Mirsky Racing Team: winners of the Troia Portugal Match Cup 2009. Image copyright Wander Roberto/World Match Racing Tour.
by Kinley Fowler
It seems to have been a long time coming, but the Mirsky Racing Team blasted through the final stages of the Troia Portugal Match Cup yesterday to take out the title 2-0 over ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing of New Zealand. After being picked by the top qualifier, Mathieu Richard of the French Match Racing Team for their semi final showdown, MRT came into the day with all guns blazing - taking the French team down in the first 2 races, and qualifying for the finals.
Mirsky Racing Team on course to victory in the Troia Portugal Match Cup 2009. Image copyright Wander Roberto/World Match Racing Tour.
Adam Minoprio of ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing also qualified, taking down current World Champions Bahrain Team Pindar in the third and final race of their semi final series, giving MRT the final they had been hanging out for. "We have a great rivalry with Adam and his team" said Torvar, "and both our teams have wanted to race off in a Tour final for a while now, so it was really a dream come true to get to race them and take them down!"
MRT sail through to victory. Image copyright Wander Roberto/World Match Racing Tour.
Although the scorecard doesn't show it, the racing was incredibly tight, with both teams throwing everything they had at it. The second race saw ETNZ/BlacMatch Racing come off the line with a slight advantage, but MRT maintained the starboard advantage, and managed to squeeze ahead at the first top mark with the kiwis snapping at their heels. "On the final downwind, we were making some big gains." said Dave Swete of ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing "we knew we didn't have enough to win it, but it was good fun to give the guys a scare."
This is the first World Match Racing Tour win for the young Aussies, but with Match Cup Sweden coming up next week in their favoured boats - the DS37's, it could be just the first of many.
MRT is proudly supported by Line7, Harken and the Royal Perth Yacht Club.
Torvar Mirsky enjoys the victory Champagne. Image copyright Wander Roberto/World Match Racing Tour.
Final Results:
1st Mirsky Racing Team (Torvar Mirsky) AUS
2nd ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing (Adam Minoprio) NZL
3rd Bahrain Team Pindar (Ian Williams) GBR
4th French Match Racing Team (Mathieu Richard) FRA
5th French Match Racing Team (Philipe Presti) FRA
6th Yanmar Racing (Peter Gilmour) AUS
7th French Match Racing Team (Sebastien Col) FRA
8th Team OnBoard (Bjorn Hansen) SWE
9th Waka Racing (Phil Robertson) NZL
10th Seth Sailing Team (Alvaro Marinho) POR
11th Team Proximo (Ian Ainslie) RSA
12th (Andrew Arbuzov) RUS
A triumphant Mirsky Racing Team. Image copyright Wander Roberto/World Match Racing Tour.
Mirsky Racing Team
World Match Racing Tour
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