ID :
30454
Sun, 11/16/2008 - 06:14
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/30454
The shortlink copeid
MONSOON CUP TO SEE CROWNING OF WMRT CHAMPION
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- The Monsoon Cup 2008 will once again double up as the last leg of the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) and witness the crowning of the world champion when the international sailing event sets sail in Pulau Duyong, in Malaysia's East Coast state of Terengganu, on Dec 3-7.
Last year's double champion, Ian Williams from Britain who clinched the
Monsoon Cup and WMRT title, hopes to make it a second consecutive double, when
he arrives in Terengganu as the pre-race favourite for the Monsoon Cup.
But while Williams, skipper of Team Bahrain Pindar who heads the WMRT
leader
board with 92 points, is expected to set the pace, two pretenders to the crown
-- second-placed Sebastien Col who is just four points behind with 88 and
Mathieu Richards with 77 points -- could spoil the Englishman's party.
On paper though Col, who helms Team Avera Challenge, and Williams would be
engaged in their own private battle but Richards, who skippered the French Match
Racing Team to win the recent WMRT legs in Bermuda and Brazil, can be a race
winner on his day.
"The race for the WMRT title is still wide open, especially between the top
two, and we can expect a thrilling finale during the Monsoon," said 2005 Monsoon
Cup winner and race advisor Datuk Peter Gilmour.
However, one cannot discard the pretenders, the young and restless and the
up-and-coming sailors in the competition.
Among the young sailors to look out for are Adam Minoprio, a 23-year-old
from New Zealand with Black Match Racing Team, currently fourth with 53 points,
and Torvar Mirsky of Austria, 22, helming Mirsky Racing Team which is also on 53
points but in fifth place.
All in all, the race this year boasts a star-studded 12-team field, which
also includes Ben Ainslie, who was crowned ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year in
Madrid, Spain, this week.
Of the 12 teams to compete in the 2008 event, 10 have been finalised
while the Malaysian and Asian qualifiers to be held from Nov 24 to 29 at the
same venue will decide the remaining two.
-- BERNAMA
Last year's double champion, Ian Williams from Britain who clinched the
Monsoon Cup and WMRT title, hopes to make it a second consecutive double, when
he arrives in Terengganu as the pre-race favourite for the Monsoon Cup.
But while Williams, skipper of Team Bahrain Pindar who heads the WMRT
leader
board with 92 points, is expected to set the pace, two pretenders to the crown
-- second-placed Sebastien Col who is just four points behind with 88 and
Mathieu Richards with 77 points -- could spoil the Englishman's party.
On paper though Col, who helms Team Avera Challenge, and Williams would be
engaged in their own private battle but Richards, who skippered the French Match
Racing Team to win the recent WMRT legs in Bermuda and Brazil, can be a race
winner on his day.
"The race for the WMRT title is still wide open, especially between the top
two, and we can expect a thrilling finale during the Monsoon," said 2005 Monsoon
Cup winner and race advisor Datuk Peter Gilmour.
However, one cannot discard the pretenders, the young and restless and the
up-and-coming sailors in the competition.
Among the young sailors to look out for are Adam Minoprio, a 23-year-old
from New Zealand with Black Match Racing Team, currently fourth with 53 points,
and Torvar Mirsky of Austria, 22, helming Mirsky Racing Team which is also on 53
points but in fifth place.
All in all, the race this year boasts a star-studded 12-team field, which
also includes Ben Ainslie, who was crowned ISAF Rolex Sailor of the Year in
Madrid, Spain, this week.
Of the 12 teams to compete in the 2008 event, 10 have been finalised
while the Malaysian and Asian qualifiers to be held from Nov 24 to 29 at the
same venue will decide the remaining two.
-- BERNAMA
