WMRT: Quarterfinalists Decided in Bermuda

It’s filet or feathers from this point on. Walker (BDA) v. Monnin (SUI), Mirsky (AUS) v. Ainslie (GBR), Williams (GBR) v. Berntsson (SWE) and Richard (FRA) v. Minoprio (NZL) battle it out in the ‘knockout’ first-to-three quarter-finals

by Talbot Wilson, with results update from SailRaceWin

From this point on, Argo Group Gold Cup action centres on the knockout first-skipper-to-three, quarter, semi and final stages. Repechage Flights 3, 4 and 5 were sailed first today to decide the final two of the eight teams that moved up the ladder toward the $50,000 first place prize or even a share of the $100,000 total purse.

Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team came through that round robin with a perfect 5-0 score. and now faces the unbeaten Ben Ainslie in quarter-final Match 2. Mirsky is the top ranked skipper on the world Match Racing Tour. Course conditions saw an early light and shifty northerly breeze fill in nicely as the morning racing moved into the second flight of the day. Mirsky was in top form and will need to continue at that level to move past Ainslie

Bermudian Blythe Walker and his Max Re team pulled a stunning gybe at the finish of their final repechage match against the young Kiwi Phil Robertson. Walker won by just a metre and went 3-2. He will face Eric Monnin (SUI) Search.ch who was first in Group 1 in the first quarterfinal Match.



Quarter-final Match 3 will feature two Gold Cup champions - Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team and Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar sponsored by Argo Group. Williams is the reigning champion of the World Match Racing Tour and Berntsson is the reigning Gold cup champ.

Match 4 of the quarter-finals features Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing skipper Adam Minoprio (NZL) against 2007 King Edward VII Gold Cup winner Mathieu Richard (FRA) representing the French Match Racing Team. Minoprio is the top skipper in the ISAF rankings.

Competition in Stage 2 quarter-finals, begins immediately, following the boat draw scheduled for 11:30 a.m. The quarter-final round consists of head-to-head match race sailing with the first skipper winning three points to knock out the other and move into the semi-finals.

Results Update

Currently, in the quarterfinals, Monnin is 2-0 up against Walker; Ainslie 2-0 up against Mirsky; Williams 2-0 up aganist Berntsson, and Minoprio 2-0 up against Richard.

World Match Racing Tour