Round 10 of the World Match Racing Tour - Denmark

Round ten of the World Match Racing Tour begins on Thursday following Wednesday’s practice. The prize purse for this year’s event has been raised to $60,000 dollars. Competing for the prize purse are crews from six different countries as well as six skippers who have just returned from one form or another of America’s cup duty. This truly strong field also includes the recently crowned ISAF European Champion in Match Racing, Peter Wibroe.

Included in the field is Ian Williams (GBR) who is currently ranked number 1 on the ISAF open ranking as well as being ranked number 3 on the World Match Racing Tour. Sebastian Col also returns to Skovshoved after his first appearance and first World Match Racing Tour win here last year. Sebastian will no doubt be keen to continue his record (from last year’s Danish Open and the America’s Cup) against Dane Jesper Bank (the 2005 winner of the Danish Open), Jesper for his part will want to return to winning form after a disappointing America’s Cup campaign. Frenchman Mathieu Richard has a long and successful career in Match Racing and he must be considered a serious threat.

The matches will be sailed in the well known Danish DS 37 which is specifically designed for Match Racing, it is quick and lively, stable in its handling and yet extremely manoeuvrable. Larger than most Match Race boats it accommodates a men’s crew of 5. The Royal Danish Yacht Club’s Royal Match Race Centre’s permanent staff have been working overtime during the last weeks to ensure that the boats are in the condition that world class skippers expect.

There has been a lot of interest in taking part in the Danish Open 2007 with applications from the world over. From these, five crews from outside of Denmark were invited to take part in the Danish Open Qualifier event, the wild card entry to the Danish Open from this event finally went to Dane Rasmus Viltoft who sails often against Peter Wibroe and is also a member of the Royal Match Race Centre (hosts and organisers of the Danish Open).

Skovshoved Harbour, just north of Copenhagen provides the perfect setting for this event, the oldest event on the World Match Racing Tour. Because of the depth of the water, racing can take place right up to the harbour wall providing excellent access to the action for the spectators. Wind and sea conditions provide very even courses leading to the tightest duelling.

Racing begins every day at 10:00 and concludes at approximately 17:00. The round robin series will be sailed on Thursday and Friday, Saturday will comprise of the remainder of the round robin and the first semi final matches. Sunday completes the semi final rounds and the finals. (16:00)