Viktor Ogeman and his team at Stena Match Cup Sweden 2012. Image copyright Dan Ljungsvik
by Fabian Bengtsson
This weekend, twelve match racing teams will go head to head in Gothenburg and compete for a chance to race in Stena Match Cup Sweden, one of six events on the Alpari World Match Racing Tour 2014. The competition in the Volvo Spring Cup is fierce, and especially among young Swedish sailors.
Volvo Spring Cup has served as a qualifying event for Stena Match Cup for several years and the regatta always attracts ambitious teams that are on the verge of getting Tour Cards to the Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Some of the best teams in the world will once again gather at the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and last year’s winners of the Volvo Spring Cup, Staffan Lindberg (FIN) and his Alandia Sailing Team, will return to fight for a ticket to compete at Marstrand.
“We came very close to reaching the semis at Marstrand last summer but we feel like we can go further this year”, says Staffan Lindberg. "We have just as good boat speed and boat handling as many of our competitors but it’s far from easy to perform on this high level and there are plenty of talented teams in the Spring Cup. We will have sail at our very best to win”.
One qualifying spot to Stena Match Cup is reserved for the best Swedish Youth team in the Volvo Spring Cup. Three Swedish crews will compete for this prize and to enter a world tour event would be a huge step for all of them. We can expect a group of hungry and young sailors fighting with everything they have this weekend. Team Accure and their skipper Viktor Ogeman were awarded a wildcard to Stena Match Cup back in 2012 and they have managed to climb significantly on the international match racing world ranking since then.
“Our goal is to qualify for Stena Match Cup as the best Swedish youth team but of course we aim to win the Spring Cup”, says Victor Ogeman. “We know we have the potential to win but the competition will be very tough and we take nothing for granted. We want to get back to Marstrand and show that we can be competitive on the highest level”.
The first race of the Volvo Spring Cup starts 9.30 (CEST) on Saturday. Follow the event on Twitter at @StenaMatchCup!
Entry list Volvo Spring Cup:
Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
Staffan Lindberg (FIN)
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN)
Reuben Corbett (NZL)
Viktor Ogeman (SWE) – Youth team
Mark Lees (GBR)
Rasmus Viltoft (DEN)
Lucas Lier (DEN)
Hampus Appelgren (SWE) – Youth team
Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE) – Youth team
Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
Magnus Holmberg (SWE)
Volvo Spring Cup is organized by The Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club and is sailed in Gothenburg on the 17th- 18th of May.
Besides the eight Tour Card Holders of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour and the two teams qualifying in the Spring Cup, four teams will also be given wildcards to enter the Open Class of Stena Match Cup Sweden 2013.
The 20th anniversary edition of Stena Match Cup Sweden will take place June 30 – July 5 2014.
GKSS
