11:54 AM Wed 6 May 2009 GMT
One year ago, they came, they saw and they won. Damien Iehl and his crew triumphed at the 11th edition of Match Race Germany in style, despite the fact that they had only just started their international Match Race career shortly before coming to Germany.
This year they will find themselves in the position of the hunted. That is the reason why the 33 year old defending champion from Nantes in France is busy practicing in order to prepare. 'Our master plan includes practice on bigger boats, firstly here in France and then in Germany' explains the helmsman, who with big respect remembers the waters of Lake Constance 'It is extremely difficult and challenging to sail there due to big wind shifts. But I really like southern Germany because of the great Match Racing event and the very good organisation'.
Some of his fellow Frenchmen at Germany's only World Match Racing Tour Event have to be counted as his biggest opposition. America's Cup helmsman S?bastien Col and Matthieu Richard, are number 1 and 2 on the ISAF rankings and will be challenging Damien Iehl for victory. At this point of the season the French are by far the strongest Nation with three skippers amongst the top six in the world rankings.
Matthieu Richard explained the secret behind the success 'Damien and I began Match Racing approximately 10 years ago. Marc Bouet was our coach, himself a very successful sailor, who will also be present in Langenargen. We certainly have many talents in France, but there was always a healthy rivalry amongst our 3 teams. This competition made us all strong. The rivalry still exists, with the only difference being that we don't race for youth titles in France but for the top spot at the ISAF and World Match Racing Tour Rankings.'
The list of entries at the 12th Match Race Germany is one of the strongest of all times. Four times Match Racing World Champion and three times Match Race Germany winner Peter Gilmour (Australia) celebrates his comeback in the Tour on German waters and also three times Olympic gold medallist Ben Ainslie wants to score vital points against 11 teams from a further six nations for the World Match Racing Tour leader board.
This leaves the only German entry Carsten Kemmling from Hamburg, currently ranked 38th in the World with a tough challenge. 'For us it is a big honour and an outstanding challenge at the same time. We have local knowledge from Lake Constance with us and count heavily on the support of the huge crowds of fans in Langenargen.'
Completing the entry list this week after a late withdrawal from America?s Cup helmsman and 2007 Match Race Germany winner Paolo Cian, will be Eric Monin of Switzerland.
Current World Match Racing Tour Leaderboard (top eight teams after stage one of ten):
1. Adam Minoprio (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand/Black Match Racing, 25
2. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 20
3. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 15
4. Damien Iehl (FRA) French Match Racing Team, 12
5. Ed Baird (USA) Alinghi, 10
6. Sebastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 8
7. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 6
8. Ian Williams (GBR) Bahrain Team Pindar, 4 points
www.worldmatchracingtour.com
www.matchrace.de
by Event Media
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