October 17, 2011
3 minutes reading time
Will Tiller Qualifies For Monsoon Cup
Will Tiller defeated David Gilmour 3-1 in the final of the Asian Match Racing Championship in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia to secure a berth at the Monsoon Cup, the final event of the World Match Racing Tour.
Will Tiller defeated David Gilmour 3-1 in the final of the Asian Match Racing Championship in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia to secure a berth at the Monsoon Cup, the final event of the World Match Racing Tour.
The Kiwi brought a 1-0 advantage in overnight following a comprehensive Semi Final win which saw him crush Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club sailor Chin Yew Seah 3-0.
Gilmour was equally impressive in his Semi Final after he brushed Reuben Corbett aside 3-0 but in the final, raced in 8-10 knots, he came undone losing to Tiller.
Match 1 – After a tight prestart, Gilmour had more speed and won the start by a metre. Gilmour kept that lead on the first cross and rounded the top mark 16 seconds ahead of Tiller. Down the run Gilmour surged, then Tiller, but the West Australian held his lead, protected it for the next lap and won the first match of the Final.
Match 2 – Tiller was penalised for a port starboard in the prestart, but by the top mark Tiller was four boat lengths ahead. Tiller was 15 seconds ahead at the bottom mark, both boats went round the wrong marks before heading for the correct ones at the top of the course. Tiller extended, cleared his penalty and finished 29 seconds ahead of his rival.
Match 3 – Tiller won the first cross and led by three lengths at the top mark, extended it another length at the bottom, and then further extended to win by 63 seconds overall.
Match 4 – Gilmour won the pin but Tiller took the first cross by half a boat length. On the second cross it was tighter, Tiller just squeezed ahead and at the finish there was about a metre between the boats. Gilmour was on the right in more pressure and was in the lead, he covered but Tiller attacked. After a luffing battle at the top mark, Tiller took the lead and was first around the bottom mark. Tiller went left, Gilmour right, as they headed back up the course for the second time. Tiller extended and crossed a minute ahead of his younger rival.
Dockside Tiller said, “David pushed us hard. We had a bad first race start but we came back in the next two. We felt we had a slight edge in the prestarts.
“The last race was close but we split him at the mark and that two length lead allowed us to break clear.
“It’s awesome to reach the World Tour, a good opportunity for us. I want to thank the Full Metal Jacket crew for a great regatta – Harry Thurston, Jono Spurdle, Shaun Mason, Daniel Pooley and Brad Farrand.
“We are all graduate’s of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron Lion Foundation Youth Training Programme. Upon graduation from this programme we have decided to further our sailing by forming ‘FMJ Racing’.
“We are the youngest team in the ISAF top 20, we are 19th now and now we have a chance to lift it further.
“The long term goal of the team is to win the World match racing tour; we would like to achieve this by 2013.”
Another Kiwi Adam Minoprio went on from his 2007 Asian Match Racing Championship win in 2007 to ISAF World Champion in 2009 so Tiller is expecting to report his success.
David Gilmour was obviously disappointed, as for the second year he had fallen in the Finals. “We know the boats sailing the same design in Perth and we know the venue.
“We were just not on our game when it really counted.”
William Tiller is the 2011 Asian Match Racing Champion and joins an elite fleet in the 2011 Monsoon Cup being raced in Kuala Terengganu from 22-27 November 2011.
Results:
1.William Tiller (Full Metal Jacket Racing)
2.David Gilmour (Team Gilmour)
3.Peter Nicholas (Freshie Racing Team)
4.Reuben Corbett (AON Racing)
5.Chin Yew Seah (Zoke Kiwi Match)
6.Maximilian Soh (Send It Sideways)
7.Joe Howe (Team JH)