All French final and a new Tour leader
I left Vitória yesterday after an all French final with Prada´s Philippe Presti vs Mahtieu Richard. Finnaly, we had a more “Brazilian” day, with sun, heat and a blue open sky. But the choppy waves were still there. Mathieu and his crew came out with a victory in Brazil and now are the new World Match Racing Circuito leaders. “It was a very long, and a very tough competition. We won the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals all by 3-2. It was tough, but now we are here, in Brazil, talking to you as champions. Its amazing”, said Mathieu just after he stepped out of the rubber boat that brought him go land. “I am happy to lead the Tour with only one event to the finish (Malaysia), but there is still a lot to do”, he added.
Polite and stylish as you may expect of someone that racing wearing only Prada, Presti said Matieuh deserved it. “Except for the big swell, the conditions here were pretty fine. It was not that tricky. We have been sailing well, but Matieu did a very good job here. He owns it”. The waves are really annoying. In Portuguese we have the same word for “choppy sea” and “hangover”. Those waves are not that usual in Vitória, but the sea had a hangover. No wonder that there was a lot of pilking out there. :-P
Swedish Magnus Holmberg lost 1-3 to Presti in the semis and then lost the petit-finale 1-2 to Shosholoza´s Paolo Cian, who finished third. I barely had the chance to see Brazilian soccer team´s tie with the powerful Equatorians and then I flew here to Salvador, where I may send you some words about the Transat. But first, I will go to the beach.
Ah! The organizers just confirmed that Vitória will be the oppening event of the next season, from March 13 to the 23th.
Check tou more pics by Burno Miani and Wander Roberto at http://www.nautica.com.br/album/thumbsa.php5?id=155
Final Standings in Brazil:
1º - Mathieu Richard (FRA) - Saba Sailing Team
2º - Philippe Presti (FRA) - Luna Rossa
3º - Paolo Cian (ITA) - Team Shosholoza
4º - Magnus Holmberg (SUE) - Victory Challenge
5º - Ian Williams (ING) - Team Pindar
6º - Bjorn Hansen (SUE) - Team Apport.net
7º - Torvar Mirsky (AUS) - Mirsky Racing Team
8º - Álvaro Marinho (POR) - Seth PT Team
9º - Pierre-Antoine Morvan (FRA) - Extrem Team Morbihan
10º - Daniel Glomb (BRA) - Bravíssimo Sailing Team
11º - Eric Monnin (SUI) - Team Meister Ropes
12ª - Claire Leroy (FRA) - Mermaids Team
PS. Arne, i gotta tell ya that you are looking like Santa Claus with that beard of yours.
See you
Antonio Alonso Jr
Revista Náutica
www.nautica.com.br