Day Two of the 2010 Danish Open was a crucial day of racing for YANMAR Racing and the other 11 skippers, as with no quarter final stage in this seventh event on the ISAF World Match Racing Tour, only the top four teams go through to the semi finals.
Peter Gilmour (AUS) and his YANMAR Racing crew; Cameron Dunn, mainsheet – tactician (New Zealand), Trimmer Thierry Douillard (France), Pitman Yasuhiro Yaji (Japan) and bowman Martin Berntsson (Sweden), won all their races on the first day of competition but as Cameron Dunn explained day two was ‘a tough day for YANMAR Racing, not what we had planned at all.’
Dunn detailed how the day unfolded.
‘First up we match raced against Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team. We got into an altercation just after the start and we came out badly, he gained a couple of lengths and sailed away showing all the class you’d expect from the 2010 World Championship leader. ‘
It was a tight squeak against William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing.
Dunn continues. ‘YANMAR Racing had him under control with a minute to go but he escaped and got a better start. He held the favoured right side of the course and led us for three laps.
‘However, we closed up on the last run and we took his air and rolled past him, just 30 seconds from the finish.
‘Against Suzanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward, it was a relatively straight forward race. YANMAR Racing had a good start to windward, we were ahead at the first cross and extended away to win.
‘But we suffered badly against Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra. We had a really nice start on port at the Committee boat end. Our strategy was wrong, they were three lengths ahead at the first cross and they shut the gate.‘
Of the match against Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team Dunn said ‘A classic match race. We had a bad start, two lengths behind, but we sailed a good first beat and closed up a little. We caught him down wind. There were lots of whistles and flags, we each received a penalty then we were penalised again at the top mark for the second time. We tried hard to close down the run but scored another penalty.’
YANMAR Racing ended the day with two wins and three losses leaving them with a 5-3 result after two days.
Dunn summarised by saying ‘The top six teams race each other in the last flights and we would not be surprised if semi final places are on decided on a count back.
‘The good news is our destiny is still in our own hands – YANMAR Racing need three wins to make the semis.’
Skipper Peter Gilmour concluded ‘It’s going to be like a finals day for YANMAR Racing, we are equal on 5-3 with Ben Ainslie and his TeamOrigin crew and Bjorn Hansen and his Hansen Global Team.
‘With seven teams fighting for the four semi final places, it will be a gripping day’s racing and we need a 3-0 result to knock off Adam Minoprio or Mathieu Richard. Its going to be a big day .’
Standings at the end of day 2 of qualifying for the Danish Open
Francesco Bruni (ITA) Azzurra 8-3 Torvar Mirsky (AUS) Mirsky Racing Team 7-1 Adam Minoprio (NZL) ETNZ/BlackMatch Racing 6-2 Mathieu Richard (FRA) French Match Racing Team 6-2 Ben Ainslie (GBR) TEAMORIGIN 5-3 Peter Gilmour (AUS) YANMAR Racing 5-3 Björn Hansen (SWE) Hansen Global Team 5-3 Bertrand Pacé (FRA) Aleph Sailing Team 5-6 Mads Ebler (DEN) Ebler Matchracing 4-7 William Tiller (NZL) Full Metal Jacket Racing 4-7 Suzanne Ward (DEN) Team Ward 1-10 Michael Buckley (USA) MB Sailing 1-10
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