World Match Racing Tour, primi duelli a Portimao
Match RaceVelaWorld Match Race Tour 24 Giugno 2010 Zerogradinord 0
World Match Racing Tour – Portimao – Primo giorno di regate a Portimao dove, su un campo di regata posizionato a poche centinaia di metri dal lungomare, hanno avuto inizio i duelli validi per la quarta tappa del World Match Racing Tour.
Duelli resi ancor più avvincenti dal favore delle condizioni meteo, caratterizzate da venti da sudovest che hanno soffiato tra gli 8 e i 15 nodi. Una situazione che ha permesso la disputa di un buon numero di voli e che ha dato al campione del mondo Adam Minoprio la possibilità di prendere subito il comando della classifica con uno score di tre vittorie e nessuna sconfitta. Convincente anche l’avvio di Mathieu Richard e Francesco Bruni, entrambi tornati all’ormeggio con un bilancio di due vittorie contro zero.
In attivo anche Ian Williams e Peter Gilmour, entrabi sul due a uno. Male invece Bjorn Hansen, battuto in entrambi i match disputati, e il russo Eugeny Neugodnikov, sconfitto per ben tre volte.
I match validi per il Round Robin, disputati a bordo degli SM40, riprenderanno domani mattina.
Round Robin, day one
1. Adam Minoprio, 3-0
2. Mathieu Richard, 2-0
3. Francesco Bruni, 2-0
4. Ian Williams, 2-1
5. Peter Gilmour, 2-1
6. Torvar Mirsky, 1-1
7. Magnus Holmberg, 1-1
8. Bertrand Pacé, 1-2
9. Alvaro Marinho, 1-2
10. Björn Hansen, 0-2
11. Manuel Weiller, 0-2
12. Eugeny Neugodnikov, 0-3
Video copyright World Match Racing Tour.
WORLD MATCH RACING TOUR, DAY ONE IN PORTIMAO
[World Match Racing Tour Press Release] Top Tour seeds raced today in big bay conditions with the windward mark stationed a little over 500 metres off the entrance to Portimão Marina and 8–15 knots of wind which shifted round to the right by early evening round from the southwest to west. Matches were run in quick succession during the day’s sea breeze splendour with the first 6 teams completing 3 flights and the remaining 6 teams racing 2 flights. Adam Minoprio convincingly won all three of his matches, with Mathieu Richard and Francesco Bruni finishing the day on 2-0.
Minoprio, reigning World Champion who picked up a second last year at the Portugal leg of the Tour, remains focussed on staying in top form for start time, he talked through race preparation in the Portuguese climate, “It’s very warm here, you feel like you want to enjoy the sun and go swimming, but if you stay in the heat you get dehydrated and won’t be able to focus properly for the racing, you just can’t do both”. This commitment to performance shone through today in Minoprio’s second match against Bertrand Pacé who was World Champion back in 2000. Pacé led Minoprio round the course until he picked up a penalty that he just couldn’t off load by the finish as Minoprio took the advantage and lungedacross the line ahead of the passionate Frenchman.
The power out on the course has sat firmly with the right today. During pre-start manoeuvres skippers factored in fighting for the all important right hand side where the benefits of the wind clocking continually right coupled with starboard tack dominance multiplied the attraction of this side of the start line and first beat significantly.
Bruni is a fan of the new Portuguese venue having won both of his matches today, “There are good conditions here in Portimão, the venue has a big potential”. Interestingly Bruni is known as a ‘light wind specialist’ but it has taken the stronger winds of Portimão to give him the edge over his competitors having beaten both Björn Hansen and Portuguese national Alvaro Marinho, with a 2-0 score.
Richard also ends day one with a 2-0 score. He was not daunted by the prospect of stronger winds at Stage 4 saying after the Skipper’s briefing, “We like the light winds definitely and had light winds in the first stages, but I also think we can get good results in the stronger breeze”. Richard has nearly won the Tour a number of times before and has had to mount the podium but not be the overall king which is frustrating for this hugely talented European. 2010 has been a dream year so far for his team and today he once again communicated the focussed and consistent approach he uses for all events, “We are confident as we sailed well since the beginning of the year and the weather is good here in Portugal, we have those all important points and results which makes us happy. But we also feel pressure as we are the leaders and when you have a such a lead the spotlight is on you”.
The forecast for the event week ahead is for unbroken sunshine translating into solid match racing breeze for the 12 entries.
Round Robin, day one
1. Adam Minoprio, 3-0
2. Mathieu Richard, 2-0
3. Francesco Bruni, 2-0
4. Ian Williams, 2-1
5. Peter Gilmour, 2-1
6. Torvar Mirsky, 1-1
7. Magnus Holmberg, 1-1
8. Bertrand Pacé, 1-2
9. Alvaro Marinho, 1-2
10. Björn Hansen, 0-2
11. Manuel Weiller, 0-2
12. Eugeny Neugodnikov, 0-3
No comments so far.
Be first to leave comment below.