WMRT: MRT Arrive Just in Time to take 1 from 3 in Korea

After an early start on Day One with skipper Torvar Mirsky and tactician Kyle Langford arriving only hours before the beginning of Tuesday’s racing, having flown directly from an event in Chicago, MRT are now sitting on 1 win

by Kinley Fowler

The first race for MRT saw them line up against the kiwi team of Waka Racing, lead by Phil Robertson. Robertson received an early penalty for not keeping clear on port after the entry, and although he led of the line MRT did a great job of keeping close behind for the duration of the race. Culminating in MRT rolling Robertson near the finish, a second penalty for Robertson failing to provide room on an obstruction left the young kiwi team floundering as MRT cruised on for their first win of the event.

The "match of the day" was against Bjorn Hansen of Sweden was a tightly fought match right up until the finish. Following a well executed start MRT was advantaged from the first shift gaining a healthy lead up the first work. Hansen was able to take advantage from a dying sea breeze, whilst MRT got caught in traffic, to gain an overlap inside on the first bottom mark.

Pushing a little hard with a marginal overlap outside MRT would surface from a heated and very vocal rounding with 2 penalties. Showing excellent boat speed and smart strategy MRT was able to complete their first penalty and out sail Hanson’s team to overtake on the final downwind. With just enough extension to complete a penalty, MRT executed the turn on the finish line in time to take the flag from the committee boat. However with the umpire team deciding the spinnaker head was not below the gooseneck MRT would have to deal with the disappointment of losing from such a marginal decision.

"We were very disappointed when our flag didn't come down, because we felt pretty strongly that we completed the penalty correctly, however there isn't much you can do once the call has been made so we just have to take out of it what we can and move on to tomorrow's racing. Despite today not being a great start to the regatta, we feel like we have a lot of room for improvement and will hopefully be able to build up to a strong finish." - Kyle Langford.

Results from Day One

Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 3-0
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 3-0
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 3-0
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 2-1
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team 2-1
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 1-2
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 1-2
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-2
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team 1-2
Park GunWoo (KOR) Busan Match 1-2
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Italia 0-3
Phil Robertson (NZL) WAKA Racing Team 0-3

Mirsky Racing Team
World Match Racing Tour