WMRT: The ISAF World Match Racing Tour Developing the Global Tourism Industry

Match Race Germany Boosts Local Revenue by Three Quarters of a Million Euros


Spectators enjoying the racing in Langenargen. Image copyright Richard Walch.

by Cailah Leask

Match Race Germany has boosted the local revenue of Langenargen by three quarters of a million Euros, demonstrating the positive economic impact that the ISAF World Match Racing Tour has on all the venues which host a prestigious Stage of the Tour.

Venues under the Tour now have direct association with a global sports brand that annually commands a television reach of over 2.1 billion households in excess of 183 countries as well as sustained international print, radio and digital coverage. The Tour has all the essential factors required to build a region’s international profile and ultimately promote the tourism industry. Match Race Germany annually generates three quarters of a million Euros to the local economy, showing the importance of this sports event.

Frank Jost, Director of Tourism for the City of Langenargen, has seen the development of Match Race Germany into today’s established world class event which caters to both the sailors and the spectators. The match racing event has diversified since its inception with the introduction of a marine festival for the tourists. The race course is strategically located in the Bay of Langenargen where spectators can freely see the elite level America’s Cup style racing. The on-shore programme is tailored to the fans with live music in the evening transforming the atmosphere and enhancing the cultural programme on offer. “Year on year Match Race Germany provides support to the water sports tourism industry in our region”, said Jost.


Spectator Hospitality at Match Race Germany. Image copyright Richard Walch.

The City of Langenargen is one of the longest partners involved with Match Race Germany and provides important support to guarantee a professional event is completed.

Jost explained the partner involvement, “Langenargen provides not only the event area for the organisers but also access to the castle and managing the technical and infrastructure considerations for the event team”.

Having been described by successful sailor Jochen Schümann as ‘a little diamond’, Langenargen has a lot to offer both competitors and tourists. This year Yacht Club Langenargen will be offering test sails from the promenade to young spectators. There will be an international food and drink festival with free access to the Race Village.

New for 2010 will be the live streaming of racing via the internet and across a number of television stations such as ZDF, SWR and Regio TV. Match Race Germany’s communication partner, Alcatel Lucent and local hosting partner Teledata will be working together to promote the competition and further increase the profile of this upcoming sporting destination.


Event village at Match Race Germany. Image copyright Richard Walch.

The ISAF Match Racing Tour will continue to be an effective vehicle in providing sustained revenue to a region’s tourist industry and seeks to work hand in hand with venues and their associated partners and sponsors to achieve maximum results.

Skipper List - Stage 2 - Match Race Germany
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain
Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Proximo
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge
Jesper Radich (DEN) Radich Racing Team
Kathrin Kadelback (GER) EWE Sailing Team

2010 ISAF World Match Racing Tour Standings
(After Stage 1 of 10)
1. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25 Points
2. Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 20 Points
3. Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 15 Points
4. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 12 Points
5. Sebastian Col (FRA) ALL 4 ONE 10 Points
6. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 8 Points
7. Philippe Presti (FRA) 6 Points
8. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4 Points

2010 Tour Card Holders:
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team (Gill Global Team for Match Race Germany)
Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team
Ian Williams (GBR) Sail Bahrain
About the ISAF World Match Racing Tour:

The World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) is the leading professional sailing series featuring 10 World Championship events across the globe, sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with “Special Event” status.

The World Tour awards over US$1.5million in prize money with points awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the “ISAF Match Racing World Champion”. In addition, an incentive to compete in the world’s premier sailing series just got bigger. A US$250,000 overall prize pool for the top nine teams with a $50,000 bonus for the outright winner of next year’s World Match Racing Tour is now on offer.

Events utilise the same “match race” format used in the America’s Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.

Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 2.1 billion households in excess of 183 countries around the world.

ISAF World Match Racing Tour Calendar

Match Race France 6 - 11 April Marseille, France
Match Race Germany 19 – 24 May Langenargen, Germany
Korea Match Cup 8 – 13 June Gyeonggi, South Korea
Portimão Portugal Match Cup 22 – 27 June Portimão, Portugal
Match Cup Sweden 5 – 11 July Marstrand, Sweden
St Moritz Match Race 31 Aug – 5 Sept St Moritz, Switzerland
Danish Open 8 – 12 Sept Bornholm, Denmark
Vietnam Match Cup 21 – 26 Sept Nha Trang Bay, Vietnam
Argo Group Gold Cup 4 – 10 Oct Hamilton, Bermuda
Monsoon Cup 30 Nov – 5 Dec Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia

World Match Racing Tour