[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team won the ‘King of the Mountain’ title today in spectacular style, taking a huge stride towards his quest to become the 2010 ISAF Match Racing World Champion.

Having toyed with the teams all week at the St. Moritz Match Race, it was on the final day that the Maloja wind truly kicked in, bringing with it a supreme display of match racing for which the ISAF World Match Racing Tour is renowned. Richard, despite not always being on top of his game throughout the week, knuckled down when it mattered most, grinding out a series of hard-fought victories against his nearest rivals today.

When the two British skippers, triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and double ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar won their first semi-final matches, the prospects looked good for an all-British final. However, Richard had no intention of playing second fiddle and led Ainslie all the way round the course in their next race to level the score.

Highlights from the closing day of the St. Moritz Match Race. St. Moritz, 5 September 2010. Video copyright WMRT

It was standing room only in the packed grandstands and with everything hanging on the final race of both semi-final matches, the crowds of spectators were in for a treat. A dogfight before each of the starts characterized the races. With a penalty to his name in his deciding semi-final battle against Ainslie, it appeared Richard’s only option as they approached the final mark was a brutal one – to pin a penalty on Ainslie. Fortunately for Richard, his Blu26 found a gust, giving him enough time to complete his penalty turn and dispense with the Brit.

Meanwhile, in the Williams vs Minoprio bout Williams took the first match, but Minoprio responded in the second with a move at the windward mark, where Williams collected two penalties in rapid succession, allowing Minoprio to take a decisive victory. Williams though regained his composure for the final race of his dual with the New Zealander, with just enough control over Minoprio to maintain a slim lead to the finish and a place in the final.

The scene was set for a fitting British-French finale, with the title going to the first team to win two races. This was sailing’s version of ‘Le Crunch’. At times, both played underdog, exchanging glances and penalties. It was one all after two races and in the deciding race, it seemed only right that the wind, so unpredictable and challenging all week, should have the final say. Richard, playing a string of gusts and shifts to perfection, pulling five lengths clear, a lead he maintained to take the ‘King of the Mountain’ crown and CHF36,000 in prize money.

Mathieu Ricahrd is the brand new “King of the Mountain”. St. Moritz, 5 September 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / WMRT

Richard, reflected: “I wasn’t happy after losing the first race against Ian in the finals. I was too excited, made mistakes and didn’t have a positive feeling. So, we picked ourselves up, changed our mood and took the match to them. We go to Denmark with a healthy lead however we know there is still all to play for. For now though, we’re overjoyed.”

As the Tour heads to the island of Bornholm, Denmark, next week, it is possible that the next few weeks will determine not just the outcome of this year’s World Match Racing Tour but also shape the future of match racing with the America’s Cup announcements that have been a hot topic all week in St. Moritz. Whatever the outcome, Richard and his rivals will remain focused on their endeavours to take the World Match Racing Tour title.

Overall Standings the 2010 St. Moritz Match Race:
Skipper/Teams Points
1 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25
2 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 20
3 Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 15
4 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 12
5 Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 10
6 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 8
7 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6
8 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 4
9 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
10 Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Race Team
11 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
12 Jerome Clerc (SUI) Team CER Geneve

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team won the ‘King of the Mountain’ title today in spectacular style, taking a huge stride towards his quest to become the 2010 ISAF Match Racing World Champion.

Having toyed with the teams all week at the St. Moritz Match Race, it was on the final day that the Maloja wind truly kicked in, bringing with it a supreme display of match racing for which the ISAF World Match Racing Tour is renowned. Richard, despite not always being on top of his game throughout the week, knuckled down when it mattered most, grinding out a series of hard-fought victories against his nearest rivals today.

When the two British skippers, triple Olympic gold medalist Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN and double ISAF Match Racing World Champion Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar won their first semi-final matches, the prospects looked good for an all-British final. However, Richard had no intention of playing second fiddle and led Ainslie all the way round the course in their next race to level the score.

Highlights from the closing day of the St. Moritz Match Race. St. Moritz, 5 September 2010. Video copyright WMRT

It was standing room only in the packed grandstands and with everything hanging on the final race of both semi-final matches, the crowds of spectators were in for a treat. A dogfight before each of the starts characterized the races. With a penalty to his name in his deciding semi-final battle against Ainslie, it appeared Richard’s only option as they approached the final mark was a brutal one – to pin a penalty on Ainslie. Fortunately for Richard, his Blu26 found a gust, giving him enough time to complete his penalty turn and dispense with the Brit.

Meanwhile, in the Williams vs Minoprio bout Williams took the first match, but Minoprio responded in the second with a move at the windward mark, where Williams collected two penalties in rapid succession, allowing Minoprio to take a decisive victory. Williams though regained his composure for the final race of his dual with the New Zealander, with just enough control over Minoprio to maintain a slim lead to the finish and a place in the final.

The scene was set for a fitting British-French finale, with the title going to the first team to win two races. This was sailing’s version of ‘Le Crunch’. At times, both played underdog, exchanging glances and penalties. It was one all after two races and in the deciding race, it seemed only right that the wind, so unpredictable and challenging all week, should have the final say. Richard, playing a string of gusts and shifts to perfection, pulling five lengths clear, a lead he maintained to take the ‘King of the Mountain’ crown and CHF36,000 in prize money.

Mathieu Ricahrd is the brand new “King of the Mountain”. St. Moritz, 5 September 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman / WMRT

Richard, reflected: “I wasn’t happy after losing the first race against Ian in the finals. I was too excited, made mistakes and didn’t have a positive feeling. So, we picked ourselves up, changed our mood and took the match to them. We go to Denmark with a healthy lead however we know there is still all to play for. For now though, we’re overjoyed.”

As the Tour heads to the island of Bornholm, Denmark, next week, it is possible that the next few weeks will determine not just the outcome of this year’s World Match Racing Tour but also shape the future of match racing with the America’s Cup announcements that have been a hot topic all week in St. Moritz. Whatever the outcome, Richard and his rivals will remain focused on their endeavours to take the World Match Racing Tour title.

Overall Standings the 2010 St. Moritz Match Race:
Skipper/Teams Points
1 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 25
2 Ian Williams (GBR) Team GAC Pindar 20
3 Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 15
4 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 12
5 Bertrand Pace (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 10
6 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 8
7 Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6
8 Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 4
9 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team
10 Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Race Team
11 Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team
12 Jerome Clerc (SUI) Team CER Geneve

Highlights from Day 2 of the St. Moritz Match Race. St. Moritz, 3 September 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

Highlights from Day 2 of the St. Moritz Match Race. St. Moritz, 3 September 2010. Video copyright World Match Racing Tour

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The race village at the Segel-Club St. Moritz was buzzing today, with 12 world-class sailing teams making their final preparations for a week of fierce head-to-head competition in the St. Moritz Match Race, the sixth stage of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Championship.

After a light dusting of snow on the hills above the lake overnight, St. Moritz sparkled in the morning sun. However, the unseasonably cold weather meant the trademark Maloja wind was absent today, leaving sailors to contend with an erratic and chilling northerly breeze. This was light and fitful at the start of the competitors’ registration and weigh-in session, but built to a useful 10-15 knots for the first practice session.

With the Maloja not expected to be fully active for a few days, the challenge of making the most of the shifty winds is uppermost in the minds of many skippers.

Mathieu Richard, current WMRT leader, trains under cold and tricky conditions for the St Moritz Match Race 2010. St Moritz, 31 August 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images

Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Berntsson Sailing Team, commented: “This is the second time for us here – it’s a stunning venue and we’re looking forward to it. The shifty winds make it a very challenging place for us, but we are used to that from our home waters near Gothenburg.”

One skipper who is not so worried about the tricky conditions, however, is Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team. Switzerland’s best match race helmsman, Monnin is currently ranked 26th in the world and has competed at every St. Moritz Match Race. He stepped ashore after today’s practice session relaxed and smiling, saying:

“We like sailing at our home event. We know the boats and we know we can do well in the shifty conditions – it’s what we’re used to. We do as many of the WMRT events as we can – it’s always great to sail against these people.

“The standard of racing is increasing over time, with dedicated teams having a chance of winning against the America’s Cup sailors. There were coaches on many of the boats today – you didn’t see that here five years ago.”

Ben Ainslie trains under cold and tricky conditions for the St Moritz Match Race 2010. St Moritz, 31 August 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images

The WMRT is well established as a pathway to stardom for sailors. Jérôme Clerc (SUI) Team CER Genève is an up and coming Swiss sailor, with the distinction of being the second amateur team in this year’s Tour de France a la Voile. The St Moritz Match Race will be Clerc’s first ISAF Grade WC event, having been awarded a wildcard entry after finishing second in the Qualifier Event 2010 Volvo Match Race, Zug.

Clerc added: “This is a very big challenge for us – we’ve been match racing during the winter for training, but this is our first time with the Tour. It’s a great pleasure to be able to race against the big sailing stars we’ve seen on TV. Match racing is perfect for improving our manoeuvres and crew communication – the courses are very short, so you must be very precise.”

Tomorrow morning will see Clerc pitched straight into one-on-one battles with three of the biggest names in the sailing world, starting with double ISAF World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams (GBR), Team GAC Pindar. In his next race the young Swiss sailor will face Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team, who’s currently at the top of the Tour rankings. Clerc will then go head-to-head against triple Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup skipper Ben Ainslie (GBR), TEAMORIGIN.

[Source: World Match Racing Tour] The race village at the Segel-Club St. Moritz was buzzing today, with 12 world-class sailing teams making their final preparations for a week of fierce head-to-head competition in the St. Moritz Match Race, the sixth stage of the ISAF World Match Racing Tour Championship.

After a light dusting of snow on the hills above the lake overnight, St. Moritz sparkled in the morning sun. However, the unseasonably cold weather meant the trademark Maloja wind was absent today, leaving sailors to contend with an erratic and chilling northerly breeze. This was light and fitful at the start of the competitors’ registration and weigh-in session, but built to a useful 10-15 knots for the first practice session.

With the Maloja not expected to be fully active for a few days, the challenge of making the most of the shifty winds is uppermost in the minds of many skippers.

Mathieu Richard, current WMRT leader, trains under cold and tricky conditions for the St Moritz Match Race 2010. St Moritz, 31 August 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images

Johnie Berntsson (SWE), Berntsson Sailing Team, commented: “This is the second time for us here – it’s a stunning venue and we’re looking forward to it. The shifty winds make it a very challenging place for us, but we are used to that from our home waters near Gothenburg.”

One skipper who is not so worried about the tricky conditions, however, is Eric Monnin (SUI) Swiss Match Racing Team. Switzerland’s best match race helmsman, Monnin is currently ranked 26th in the world and has competed at every St. Moritz Match Race. He stepped ashore after today’s practice session relaxed and smiling, saying:

“We like sailing at our home event. We know the boats and we know we can do well in the shifty conditions – it’s what we’re used to. We do as many of the WMRT events as we can – it’s always great to sail against these people.

“The standard of racing is increasing over time, with dedicated teams having a chance of winning against the America’s Cup sailors. There were coaches on many of the boats today – you didn’t see that here five years ago.”

Ben Ainslie trains under cold and tricky conditions for the St Moritz Match Race 2010. St Moritz, 31 August 2010. Photo copyright Ian Roman/Subzero Images

The WMRT is well established as a pathway to stardom for sailors. Jérôme Clerc (SUI) Team CER Genève is an up and coming Swiss sailor, with the distinction of being the second amateur team in this year’s Tour de France a la Voile. The St Moritz Match Race will be Clerc’s first ISAF Grade WC event, having been awarded a wildcard entry after finishing second in the Qualifier Event 2010 Volvo Match Race, Zug.

Clerc added: “This is a very big challenge for us – we’ve been match racing during the winter for training, but this is our first time with the Tour. It’s a great pleasure to be able to race against the big sailing stars we’ve seen on TV. Match racing is perfect for improving our manoeuvres and crew communication – the courses are very short, so you must be very precise.”

Tomorrow morning will see Clerc pitched straight into one-on-one battles with three of the biggest names in the sailing world, starting with double ISAF World Match Racing Champion Ian Williams (GBR), Team GAC Pindar. In his next race the young Swiss sailor will face Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team, who’s currently at the top of the Tour rankings. Clerc will then go head-to-head against triple Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup skipper Ben Ainslie (GBR), TEAMORIGIN.

[Source: St Moritz Match Race] Volvo joins main partner AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel as co-sponsor. Volvo also becomes title partner of the Swiss qualifying regatta Volvo Match Race Zug.

Volvo cars Switzerland supports match racing in Switzerland, and becomes a co-sponsor of the prestigious St.Moritz Match Race. Volvo also becomes the title-partner of the Volvo Match Race Zoug, a qualifying regatta that will give the opportunity to a Swiss team to qualify directly for St.Moritz Match Race. The eighth edition of St Moritz match Race will take place on August 31 – September 5 and the Volvo Match Race Zug on May 28 – 30.

Volvo has been supporting the sport of sailing for over a decade. Its main involvement is with the Volvo Ocean Race, the race around the world for crews with stopovers.

Volvo Cars Switzerland now also supports match racing in Switzerland through St. Moritz Match Race and Volvo Match Race Zug. “We are pleased to support these events at the highest level”, commented Anouk Poelmann, the President of Volvo Cars Switzerland. “The possibility given to a Swiss team to qualify directly for St. Moritz Match Race gives us the opportunity to also support the sport on a national scale.”

Volvo Match Race Zug

St. Moritz Match Race’s qualifying regatta, Volvo Match Race Zug, will reassemble the who’s who of match racing in Switzerland. Team Monnin, who regularly competes in international events at the highest level will sail against some teams who have never raced abroad. Amongst the teams registered, Jerôme Clerc, from Société Nautique de Genève or Nathalie Brugger, who finished 6th in the last Olympic Games in Beijing and will try to show her qualities on another boat than her usual Laser.

“I am very pleased to see a car manufacturer involved in sailing at the highest level also supporting the sport in Switzerland”, comments Christian Scherrer, President of the Organising Committee. “The Volvo Match Race Zug gives us the opportunity to help promote new talented teams and to give them the chance to compete in an international regatta at the highest level.”

Provisional list of participants – Volvo Match Race Zug (28.-30.05.2010)
Eric Monnin, YCI, Swiss Match Race Team (3rd St. Moritz Match Race 2008)
Jerome Clerc, SNG
Roger Stocker, ZYC
Marcel Walser, ZYC
Lukas Erni, RCO
Nathalie Brugger, CVE (6th Olympic Games, Beijing)
Alexa Bezel, SVT
Nathalie Keller, TYC

[Source: St Moritz Match Race] Volvo joins main partner AFG Arbonia-Forster-Holding and Badrutt’s Palace Hotel as co-sponsor. Volvo also becomes title partner of the Swiss qualifying regatta Volvo Match Race Zug.

Volvo cars Switzerland supports match racing in Switzerland, and becomes a co-sponsor of the prestigious St.Moritz Match Race. Volvo also becomes the title-partner of the Volvo Match Race Zoug, a qualifying regatta that will give the opportunity to a Swiss team to qualify directly for St.Moritz Match Race. The eighth edition of St Moritz match Race will take place on August 31 – September 5 and the Volvo Match Race Zug on May 28 – 30.

Volvo has been supporting the sport of sailing for over a decade. Its main involvement is with the Volvo Ocean Race, the race around the world for crews with stopovers.

Volvo Cars Switzerland now also supports match racing in Switzerland through St. Moritz Match Race and Volvo Match Race Zug. “We are pleased to support these events at the highest level”, commented Anouk Poelmann, the President of Volvo Cars Switzerland. “The possibility given to a Swiss team to qualify directly for St. Moritz Match Race gives us the opportunity to also support the sport on a national scale.”

Volvo Match Race Zug

St. Moritz Match Race’s qualifying regatta, Volvo Match Race Zug, will reassemble the who’s who of match racing in Switzerland. Team Monnin, who regularly competes in international events at the highest level will sail against some teams who have never raced abroad. Amongst the teams registered, Jerôme Clerc, from Société Nautique de Genève or Nathalie Brugger, who finished 6th in the last Olympic Games in Beijing and will try to show her qualities on another boat than her usual Laser.

“I am very pleased to see a car manufacturer involved in sailing at the highest level also supporting the sport in Switzerland”, comments Christian Scherrer, President of the Organising Committee. “The Volvo Match Race Zug gives us the opportunity to help promote new talented teams and to give them the chance to compete in an international regatta at the highest level.”

Provisional list of participants – Volvo Match Race Zug (28.-30.05.2010)
Eric Monnin, YCI, Swiss Match Race Team (3rd St. Moritz Match Race 2008)
Jerome Clerc, SNG
Roger Stocker, ZYC
Marcel Walser, ZYC
Lukas Erni, RCO
Nathalie Brugger, CVE (6th Olympic Games, Beijing)
Alexa Bezel, SVT
Nathalie Keller, TYC