Lisbon added to Match Racing Tour

The Portuguese capital of Lisbon will host the final event in the World Match Racing Tour on October 3-7 before the World Championship event November 8-12 in Shenzhen (China).

The event, which was not initially included in the WMRT roster of events for 2018, will include Tour Card skippers Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Yann Guichard (FRA), Ian Williams (GBR), Harry Price (AUS), along with eight wild card invites.

“We found out about this additional event a month ago and for us it is ideal to be able to train and compete in another event before the final in China,” said Guichard. “The race course is fantastic, as it will be just off the city of Lisbon.”

A change in the format assures teams finishing first or second in the fleet racing to choose their opponents in the quarter finals.

“This new rule means that the fleet phase has become very important and can maximize the chances of reaching the semi-finals,” observes Guichard. “It definitely spices things up, and it is up to us to take advantage of it.”

Tour information – Event details – Facebook

2018 World Match Racing Tour
Match Cup Sweden: 3-8th July
Match Cup Norway: 26-29th July
Regata de Portugal: 3-7th October
Match Racing World Championship (Shenzhen, China): 8-12th November

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.