Old Dog Barks at Coconut Grove Cup

Miami, FL (April 14, 2017) – Anthony Kotoun proved you can teach an old dog as his team remained unbeaten during the opening day of the WMRT Coconut Grove Cup. This week marks the US Virgin Islander’s return to the World Match Racing Tour after a successful career during its monohull era.

Coming into the final match of the day, both Kotoun and Australian Harry Price’s Down Under Racing had a clean sheet. Every leg saw a lead change, and when on the final beat, Kotoun’s dummy tack was greeted by a roar from on looking crews. With Price tacking off to the unfavoured side of the course, Kotoun continued to round the final mark and took the race win securing the team as the only unbeaten crew on the water.

“We haven’t match raced in a while and most of the M32 sailing we have done is with a five person setup so we are getting used to sailing with 4 and getting back into match racing,” remarked Kotoun. “The last event (Miami Match Cup) was a warm up for sure and now we want to just keep evolving. We had no expectations coming here so very happy with the result today.”

There’s a tight battle for the middle of the fleet, with Daniel Bjørnholt showing the biggest improvement today and currently sits on a 4-2 score. The team said they have now found their groove and today spirit amongst the crew was clearly up.

The round robin series continues tomorrow, with the Coconut Grove Cup concluding Sunday, April 16.

WMRT Coconut Grove Cup is the second of the Miami double header World Tour level events in April. The finalists from this event will qualify for the World Championship level WMRT Match Cup America on October 3-8 (Venue TBA).

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