Thursday 1 July 2010

WMRT: BlackMatch Finish credible 3rd at Portimao Portugal Match Cup


Adam Minoprio leads Peter Gilmour during their semi final at Portimao Portugal Match Cup 2010. World Match Racing Tour. Portimao, Portugal. 27 June 2010. Image copyright Gareth Cooke/Subzero Images.

by David Swete

After a roller coaster week of 'ups and downs', BlackMatch managed to put a horrible semi final series defeat behind them to take down Ian Williams in the petit final and clinch 3rd position at the Portimao Portugal Match Cup.

The Australian teams skippered by Torvar Mirsky and Peter Gilmour had been showing great form throughout the week and won their semi finals convincingly 3 nil, over us and Williams. In our semi final against veteran Gilmour we definitely had our chances, but just couldn't captilize on them as his Yanmar racing team sailed very smartly to take the win.

After Williams also lost his semi final 3 nil to Torvar Mirsky, both teams were pretty demoralized, but it was us that managed to pull it together in the one race petit final to edge out the British team in a fierce race.

Our third place here means we are still in second position on the overall World Tour Standings and have narrowed the gap to trail Mathieu Richard by 17 points. We now have a week off before Match Cup Sweden and are looking for a good showing here.

BlackMatch would like to thank their sponsors FedEx Express and Events Clothing/Line 7 New Zealand. We would also like to thank our new sponsor Steinlager Pure and Emirates Team New Zealand, as without their support we would not have this opportunity.

BlackMatch Racing
World Match Racing Tour