DENMARK’S RADICH SURPRISE WINNER OF ACI HTmobile CUP

Australia's Spithill New Swedish Match Tour Rankings Leader

Denmark's James Radich heads for the top mark during the finals of the ACI HTmobile Cup in Split, Croatia. Photo© Sergio Dionisio/Swedish Match

SPLIT, Croatia (May 31, 2003) – It was an elated Jesper Radich of Denmark who arrived back at the dock at Split’s ACI Marina this evening, the surprise victor of the Swedish Match Tour’s ACI HTmobile Cup.

On the water it was another difficult day for the race committee with the sea breeze failing to behave in the expected manner. Principal Race Officer Alen Kusic had set a deadline of 1500 (local time) to complete the semi-finals, but in this time only one flight had been run.

This proved disastrous for Polish competitor Karol Jablonski who going into today was clear leader of the rankings. Jablonski lined up against fourth placed skipper Jesper Radich and following an OCS at the start, lost to the young Dane. The wind died and with the 1500 deadline passed, Jablonski was unable to rectify this situation and found himself lining up in the petite-finals against former Swedish Match Tour winner Magnus Holmberg.

“Everything went wrong for us. Maybe we shouldn’t have got up this morning,” commented Jablonski. “It is not the best kind of final day. We have sailed one and half round robins and in 15 races we won 12 of them. Then it comes to after one race in tricky conditions and that is not the best way to hold the semis.”

Insult was added to injury for Jablonski when during his second race of the Petit Finals against Magnus Holmberg there was a course change. Holmberg failed to recognise the course change and rounded the old weather mark locked in close combat with the Pole. Jablonski then headed for the new windward mark while Holmberg continued down the run. At a meeting of the jury to examine the incident afterwards Holmberg made a convincing argument that he had not been given the warning of the change of course long enough in advance. The race was resailed with Holmberg winning to take third place overall with Jablonski fourth.

Denmark's Jesper Radich right, sprays a bottle of Champaign Mumm over team mates after winning the final of the ACI HTmobile Cup in Split, Croatia. 31, May 2003. Radich defeated Australia's James Spithill 3-1 to claim his second win of the season on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/03. Photo© Sergio Dionisio/Swedish Match

Meanwhile in the Finals, three races were held between 24-year-old Australian James Spithill and Jesper Radich. Spithill won the first race while the Dane took the second and third races. With the wind once again failing, the race committee opted to call it a day, leaving the win to a delighted Radich.

“It’s tremendous,” commented Radich following the ritual post-race win dip in Split Harbour. “It is so great to be back and sailing against James [Spithill], who is an excellent sailor with an excellent crew and that tells us we are definitely in the right spot.” In addition to his usual crew of Peter Poulsen, Rasmus Winston and Chresten Plinius, Radich was sailing with a new crew in the form of Danish giant and former Alinghi grinder Jann Neergaard on the bow. “He was superb at calling the shifts,” said Radich.

For James Spithill it has been the second time in consecutive events on the Swedish Match Tour that he has claimed the runner-up spot. “I think Jesper and his guys sailed a little bit better than us. It came down to the decider race. We thought we were doing the right thing - we liked the right hand off the start and got the right off the start and it wasn’t enough. His guys sailed a great race to lead all the way round.”

The 20 points he has scored in each of the last two events is enough to make the former OneWorld helm the new leader in the Swedish Match Tour. He now leads Jes Gram-Hansen by two points and Jesper Radich by eight. Due to other commitments Spithill will not be at the next Swedish Match Tour event, Match Race Germany to held on Lake Constance starting on June 5. This is likely to mean that the winner of Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003 will not be decided until the final event of the season, the Swedish Match Cup in Marstrand beginning on June 30.

Denmark's Jesper Radich right, is push in the water by his team mate Christen Plinius after winning the final of the ACI HTmobile Cup in Split, Croatia. 31, May 2003. Radich defeated Australia's James Spithill 3-1 to claim his second win of the season on the Swedish Match Tour 2002/03. Photo© Sergio Dionisio/Swedish Match

The next event on the Swedish Match Tour is Match Race Germany, June 5-9, in Langenargen, Germany on the shores of Lake Constance. For all the latest news and information about the Swedish Match Tour, visit www.swedishmatchtour.com.

Note to Editors: EDITORIAL FREE images from the ACIHTmobile Cup 2003 and other Swedish Match Tour events are available for download in 72dpi and 300dpi from the Swedish Match Tour Picture gallery, visit www.swedishmatchtour.com, select PRESSROOM, then PICTURE GALLERY.

ACI HTmobile CUP FINAL STANDINGS

Skipper
1. Jesper Radich (DEN/Team Radich)
2.James Spithill (AUS/Team Spithill)
3.Magnus Holmberg, (SWE/Team Holmberg)
4. Karol Jablonski, (POL/Jablonski Sailing Team)
5. Chris Law (GBR/”The Outlaws”)
6.Paolo Cian (ITA/Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team)
7. Mattias Rahm (SWE/Team Stena Bulk)
8.Jes Gram Hanson (DEN/Team Victory Lane)
9.Johnie Berntsson (SWE)
10.Allan Coutts (NZ/Alinghi Team)
11.Frane Brate (CRO)

SWEDISH MATCH TOUR 2002/2003 RANKINGS

Skipper Total
1. James Spithill, AUS/Team Spithill 86
2.Jes Gram-Hansen, DEN/Team Victory Lane 84
3.Jesper Radich, DEN/Team Radich 78
4.Chris Law, GBR/”The Outlaws” 51
5.Magnus Holmberg, SWE/Team Holmberg 50
6.Paolo Cian, ITA/Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team 47
7.Karol Jablonski, POL/Jablonski Sailing Team 46
8.Ed Baird, USA/Team Musto 42

ACI HTmobile Cup Finals
Radich 2 – Spithill 1

ACI HTmobile Cup Petit Finals
Holmberg 2 – Jablonski 1

ACI HTmobile Cup Semifinals
Radich def. Jablonski
Spithill def. Holmberg

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.