Seaview Mermaid Match Racing at Sea View Yacht Club
by Sea View Yacht Club 23 Apr 2009 13:43 BST
18-19 April 2009
Francois Morvan wins the Seaview Mermaid Match Racing © SVYC
Francois Morvan from France was the winner of the Seaview Mermaid Match Racing, sponsored by Wight Vodka over the weekend of April 18-19, 2009.
The international fleet raced in light and testing conditions, but it was the three-man team from France who saw off the competition. And it was a vital regatta this year – as the only ISAF Grade 3 event on the UK’s calendar – the event offered aspiring sailors the chance to take those all-important steps up the world match racing rankings.
The Seaview race officials managed to complete a full Round Robin, just in time, before the breeze died out on the second day.
Out on the racecourse, it was a fight for the other podium places, Ali Hall secured second place overall by seeing off Robbie Allam in the semi finals. Mark Lees just missed out, finishing the regatta in fourth.
This is the sixth edition of the event – run by the Sea View Yacht Club which has established itself as a leading club for staging match-racing events as well as corporate regattas throughout the summer.
The Sea View Yacht Club’s fleet of identical 26ft racing yachts makes it ideal for match racing, plus there’s a grandstand view of the racing from the shore. Match racing is also about to gain international prominence as the chosen format for the women’s three-man Olympic event at the 2012 Games.