World Match Racing Tour confirms Russian event

Hönö, Sweden (May 8, 2017) – The World Match Racing Tour continues to finalize the 2017 calendar with the Russian city of St Petersburg selected for its Northern Europe stopover.

With the Winter Palace to the south and Vasilievsky Island to the west, the racing will take place in the heart of St. Petersburg at the foot of the historic walls to the Peter-and-Paul Fortress. Sailing so close to the shore will guarantee spectators a grandstand view over the full racecourse from all angles with an unparalleled setting within the city centre.

The event village will be situated on the beach in front of the Peter-and-Paul Fortress with the M32 catamarans landing on the beach after racing each day, giving fans unparalleled access to the event, the sailors and the machines they race on.

“It’s a fantastic venue for stadium racing,” remarks reigning Match Racing World Champion Phil Robertson who has sailed on these waters many times. “The wind is unpredictable and there is current in the river so tactics are primed for match racing.”

Originally planned for June 6-11, Match Cup Russia will now be held August 1-6. The change in schedule has eliminated one of the two USA events, reducing the number of championship level stops in 2017 from seven to six.

A last chance to qualify for the Championship level event will be available through St Petersburg Match Cup which will take place just west of the city in front of the glorious St Petersburg Yacht Club 28-30th July.

Tour details – Event details – Season standings – Facebook

2017 World Championship Level Events:
WMRT Match Cup Australia, March 20-25
WMRT Congressional Cup, March 29-April 2
WMRT Match Cup Sweden, July 3-8
WMRT Match Cup Russia, August 1-6
WMRT Match Cup America, August 30-September 4 (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