Knickerbocker Cup Match Racing at New York - Day 3

Matteo Simoncelli vs. Ian Williams on day three of the 2005 Knickerbocker Cup © Andrea Watson

Matteo Simoncelli maintains his lead

Matteo Simoncelli (ITA), ITway Match Race Team, with crew Cesare Trioschi, Luigi Viale and Gian Matteo Paulin have maintained their lead at the completion of the Full Round Robin on Day Three at the 2005 Knickerbocker Cup.

It was the last match in Flight 22 that gave the ITway team their first place position. Sailing against Ian Williams (GBR) to the finish line, it was a neck-to-neck dual on the last downwind leg, when Williams doused his spinnaker, but the Italians took a chance, kept their spinnaker flying and caught the Brits at the finish line and won the race, giving them eight points to take the lead.

Positions 2 – 6 were decided on tie- breakers, with Mark Campbell-James (GBR) capturing second place, Ian Williams (GBR) third, and Simon Minoprio (NZL) rounding out the top four. Terry McLaughlin (CAN), who has won the Knickerbocker Cup for the past two years, was given 5th place on a tie-breaker, as was next in line, Brian Angel (USA) who was 6th. Bruce Cook, Chief Umpire said, it was a “terrific day, great weather, saw great racing, the race committee did a terrific job, and we have a great line up for the semi – finals and finals.

The top ISAF - ranked people who are here are the ones in the final four – though not in the order of their ranking.” Match racing doesn’t get better than this – out of the 12 teams, nine positions were decided on tie-breakers.

Sunday’s racing should prove to be just as exciting, as the top four teams are very closely matched. By end of day, though, only one team will be crowned the winner and have their name engraved on the Cup along with past winners, some of whom are Ed Baird (three times), Dave Perry (two times), Terry McLaughlin (two times), Paul Cayard, Russell Coutts, Peter Gilmour, Russell Coutts, and Roy Heiner.

Results as of Saturday, August 27, 2005:

1st Matteo Simoncelli (ITA) 9 points
2nd Mark Campbell-James (GBR) 8 points
3rd Ian Williams ((GBR) 8 points
4th Simon Minoprio (NZL) 8 points
5th Terry McLaughlin (CAN) 6 points
6th Brian Angel (USA) 6 points
7th Laurie Jury ((NZL) 5 points
8th Scott Dickson (USA) 4 points
9th Peter Wibroe (DEN) 4 points
10th Martin Angsell (SWE) 3 points
11th Jon Singsen (USA) 3 points
12th Christian Hamilton (GRA) 2 points

More information is available at www.kyc.net