The 2012 Alpari World Match Racing Tour moves to Marseille and the Mediterranean for the sixth event, with Match Race France getting underway on the 24th September. Peter Gilmour (skipper, AUS) and his YANMAR Racing team are currently in third overall on the Tour standings, right behind leaders Bjorn Hansen and Ian Williams. However, Gilmour’s tactician, Fred Guilmin (FRA) won in Marseille last year (with Damien Iehl), and YANMAR Racing will be looking to close the points gap at the top of the leaderboard.
Match Race France uses the quick and highly manoeuvrable J80 boats, and as with the St Moritz Match Cup these are four person boats. So the team will use the same line-up that raced in Switzerland, with Japan’s Yasuhiro Yaji handling the forward end of the boat. In the cockpit there will be lots of local knowledge, with France’s Thierry Douillard trimming and Guilmin on the mainsheet and doing tactics. Once again the regular bowman, Kazuhiko Sofuku will be sitting this one out.
The event opened today with the regular practice sessions, ahead of the first day of qualifying on the 25th September. Or at least that was the plan, but sailing was disrupted by a strong Mistral wind blowing down the Rhone valley after the passage of a cold front. It was 25-to-30 knots out on the water, and so Gilmour and his teammates joined the rest of the competition in the club, everyone hoping that the breeze would drop – it didn’t.
It was an opportunity for Thierry Douillard to rest up after requiring a couple of stitches yesterday. YANMAR Racing had arrived in Marseille two days early to do some extra practice, and Douillard had needed treatment after catching the bowsprit in his face during a high-speed move in yesterday’s Mistral.
Yasuhiro Yaji commented, ’We’re so lucky to already have had two day’s practice here, and today turned into a good rest day for our team – especially Thierry.’ Fortunately, the forecast for tomorrow is a little lighter, so qualifying should get underway on schedule in the morning. YANMAR Racing will be joining the action at flight four, racing against Sweden’s Johnie Berntsson.
There is a strong line-up at this year’s event with nearly all of the main contenders competing, including the overall Tour leader, Bjorn Hansen (SWE), and the defending World Champion and second placed Ian Williams (GBR). Also in Marseille, and vying for the overall podium at the end of the season, will be France’s Pierre-Antoine Morvan and Australia’s Keith Swinton, the latter was winner of the St Moritz Match Cup.
Tamara Echegoyen, the Spanish Gold Medallist from the Women’s Match Racing at the 2012 Olympics will also be competing, and returning to the Tour after his trip around the world in the Volvo Ocean Race will be former world champion, Adam Minoprio (NZL).
Match Race France is the sixth event on this year’s Alpari World Match Racing Tour and is held in Marseille from the 24th to the 29th September.
24th September 2012
Overall Tour Championship Standings – after 5 stages:
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Mekonomen Sailing Team – 93pts
Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar – 87pts
Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing – 69pts
Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) Vannes Agglo Sailing Team – 69pts
Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing – 64pts
Phil Robertson (NZ) WAKA Racing – 56pts
Laurie Jury (NZ) Kiwi Match – 49pts
Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team – 35pts
Mathieu Richard (FRA) Loire Atlantique Sailing Team – 28pts
Jordan Reece (AUS) Estate Master Sailing Team – 22pts