Korea Match Cup Qualifier: Will Tiller's FMJ Racing are Runners-Up

by Will Tiller

Full Metal Jacket finish 2nd at the Korea Match Cup Qualifier losing to fellow kiwi Reuben Corbett 2-0 in the final.

It was a tough event for the boy's after losing our pitman Jono Spurdle when he accidentally cut his hand we had a bit on with ring-in crew throughout the regatta. We managed to scrape into the semi finals on 8 wins and three losses.

Evan Walker was top qualifier and he choose to race us in the semi's making it a rematch from the Warren Jones event earlier in the year where he had beaten us and again conditions were fresh, a consistent 18 - 20kts. We sailed well against Evan, getting the starts we wanted and by keeping it simple we beat him 2-1.

In the finals we met Reuben who we have raced a lot over our few years match racing. During the prestart of the first race we were given a penalty when we sailed outside the course limitations which wasn't very smart by us. However we lead off the line and had a nice lead at the first top mark when everything began to unravel. As we bore away our vang broke and in turn our primary winch for trimming the geneker had a major cluster of ropes, meaning we couldn't trim or jybe.

This allowed Reuben to pass us and sail away with the race. In the second race we had an even start but we trailed at the first top mark, coming into the bottom mark right on his tail we pushed our drop a bit late and we went 'fishing', its not very fast with the geneker in the water. So again he was able to sail off and take the race, congratulations must go to Reuben and his crew for sailing well all week and taking out the regatta.

Our next regatta is a Grade 2 in Finland leading into Match Race Germany the world tour event.

We would like to thank our principal sponsor Chris Meads, SLAM and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

FMJ Racing is William Tiller, Daniel Pooley, Harry Thurston, Brad Farrand, Shaun Mason and Jono Spurdle.

FMJ Racing