RADICH DISPLAYS
HEART OF A CHAMPION IN BATTLE WITH HOLMBERG
MARSTRAND,
Sweden (July 4, 2003) – Denmark’s
Jesper Radich overcame a 0-2 deficit to former
Swedish Match Tour champion and local hero Magnus
Holmberg of Team StoraEnso to rally back for a
3-2 win to advance to the quarterfinals of the
Swedish Match Cup and keep his chances for the
Swedish Match Tour 2002/2003 Championship alive.
 |
America's
Oracle challenge skipper Peter Holmberg
shouts instructions to his team as they
round the top mark during the Swedish Match
Cup in Marstrad, Sweden. July 4th 2003.
Holmberg has teamed up with Paul Cayard
to represent Team Pelle Petterson Yachting
at the Swedish Match Cup. Photo © Sergio
Dionisio (Oceanfashion/Swedish
Match Tour)
|
“(Down
0-2) I changed my game plan, it wasn’t the
crew, it was my mistakes,” confessed Radich.
“I decided to get to the line earlier to
make it much more aggressive with sharp maneuvers.
That’s what the America’s Cup guys
do, and what we needed to do today.”
While
not yet mathematically having clinched the Swedish
Match Tour championship, the only scenario that
would deny the young Dane of the title would be
if he finished lower than sixth overall at the
Swedish Match Cup while Australia’s James
Spithill won the regatta.
Also
advancing to the quarterfinals are US Virgin Islander
Peter Holmberg of Pelle Petterson Yachting and
last year’s Swedish Match Tour champion,
Australia’s Peter Gilmour of Team Pizza-La,
a five-time winner of the Swedish Match Cup, Poland’s
Karol Jablonski, Denmark’s Jesper Bank,
former helmsman of the Victory Challenge and Great
Britain’s Chris Law of “The Outlaws.”
They are joined by Spithill, former helmsman of
the OneWorld Challenge, and Sweden’s Mattias
Rahm of Team Stena Bulk, who previously advanced
as top finishers in their respective groups.
Peter
Holmberg and his crew had the shortest day of
any of the 12 teams out on the water, winning
their battle with Italy’s Paolo Cian of
the Riviera di Rimini Sailing Team 3-0.
“It
was definitely tricky out there today with the
direction the wind was coming in,” said
Holmberg. “I’m fortunate to have some
very good crew sailing with me this week and that
can make the difference.”
Meanwhile,
Gilmour won his first match against Finland’s
Staffan Lindberg then dropped the next two, putting
his back against the wall and his chances of advancing
in jeopardy, before fighting back to win the final
two matches to advance in a taut thriller.
Jablonski
also found himself in a tight five-match affair
against local skipper Johnnie Berntsson, while
Bank and Law advanced on 3-1 scores against their
opponents Great Britain’s Andy Beadsworth
of Team Henri Llyod and Sweden’s Mikael
Lindqvist, respectively.
 |
Denmark's
Jesper Radich leads Sweden's Magnus Holmberg
during round two to progress though to the
final 8 at the Swedish Match Cup in Marstrad,
Sweden. July 4th 2003. Radich currently
leads the Swedish Match Tour ranking with
103 pts leaving him in a strong position
to win the overall title. Photo © Sergio
Dionisio (Oceanfashion/Swedish
Match Tour)
|
Tomorrow’s
Quarterfinal pairings (first-to-two points):
Spithill
vs. Jablonski
Gilmour
vs. P. Holmberg
Rahm
vs. Bank
Law
vs. Radich
Early
morning mist gave way to afternoon sunshine at
the Swedish Match Cup, brightening the spirits
of all in attendance, while a 10-12 knot breeze
made for exciting racing in the event-supplied
DS 37 match racers.
The
Swedish Match Cup resumes on Saturday morning
with the first-to-two points quarterfinals and
sail-offs, followed by the Swedish Match Cup Women’s
Class finals in the afternoon.
KNOCK-OUT
SERIES (First-to-score-three points)
Flight
1
Gilmour
def. Lindberg
P.
Holmberg def. Cian
Jablonski
def. Berntsson
Flight
2
Lindberg
def. Gilmour
P.
Holmberg def. Cian
Jablonski
def. Berntsson
Flight
3
Lindberg
def. Gilmour
P.
Holmberg def. Cian
Berntsson
def. Jablonski
Flight
4
Gilmour
def. Lindberg
Berntsson
def. Jablonki
Bank
def. Beadsworth
Flight
5
Gilmour
def. Lindberg-DNF
Jablonski
def. Berntsson
Beadsworth
def. Bank
 |
Denmark's
Jesper Radich celebrates his victory over
Sweden's Magnus Holmberg to progress though
to the final 8 of the Swedish Match Cup
in Marstrad, Sweden. July 4th 2003. Radich
currently leads the Swedish Match Tour ranking
with 103 pts leaving him in a strong position
to win the overall title. Photo © Sergio
Dionisio (Oceanfashion/Swedish
Match Tour)
|
Flight
6
Law
def. Lindqvist
M.
Holmberg def. Radich
Bank
def. Beadsworth
Flight
7
Lindqvist
def. Law
M.
Holmbeg def. Radich
Bank
def. Beadsworth
Flight
8
Law
def. Lindqvist
Radich
def. M. Holmberg
Flight
9
Law
def. Lindqvist
Radich
def. M. Holmberg
Flight
10
Radich
def. M. 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.
