Field Confirmed for World Match Racing Tour Newport

Newport, RI (May 28, 2016) – After three days and 64 races, the three remaining berths of 20 were decided for next week’s World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) Newport (May 30-Jun 4). The eight-team qualifier series started Thursday (May 26) and concluded today with the Semi-Finals, Finals and Petit Finals held within yards of the shoreline on the east side of Fort Adams in 8-15 knots of breeze.

Taking the top two berths by making the Finals were 36 Below, skippered by Chris Steele (Auckland, New Zealand) and 13 Fifty Racing, skippered by Michael Menninger (Newport Beach, Calif.). 36 Below lost only one of its 18 matches in the qualifier series and won the Finals 2-0 over 13 Fifty Racing.

The Petit Finals were the most exciting, with Team Gilmour, skippered by David Gilmour (Perth, Australia) having to outmaneuver Team Mirsky, skippered by Torvar Mirsky (Pittwater, NSW, Australia) to clinch the third berth with a 2-0 final score.

“It will be an advantage for us, having done the qualifiers and spent more time in the boats so close to the event,” said Steele. “All the teams coming for Monday’s start will be fresh off the plane, while we’re already in sync with time zone, and, we’ve had a look at what the race course is going to be like. It’s awesome where we were racing today, and that’s where it’s going to be on Monday. It’s really cool to have the spectators so close and come Monday there will be a heck of a lot more people watching. The platform is good, and it will be even better with eight boats and 20 teams out on water next week.”

A weather system coming up the east coast is expected to bring high winds on Monday, which could make the Memorial Day kick-off to the World Match Racing Tour Newport all the more fast-paced. According to World Match Racing Tour Card Holder Taylor Canfield (Chicago, Ill./St. Thomas, USVI) who is the top-seeded skipper here, the boats are good to fly their hulls in up to 25 knots. “It should be fun,” he said when told the forecast, for now, calls for 10-15 knots with gusts of 30.

Organised in association with Sail Newport, the World Match Racing Tour Newport will be based out of Fort Adams State Park. The race course is located off downtown Newport, between Fort Adams and Goat Island.

Twenty Skipper for WMRT Newport – May 30-June 4
Sally Barkow (USA)
Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
Taylor Canfield (ISV)
Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE)
David Gilmour (AUS)
Yann Guichard (FRA)
Matt Jerwood (AUS)
Iker Martinez (ESP)
Michael Menninger (USA)
Eric Monnin (SUI)
Chris Poole (USA)
Mattias Rahm (SWE)
Phil Robertson (NZL)
Nicolai Sehsted (DEN)
Chris Steele (NZL)
Keith Swinton (AUS)
Steven Thomas (AUS)
Evan Walker (AUS)
Hans Wallén (SWE)
Ian Williams (GBR)

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