The Number 1 in Germany: From the foolhardy premiere to a true classic - 14th Match Race Germany with a star cast
Former MRG winner, Jesper Radich (DEN) is amongst the competitors again at Match Race Germany 2011. Image copyright Subzero Images/WMRT.
by Eberhard Magg
Everyone is talking about wind power; Match Race Germany utilizes it!
For the 14th time the best match racers in the world fight to win the German Match Racing Grand Prix from 24th to 29th May 2011. 50,000 U.S. dollars prize money and valuable points for the season standings of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) are for grabs in picturesque Langenargen. At the end after eight World Championship Events and the finals at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia another 500.000 Euro are be shared between the top nine skipper in the World Tour Championship ranking.
14 years after the premiere of Match Race Germany – at the time under the name 'MM + M Match Race "- Germany's most important Match Race regatta has matured into a classic. The inaugural event was startet 1997 with a small budget, but a lot of courage and even more passion by sailor, yacht designer and manager Eberhard Magg, his father Rudi Magg and many colleagues from the region marked the beginning of an era. Today, the Match Racing festival at Lake Constance is organized by a dedicated team: Eberhard Magg, Harald Thierer and Bernd Buck formed Match Race Germany GmbH. Since 2008 the trio is as well responsible for the success of the only German stop of the World Match Racing Tour as also for the water sports center Match Center Germany GmbH in Langenargen / Kressbronn.
Match Race Germany has become a highly popular crowd puller for the Lake Constance region with indirect returns of more than one million Euros. The sailing party each year attracts up to 40,000 spectators to the race village located at the beautiful shores of Langenargen with its magnificent scenery from the castle of Montfort. The mix of thrilling sailing duels, the live presentation of ZDF sports reporter Nils Kaben and the attractive cultural program on shore has shaped the image of this international regatta for sustainability and has proven to be highly attractive to sponsors.
New fleet of boats; strong partners
The renowned agencies Meltwater, CSION / Argus and Boulder Creek have established a total media value for Match Race Germany of approximately 31 million U.S. dollars. Only just a week ago, the 7 brand new Bavaria 40 S yachts have been splashed in the Meichle + Mohr Marina Ultramarin in Kressbronn / Gohren. Thus, the organizers have catapulted themselves to a new level regarding the supplied equipment at the very top . "With such an investment, "said CEO Jim O'Toole WMRT, " Match Race Germany will play a key role internationally."
This investment into the future is also highly appreciated by the long term sponsors in Germany. Right now, only 1 out of 7 boat packages is left for interested partners, both national or internationally. "A potential new partner along with many other benefits recieves more than ten times the value of media value (ROI) back, " said marketing strategist Harald Thierer. Such a partner is the STIHL company which, as a boat partner, has been involved since 2009. The manufacturer of portable power equipment for forestry, horticulture, landscaping and the construction industry supports the organizers as "Outdoor Power Equipment partner" including demonstration of cleaners and wet / dry vacuum cleaners for the best possible maintenance of the racing yachts. "For us this is a perfect partnership, "said Jürgen Steinhauser, Director of Marketing and Sales, "we can demonstrate our products in a very challenging environment and credibly show what can be achieved with their help combined with little effort but a very large effect. For example, with the use of our STIHL pressure washers. A smooth clean hull sails faster than a polluted, finally. "
Sponsors interest in the VIP packages has also increased. Two months before the event approximately 500 VIP tickets have already been sold. On site, 2,000 square meters are available for sponsors-presentation and interaction space. The variety of options for partners include the Business Center, the Hot Seat and Pro/Am Racing. More than 100 volunteers and staff from the hosting Yacht Club Langenargen (YCL) and the Match Center Germany are currently preparing for their season-highlight in May.
1 Amateur challenge, 11 Professionals
Stefan Meister can hardly wait for the event to start. The citizen of Germany´s capital Berlin, won the 2010 German Match Racing championship and qualified for Match Race Germany. Member of the Yacht Club Berlin-Grünau (YCBG) is one of Germany´s top match racers for almost a decade, but still a true amateur. His team, challenging 11 of the best match racers in the world will consist of Thosi Stemmer, Urs Wihlfahrt, Lars Baehr, Martin Meting and Olympic silver medalist Soling in Sydney, Ingo Borkowski. Stefan Meister not being shy about his tactics: "We want to annoy the professionals properly". The lake specialist from the capital, says: "We hope for light and changing winds. In this respect, Lake Constance seems just right for us. "
Four-times World Match Racing Champion Peter Gilmour is record holder at Match Race Germany with a true hattrick - three consecutive victories from 2004-2006 . The Australian is looking to repeat his triumph to stay on top of the German Hall of Fame. His competitors in the World Match Racing Tour obviously want to prevent the master from doing so, including the dynamic Dane Jesper Radich, who won Match Race Germany 2002 and 2003 in Langenargen regularly ranks among the crowd favorites.
Wieser comeback postponed
Local hero Mark Wieser on the other hand had to postpone his intended comeback. The professional from Starnberg starts a new campaign at the helm of the TP52 “Container” owned by Udo Schütz from Selters, competing in the Audi MedCup. The plan was a first appearance of the new boat at the second regatta of the International Circuit in June, but the new boat was ahead of schedule and his team will now be competing in Cascais (Portugal) for the season opener of the MedCup. This leaves Wieser with no time to prepare properly for Match Race Germany. "I have to cancel my participation, unfortunately, " Wieser told the organizers, "I do not want to arrive unprepared to Germany's top match racing event - just being there with no chances to do well or even win the regatta is not equivalent to my claim."
Thus Stefan Meister will be the only helmsman to fly the German flag during the 14th edition of Match Race Germany.
The charming French runner-up in last year´s Tour rankings Mathieu Richard heads to Langenargen to finally win the event for the first time. So does Italian Francesco Bruni, who had just finished second at the U.S. Match Racing Classic “Congressional Cup”, only beaten by British Double World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) who demonstrated his art flawlessly in the finals. 2008 winner Damien Iehl (FRA) is also expected to be back at the venue where he scored his first World Match Racing Tour victory.
The tour season begins in May
The first event on the World Match Racing Tour will be held from 10th to 15th of May in Marseille (FRA). Straight after Match Race France, the international skippers will head to Langenargen. The final of the World Tour will be Monsoon Cup in late November (Malaysia). The new World Champion will be traditionally crowned in Terranganou. The 2011 World Match Racing Tour will consist of nine races, sailed in 9 different countries.
Match Race Germany: Sponsors 2011
Bavaria Yachtbau, Ultramarin, Stihl, Württembergische Versicherung, MHP, Match Center Germany, Carl Zeiss, Carthago, Rolf Benz Nautisattler, Nagel Baumaschinen, Marinepool, Selden Masts AB, HHP, Layer Grosshandel, Liros Ropes, Pfeiffer Marine, Uwe Schriever Yachttransporte, Elvström Sails, Yachten Meltl, Garmin, Webasto, Schwäbische Zeitung, Seglerzeitung, Regio TV Euro 3; Interboot, Messe Friedrichshafen, Versicherungsbüro Riedle&Zartl, Holstein Media, Gemeinde Langenargen, Gerolsteiner, Winterhalter Gastronom, Weber Motor, Meckatzer Löwenbräu, Intersky, Stream 5, Kaenon, Kosta Boda
Basic Dates & useful Information
Match Race Germany 2011
Official Event of the World Match Racing Tour
Status
Grade W (Worldchampionship)
Format
Match Racing (duels on the water/chess on the water)
Date
24th May till 29th May 2011
Venue
Lake Constance, Langenargen, Germany
Prize Money
App.: US$50,000
Yachts
Bavaria 40S, Match Race Germany Edition, 7 Yachts available for racing
Competitors
Invitational regatta to top match racing teams of the world ranking list as well as the world tour ranking, 2 crews through qualification events, 10 seeded crews
Qualifiers
Deutsche Meisterschaft 2010 (YCaT) und Merlin Match Race 2010 (VSaW)
History
First edition was under the title MMM Match race (Grade 2 back in 1997 sailed in Diamant 2000)
2011 will be the 14th edition of Germany´s highest ranked match racing regatta
Match Race Germany will be part of the tour for the 12th time
Organisors
Match Race Germany GmbH
Hosting Yacht Club
Yacht Club Langenargen e.V.
Spectators 2010
App. 35.000 spectators followed the action packed races
TV statistics 2011
TV international: 3.364 min., 170 Mio. potential viewership
TV national: 1.010 min., 101 Mio. potential viewership
Live TV Internet: 900 min.
Newspapers: 273 articles
Magazines: 1.547.200 copies with 55 Stories
Online PR: 67 Stories, 96,16 Mio. potential viewership
www.matchrace.de : 12.516 Visitors (only Event Days) Radio: 35.13 min. Airtime, 4,8 Mio potential listeners
PR-Value Online: 9,1 Mio USD
PR-Value TV: 14,3 Mio USD
PR-Value Print: 7,8 Mio USD
Match Race Germany
World Match Racing Tour
