Catamaran Sailors Advance in World Match Racing Tour

Fremantle, WA (March 6, 2016) – After 20 teams competed for three days of fleet racing at World Match Racing Tour Fremantle, the top 16 teams competed yesterday and today in the first round of match race qualifying. The top eight teams advanced to the Quarter Finals.

Through to the Quarter Finals:
Matt Jerwood (AUS) beat Nicklas Dackhammar (SWE) 3-0
Ian Williams (GBR) beat Sam Gilmour (AUS) 3-1
Mattias Rahm (SWE) beat Evan Walker (AUS) 3.5-2
Hans Wallén (SWE) beat Eric Monnin (SUI) 3-1
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) beat Steve Thomas (AUS) 3-1
Taylor Canfield (ISV) v Chris Steele (NZL) 3-1
Yann Guichard (FRA) v Keith Swinton (AUS) 3.5-1
Phil Robertson (NZL) v Murray Jones (AUS) 2-3

The big surprise in the Quarter Final round today was the elimination of Taylor Canfield, who was the most experienced in both match racing and the M32 catamaran being usee. Less of a surprise was to see Yann Guichard and Hans Wallen, both highly skilled in catamarans but with little match race experience, win their matches.

Results in Quarter Finals:
Nicolai Sehested (DEN) beat Taylor Canfield (ISV) 3-1
Yann Guichard (FRA) beat Murray Jones (AUS) 2-1
Hans Wallén (SWE) beat Matt Jerwood (AUS) 2.5-1.5
Ian Williams (GBR) beat Mattias Rahm (SWE) 3-0

The Semi Finals and Finals will be held March 7.

Through to the Semi Finals:
Ian Williams (GBR) v Nicolai Sehested (DEN)
Hans Wallén (SWE) v Yann Guichard (FRA)

World Match Racing Tour Fremantle on March 2-7 has a prize purse of USD 200,000. This is the first stop on the 5-event 2016 World Match Racing Tour. Now in its 17th consecutive season, the tour is the longest running global professional series in the sport.

In July 2015, Swedish company Aston Harald AB bought the World Match Racing Tour. Aston Harald AB is a privately owned group of companies which includes M32 catamarans and the M32 Series.