WMRT: Portimão Is The New Venue for Portugal Match Cup 2010

Stage 4 of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Hits the Algarve in June 2010



by Cailah Leask

Portimão has been named as the new venue for the 2010 Portugal Match Cup, which is into its seventh edition. The event will be held at the Marina of Portimão from June 22 – 27, 2010.


The young Kiwi Waka Racing team at the Portugal Match Cup. Image copyright Wander Roberto.

Previously, Tróia has been the host of this established annual stage of the tour for the past three years and the change in venue will inspire innovative changes to the competition set up.

Following the new venue announcement, Justino de Sá Machado, President of Sun Sailing Team (rights owner to run the Portugal Match Cup) said, “back in 2004, we decided to place Portugal in the world sailing circuit, bringing to our waters one of the world’s most media worthy competitions – the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Portimão Portugal Match Cup.”


Concentration at the helm of an SM40 during the Portugal Match Cup. Image copyright Wander Roberto.

“We are certain this event will help to enrich our biggest unique surrounding – the sea. This initiative demonstrates to the world the great potential of Portugal to meet the standard for sailing events through marine based events”.

The Algarve will be buzzing with intense match racing action throughout the 2010 summer season. In conjunction with the professional Portimão Portugal Match Cup there will be the Portimão Portugal Junior Cup, bringing 30 youths belonging to Portuguese national sailing clubs to Portimão. The world’s top female match racers will also be flocking to the venue to take part in the Portimão Portugal Women’s Cup.


Taming the spinnaker at the Portugal Match Cup. Image copyright Wander Roberto.

Portimão is adept at hosting international yachting regattas such as the Audi Med Cup and will provide world class facilities for the world class profsessional sailors of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour to enjoy, backed up by on-shore activities for fans at Portimão Marina and predicted excellent racing conditions.

Portimão is particularly proud to be hosting a professional sailing event with such a worldwide reputation for high calibre racing. The Tour has received the much coveted ‘Special Event Status’ from the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) which is only granted to two other sailing competitions - the America’s Cup and the Volvo Ocean Race. The ISAF World Match Racing Tour brings a guaranteed level of stardom with the Tour Card Holders and Portimão will provide them with the racing conditions they deserve as such highly prized sailing athletes.

Portimao Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour