Potential Father Son Showdown On The Cards For The Monsoon Cup

Might the sailing world be seeing history unfold as 20 year old West Australian match racer David Gilmour edges closer to a possible Monsoon Cup berth?

If David makes it through and that’s still a big if, he will be set to sail against his father Peter Gilmour, a veteran of five America’s Cup campaigns, four times ISAF World Match Racing Champion and twice the winner of the Monsoon Cup, at the final event on the ISAF 2011 World Match Racing Tour.

Right now David Gilmour is one of four semi-finalists at the 2011 Asian Match Racing Championship (AMRC), being sailed from the Ri-Yaz Heritage Marina Resort & Spa, Pulau Duyong, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.

Gilmour finished the second round robin with a 3-0 score, giving him an overall 9-3, equal on points with New Zealand’s Will Tiller .

Gilmour is sailing in the semi-finals against the well credentialed and more experienced Reuben Corbett (AON Racing), while Tiller has chosen Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match).

AMRC Score after RR2:

William Tiller 9 – 3
David Gilmour 9-3
Reuben Corbett 7-5
Chin Yew Seah 7-5

Peter Nicholas 6-6
Maximilian Soh 4-8
Joe Howe 0-12

Peter Nicholas and Maximilian Soh will race tomorrow for places five and six.

Peter Gilmour is in Terengganu working on preparations for the Monsoon Cup and has been looking out the window on a regular basis.

This afternoon, after Gilly Junior beat Rueben Corbett by just 12 seconds in the first semi final, Gilly Senior commented, “I am both excited and a little concerned that we could end up racing each other one day on the World Match Racing Tour.

“No doubt about it I am in the final years of my competitive world class level match racing. However I am excited, not just for David and his team, but for the crop of young sailors who are now ‘going for it’ – the future is very bright.”

But there is still quite a way to go for the younger Gilmour. First he must overcome Corbett in the (first to three) semi final and defeat his opponent in the AMRC final.

In the other semi final in progress, Will Tiller beat Chin Yew Seah by 49 seconds.

Assuming Tiller and Gilmour go through to the final (and nothing is certain in match racing) Tiller has the wood on Gilmour after defeating him in both round robin match ups.

So tomorrow will be a big day for David Gilmour and perhaps tonight there may be some words of wisdom from the ‘Silver Fox’ to his son and crew.