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27 July 2007, 09:43 am

Last Eight Decided

Troia Portugal Match Cup 2007

Troia, Portugal

In four flights of racing yesterday afternoon, six of the quarter finalists were decided, but it took another five flights, well into the evening, before the other two were able to claim their places. Throughout the day the northerly wind persisted in direction, although it varied in strength. </P><P>Gavin BRADY (USA), Sebastien COL (FRA) and Mathieu RICHARD (FRA) were the first to claim their places from Group A; BRADY the only one with a perfect 5-0 score.

From Group B. Peter GILMOUR (AUS), Ian WILLIAMS (GBR) and Philippe PRESTI (FRA) were the claimants, with GILMOUR the only one with a perfect score.

BRADY and his crew from the BMW Oracle Racing Team had a slight shock in their first match, against RICHARD, when they received a red flag penalty - one that they had to take immediately, for an infringement in the final seconds of the pre-start. They gybed and went to the left, into better pressure, and were only just behind RICHARD at the first mark.

RICHARD held his lead on the run and went around the right hand mark of the gate; BRADY went left and an intense tacking duel ensued in which RICHARD was penalised, but led around the weather mark the second time. The run progressed out to the right win with RICHARD trying to manoeuvre an opportunity to offload the penalty, but BRADY also knew the game and denied him. Then BRADY went past to win.

GILMOUR and his Professional Sailing Team (PST) had a tough match with PRESTI and another close one with Staffan LINDBERG (FIN) with the two boats just one length apart at the finish.

The highlight of the Group B round was a match between old rivals Ian WILLIAMS with his Pindar Sailing Team and Paolo CIAN (ITA). WILLIAMS wanted the left end of the start line, obtained it and started in a left hand shift. CIAN went right and hooked into the first wind change, a substantial right-hander, and led for three legs of the course. WILLIAMS had closed towards the final mark and then gybe-set and went left into better pressure and was able to beat CIAN to the line.

CIAN, with a crew from Team Shosholoza, was the master in the five flights of the repêchage, losing only once, and that to Sally BARKOW (USA), striking a blow with her all-women's team. Otherwise he experienced little trouble in despatching his other four opponents. By beating LINDBERG in their match, Alvaro MARINHO (POR) claimed the other quarter final place.

Results:

Group A:
Gavin BRADY (USA) 5-0
Sebastien COL (FRA) 4-1
Mathieu RICHARD (FRA) 3-2
Bjorn HANSEN (SWE) 2-3
Eugeny NEUGODNIKOV (RUS) 1-4
Sally BARKOW (USA) 0-6

Group B:
Peter GILMOUR (AUS) 5-0
Ian WILLIAMS (GBR) 4-1
Philippe PRESTI (FRA) 3-2
Paolo CIAN (ITA) 1-4
Alvaro MARINHO (POR) 1-4
Staffan LINDBERG (FIN) 1-4

Repechage:
Paolo CIAN 4-1
Alvaro MARINHO 3-2*
Staffan LINDBERG 3-2
Bjorn HANSEN 2-3
Eugeny NEUGODNIKOV 2-3
Sally BARKOW 1-4

* Marinho beat LINDBERG in their match and thus joins Cian in the quarter final.

ISAF Match Racing World Championship Standings
(After Stage 8)

Pos	Skipper	Nation	ISAF World Match Race Ranking	Team	Pts
1	Mathieu RICHARD	FRA	2	Saba Sailing Team	78
2	Paolo CIAN	ITA	3	Team Viano Mercedes Benz	66
3	Ian WILLIAMS	GBR	1	Team Pindar	62
4	Bjorn HANSEN	SWE	9	Team Onico	49
5	Sébastien COL	FRA	4	Areva Challenge	47
6	Jesper BANK	DEN	15	United Internet Team Germany	45
7	Ed BAIRD	USA	28	Alinghi	40
8	Magnus HOLMBERG	SWE	99	Victory Challenge	40

World Match Racing Tour Schedule
(2006-2007 Season)

Stage	Event	Venue	Date
Stage 1	Portugal Match Cup	Cascais, Portugal	18-23 July 2006
Stage 2	Danish Open	Copenhagen, Denmark	9-13 August 2006
Stage 3	St. Moritz Match Race	St Moritz, Switzerland	15-20 August 2006
Stage 4	Bermuda Gold Cup	Hamilton, Bermuda	10-15 October 2006
Stage 5	Allianz Cup	San Francisco, USA	24-29 October
Stage 6	Monsoon Cup	Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia	28 November-3 December 2006
Stage 7	Match Race Germany	Langenargen, Germany	23-28 May 2007
Stage 8	GKSS Match Race	Marstrand, Sweden	2-8 July 2007
Stage 9	Portugal Match Cup	Cascais, Portugal	24-25 July 2007
Stage 10	Danish Open	Copenhagen, Denmark	8-12 August 2007
Stage 11	St. Moritz Match Race	St Moritz, Switzerland	14-19 August 2007
Stage 12	Latium Match Cup	Fiumicino, Italy	11-16 September 2007
Stage 13	Locman Cup - Elba Island	Porto Azzurro, Elba Island, Italy	25-30 September 2007
Stage 14	Bermuda Gold Cup	Hamilton, Bermuda	9-14 October 2007
Stage 15	Brasil Sailing Cup	Angra dos Reis, Brazil	23-28 October 2007
Stage 16	Monsoon Cup	Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia	28 November-2 December 2007

The World Match Racing Tour is an ISAF Special Event. Skippers earn points towards the World Championship at the nine events of the World Tour and the highest scoring skipper at the end of the season is the ISAF Match Racing World Champion.

The World Tour Partner and Official Car is BMW AG (Munich, Germany). World Tour sponsors include Sebago (Rockford, USA), the Official Footwear Supplier, Travel Places (West Sussex, Great Britain), the Official Travel Partner and Wedgwood (Cheshire, Great Britain) the Official Trophy Supplier.

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, its competitors and events, visit the official World Tour website - www.WorldMatchRacingTour.com. World Match Racing Tour television programmes may be viewed on demand by clicking on the television icon on the home page of the website.

For all the news on the World Match Racing Tour CLICK HERE.