The World win the International Match Racing Challenge

A very experienced International line up led by Individual winner David Chapman retained the title they won last year.  While the margin of victory was great, they were strongly pushed by a young Irish team who on paper were ranked far lower in the World Rankings.  Special mention must go to George Kingston (world no 877) and Marty O'Leary (world no 395) who finished ahead of some of the International skippers, notably the UK's Robbie Allam (world no 79).

The World team opened up an early lead on Saturday Morning that they never relinquished. The final margin of victory was 29 points to 16.  But with the Irish sailors getting an opportunity to sail the World's best on their own doorstep, surely they have learned valuable lessons and will mount a stronger challenge next year..

Pictured  (L to R)  Pearson GBR, Allam GBR, Sehested DEN, Duncan (Morris) NZL, Chapman AUS.

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Australia's Chapman wins the final

David Chapman and his 33South Racing team convincingly beat Sam Pearson (GBR) and his Wight Match team in the final.  With Light conditions, and a need to finish racing by 15:30 Race Office Brian Reddy and his team managed to complete the knock out program.  The final and pettit final were sudden death, i.e. decided by one race.

Final.

Chapman won the start and extended on every leg to cooly take the title.  Crucially he won the right hand side of the start line allowing him to sail up the right hand side of the course in the direction of the East Pier.  With a strong tide and stronger pressure this gave him a clear lead which we was to hold and extend until the finish.

Petit Final.

Nicolai Sehestad and his TRE-FOR team from Denmark won the Petit Final.  Nicolai was the favoured by many to win the event but an immediate penalty given to him by the umpires at mark 2 in the deciding race of the Semi Finals ended his challenge.  So to the consolation of the Petit Final.  Kinsale man George Kingston himself narrowly defeated in the Semi's was the opponent. 
Again like the final, the start was key,  with the Danish skipper taking that and holding on to win.  George's young team will surely be stronger for next year's event.

Australia / British final

Chapman beat Kingston in the final race of the semi-finals.  This was a very close race. Kingston won the start and then sailed left up the first leg, with Chapman choosing to go out right. Chapman was first to the windward mark and maintained the lead to the finish.  Kingston put up an excellent fight and lost out to Chapman, who is currently ranked 43rd in the world, by only a few feet.

Another close race followed with Pearson v Shested.  Pearson took the lead at the leeward mark and went on the qualify for the final.

Finals: Chapman (AUS) v Pearson (GBR)


O'Leary v O'Connor
O'Leary wins the second race, of this best of 3 play-off
However, the first win was given to O'Connor since O'Leary did not helm the first race. O'Leary retired from the final race, leaving O'Connor to win overall between them.

Allam v Duncan
Allam wins both races

Semi-finals, races 2

Chapman v Kingston
Chapman given penalty prestart
Kingston takes the lead
Kingston keeps the lead despite Chapman's best efforts who still hasn't completed his penalty
Kingston wins

Chapman and Kingston are now 1-1, with one final race deciding who goes to the final!

Pearson v Shested
Pearson takes the lead this time, meaning that there will have to be another race in this best of 3 play-off