Mathieu Richard (FRA) leads Manuel Weiller (ESP). Image copyright Subzero Images.
by Cailah Leask
Day Two at Portimão brought yet more sun and an afternoon wind stabilising later than yesterday, which again swung right into position from the West and generated some waves for the sea sailors amongst the fleet. The race course has changed the fortunes of some of the top runners with surprising scenarios playing out. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team lost 2 matches in a row and now sits at 3-2, with Francesco Bruni (ITA) also finishing on 3-2 having been beaten by Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge with Bruni having a half point deducted after a collision that resulted in damage. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team and Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, the youngest Tour seeds, sit in the most comfortable positions at 4-1 and 4-0 respectively. Minoprio is still the only unbeaten skipper in Stage 4’s Round Robin.
Richard commented on his couple of losses, “We are still at the beginning of the regatta, we take it match after match. Today we were waiting a long time to get out racing, we had a good first match against Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola and after that we had two bad starts with a big timing mistake in the match against Bruni. With Mirsky we had a problem with a sheet, basically we gave it to him. It’s difficult to then come back and not make any more mistakes, that’s the game of match racing. One mistake is enough to change a match especially if your competitor is sailing well, but at the moment there is still everything to play for.”
Maguns Holmberg (SWE), crewed by the Kiwis from Waka Racing, ahead of Francesco Bruni (ITA), at the Portimao Portugal Match Cup. Image copyright Subzero Images.
Bruni was not impressed with his performance, lamenting after a long day, “We lost 2 and we won 1 against Richard, but we also get half a point taken off. There was a collision with Holmberg which was the most disappointing match, we didn’t have a good start but we kept close to them right up to the last mark, almost bow to bow. There was a first penalty on us but we only just touched and then moments later we had a second contact between our bow and their stern, it felt soft, but apparently there is 3 hours of work required to repair the damage so we have the half point taken off.”
Francesco Bruni and his Azzurra team in Portugal. Image copyright Subzero Images.
Day three will provide plenty of sporting stimulus to the Poritmão region with Portugal due to play Brazil in the Football World Cup and the final stages of the Round Robin putting further pressure on all entries to make the cut through to the Quarters.
Day 2: Current Round Robin Standings
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 4-0
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 4-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 3-1
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing* 3-1
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-2
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra* 3-2
Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge* 2-3
Manuel Weiller (ESP) Team Iberdrola 2-3
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-3
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 1-3
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 1-4
Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy 0-4
* Deducted 0.5 point for damage
Portimao Portugal Match Cup
World Match Racing Tour
