ACI H1 Match Race Cup at Split, Croatia - Preview

BAIRD & GILMOUR RESUME CHASE FOR TITLE

The ACI H1 Match Race Cup is the penultimate event of the sixth Swedish Match Tour

Two events remain to determine the champion of the sixth Swedish Match Tour. That skipper will either be the sixth different champion of the Tour, or its first repeat champion. The race resumes next week at the ACI H1 Match Race Cup in Split, Croatia, May 24-28.

With a maximum of 50 points remaining to be won at the two events, the fight for the championship is going down to the wire. Ed Baird (USA), of Switzerland’s America’s Cup champion Team Alinghi, leads Peter Gilmour (AUS), of the Pizza-La Sailing Team, by 3 points. Russell Coutts (NZL) is third, 20 points behind Baird.

At the beginning of May Baird was 20 points ahead of Coutts and 23 points ahead of Gilmour. His lead was sliced and diced at the past two events, Toscana Elba Cup and Match Race Germany, where he placed 5th and 3rd, respectively, while Gilmour finished 2nd and 1st.

Baird and Gilmour stand the best chance of winning the championship. They’re entered in Croatia and the season-concluding Swedish Match Cup in Marstrand, Sweden, July 4-11. The winner will be awarded a $60,000 cash bonus from the Tour and a BMW 545i Touring (valued at $85,000) from Tour partner BMW.

Baird leads by 3 points, but his margin increases by 10 points when throwouts are factored in. After the conclusion of the Swedish Match Cup Baird drops his worst event (for competing at seven Tour stages) while Gilmour drops his two worst events (for competing at all eight Tour events).

As it stands, Baird would drop his fifth place from the Toscana Elba Cup and Gilmour would drop two fifth-place finishes from last year. Wins on the Tour are worth 25 points, second is 20 points, third 15 points, fourth 12 points and fifth 10 points, so there’s enough opportunity for both skippers to pad their score lines.

Coutts is entered in Sweden, and probably can’t win the championship. His best scenario would have Baird and Gilmour flame out in Croatia, and he wins in Sweden.

Coutts won in Sweden last year, and has won two of the three events he has sailed this season. Even if he can’t win the championship, he’ll relish the spoiler’s roll and try to upset the balance between Baird and Gilmour.

Baird, who has three careers Tour victories, would be the Tour’s sixth different champion.

Gilmour, who set Tour records for most net points, most cumulative points and best score line in winning last year’s championship, is bidding to become the first repeat champion of the Tour. If he were to win next week in Croatia it’d be his fifth ACI Cup championship, and he’d become the Swedish Match Tour’s career victories leader with seven wins.

Baird and Gilmour headline the field of 12 in Croatia. They’re joined by the event’s reigning champion Bertrand Pacé (FRA), of BMW Oracle Racing. Pacé won last year’s ACI Cup over Gilmour for his first Tour victory in nearly five years. He looks to improve on his fourth place last week at Match Race Germany.

Four skippers will be representing America’s Cup syndicates: Ian Ainslie (RSA), of Team Shosholoza, Flavio Favini (ITA), of Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team, Kelvin Harrap (NZL), of Emirates Team New Zealand, and Mattias Rahm (SWE), of Victory Challenge. A fifth, Philippe Presti (FRA), is being considered for China Team.

The field also includes Björn Hansen (SWE), Staffan Lindberg (FIN), placed 6th on the Tour leaderboard, Mathieu Richard (FRA), placed 8th on the Tour leaderboard, and Dario Kliba, Croatia’s young match-racer who has been practicing the discipline for about a year now.

The ACI Cup is celebrating its 19th edition this year, and there are three past champions in the field, Gilmour (1993-’95, ’97), Pacé (2004) and Presti (2002). Formerly called the ACI HTmobile Cup, the name has changed to ACI H1 Match Race Cup to reflect new sponsor H1, a telecommunications company.

Swedish Match Tour partners include Swedish Match, BMW and the Match Race Association. Swedish Match Tour Official Sponsors include Musto, Sebago, Travel Places, Trident Studio and Wedgwood.

For more information on the Swedish Match Tour, its competitors and events, please visit the official Tour Web site, www.swedishmatchtour.com Swedish Match Tour television programs may be viewed by clicking on the Tour television button on the home page of the Web site.

Swedish Match Tour Standings: (after 6 of 8 stages)

1. Ed Baird (USA) 90 points
2. Peter Gilmour (AUS) 87 points
3. Russell Coutts (NZL) 70 points
4. Jes Gram-Hansen (DEN) 45 points
5. James Spithill (AUS) 35 points
6. Staffan Lindberg (FIN) 30 points
7. Philippe Presti (FRA) 24 points
8. Mathieu Richard (F70) 21 points

ACI H1 Match Race Cup Entrants:

Ian Ainslie (RSA) Team Shosholoza – Three-time Olympian in Finn class
Ed Baird (USA) Team Alinghi – Leads Swedish Match Tour standings with 90 points
Flavio Favini (ITA) Mascalzone Latino – Capitalia Team – Tour debut as skipper
Peter Gilmour (AUS) Pizza-La Sailing Team – Reigning Swedish Match Tour Champion
Bjorn Hansen (SWE) – Competing in 10th career Tour event
Kelvin Harrap (NZL) Emirates Team New Zealand – Tied for 9th on Tour leaderboard
Dario Kliba (CRO) – Local representative
Staffan Lindberg (FIN) – Placed 6th on Tour leaderboard
Bertrand Pacé (FRA) BMW Oracle Racing – Reigning champion of ACI Cup
Philippe Presti (FRA) – 7th on Tour leaderboard with 26 points
Mattias Rahm (SWE) Victory Challenge – Placed 7th past two years at ACI Cup
Mathieu Richard (FRA) – Placed 8th on Tour leaderboard with 21 points