Team Alpari FX end 2013 season... but not quite on the note we had hoped

Racing on day 3 at the Monsoon Cup in Malaysia © AWMRT / onEdition

Hello all from Team Alpari FX,

First of all we have to say a massive thank you to our title sponsor, Alpari. They have been incredible throughout 2013 and gave us all the right tools to do the business. Unfortunately however it was not to be and although it was an amazing and fun year with a fantastic sponsor, we could only manage a 6th position at the last hurdle The Monsoon Cup, securing a disappointing 5th position on the overall Tour. We would also like to thank our clothing sponsor Events Clothing/Line 7 because although the boys weren't always sailing at their best, we always looked like winners.

After a topsy-turvy week that really was symbolic of our year, we bounced back from a terrible 1-4 scorecard, winning five matches on the trot and storming into the quarterfinals. This however ended abruptly when we were taught a lesson in light airs sailing by fellow Kiwi Phil Robertson and his Waka Racing Team, losing out 2-0 in a shortened quarterfinal.

Phil and his boys would go on to totally dominate the event. First up causing heartache to all USone fans by knocking tour leader Taylor Canfield out of the semi final and jeopardizing the 24 year olds chances of the overall title. This put the reigning World Champion Ian Williams and his Pindar Racing team well and truly in the box seat, with victory in their own hands. However Waka Racing then went on to cause a major upset in the final, demolishing a usually unflappable Williams 3 nil, thus handing the title to an on-looking Canfield and his USone Team.

Taylor and his team well and truly deserved to be crowned 2013 World Match Racing Champions, in a phenomenal year that has seen them also top the ISAF World Rankings. Parallels can definitely be drawn between this team and a certain young team back in 2009, skippered by 23-year-old Adam Minoprio who totally dominated the scene, holding the ISAF World number 1 spot for 18 Months and taking out the World Title.

There is no doubt that after Volvo Ocean Races, AC45 Events, TP52's RC 44's, mini maxis etc. we are all better sailors then 2009, however simply said, Taylor did more Match Racing in 2013 then any other skipper (as we did in 2009) and came through with a drive and focus for the discipline that was underestimated by everyone else. After such a long time out of Match Racing this was a good introductory back into the sport, however if we want to claim another World Title, we will need to utilize our skills learnt in other classes and bring the hunger that the younger teams showed this year.

For now it's another year done and dusted on what turned out to be an incredible Alpari World Match Racing Tour. Dave is in New Zealand sailing on the brand new Beau Geste Botin 80' racer, getting ready for the 'Great Race' aka the Sydney to Hobart while Adam and Nick are competing at the Kings Cup in Thailand. Then it's on to Key West Race week and the Carribean before... Stay tuned!!

Team Alpari FX would like to thank Alpari and Line 7 Events Clothing for their support. Team AlpariFX are Adam Minoprio, Chris Main, Tom Powrie, David Swete and Nick Blackman. For more info please visit www.wmrt.com or follow us on twitter @TeamAlpariFX.