Holmber, Mirsky, Rahm and Richard progress to semi-finals

“I am exhausted!” said a jubilant Mirsky on returning to the dock, as he and his team had been out on the water nearly 10 hours, not only racing, but enduring long delays due to both fluky wind conditions and equipment problems on his rival’s boat. A long delay this afternoon ensued after Gilmour tried to request a different boat to compete in the final match because he thought that boat to be inadequately matched against Mirsky’s. Both had sailed each boat twice, and this boat had lost both matches.

“This is why its so hard to sail against Gilly,” said Mirsky, “because he not only sails hard on the water, he plays mind games with you too.” The delay was caused by the jury having to hear a protest from Mirsky on Gilmour’s request, and the time it took for them to examine all the race documents, consult with the event organizers, and render a decision. The jury disallowed Gilmour’s request to use another boat, but did allow him to examine and re-adjust all the rigging and re-tune the spar, which took well over an hour.

In the meantime, yet another spectacularly sunny day brought out the shore side spectators by the tens of thousands, who seemed unfazed by the long delay in racing. They had been earlier entertained with a fun fleet race held between celebrity skippers with their crews composed of sponsors, media, and race crews, with the biggest attraction being Sweden’s Princess Madeleine and NHL hockey star Henrik Lundqvist sailing on a boat for the World Childhood Foundation. Dozens of paparazzi following the Princess churning up the normally placid waters of the fiord into a froth, yet no one seemed to mind.

“This is what I really love about this event,” said Mirsky. “The crowd here in Sweden is really into the sailing, and hearing them cheer you on is really a boost.”

They certainly enjoyed what was easily the most spirited rivalry in the Quarter Final pairings, the series between Mattias Rahm (SWE) and his Stena Bulk Racing Team and Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) and his Trifork Racing Team. While Rahm emerged the winner after five matches, each was so close to have gone to either team, and the racing was so close, and so aggressive, to resemble hand-to-hand combat on sailboats. Both skippers and their teams are quite adept at maneuvering the DS37’s used in this event, having raced and trained on them for years, so they were able to throw every move at each other in a masterful display of match race talent. Even the spectators ashore got into the act, cheering each team’s moves and applauding wildly whenever they ventured close to shore.

“It doesn’t get better than that for the spectators,” said Rahm. “It was a magnificent feeling to make a tack just in front of the spectators at Strandverket and hear the applause and shouts. It gave us an extra push for victory.”

In contrast, round robin winner Mathieu Richard (FRA) and his French Match Racing Team seemed cool, poised, and devastatingly effective at dispensing with the reigning event champion Bjorn Hansen (SWE) and his Alandia Sailing Team. With numerous fake tacks, fake gybes, and other tricks of the trade, Hansen tried time and again to lure Richard into making an error to cede the lead, but the French remained on form to win the stage in three straight matches.

And finally local hero Magnus Holmberg (SWE) and his Victory Challenge seemed to struggle at times against his rival, Korea Match Cup winner Sebastien Col (FRA) of the French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, but in the end prevailed to win three of five to advance to the Semi’s. Having been in numerous Semi-Finals and Finals at this event, Holmberg will have yet another chance at achieving the overall win which has thus far eluded him.

Racing for the Semi-Final and Final Rounds will continue on Sunday, 6 July at Match Cup Sweden.

Quarter Final Results:
Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team 3-0
def. Björn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team

Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge 3-2
def. Sébastien Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge

Mattias Rahm (SWE), Stena Bulk Racing 3-2
def. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN), Trifork Racing Team

Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team 3-2
def. Peter Gilmour (AUS), PST Team

Consolation Round:
5. Peter Gilmour (AUS) PST
6. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team
7. Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Trifork Racing Team
8. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K Challenge
9. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar
10. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team
11. Paolo Cian (ITA) Shosholoza Team
12. Ben Ainslie (GBR) Team Origin