L-R, Cameron Dunn (white hat) Thierry Douillard, Peter Gillmore, Yasuhiro Yaji, Martin Berntson. Korea Match Cup 2010. World Match Racing Tour. Gyeonggi, Korea. 12th June 2010. Image copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images.
by Rob Kothe
After finishing the Round Robin in second place, Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Team of Martin Berntsson, Cameron Dunn, Yasuhiro Yaji and Thierry Douillard looked to be headed for a good overall regatta result as they headed into the quarter finals of Korea Match Cup.
Gilmour chose Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and his Gill Global Team as their opponents despite Hansen defeating YANMAR Racing in the quarter finals of this event last year.
YANMAR Racing Pitman Yasuhiro Yaji explained 'We were second ranked behind Ian Williams after the round robin series yesterday and Peter chose Bjorn Hansen as a quarter final opponent.
'The first two races were good for us; we had good starts and good speed.
'At 2-0 we were feeling confident, but then things went badly pear shaped.
'In the third race, Hansen was penalised in the starting box but still managed to get to and then protect, the favoured right hand side on the first upwind leg. He rounded ahead of us and extended. Hansen was sailing well down the final run and he was able to complete his penalty and crossed less than half a boat length ahead of us.
'It was then 2-1.
Yaji continues. 'In the fourth race we were penalised in the starting box, Hansen was on the right again and rounded four lengths ahead of us. We were slow on the hoist and Hansen ran away from us. We were trailing with a penalty - it was all over for us. Now it was 2-2 and the pressure was on us.
'Race 5, the deciding race, was a shocker for YANMAR Racing.
'We had the starboard entry, but in the pre-start battle we hit Hansen amidships and we were penalised. Hansen was over the line with 15 seconds to go, but dipped back. We led up the first beat, rounded ahead but on the puffy down wind run, we did three gybes, while Hansen did just one and he closed to within a length of us. At the top of the second upwind, YANMAR Racing was just in front, we were then knocked on the lay line while Hansen was lifted, got inside of us and sailed away.'
Peter Gilmour said 'Hansen out sailed us and deserved to win. They sailed smoothly and hung on when it mattered. We wish them luck in the semi finals.'
Quarterfinal Results
Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar v Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team (3-0)
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team v Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing (3-2)
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team v Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra (3-1)
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team v Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing (2-0)
Overall Round Robin Standings (top 8 places)
1 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 8-3
2 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 7-4
3 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 7-4
4 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 6-5
5 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 6-5
6 Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 6-5
7 Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Gill Global Team * 6-5
8 Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 5-6
YANMAR Racing
World Match Racing Tour
