2011 Asian Match Racing Championship

Day 4 Final - AY Race Report

William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) are the new Asian Champions
By AsianYachting MultiMedia

PULAU DUYONG (OCT 15th): After winning 9 out of 12 races in the round robins and defeating Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) 3 - 0 in the semi final, then winning three out of four races in the final, William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) has won the Asian Match Racing Championship and earned a place in the Moonsoon Cup to be held at the same venue from 22nd to 27th November.

In Race 1 David Gilmour (Team Gilmour) started in the leeward berth but his team were a bit quicker around the course and took the lead by the windward mark and never looked back to win by 22 seconds. Perhaps the words of wisdom from Gilly senior after lunch may have spurned them on.

The fresh seabreeze at 8 to 10 knots made it a level playing field and a spectacular finish to the championship. Changing boats after each race also keeps racing on an even keel, so there is no advantage to either team. In Race 2 William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) was given a penalty for a port/starboard incident in the pre-start but were not going to give up so easily as they led of the startline. Tack for tack, up the windward beat saw Tiller rounding a couple of boat lengths ahead but still had a penalty. Tiller extended the lead to 10 boat lengths on the downwind and wiped off the penalty at the finish line to make it 1 - 1 by 29 seconds.

Straight into Race 3 and Gilmour pulls of the "Nerves of Steel" move in the dail-up. Both boats used the moored yachts as obstructions. Split start Tiller goes left and Gilmour takes right. Tiller crosses in front after lifting and finding more pressure on the left. Tiller extends the lead and crosses the finsh line just over 1 minute ahead to make it 2 - 1.

Crucial Race 4 for Gilmour to stay in the running. Despite starboard entry Gilmour avoids the dial-up and heads for moored yachts. As they return to startline Gilmour hits the line first at the pin end, while Tiller on port tack and somehow slightly ahead at the first cross. Exciting tacking duel only metres apart with Gilmour getting lifted and taking the lead. Both boats spilt by cardinal mark, with Tiller getting the advantage and rounding the top mark with a two boat lead. This was the defining moment of the race. Tiller scooted off downwind and kept a close cover upwind to hold a three boat length lead at the final rounding. Tiller wins by 13 seconds making it 3 - 1 and crowned the Asian Champion.

Earlier in the day the semi finals resumed in the fading land breeze. After abandoning the first attempt and relocating the start boat, the race between David Gilmour (Team Gilmour) and Reuben Corbett's (AON Racing) started in drifting conditions and was allowed to continue. While the William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) and Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) was once again abandoned. Eventualy the seabreeze came in and the windward mark and finish line were relayed during the race. Gilmour managed the mine field the best and went two up in their semi final.

When conditions stabilised and the freshening seabreeze settled in at 9-10 knots, matches got away in rapid succession. Reuben Corbett's (AON Racing) may have been a bit demoralised from the earlier match and seemed to loose the fight to Gilmour who went on to record three wins in a row and advance into the final. William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) held the upper hand all morning over Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) in both the pre-starts and around the course to score 3 - zip and proceed into the finals.

Despite being knocked out at the end of the Round Robin stage a very spirited affair developed between Peter Nicholas (Freshie Racing Team) and Maximilian Soh (Send it Sideways) in the race for 5th and 6th place. It's as if there was no love lost between them and although Soh's crew work has come on strong during the event and took the fight to Nicholas they eventually went down 2 - zip and settled with Nicholas 5th and Soh 6th.

The Petit Final for 3rd and 4th places was run together with the 5th - 6th place knockout. Reuben Corbett (AON Racing) made up for his early exit from the finals by out sailing Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) to win 2 -0 and claim 3rd and 4th places respectively. A couple of early penalties unsettled Seah in the first race and Corbett's better boat speed around the course earned them the victory.

Final
William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) defeated David Gilmour (Team Gilmour) 3 - 1

Semi Final
David Gilmour (Team Gilmour) defeated Reuben Corbett (AON Racing) 3 - 0
William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing) defeated Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) 3 - 0

Petit Final
Reuben Corbett (AON Racing) defeated Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match) 2 -0

5th - 6th Knockout
Peter Nicholas (Freshie Racing Team) defeated Maximilian Soh (Send it Sideways) 2 - 0

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