Tuesday 14 September 2010

WMRT: Team Azzurra out in Semi-Finals at the Danish Open


Team Azzurra competing in the semi-finals at the Danish Open, against Adam Minoprio (NZL), the eventual winner. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/MyImage.

by Jill Campbell

Team Azzurra of the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda lost 3-0 to New Zealander Adam Minoprio in the Semifinals of the Danish Open, and ended Stage Seven of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour in fourth. Francesco Bruni and his crew faced French skipper Mathieu Richard in a hard fought petit final which ended with the French team beating the Italian 2-1.

Overall, today, wasn’t a great day: ”Today we had a tough one, we just weren’t able to fight back the way we wanted. We didn’t find the pace and sync that are necessary to beat a rival of Adam Minoprio’s calibre. However, the simple fact of racing against such great skippers in the leading match racing circuit of the world is by its own right a great opportunity to learn and improve. We certainly learnt some important lessons at the Danish Open and we hope to be able to capitalize on them in the near future!”


Francesco Bruni. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/MyImage.

Reigning World Match Racing Tour Champion Adam Minoprio declared his victory over close friend and fierce rival Torvar Mirsky (AUS) in the final of the Danish Open as one of the best of his life. With the score tied at 2-2 in the first to 3 point series, Minoprio trailed Mirsky in the final match but battled back for the most dramatic victory of his career.


Team Azzurra competing in the round robin at the Danish Open. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/MyImage.

The next stage of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour will bring the competitors to Bermuda for the Argo Group Match Cup which will run from 4 to 10 October 2010.

Danish Open 2010 Final Result
Adam Minoprio beat Torvar Mirsky 3-2

Semi-final Results
Adam Minoprio leads Francesco Bruni 3-0
Torvar Mirsky beat Mathieu Richard 3-2


Team Azzurra competing in the round robin at the Danish Open. Image copyright Loris von Siebenthal/MyImage.

Overall Result of the Danish Open
Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 25
Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 20
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 15
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 12
Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 10
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 8
Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 6
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 4
Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing
William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing
Suzanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward
Michael Buckley (USA) MB Sailing

Team Azzurra
World Match Racing Tour