8:43 PM Fri 14 Nov 2008 GMT
ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year and Olympic champion Ben Ainslie has world match racing's Monsoon Cup trophy firmly in his sights as he heads to Malaysia in three weeks.
The Monsoon Cup is the ninth and final event on the World Match Racing Tour 2008. Twelve of the best match racing teams will meet on the waters off Terengganu in Malaysia from 3 to 7 December 2008 to contest the event.
Holding aloft the Monsoon Cup Trophy would cap off an incredible 12 months for this sailor who not surprisingly is referred to by many of his peers as the 'Michael Schumacher' of sailing. Ainslie's phenomenal results in the Finn and Laser classes are now legendary. Five world championships, three gold and one silver Olympic medals place him at the very top of sailing.
This year's ISAF Rolex World Sailor of the Year award, the third time he has received the award, is just recognition of his achievements. He shares the award this year with another sailing legend, windsurfing's Alessandra Sensini of Italy.
Ainslie is now back focusing on developing his match racing skills. His first foray into match racing was as a member of the One World Challenge after his 2000 Olympic campaign. He then tested the America's Cup waters again in 2004 joining the Emirates Team New Zealand campaign for the 32nd America's Cup before he turned his full focus back to his 2008 Olympic campaign.
A short break in the Olympic campaign saw Ainslie compete in his first World Match Racing Tour event in Sweden in July this year. He finished 12th. This may seem a disappointing result for an extraordinarily talented sailor, but Match Cup Sweden was a tough event for most of the Tour leaders. Defending 2007 Tour champion Ian Williams (GBR) finished ninth while Sebastian Col (FRA) finished just one place ahead in eighth.
With his highly-successful Olympic campaign completed in August, Ainslie was straight back into the World Match Racing Tour competing in October at the King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda with his team of Iain Percy, Matt Cornwell and Christian Kamp. Ainslie led his Team Origin to a brilliant third place behind Johnie Berntsson (SWE) and Adam Minoprio (NZL). Williams placed fifth, Col seventh and Mathieu Richard (FRA) eighth at this event.
In reflecting on his team's results in both Match Racing events Ainslie said 'we were coming back into match racing after a long lay-off due to my Olympic commitments. We really didn't know what to expect, but were pleasantly surprised by how good the team dynamics were.
'We have a very low ranking as we've done so few events, so I hope our ranking is not a true indication of our ability,' said Ainslie.
Ainslie does not carry enough tour points to be in the running for the 2008 ISAF World Match Racing Championship trophy, or at least not for this year. However, his third place in the King Edward VII Gold Cup should provide a clear warning to the other Monsoon Cup skippers that his Team Origin are more than capable of winning the event.
The team will be up against current tour leader, defending Monsoon Cup skipper and fellow countryman, Ian Williams.
'I think it's great for the Tour to have somebody like Ben competing on it. Obviously his focus now is on the America's Cup, if and when it gets back going. It's a good way for him to learn the match racing skills that you need for the America's Cup.
'It's also nice for us to have another British team on the tour,' said Williams.
Ainslie will be travelling to Malaysia via New Zealand where he will compete in the New Zealand Match Racing Championship, from 25 to 30 November, alongside Dean Barker, Rod Davis and fellow Monsoon Cup skipper, Adam Minoprio.
A win in the 2008 Monsoon Cup will provide Ainslie and his Team Origin with a great springboard into the 2009 Tour which they intend 'doing properly next year' as part of their preparation for the 33rd America's Cup proposed for 2010.
Current World Match Racing Tour Leader board (top ten teams) (After Stage 8 of 9)
1. Ian Williams (GBR) Team Pindar, 92 points
2. S?bastien Col (FRA) French Match Racing Team/K-Challenge, 88
3. Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team/ French Team Spirit, 77
4. Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing Team, 53
=. Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team, 53
6. Magnus Holmberg (SWE) Victory Challenge, 51
7. Mattias Rahm (SWE) Stena Bulk Sailing Team, 46
8. Paolo Cian (ITA) Team Shosholoza, 43
9. Bjorn Hansen (SWE) Alandia Sailing Team, 40
=. Johnie Berntsson (SWE) Berntsson Sailing Team, 40
About the World Match Racing Tour:
The World Match Racing Tour is the leading professional sailing series featuring 9 World Championship events across the globe
The World Tour is sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with 'Special Event' status
The World Tour awards over US$1million in prize money
Points are awarded at each event culminating in the crowning of the season ending 'ISAF Match Racing World Champion'
Events utilize the same 'match race' format used in the America's Cup with racing taking place in identically supplied racing yachts which places a focuses on team work and skill. Racing takes place close to the shore for the general public to follow the races as virtual on-the-water stadiums.
Media and television highlights coverage reaches over 500 million households in excess of 90 countries around the world.
World Match Racing Tour sponsors include Line 7, Pindar, Custom House, Travel Places, Wedgwood and Sail.TV
2008 World Match Racing Championship Season
Stage Date Event Location
Stage 1 April 21-26 Brasil Sailing Cup Vitoria, Brazil
Stage 2 May 7-12 Match Race Germany Langenargen, Germany
Stage 3 June 10-15 Korea Match Cup Gyeonggi, Korea
Stage 4 June 30-July 6 Match Cup Sweden Marstrand, Sweden
Stage 5 August 27-31 Danish Open Frederikshavn, Denmark
Stage 6 September 2-7 St Moritz Match Race St Moritz, Switzerland
Stage 7 September 23-28 Portugal Match Cup Troia, Portugal
Stage 8 October 6-12 Bermuda Gold Cup Hamilton, Bermuda
Stage 9 December 3-7 Monsoon Cup K.Terengganu, Malaysia
by Tracey Johnstone
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