Good start to World Tour for Volvo RYA match racer Owen
by Karenza Morton, RYA 28 Apr 2008 11:45 BST
Volvo RYA Keelboat man Tudur Owen enjoyed a profitable start to his 2008 World Match Racing Tour campaign as he and his Mirsky Racing Team crewmates sailed to Brasil Sailing Cup joint fifth in the opening event of the new season.
The team, headed by up-and-coming Australian skipper Torvar Mirsky, picked up three wins out of five in the opening round robin series in Vitoria, with their only losses coming against reigning World Champion Brit Ian Williams and respected Swede Magnus Holmberg.
Mirsky Racing Team, who currently sit seventh in the ISAF World match racing rankings, progressed into the quarter finals where they were paired against World ranked number three Paulo Cian from Italy.
But although they couldn’t overcome the Italian’s Team Shosholoza over the two quarter final flights, Mirsky’s team picked up a cheque for $13,500 in finishing joint fifth in the 12-strong field, two places higher than their 2007 Brasil Cup result.
Cian went on to defeat Williams in the semi finals before claiming Brasil Sailing Cup victory following a tense battle with World number four Bjorn Hansen (SWE) in the final, Cian coming from 2-0 down to eventually win the best of five showdown 3-2.
The second 2008 World Match Racing Tour event takes place in Langenargen, Germany between 7-12 May.
The Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme was launched in 2003 to provide the opportunity for talented young sailors aged between 16-24 to break into the world of keelboat sailing. The current Programme comprises 47 sailors across three squads.
2008 World Match Racing Tour, Brasil Sailing Cup overall results:
1. Paolo Cian (ITA)
2. Bjorn Hansen (SWE)
3. Ian Williams (GBR)
4. Magnus Holmberg (SWE)
5= Torvar Mirsky (AUS)
5= Mattias Rahm (SWE)
7. Pierre Antoine Morvan (FRA)
8. Peter Wibroe (DEN)
9. Adam Minoprio (NZL)
10. Henrique Haddad (BRA)
11. Juan Grimalidi (ARG)
12. Daniel Glomb (BRA)