BlackMatch Racing at the opening of Korea Match Cup 2010, © Subzero Images 2010.
by David Swete
After winning Match Race Germany a fortnight ago, BlackMatch have flown half way around the world and were back in competition today, gaining 3 wins from 3 races in a perfect start to the Korea Match Cup 2010.
Match racing is relatively new to Korea and with the event in its third edition after huge success the previous two years, there has been a lot of development and the racing area is very impressive. The Korea Match Cup is also held in conjunction with the Korea International Boat Show, which boasts products from many top marine companies from Asia and is expected to draw crowds upwards of 250,000, so understandably there is a hive of activity surrounding this event.
Following a festive opening ceremony we went straight out on the water and couldn’t have faced a tougher opponent in Peter Gilmour. After an even start Peter and his Yanmar Racing team etched out a small advantage at the first top mark. We did a good job keeping in touch all the way around the course and it wasn’t until the final run that we made our move, managing to gybe and roll over the top of them nearing the finish line. It was a very close finish and according to the PRO Harold Bennett, there wasn’t more then a foot in it.
We then had a decisive win over the local hope Park Gunwoo followed by an extraordinary come from behind race against the defending Korea Match Cup Champion, Paolo Cian. The feisty Italian truly nailed the start while we were left floundering on the start line and the advantage at the first top mark was a whooping 100m. A great first downwind run got us back into contention though and by the last top mark we were hot on Paolo’s heels.
An awesome gennaker set and some good gybes downwind got us back in a position to attack and as we initiated the first gybe we managed to roll over top of Paolo. We held enough speed to gybe across his bow and it was then his turn to attack, gybing on top of us while we luffed aggressively to defend our lead. The Italian team failed to keep clear and were handed a penalty while we maintained our lead and cruised to victory.
BlackMatch Racing
World Match Racing Tour
