Tomislav Basic from Croatia mastered the light wind conditions of Lake Constance today to secure his first victory of Match Race Germany, the second world championship stage of the 2015/15 World Match Racing Tour (WMRT). Basic defended the favoured left side of the racecourse in every race of the final to defeat Switzerland’s Eric Monnin 3-0.
Basic, 40, was delighted with his win “We are thrilled. I have been match racing for more than 20 years but we have never had the time and opportunity to form a consistent team to sail regular match racing events. When we looked at the boats and conditions here in Germany, I was confident we had a good chance. I hope we can sail more of the World Tour events.”
For a moment in the first race of the Final, Monnin looked the favourite after forcing a penalty over Basic in the pre-start. But Monnin clipped the top mark on the first leg cancelling out the penalty, and Basic was able to maintain the lead after winning the favoured left side of the race course, a strategy he used in the next two races.
“We worked out the left side was the place to be on the first day of the event, and with the wind in the direction it was today, it was the only choice for us, and it paid off.” added Basic.
After a disappointing Semi Final performance yesterday against Eric Monnin, Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) had a point to prove today defeating young Australian Matt Jerwood in the Petit Final 2-0. Aschenbrenner finished third in the final event results, and Jerwood fourth.
“It was a tough day yesterday.” said Aschenbrenner, “but we stepped up our level today so we are pleased with the result which takes us to the top of the World Match Racing Tour leaderboard which is great.”
Jerwood, 22, and his Redline Racing Team from Perth return home with an impressive fourth place at their first World Match Racing Tour event. More used to the stronger wind conditions of Southern Australia, Jerwood agreed that sailing on Lake Constance was a challenge but gained a valuable experience sailing at a World Championship “We’ve learnt a great deal this week, the conditions were tricky, but we’ve really enjoyed it.”
The last day of Match Race Germany drew one of the biggest crowds the event has seen in many years, with the wind direction allowing the racing to be positioned just metres from the shoreline.
“After 18 years, Match Race Germany has become something of an institution in this region,” commented WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance. “This week over 25,000 spectators visited the event with the support of over 30 partners including Porsche, MHP – a Porsche Company, ultramarine, Adidas, DTM and ZF to name a few. I congratulate the oragnisers on a very successful event.”
World Championship Event – Match Race Germany
OVERALL RESULTS
1 Tomislav Basic (CRO) TB Race Team
2 Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox
3 Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing
4 Matthew Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing
5 Tino Ellegast (GER) Team Ellegast
6 Mark Lees (GBR) GBR Match Racing
7 Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing
8 Max Trippolt (AUT) Trippolt Sailing Team
9 Przemyslaw ‘Tara’ Tarnacki (POL) Energa Yacht Racing
10 Dejan Presen (SOL) Lumba Match Race Team
11 Christian Binder (AUT) Flat Lake Sailing Team
12 Tim Kröger (GER) New Wave by Adidas
Final
Tomislav Basic (CRO) TB Race Team bt Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox 3-0
Petit Final
Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing bt Matthew Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing 2-0
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
QUALIFYING RESULTS
1 Tomislav Basic (CRO) TB Race Team 9-2
2 Eric Monnin (SUI) Team SailBox 9-2
3 Tino Ellegast (GER) Team Ellegast 6-5
4 Matthew Jerwood (AUS) Redline Racing 6-5
5 Joachim Aschenbrenner (DEN) Aschenbrenner Racing Team 6-5
6 Mark Lees (GBR) GBR Match Racing 6-4
7 Reuben Corbett (NZL) Corbett Racing 5-6
8 Max Trippolt (AUT) Trippolt Sailing Team 5-6
9 Przemyslaw ‘Tara’ Tarnacki (POL) Energa Yacht Racing Team 5-6
10 Dejan Presen (SOL) Lumba Match Race Team 4-7
11 Christian Binder (AUT) Flat Lake Sailing Team 4-7
12 Tim Kröger (GER) New Wave by Adidas 1-10
– WMRT Media
