Match Race Germany 2013. Image copyright Andy Heinrich/Match Race Germany
by Eberhard Magg
The
world champion takes a shine to Match Race Germany. Many years Ian
Williams had tried to win the German classic but simply couldn’t.
But now, the penny is dropped. The Briton and his team GAC Pindar
return to Lake Constance over Pentecost from June 5 to 9 as
the defending champions. Williams wants to set a new record this
season, by becoming World Champion in this spectacular
duel-discipline of sailing, the Alpari World Match Racing Tour 2014,
for a fifth record time.
Said
Williams, “Of course we will be aiming to repeat our victory of
last year but Tour Card holder list this year is very strong. And I
also expect the wild card entries and qualifiers to be a threat.”
The former attorney who has taken a sabbatical in which he has proven
himself as a world-class helmsman and turned professional after that
break from the job, wants to become the all-time best matchracerby
winning his fifth world title. Prensetly Williams shares
the lead with America's Cup winner and match racing legend Peter
Gilmour. Ironically, Gilmour's son David could prevent Williams from
pushing his father off the throne, as the young Australian heads to
Langenargen for the very first time and as Tour Card debutant wants
to show what the next generation of the Gilmour´s is capable of.
Ian Williams of Team GAC Pindar - defending champion at Match Race Germany. Image copyright Alpari World Match Racing Tour
The
only thing that matters is
on-water performance
Says
Ian Williams, a passionate matchracer with his own
typically elegant style: "The Alpari World Match Racing Tour
offers some of the best racing in the sport. The fact that the
equipment is supplied so the result comes down just to the
performance of the sailors on the day provides for great competition.
For us the matchracing is part of our professional sailing
program and certainly contributes to ourlivlihood.”
Matchracing stands
for pure excitement, because the regatta is carried out in duels just
like in the America 's Cup. The teams face each other in duels boat
against boat, team against team. This sailing discipline can be
described as a mix of chess and boxing on the water. There is only
one winner. As they say in the America’s Cup: There is no second!
Design or equipment advantages do not exist as the duels are sailed
on OneDesign boats. Ian Williams, who celebrates his 37th
birthday on 26th April is happily looking forward to his
return to Langenargen: "We really enjoy coming to Lake
Constance. The atmosphere at the event is always very
festive and it is such a beautiful place that we always look forward
to returning."
The
2014 Match Race Germany 2014 will be the 17th edition since the
inaugural event’s debut back in 1997. Only once the German classic
had to be cancelled due to a flood back in 1999. The only German
Grand Prix has been a tour stop of the Alpari World Match Racing Tour
since 2000. Like in 2013 Match Race Germany will gain be the opening
event for the 2014/15 Tour season. Eight seeded tour card holders,
two qualifiers and two wild card skippers plus teams will be invited
by the organizing committee to form the line-up of the 12
participating teams from at least nine nations, who will entertain
and impress tens of thousands spectators over Whitsun in front of the
naturally beautiful sailing arena of Langenargen with their close and
tense sailing.
One
world tour, six regattas around the globe, one world champion
The
final list of participants will be published by the organizers in
May. The professional crews compete in picturesque Langenargen in
South Germany for important Tour points as well as world ranking
points of ISAF, and for app. 45.000 US$. After the German Grand Prix,
the Alpari World Match Racing Tour heads to Sweden's beautiful island
of Marstrand and ends after three more regattas
in Sopot(Poland), Chicago (USA) and Hamilton (Bermuda) in
Malaysia with the final showdown. There the fight for the world title
and a lion's share of the total prize money of the tour of 1.75
million U.S. dollars come to an end in November when the new world
champion will be crowned.
The
Tour-Card-Skippers/Teams 2014
The
reigning world champion: Taylor Canfield (USone; USA)
The
4-times world champion: Ian Williams (GAC Pindar, GBR)
The
runner up of 2010: Mathieu Richard (LunaJets; FRA)
The
runner up of2012: Björn Hansen (eWork Sailing Team; SWE)
The
runner up of 2011: Francesco Bruni (Luna Rossa Challenge,
ITA)
Bronze
medalist of 2013: Phil Robertson (WAKA Racing, NZL)
No.
6 from 2013: Keith Swinton (Black Swan Racing, AUS)
No.13
from 2013: David Gilmour (Team Gilmour, AUS)
All
tour card holders have committed to compete in Germany already,
except the Italian team with skipper Francesco Bruni who still has to
solve date clashes with his America´s Cup team Luna Rossa.
The
Wild-Cards
Will
be announced soon by the organizing committee.
The
qualifiers
2nd
place Berlin Match Race (winner Mathieu Richard comes with his Tour
Card at Lake Constance: Eric Monnin (SUI )
German
Match Race Champion : Carsten Kemmling (starts with
Felix Oehmes Hamburg Match Race Team , Match Race World
Ranking : No. 41 )
The
partners
Long
time partners Porsche, MHP, Adidas, Ultramarin and Nauti Sattler
remain on board as major partners. Global player ZF Marine has joined
as a new partner. The highly successful cottage concept in the lovely
Gondola Harbour of Langenargen is being expanded. So the fans can
celebrate their After Sail Parties ashore with a very special touch
and together with the best.
