WMRT: YANMAR Racing - onwards and upwards

by Rob Kothe

A good result after a long day of waiting for YANMAR Racing.

Australian Peter Gilmour and his YANMAR Racing team consisting of Cameron Dunn, Thierry Douillard, Yasuhiro Yaji and Kazuhiko Sofuku today sailed just one race today in this fourth event on the 2010 ISAF World Match Racing circuit.

It was 19:42 and there was a sharp sea breeze gusting to 16 knots as YANMAR Racing went into the starting box against Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar.

Williams was still chasing Gilmour back towards the line as the gun fired; Gilmour started well in control.

After four quick tacks Gilmour held on port and headed for the beach and the right-hand side of the course. On the first cross Gilmour was well ahead and YANMAR Racing rounded the top mark comfortably ahead of Williams.

At the bottom of the run YANMAR Racing took the right hand mark and headed back towards the beach. At the top mark for the final time, they were almost ten lengths ahead of the British crew and crossed the line for an important win, just on 20:00 local time.

Peter Gilmour was smiling. 'A good match for us this evening. Our bowman Fuku (Kazuhiko Sofuku) did an excellent job with the timing and we were right on the button.

'Cameron (Dunn) sent us to the right where there was more pressure and next time we crossed we were five lengths ahead and it was game over.

'We started late, but we had good sailing conditions with that firm sea breeze. These Swedish Match 40 boats are very demanding on crew work but reward good sailing, you need to keep them thumping along.

'We are doing reasonably but there is a fair way to go. We just need to get through to quarter final stage and onwards and upwards from there.

'Right now the boys are ecstatic with Japan's 3-1 football win against Denmark, as that puts them into the World Cup round of 16.'

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 Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 1-3
Alvaro Marinho (POR) Seth Sailing Team 1-3
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 1-4
Eugeny Neugodnikov (RUS) Team Synergy 0-4

* Deducted 0.5 point for damage

YANMAR Racing
World Match Racing Tour