Close racing at the Swiss Match Racing Championships 2009. Image copyright Juerg Kaufmann/Go4Image. All rights reserved. The Swiss Match Racing Championship uses the Blu 26 keelboat, as used in the St Moritz Match Race.
by Theo Naef
The final of the Swiss Match Race Tour 2008 saw an unexpected head to head between Portugal and the United States. Alvaro Marinho (POR) of Seth Sailing Team defeated Sally Barkow (USA) to gain his entry to the St Moritz Match Race.
After terminating the Round Robin at the end of Saturday’s racing, Eric Monnin (SUI), Ian Ainslie (RSA), Alvaro Marinho (POR) and Sally Barkow (USA) started the semi-finals at the Circolo Velico Lago di Lugano on Sunday morning with good weather conditions. Leading the Round Robin the young Swiss competitor had his pick of the bunch of the semi finalists and he chose to go up against Sally Barkow. A surprising choice considering he had lost against her in the previous round.
The Olympic Yngling sailor and her all girl team won the semi-final match, sending Monnin to the petite final. In the other semi final Ian Ainslie, the predominant favourite, lost his match against Portugal’s Alvaro Marinho to set up the Portugal vs USA final.
With the wind conditions failing the final was cut short and won by Alvaro Marinho and his Seth Sailing Team, defeating Barkow 2-0. The Portugese competitor will now go on to compete in the St Moritz Match Race in September where he will meet the best teams of the World Match Racing Tour.
World Match Racing Tour
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