BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta – Day 1
12 May, 2012
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
Peter Backe comes out top after the round robin stage
The five skippers who yesterday contested the ISAF Grade 5 Visitors’ Cup in preparation for the BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta were today joined for the main event by Hong Kong-based skippers Marty Kaye (HKG), Peter Backe (SWE) and Tim Somerville (AUS).
In a swinging 8 to 12 knot easterly and flooding tide, Race Officer Inge Strompf Jepsen set a course almost identical to the previous day, immediately in front of Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club in Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
The format for the day was a round robin for all eight teams, consisting of 10 flights and a total of 28 matches. With six boats available, two teams sat out each flight on the satellite boat, no doubt using the time to make notes on their rivals’ strengths and weaknesses.
Perhaps reflecting the ISAF Grade 3 status of the event, the dial ups were much more tactical today, with several protests and penalties being expertly handled by the Umpires. The quality of the racing on offer was demonstrated in the first match of the day, when Peter Backe squeezed over the line inches ahead of Vladimir Lipavsky’s in a torrential downpour to get his day off to an auspicious start.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
Backe was unable to compete the day with a clean sweep however, when he attempted to clear a penalty immediately prior to finishing. The Swede used the Committee boat to stall the Thai boat of Jakobsen, who in turn shadowed Backe doggedly to succeed in taking the match by preventing him from making his turn.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta continues tomorrow with the semi-finals, finals and a round robin for 5th to 8th placed boats to finalise the positions. In spite of today’s result, Backe has selected to race against 3rd placed Jakobsen, leaving Somerville to face Lipavsky in the second semifinal.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta – Round Robin Results
1 (6) Peter Backe (Sweden)
2 (5) Tim Somerville (Australia)
3 (5) Morten Jackobsen (Thailand)
4 (4) Vladimir Lipavsky (Russia)
5 (3) Marty Kaye (Hong Kong)
6 (2) Laurence Mead (Great Britain)
7 (2) Ridgely Balladares (Philippines)
8 (1) Toshio Toya (Japan)
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
BNP Paribas Match Racing International Regatta (2012) in Hong Kong. Photo by RHKYC/ Koko Mueller.
