Black Swan Racing: Finals of GKSS Spring Cup

by Keith Swinton

On Sunday we took on Steffan Lindberg, of Alandia Sailing Team, in the semi-finals of the Spring Cup. We defeated Lindberg 2-1 to progress to the finals. Racing against Lindberg was tightly fought, but we managed to sail the shifty conditions very well. Our best moment came in the 3rd and deciding race, when we split off the start-line gaining a match-winning wind shift from the right side of the race course.

Progressing to the final, we took on local legend Mattias Rahm and his Stena Bulk Sailing Team. Rahm, a past winner of Match Cup Sweden proved to be a very difficult opponent. In our first race we held a small lead at the top mark after luffing Rahm on the lay-line. Unfortunately we didn't have a strong spinnaker set allowing Rahm to gain the favoured down wind tack. He took this advantage but we kept it close and at the bottom mark we managed to squeeze inside Rahm. However, this didn't go as planned, we were given a double penalty for going inside without having buoy-room. We took our first penalty immediately, and kept racing hard. At the top mark we had regained the lead but were unable to wipe off our second penalty, giving Rahm the win.

The second race was also tight. We set up well for the start, taking the windward position. From here the wind went left giving Rahm the advantage. It was bow to bow all up the first leg, with Rahm holding the advantage at the top mark. We tried hard to close up the lead but Rahm showed his skill holding his lead despite our best efforts to get back in the race.

Despite finishing second in the event we have still been invited to compete in Match Cup Sweden 2010. Being past winners of the event, Mattias Rahm and his team already hold entry . We are very excited to be competing in one of the biggest match racing events in the world!

"Today we sailed very well. The conditions were really difficult but it was fun because we managed to get it right more often than not. It was disappointing to lose the final, but we sailed well. It was just a few small things that cost us in the end some more training in the DS37 will certainly help. We are so happy to being sailing in Match Cup Sweden. It was one of our main goals for this year." Keith Swinton helmsman Black Swan Racing.

Black Swan Racing would like to thank our supporters: South of Perth Yacht Club, Kerman Contracting, Abbotts PTY LTD Chartered Accountants, McNally Group PTY LTD, Musto Australia & Sweden

Black Swan Racing