SWEDISH MATCH
TOUR LEADERS READY TO MIX IT UP IN SPLIT
SPLIT,
Croatia (May 26, 2003) – Six of the top
eight skippers on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003
Rankings have assembled in Split, Croatia to contest
the 17th edition of the ACI HTmobile Cup, the
seventh event on the Swedish Match Tour.
Located
on the South Adriatic Coast, Split attracts visitors
from all over the world. The cultural and economic
center of Dalmatia is well known for its sailing
conditions, sailing traditions and skilled Croatian
sailors.
This
week, the competitors will be battling aboard
event-supplied Jeanneau One Design 35s.
“Even
though I have been sailing here twice before,
I think we don't have a very good feeling with
this boat, I hope we can change that with this
event,” said Paolo Cian, shoreside at the
ACI Marina following today’s practice session.
“We've
had two hours (practice) today. But I am relying
on my very good crew!” continued Cian. “We
have a very international crew this time. I have
a new bowman from Belgium - so the problem is
to understand each other during the rush. So when
I use bad words, they will be in Italian so the
others won't understand.”
With
all the skippers and crews weighed and the practice
session concluded, the regatta is ready to commence
at 11 a.m. local time on Tuesday.
2003
ACI HTmobile Cup Skippers
Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN/Team Victory Lane) –
Swedish Match Tour Rankings Leader
James
Spithill (AUS/Team Spithill) – Second on
Swedish Match Tour Rankings; former helmsman for
the OneWorld Challenge
Jesper
Radich (DEN/Team Radich) – Third on Swedish
Match Tour Rankings
Chris Law (GBR/”The Outlaws”) –
Fifth on Swedish Match Tour Rankings
Paolo Cian (ITA/Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team)
– Sixth on Swedish Match Tour Rankings;
former helmsman for Mascalzone Latino America’s
Cup challenge
Magnus Holmberg (SWE/Team Holmberg) – Seventh
on Swedish Match Tour Rankings; 2001 Swedish Match
Tour champion; skipper of Victory Challenge
Karol
Jablonski (POL/Jablonski Sailing Team) –
Skipper of Polska 2007 America’s Cup challenge
Mattias Rahm (SWE/Team Stena Bulk) – Up-and-coming
Swedish match racer
Johnie Bernsston (SWE) – Another young Swedish
skipper trying to break into the top ranks
Allan
Coutts (Alinghi Team) – Member of America’s
Cup winning Alinghi Team
Mathieu
Richard (FRA) – French match racer ready
to compete against best Swedish Match Tour has
to offer
Frano
Brate (CRO) – Local qualifier
For
all the latest news and information about the
Swedish Match Tour, visit www.swedishmatchtour.com.
About
the Swedish Match Tour
·
The Swedish Match Tour is comprised of nine of
the world's leading professional sailing events
and is proving to be the ultimate battleground
of sailing.
·
In addition to more than US$800,000 in individual
event prize money, the Swedish Match Tour awards
US$200,000 to the top eight sailors on the Swedish
Match Tour, with the first-place skipper netting
US$60,000.
·
In addition to a US$60,000 first prize, the winner
of the Swedish Match Tour receives the official
Swedish Match Tour Championship Trophy, 15"
(30 cm) high with 22 carat gold gilding, produced
by Swedish Match Tour sponsor Wedgwood. Additionally,
Wedgwood supplies runner-up prizes for second
and third places as well as commemorative plaques
to each event organizer.
·
The Swedish Match Tour produces 155 hours of television
coverage reaching more than 427 million households
worldwide.
·
Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match,
Octagon and the Match Race Association.
·
Swedish Match Tour sponsors include Colorcraft,
Champagne Mumm, Musto, Selden and Wedgwood.
