It is the second time that Seb Col wins an event of the World Match Racing Tour this season, after the Korea Match Cup last June.

The end of the season will be very intense in the fight for the World Match Racing Tour’s champion title. Seb Col is now 2nd of the World Match Racing Tour’s season’s provisional general ranking, only 6 points away from the leader (Ian Williams), and 5 points ahead of the number 3 (Mathieu Richard).

This victory is more than special, because we have to remember that Seb Col changes his crew almost for each event that he takes part to. So he can’t rely on a “routine” for the manoeuvres or the communications on board, unlike most of the other teams competing on the World Match Racing Tour, and who are used to sail together all the time.

But his method is efficient, and it allows Sebastien to test and to select crew members that he will recruit for K-Challenge’s season next year, with the next America’s Cup still as the ultimate target, but also in particular for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series in the short term – February 1-14 2009. (K-Challenge is officially confirmed as a competing team for the Louis Vuitton Pacific Series).

Sebastien Col from Troia, (and very enthusiastic after he won the Portugal Match Cup with this team): “this is great!!! We just finished our final against Holmberg, 2-0.

The 2 matches have been tight. With almost 3 knots of current on the starting line, it was sometimes just IMPOSSIBLE to start on the starboard side.

We win the first match because we made a good use of the wind. For the second match, we start with a penalty, and after 2 legs, we are leading at the downwind mark. The rain comes up, and we protect the left. We gained enough lengths to be able to complete the penalty on the finish line.

The semi-final has been more difficult, against Damien Iehl. It was special as we both managed to anticipate all of our opponent’s actions. It’s been almost 10 years that we train together, so…

We won 3-1, but we didn’t particularly sail well. Especially me with the starts. Fortunately, Christophe, Gilles, Olivier and Philippe did a great job to keep close, and sometimes taking over the lead from our opponents.

We really did progress all the week, but I have to recognize that yesterday I was not very confident about us. But by keeping our approach of the matches simple, and by playing with the important parameters of the day (current, laylines approach, use of the rain), we managed to sail really well in the final.

A big thank you to Olivier Douillard and Philippe Mourniac, it was our first world tour event together. Of course I do not forget Christophe André and Gilles Favennec! And of course our coach, Marc Bouet.”

OVERALL STANDINGS

1. Sebastien Col (FRA), French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge $30,000
2. Magnus Holmberg (SWE), Victory Challenge $20,000
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA), French Match Racing Team/Team French Spirit $18,750
4. Damien Iehl (FRA), French Match Racing Team $13,750
5. Paolo Cian (ITA), Team Shosholoza $10,000
6. Torvar Mirsky (AUS), Mirsky Racing Team $8,750
7. Ian Williams (GBR), Team Pindar $7,500
8. Alvaro Marinho (POR), Seth Sailing Team $6,250
9. Adam Minoprio (NZL), Emirates Team New Zealand/BlackMatch Racing $2,500
10. Bjorn Hansen (SWE), Alandia Sailing Team $2,500
11. Manuel Weiller (ESP) $2,500
12. Nick Cherry (GBR), Cherry Racing Team $2,500

ISAF Match Racing World Championship Leaderboard (Top 8)
(After Stage 7 of 9)
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 98
2. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 92
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 87
4. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team , 53
5. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
6. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
7. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
8. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 34

Stéphanie Nadin

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Last Updated ( Monday, 29 September 2008 )