Tricky Conditions In Langenargen

It seemed that finding wind was the biggest challenge of the day. With the teams split into 2 groups for Stage 1 of the competition. Group A made up of Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, Sebastien Col (FRA) K Challenge/French Match Racing Team, Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team, Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Search.ch, and Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Trifock Racing. Teams completed 3 out of 5 of scheduled flights.

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Group B consisting of Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, Damien Iehl (FRA) Team Sinbad, Peter Wibroe (DEN) Wibroe Sailing Team, Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing/Emirates Team New Zealand and Markus Wieser (GER) Team Sea Dubai took to the water in the afternoon.

With 8 of the top 10 ISAF Ranked sailors competing at Match Race Germany, spectators were guaranteed some close racing, and picking a clear favourite could be anyone’s guess especially in the fickle conditions on Lake Constance. In the first race of the day, Staffan Lindberg’s Alandia Sailing Team defeated Eric Monnin, while Bjorn Hansen’s Alandia Sailing Team Sweden took a win over Jes Gram Hansen in the first flight of the round robin.

By the end of flight 3, no team in round robin A had come through undefeated with one of the regatta favourites Mathieu Richard conceding all 3 races. Richard said ‘we will be looking to improve on the starts tomorrow after misjudging distances in all 3 starts today, which ultimately lost us all our races’. Richard went on to say ‘unless the other team makes a mistake, in the light conditions it is very hard to pass anyone.’

In Group B, local knowledge paid off for Markus Wieser, as he defeated defending Match race Germany Champion and Tour stage 1 winner, Paolo Cian. However flight three was not so successful for Wieser as he got into a tight spot around the top mark, and the penalty flags started flying. Wieser rounded inside Wibroe but copped a penalty, which allowed Peter Wibroe to finish comfortably ahead.

Cian’s race with Adam Minoprio didn’t go any better, with Minoprio forcing a red flag penalty on Cian after a collision between the two boats. Minoprio said ‘We knew we were in the right, so held our course. Unfortunately for Paolo he misjudged his gybe and hit us pretty hard.’ Minoprio went onto win the race comfortably.

With all the Group B matches completed, apart from match 3 of flight 2 which was postponed until tomorrow due to lack of wind the first Quarter Finalists have emerged. Ian Williams, Peter Wibroe and Markus Wieser are through to the next round. The teams that join them will be decided tomorrow when Group A is finished and with a little luck the repechage completed.

Group A Results
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) Alandia Sailing Team 3-0
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team 2-1
Sebastien Col (FRA) K Challenge/Freanch Match Racing Team 2-1
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team Serch.ch 1-2
Jes Gram Hansen (DEN) Trifork Racing 1-2
Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 0-3

Group B Results
Peter Wibroe (DEN) Wibroe Sailing Team 4-1
Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar 4-0
Markus Wieser (GER) Team Sea Dubai 2-2
Adam Minoprio (NZL) BlackMatch Racing 2-3
Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza 1-4
Damien Iehl (FRA) Team Sinbad 1-4