World Match Racing Tour: Ferrarese Back In Marstrand

London, England (June 24, 2015) – The plan was to focus on the Olympics in Rio 2016, but the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) has a strong pull for the talented Italian skipper Simone Ferrarese. Now he has received the third Wild Card invitation to this World Championship Event; Stena Match Cup Sweden, a spectator favorite is coming back to Marstrand.

Two years ago, Simone Ferrarese and his team delivered one of the most memorable moments in Stena Match Cup Sweden’s 20-year-history. The Italian team had local hero Björn Hansen on the ropes with a 2-0 scoreline in the windy Semi Final of Stena Match Cup Sweden 2013, but the Swedes came back and won the match. As Ferrarese was about to cross the finish line in the deciding race, his spinnaker hooked on to a buoy, which was then lifted up in the air as thousands of thrilled spectators cheered on from the cliffs.

“2013 was our highlight at Marstrand. Not especially finishing 3rd on the podium, not winning Qualifying, not doing one of the wildest Semi Finals of the all times against Bjorn, but hooking the mark with the spinnaker sheet at the finishing line with 25 knots of wind in the final do or die match with the local hero, that was a highlight that we’ll never forget”, said Ferrarese.

Simone Ferrarese’s Wild Card to compete in Stena Match Cup Sweden 2015 means he will make an anticipated and brief comeback to the World Match Racing Tour. This will be the third time the 27 year old has entered the event at Marstrand, but his long-term goal is to claim the Italian spot in the Finn-class at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro 2016. This endeavor hasn’t made it possible to keep competing regularly on the WMRT, but an invitation to Marstrand was an offer he could not turn down. “Marstrand is a really special event, after one year out of match racing it is the place where you really want to make a comeback”, says Ferrarese.

”Our first expectation is to go to Marstrand and enjoy the week! We were out of match racing for one but I’m sure that if we can pass the first stage that will see us a bit rusty, then we will be again into the game”.

14 teams will join the fray in Marstrand. Seven of these are Tour Card holders, two have qualified for the event at the Volvo Spring Cup and the remaining spots in the line-up are Wild Card entries.

Stena Match Cup Sweden 2014 attracted over 118 000 visitors to Marstrand and the crowds followed Björn Hansen’s Swedish team on their way to win their third consecutive title in the regatta. Brandspot together with the Royal Gothenburg Yacht Club (GKSS) organizes this year’s World Championship Event that will take place from June 29th – July 4th.

Event Website

2015/16 World Match Racing Tour World Championship Event – Stena Match Cup Sweden 2015 Entry List
1. Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing
2. Ian Williams (GBR) GAC Pindar
3. Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing
4. Eric Monnin (SWZ) Team SailBox
5. Phil Robertson (NZL) with Team TREFOR (DEN)
6. Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Sailing Team
7. Keith Swinton (AUS) Black Swan Racing
8. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Stena Sailing Team
9. Rasmus Viltoft (Denmark) – Volvo Spring Cup
10. Anna Östling (SWE) – Volvo Spring Cup
11. Taylor Canfield (ISV) – US One Wildcard 1
12. Sam Gilmour (AUS) – Neptune Racing Wildcard 2
13. Simone Ferrarese (ITA) – Wildcard 3
14. TBC

Report by Event Media