Cottonfield ISAF Match Racing Worlds - Day 4

GILMOUR, PACE, BANK AND MOHR IN THE SEMI-FINALS

It took four come-from-behind wins in the final two round robin flights of the Cottonfield ISAF Match Racing World Championships to decide who would make the cut to the semi-finals.

In all four of these matches the lead changed on the last leg of the race, with the composition of the semi-finals changing with each change of lead.

In race three of the penultimate flight, Denmark's Jesper Bank trailed German triple Olympic Gold Medallist Jochen Schumann as they turned the last mark to head for the finish.

A fierce luffing match, and some better crew work on the Danish boat saw them grab victory, and keep their semi-finals prospects alive, as they overtook the luckless Schumann.

Is this a match that could be replayed on Sydney Harbour in just over a year's time? Jesper has already qualified to represent Denmark in the Solings at the Olympic Games, and Jochen is favourite to take the German berth.

In the final flight, first off the starting line were Australian Peter Gilmour and his Pizza-La Japanese crew, against local hero Sten Mohr.

Gilmour was fighting for the overall lead, and the right to choose his semi-finals opponent, while for Mohr, it could be a case of survival, depending on the outcome of other matches.

Mohr took an early lead, and defended it until the last mark, where his advantage was less than two boats lengths, with aggressive downwind tactics, and some immaculate crew work by the Japanese, Gilmour took the gun.

Flight two was Frenchman Bertrand Pace against Kiwi Dean Barker, and although for Barker is was only a matter of pride, if the French could win, and Gilmour lost, Pace would have the privilege of choosing his semi-finals opponent.

This was the only race where the lead didn't change, with the Kiwi getting the upper hand off the starting line, and holding the advantage until the finish.

Next came Germany's Marcus Wieser versus Swede Magnus Holmberg, with Holmberg needing a victory to keep his hopes alive, but ultimately out of his hands, as other results would be the deciding factor.

Weiser had a one length advantage at the final turn, with both crews doing immaculate spinnaker hoists the run to the finish was a duel all the way, the Swede finding a little extra breeze and snatching victory.

Jesper Bank, another multiple Olympic Medallist, faced fellow countryman Morten Henriksen in the last match of the double round robin eliminations, with Bank needing victory to keep his semi-final hopes alive.

This contest was close all the way, with Bank the early leader, but Henriksen getting a better shift as they approached the first mark, to round ahead.

Henriksen kept a tenuous control until after they had rounded the final mark, when the greater experience of the Olympian came to the fore and he outsailed his countryman to take the race and a place in the semi-finals.

When all races were finished, and tie-breaks worked out, the Japanese America's Cup crew were on top of the ladder, and Sten Mohr made the cut ahead of Magnus Holmberg.

Gilmour had a difficult decision, the only skipper he had beaten both times they met in the round robins was Bertrand Pace, but he is never easy, and has a good track record at this event.

Both Sten Mohr and Jesper Bank beat the Pizza-La team in the first round robin, but lost to them in the second, but in the end it was Bank that Gilmour selected as his semi-finals opponent, leaving Mohr and Pace to fight it out for the other place in Sunday's finals.

It is at times like these that it appears Gilmour is playing with the opposition like a cat plays with a mouse, allowing them to think they can get away, but in the end he wins.

The other explanation for his ability to come from behind could be that he needs the pressure to bring out the best, but which ever is the answer, he had quite a few of the locals here fooled at the end of the first day.

At this stage of the regatta we say "farvel" (goodbye) to Morten Henriksen and Jochen Schumman, and as our commentator here, Jesper Radich, points out, it is some competition where a man with three Olympic Gold Medals, and a chance of getting another, comes last.

In the sail off for fifth to eight places, Magnus Holmberg will sail against Chris Law, leaving Dean Barker versus Marcus Wieser, with these and the semi-finals being first to win three races.

RESULTS: round robins

Pos Helm               Country        Points
1.  Peter Gilmour      Australia      13 
2.  Bertrand Pace      France         12
3.  Jesper Bank        Denmark        11.75
4.  Sten Mohr          Denmark        11
5.  Magnus Holmberg    Sweden         11
6.  Dean Barker        New Zealand     9.5 
7.  Chris Law          Great Britain   7
8.  Marcus Wieser      Germany         7
9.  Morten Henriksen   Denmark         3.75
10. Jochen Schumann    Germany         3

Event Website: www.sail.dk