New boats for Match Racing Tour Finals

The 2021 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) will use the Fareast 28R keelboat for the Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup, host of the 2021 WMRT Finals on December 15-19 in Shenzhen China.

The selection of the Simonis-Voogd designed Fareast 28R for the WMRT Finals was agreed following consultation between WMRT and the Shenzhen Bao’an District Government, host sponsor of the Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup which will host the WMRT Finals from 2021-2025 in an agreement secured with the Tour last year.

“The Fareast 28R is a popular and proven match racing boat,” commented WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance. “It is of course an advantage that the boats are built in China as this also helps to reduce any unnecessary shipping from both a cost and sustainability angle.

“The Fareast 28R has been used in previous WMRT events including the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia, so the teams are used to their handling and performance. We are excited to see a brand-new fleet being built for the WMRT Finals in December.”

The new fleet of seven Fareast 28R yachts will be built around October prior to being commissioned and delivered for the event in December. The boats will have the very latest modifications following feedback from a number of professional sailors over the last few months.

Skippers will count their best four results from the tour towards the WMRT 2021 leaderboard. The top 10 to 12 skippers on the leaderboard after the penultimate event will qualify to compete at the new WMRT Final hosted by the Shenzhen Bao’an Match Cup in China.

The WMRT Final will carry a points multiplier of x 1.5 points and an event purse of USD200,000. The skipper with the highest number of points on the leaderboard after the WMRT Final will be crowned WMRT Match Racing World Champion.

“WMRT is a great platform for sailors and fans to experience the best match racing competition globally,” said Canfield. “The Tour has done a fantastic job creating a racing schedule in the US, Europe, and Asia. We are excited for 2021 and our team and partners are looking forward to defending the World Championship title this year.”

Canfield will face strong competition from six-time world champion Ian Williams (GBR), two-time world champion Phil Robertson (NZL), and recently announced 2021 Tour Card skippers Eric Monnin (SUI), Maxime Mesnil (FRA) and Nick Egnot-Johnson (NZL).

2021 World Match Racing Tour Schedule:
1. NJK Open Spring Cup, Finland, 21-23 May
2. GKKS Spring Cup, Gothenburg, Sweden, 29-30 May
3. Porto Montenegro Match Race, 4-6 June
4. Szczecin Match Race, Poland, 18-20 June
5. GKSS MATCH CUP MARSTRAND*, Marstrand, Sweden, 6-10 July
6. Internationaux de France Match Racing, Pornichet, 29 July – 4 August
7. The Chicago Cup, 6-8 August
8. International Match Race for the Detroit Cup, 19-22 August
9. Oakcliff International, Oyster Bay NY, 27-30 August
10. Thompson Cup, Oyster Bay NY, 1-4 September
11. Baltic Match Race, Estonia, 1-5 September
12. Ficker Cup, Long Beach USA, 9-12 September
13. Match Race Germany, Lake Constance, 8-12 September
14. THE CONGRESSIONAL CUP REGATTA*, Long Beach USA, 14-19 September
15. BERMUDA GOLD CUP*, 27 Sept – 2 Oct
16. DBS Marina Bay Cup, Singapore 30 Sept-3 Oct
17. SHENZHEN BAO’AN MATCH CUP, WMRT FINAL* Shenzhen, China, 15-19 December

*WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, visit www.wmrt.com

Founded in 2000, the World Match Racing Tour (WMRT) promotes the sport of match racing around the world and is the longest running global professional series in the sport of sailing. The World Tour represents a series of independently organised and officially sanctioned match racing events.

The WMRT is awarded ‘Special Event’ status by the sport’s world governing body – World Sailing – and the winner of the WMRT each year is crowned World Sailing Match Racing World Champion.

Previous Champions include Bertrand Pace (FRA), Sir Ben Ainslie (GBR), Jesper Radich (DEN), Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Peter Holmberg (ISV), Peter Gilmour (AUS), Ian Williams (GBR), Adam Minoprio (NZL), Taylor Canfield (ISV), Phil Robertson (NZL) and Torvar Mirsky (AUS).

The WMRT is a match racing competition with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which change for each event and which place a firm focus on teamwork, strategy and skill. Racing takes place close to shore to create stadium-style viewing for spectators.

Since 2000, the World Match Racing Tour and its events have awarded over USD23million in prize money to sailors which has helped to contribute to the career pathway of many of today’s professional sailors. www.wmrt.com

Source: WMRT