2009. And a new event, the Marseille International Match Race, has been added to the Tour calendar.

The St. Moritz Match Race organising committee is pleased to continue the coorperation with trusted partner AFG. UBS and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel remain the main event sponsors.

St Moritz Match Race
World Match Racing Tour