Switzerlandâs Eric Monnin and Croatiaâs Tomislav Basic despatched their younger opponents Joachim Aschenbrenner and Matt Jerwood in todays Semi Finals at Match Race Germany, the second World Championship event of the 2015/16 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT). The 39yr old Swiss match racer will meet 40yr old Basic in tomorrowâs finals.
Monnin, an experienced lake racer and Tour Card skipper for the 2015/16 season, posted a swift 3-0 score-line over fellow Tour Card Skipper Joachim Aschenbrenner from Denmark. The disappointed Dane, keen to put early points on the World Championship leader board from this event, was unable to shake off Monnin and his experienced Team SailBox who earlier today also posted a straight 3-0 score-line in the Quarter Finals against Mark Lees, GBR;
âThe day went well for us,â said Monnin arriving back on the dock. âThe matches were a lot closer than they looked at the finish, we also had an unfortunate contact situation with Aschenbrenner, something we really try to avoid in these boats. He made a mistake (at least thatâs how we judged it) and after he received a one-point penalty for causing damage, we were feeling a bit on edge. In any event, a good result for us today, tomorrow will be more important.â
In the second semi-finals, 22yr old Matt Jerwood from Australia, competing in his first World Match Racing Tour event, won his first two races against event favourite Basic. Jerwood needed just one more race to secure their place in the finals. But Basic was not going quietly levelling the score at 2-2, with a âwinner take allâ race for the final.
Following a boat pair swap requested by Jerwood, both teams built good pace off the startline with Basic to windward as they headed towards the harbour pier. Basic waited until the last moment to tack just metres from the pier, forcing Jerwood to tack second and trail Basic to the top mark. As Basic pulled away downwind, Jerwood was unable to close the gap and Basic led to the finish securing his place against Monnin in the Final.
âAlthough we lost the first two races, we were also learning from our mistakes,â added Basic. âSo when we started the third race, we felt in a better position. We are very pleased with our result at the end of the day and we look forward to the Final.â
Monnin and Basic will meet in the Finals of the 18th edition of Match Race Germany starting tomorrow with light wind conditions forecast.
2015/16 World Match Racing Tour
World Championship Event – Match Race Germany
Semi Finals
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox bt Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing 3-0
Tomislav Basic (CRO) TB Race Team bt Matthew Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing 3-2
Quarter Finals
Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing v Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing Team 1-1
Matthew Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing v Tino Ellegast (GER) Team Ellegast 1-1
Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox bt Mark Lees (GBR) GBR Match Racing 3-0
ABOUT MATCH RACE GERMANY
Status Grade W (World Championship, highest possible grading by ISAF, the governing body of sailing)
Format
Match Racing (boat against boat), Qualifying (each team races each other) followed by Quarter, Semi and Final Knockouts
Date 21st-25th of May 2015
Main Partner Porsche, MHP – A Porsche Company, Ultramarin, dtm Group, Nauti Sattler
Venue Lake Constance, Langenargen, Germany
Prize Money âŹ30,000
Yachts 6 Yachts B 40S, Match Race Edition
Competitors MRG Invitational regatta of the World Match Racing Tour and the ISAF Match Race Rankings as well as America’s Cup Teams, Olympic Champions and World Champions, 12 teams will compete.
Qualification Wild Card: German Championship 2014 (Grade 3) Tino Ellegast (Constance), Tim KrĂśger (Hamburg)
History + The first Match Race Germany was held in 1997 + 2015 will be the 18th edition of Germany’s highest ranked and most valuable Match Race + Match Race Germany has been the only German stop of the World Match Racing Tour for the last 16 years, and the European season opener for 2015/15 World Champion World Match Racing Tour.
Organisers Match Race Germany GmbH Host Club Yacht Club Langenargen e.V.
Spectators 2014 Approximately 30,000 visitors followed the racing in front of Langenargen´s Natural Stadium.
