Harry Price wins Miami Match Cup

Miami, FL (April 13, 2017) – The young Australian Harry Price may have finished the qualifying stage in second but his Sydney-based Down Under Racing performed when needed to win the Miami Match Cup, a qualifying event for the World Match Racing Tour.

After leading the qualifying session during the first two regatta days, today Price had a series of losses at the end to give way to American Nevin Snow leading into the knockout rounds. But when these two teams met for the Final, it was Price that saved the best for last.

While many of the teams were new to the M32 catamaran, Price benefited from the experience of two previous WMRT qualifiers in the boat.

By winning the round robin qualifying stage, Snow picked fellow USA countryman Markus Edegran, which paired Price to battle his semifinal against fellow Sydney sailor Evan Walker and his Team KA Match.

In this first to 3-point series Walker convincingly took the first. In the second match Walker won the start and was ahead again. As the pair came down the second run the gap closed with each cross. Coming in towards the bottom gate Price owned the starboard advantage but still trailed, just. Without flinching Walker continued to the gate on port tack to cross his opponent’s bow. With a heavy last minute flick of the tiller Price sold the penalty and Walker was forced to slow, giving the win to Down Under Racing.

In the other semifinal, Snow’s 13FIFTY Racing dominated in a 2-0 win over E11EVEN Racing. Markus Edegran was the surprise of the regatta with this being his rookie entry to the professional match racing circuit. He looked strong in the early parts of the day, but couldn’t keep the winning rhythm when the pressure turned on for the knockout rounds.

With the finalists decided, so too were the primary prizes. As a World Tour event, Miami Match Cup (Apr 11-13) qualified both teams to the World Championship level event Match Cup Sweden held July 3-8.

But still to be decided was the winner. Due to time limitations, the race committee called the final to be a sudden death, single race match-up. Price was dominant in the prestart, nailing time back to the line and leading to the reach mark. The match was decided there and then with Snow never convincingly closing the gap.

Both Down Under Racing and 13 FIFTY Racing have looked dominant this week and neither will be an easy match come July when we get to Sweden. “The opponent I am most looking forward to facing is Taylor Canfield,” commented Snow, previewing the event. “We’ve faced off several times but we’ve never beaten him. Perhaps in the M32 and in a new arena we will get the chance to get one or two back.”

Price is also looking forward to the next level challenge and remarked, “We’re ready to step it up in in Marstrand. We’re pretty happy with the performance here so want to keep this flow going and see how we fair against the big boys.”

Tour details – Event details – Scoreboard – Facebook

2017 World Championship Level Events:
WMRT Match Cup Australia, March 20-25
WMRT Congressional Cup, March 29-April 2
WMRT Northern Europe, June 6-11 (Venue TBA)
WMRT Match Cup Sweden, July 3-8
WMRT Match Cup USA, August 1-6 (Venue TBA)
WMRT Match Cup America, October 3-8 (Venue TBA)

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
WMRT Match Cup China, November 3-10 (Venue TBA)

Background: In 2013, Swedish company Aston Harald AB acquired the design and production rights to the one-design M32 catamarans. In July 2015, Aston Harald AB acquired the World Match Racing Tour, which then began the use of the M32 during the 2016 Tour. Launched in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional match racing series sanctioned by World Sailing.

Source: WMRT