World Match Racing Tour 2009

The Monsoon Cup, the final event of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) held last week in Maylasia, offered the highest prize purse on the Tour (over $461,000), and as the final stage of the WMRT, was where the ISAF World Champion was crowned.

The Tour consists of nine events throughout Europe, Asia, and Bermuda, and for teams vying for the World Championship title, they count their best five scores leading into the final event, and then also include their final event score. To heighten the drama, the points earned at the final event are increased over the other tour events.

Among the top six teams in the final tour standings, four of them attended all nine events:
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL), ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing, 138 pts - 9 events
2. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team, 97 pts - 9 events
3. Ben Ainslie, (GBR), Team Origin, 95 pts - 4 events
4. Peter Gilmour (AUS), YANMAR, 93 pts - 7 events
5. Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team, 79 pts - 9 events
6. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar, 75 pts - 9 events

Click here for 2009 Tour Final Standings

What is remarkable is how well Ainslie did in the 2009 Tour standings. Despite sailing in only three tour events before competing in the Monsoon Cup, he was far short on the scoring opportunities that the other teams had, yet still nearly finished second in the Tour standings. Ainslie’s record of finishing on the podium for all 4 of his events was unmatched; Minoprio came closest by finishing 5 of his 9 events in the top three. Needless to say, Ainslie has successfully made the transition from Olympic sailing to match racing.

Here was the disbursement of the Monsoon Cup prize money:

1. $105,000.00 - Adam Minoprio (NZL), ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing
2. $73,500.00 - Ben Ainslie (GBR), Team Origin
3. $44,167.00 - Peter Gilmour (AUS), YANMAR Racing
4. $38,278.00 - Sebastien Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team
5. $35,335.00 - Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team
6. $32,390.00 - Phil Robertson (NZL), Team NZL WAKA Racing
7. $29,446.00 - Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing
8. $26,501.00 - Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team
9. $23,557.00 - Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge
10. $20,612.00 - Francesco Bruni (ITA), Team Azzura
11. $17,667.00 - Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar
12. $14,723.00 - Hazwan Hazim Dermanwan (MAS), Taring Pelangi

Click here for Monsoon Cup results