MRT Defeat Louis Vuitton Champion at Sunseeker Australia Cup

by Kinley Fowler

In an ambtious move, MRT elected to race Louis Vuitton champions, Team Azzura helmed by Italian Francesco Bruni in the quarter finals of the Sunseeker Australia Cup.

The first to three point quarter final series went to 5 races with MRT finishing with 3 wins to Azzura's 2.

The Italians came out firing early on showing the local team why they had been crowned champions in Nice last week. With a fairly one sided course Bruni gained the advantage off the line in the first two races to comfortably sail to victory.

The Mirsky Racing Team composed themselves to come out in the third race to pick the shifts and defend an upwind assult by Azzura to keep them in the game.

Race four saw fireworks as Azzura was awarded a penalty on the first upwind for tacking too close to MRT, they maintained a slight lead throughout the race and chose to complete their penalty right on the finish line, unfortunately for Azzura, MRT was hot on their heels, and as Azzura was half way through their turn they collided with MRT 't-boning' them and resulting in the Italians receiving another
penalty awarding the race to the Aussies.

The damage caused in the incident also saw Azzura deducted a point for causing serious damage. This put the scores at 2-1 in favour of MRT.

With one more win needed to proceed to the next round, MRT dominated the prestart and held their lead throughout the course to finish off Azzura and eliminate them from the competition.

"It's great to be on the winning side of such an experienced and professional team, they made us work for those last three races and to go through to the next stage in front of a home crowd is such thrill and we hope there will be more people down on Perth Waters Sunday for the semi finals and finals" said Torvar Mirsky whilst enjoying the 'MRT Floating Bar' on Barrack St jetty.

Sunday MRT will choose their opponent in the semi finals out of local Keith Swinton and Black Swan Racing who knocked out current world champions Team Pindar today, world number one Adam Minoprio or triple gold medalist Ben Ainslie.

Sunday's racing promises to be a spectacle.

Results

MRT def Azzura 3-1 (point deduction to Azzura)
Black Swan Racing def Team Pindar 3-1
ETNZ Blackmatch def Team French Spirit 3-0
Team Origin def Waka Racing 3-1

5th Team Pindar
6th Azzura
7th Team French Spirit
8th Waka Racing
9th CYCA
10th KA Match

Mirsky Racing Team
Sunseeker Australia Cup