WMRT: New Zealand’s 2011 World Match Racing Tour Entry

by Waka Racing media

Auckland’s Waka Racing is one of the nine Tour Card holders and the only New Zealand entry in the 2011 World Match Racing Tour.

After a stellar end to the 2010 season and currently ranked 9th on the ISAF world rankings, they can now lock in to six of the nine 2011 WMRT events.

Phil Robertson, Skipper of Waka Racing: “This is absolutely huge for me and my team. It’s what we’ve been striving towards last year. Now we have a Tour Card, we are staking our claim for the World Championship. We’re young and comparatively inexperienced compared to many of the other Tour Card holders. However, we know we can beat any team when we’re on top of our game. That’s our mindset we’re taking into the Tour this year.”

Being the only Kiwi entry into the World Tour they have some big boots to fill. “Match racing is in our blood. We know the standards set before us. Our eyes are set on achieving the same successes as Russell Coutts, Chris Dickson, Dean Barker and Adam Minoprio. So our immediate objective is to secure funding for our 2011 campaign” says Robertson.

2011 Tour Card holders:

Phil Robertson - New Zealand
Johnie Berntsson - Sweden
Francesco Bruni - Italy
Peter Gilmour - Australia
Damien Iehl - France
Torvar Mirsky - Australia
Jesper Radich - Denmark
Mathieu Richard - France
Ian Williams - Great Britain

WMRT Tour Card decisions are based on the following criteria:

- Sailing skill
- Current Tour or ISAF Ranking
- Past Tour or ISAF Ranking
- Financial submission for Tour Card
- Recent achievements in other sailing disciplines
- Media awareness, interaction and pro-active public relations plans
- A demonstrable financial and logistical commitment to the 2011 season
- Sponsor activation of a teams participation on the Tour
- Overall Team presentation

Note from SailRaceWin: Waka Racing are known to be in possession of a cat too, and, like many of the other match racing teams, will also be going cat racing, now that the America's Cup is on two hulls. Ian Williams and Torvar Mirsky will be competing in the Extreme Sailing Series, on Extreme 40 catamarans, in addition to the World Match Racing Tour in 2011.

Waka Racing
World Match Racing Tour