Macao hosts season opener Macao Match Cup for 25th Anniversary World Match Racing Tour

Macao Match Cup, Press Conference. Macao, China © Ian Roman / WMRT

The 2025 World Match Racing Tour season kicks off this week at the all-new Macao Match Cup, 8-12 January, hosted alongside the annual MGM Macao International Regatta organized by the Sports Bureau of the Macao SAR Government, MGM, and Ursa Major Sailing Event Management.

Twelve world class match racing teams will compete in the inaugural Macao match racing event including recently crowned eight-time match racing world champion Ian Williams from Great Britain and his Pindar by Manuport Logistics team.

Great Britain's Ian Williams in Macao with his Pindar by Manuport Logistics team of Richard Sydenham, Gerard Mitchell and Jon Gundersen - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

2025 also marks the 25th Anniversary of the World Match Racing Tour, founded in 2000. The Macao Match Cup is the first World Match Racing Tour event to be staged in Macao, located 62km from Hong Kong and well-known for hosting international sports events including the Macao Grand Prix, ITTF Men's and Women's World Cup, Women's Volleyball Nations League, WTT Champions, and International Golf Series.

The 5-day Macao Match Cup event is being sailed in new Far East 28 yachts with a USD100,000 prize purse on offer.

"We are delighted to be here in Macao for the first event of the 2025 WMRT season" commented WMRT Executive Director James Pleasance. "This is now our second championship stage event in the Asia and China region which marks a key milestone in the growth of the Tour and match racing to new markets."

Macao Match Cup, Pre Regatta Training. Macao, China. January 07 - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

Joining Williams in the skipper line-up for the event is the current #1 world ranked match racer Chris Poole from the USA and his Riptide Racing team, as well as 2022 Match Racing World Champion Nick Egnot-Johnson/ Knots Racing from New Zealand. Former America's Cup skipper Gavin Brady also joins the entry list with his True Blue USA Racing team.

World #1 ranked women's match racer Pauline Courtois from France is one of four French teams competing at the event with her all-female Match in Pink Normandy Elite Team, recently crowned 2024 Women's Match Racing World Champions in Jeddah last month. Courtois and team won the women's world championship in the same Far East 28 yachts and hope to bring their winning streak to Macao.

Match in Pink Normandy Elite Team winning the 2024 Women's Match Racing World Championship in December (pictured left to right - Louise Acker, Maëlenn Lemaître, Pauline Courtois, Laurane Mettraux, Sophie Faguet) - photo © WMRT

Fellow French skippers Tom Foucher, Maxime Mesnil and Martin Allix make up the strong contingent of French teams at the Macao Match Cup, testimony to the current growth of match racing talent in France.

24 year old Oscar Engström from Sweden competes at the event with his Team Liros. Engström was recently helm for the Swedish Challenge for the Youth America's Cup in Barcelona last summer.

Completing the line-up is Australia's Zac West (Sail+Racing), Max Paul (Bombora Racing) and Italy's Rocco Attili (RBYS Racing).

Racing starts at 1000 local time Wednesday 8 December through Sunday 12 January.

Live race results will be available at www.matchracingresults.com and a daily live stream will be broadcast via WMRT channels including highlights on social media.

Gavin Brady in Macao with his True Blue Racing Team of Chris Cowan, Mark Lees, David Swete - photo © Ian Roman / WMRT

Macao Match Cup 2025 Entries:

1. Chris Poole (35, NY, USA) Riptide Racing
Crew:Axel Stordahl, Ryan Wilmot, Cameron Seagreen

2. Rocco Attili (27, Italy) RBYS Racing
Crew: LucaMeletani, Andrea Cinerari, Alberto Corneli, Livia Tarabella

3. Nick Egnot-Johnson (26, NZL) Knots Racing
Crew: Jack Frewin, Zak Merton, Jorden Van Rooijen

4. Gavin Brady (51, USA) True Blue Racing
Crew: Chris Cowan, Mark Lees, David Swete

5. Tom Foucher (23, France) APCC Sailing Team
Crew: Armel Le Carrer, Alexandre Declerck, Benjamin Pajusco

6. Ian Williams (47, GBR) Pindar by Manuport Logistics
Crew: Richard Sydenham, Gerard Mitchell, Jon Gundersen

7. Zac West (23, AUS) Sail+Racing
Crew: TomPicot, James Hayhoe, Louis Taylor

8. Maxime Mesnil (35, FRA) Match in Black
Crew: Mathieu Renault, Julien Falxa, Jérémie Marie Mion

9. Martin Allix (21, France) Sail in Blue
Crew: Swann Pain, Géraud Duclos; Ethan Villain; Florine Bourit

10. Max Paul (23, AUS) Bombora Racing
Crew: George Richardson, Nathan Gulliksen, Megan Thomson

11. Pauline Courtois (35, FRA) Match In Pink
Crew: Maelenn Lemaitre, Sophie Faguet, Laurane Mettraux, Louise Acker

12. Oscar Engström (24, SWE) Team Liros
Crew: Rasmus Alnebeck, Emil Wolfgang, Emil Forsgren

For more information on the World Match Racing Tour, visit wmrt.com and via social media at Facebook and Instagram @wordmatchracingtour

For more information on Macao Major Sport Events, visit www.sport.gov.mo and for more information on the MACAO Match Cup, visit www.macaoregatta.com