Kiwi Teams dominate World Match Cup Qualifier in Korea

by Jodie Bakewell-White

New Zealand teams performed strongly at the Korea Match Cup Qualifier just sailed in Gyeonggi-Do Province in Korea.

Waka Racing Team (Phil Robertson, Garth Ellingham, James Williamson, Sam Bell and Matt Randell) won the qualifying event as top placed team after the round robin and then no wind for racing on the final day.

“On the fourth and final day of the Korea Match Cup Qualifier, conditions weren’t perfect. It was super light, which held us on shore for an hour. Once on the race course it wasn’t any better,” says Waka Racing Team.

“After a long day of drifting around with no racing, the race officer abandoned racing at 3 o'clock. This meant, as top qualifiers in the round robin, we were given the regatta victory and entry to the Korea Match Cup 2010. This is a great result for the team but not the way we wanted to win the event.”

New Zealand teams also took second and third in the qualifier with Will Tiller and crew coming in second on equal points to the Waka Racing team, followed closely by Laurie Jury and his SLAM KiwiMatch crew in third place.

Adam Minoprio and his BlackMatch crew have automatic entry to the Korea Match Cup as 2009 World Match Racing Champions. Korea Match Cup 2010 is held over five days from 9th June to 13 June at Gyengok Marina, Hwasung City, Gyeonggi-Do.

Yachting New Zealand