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2010 Skippers and Crew:
Adam Minoprio (25) - New Zealand - ISAF WORLD Ranking 1
Adam and his team comes from the succesfull Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The stormed in at the World Match Racing Tour in 2009 and won the tour and the official ISAF World Match Racing Championship. For sure they are here to defend their ranking and championchip. Expect nothing less that a good show from the Kiwi´s. Current Tour Ranking: 3
Crew: Nick Blackmann, Dan McLean, Tom Powrie, Dave Swete
Ben Ainslie (33) - England - ISAF WORLD Ranking 2
Ben is one of the greatest sailors of all times, and very very active. Gold medalist from the Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2008 in the Finn Class, and for sure going for gold at the Olympics in London 2012. Winning is everything for Ben and his crew of Team Origin, whether it´s on an Americas Cup boat or on the World Match Racing Tour. Match Cup Sweden in July had Ben Ainslie and his crew as winners, and for sure they will come to Bornholm for one thing - winning. Current Tour Ranking: 5
Crew: Christian Kamp, Iain Percy, Matthew Cornwell, Magnus Augustsson
Torvar Mirsky (24) - Australia - ISAF WORLD Ranking 3
Last year at Danish Open, Torvar Mirsky and his team was runner-up in the Finals against dane Jes Gram-Hansen. A fantastic youn team, that really took onthe match race scene a few years ago - determined and focussed, and always ready for a dog-fight. For sure Mirsky Racing Team will do their outmost to win this year in Bornholm. Current Tour ranking: 2
Crew: Graeme Spence, Kinley Fowler, Tudur Owen, Kyle Langford
Mathieu Richard (34) - France - ISAF WORLD Ranking 4
Mathieu and his SABA Sailing Team is extremely effective on the course, and you rarely see them make any mistakes. This has brought them far and they are currently leading the World Match Racing Tour after succesfull winning the Tour Events in France and Korea. Betting on the SABA Sailing Team as one of the final four in Danish Open would be a safe bet. Current Tour ranking: 1
Crew: Greg Evrard, Olivier Herledant, Thierry Briend, Yannick Simon
Peter Gilmour (50) - Australia - ISAF WORLD Ranking 5
A true sailing legend is coming to Bornholm. Three times winner of the World Match Racing Championship and a sailor that only participate to win, you can be sure to see intense sailing from "Gilly" and his Yanmar Racing Team when they arrive to Bornholm. In 2009 he was defeated by the later event winner Jes Gram-Hansen in the Semi´s. That last race in 2009 is still one of the most memorable on the Tour, as it was so intense and to-the-point, with collissions, change of leadership and many many incidences, with protest flag´s and glass-fiber in the air in most of match. Current Tour ranking: 6
Crew: Yasuhiri Yaji, Kazauhiko Sfoku, Thierry Douillard, Cameron Dunn
Björn Hansen (43) - Sweden - ISAF WORLD Ranking 7
Björn and his all swedish Hansen Global Team, is one of the most consistant teams on the Tour. This year they came 3rd in Korea Match Cup, and are focussed on showing everyone that their win at Match Cup Sweden in 2007 can be repeated in Danish Open. Many swedes are expected to Bornholm to cheer on their sailing hero. Current Tour ranking: 10
Crew: Martin Strömberg, Pontus Meijer, Mathias Bredin, Kalle Kjerstadius
Francesco Bruni (37) - Italy - ISAF WORLD Ranking 10
Francesco was part of the very succesfull Luna Rossa PRADA Americas Cup Team. Now Francesco is leading Team Azzurra, the pride of Italy who will go on and participate in the next Americas Cup. Gentleman ashore for sure, but a really warm blooded fighter in the match racing duels. Expect nothing less than fierce fighting from the Italiens. Current Tour ranking: 7
Crew: Tom Burnham, Matteo Auguadron, Pierluigi de Felice, Ben Durham
Mads Ebler (24) - Denmark - ISAF WORLD Ranking 13
Current European Champions in Match Racing, and winner of one of the three Qualifiers to Danish Open in Middelfart in june this year. Mads and his Ebler Match Racing Team is one of the new generation of the Danish match racers. And they are moving fast upwards and in style. Great boat-handling often gives the more established team´s greay hair. And the sailing world have a lot more to expect from this young team in the future. Current Tour ranking: 16
Crew: Søren Tønder, Chris Keene Pedersen, Niels Kinch, Frederik Sparvath
William Tiller (20) - New Zealand - ISAF WORLD Ranking 42
William and his Full Metal Jacket Racing Team won the Danish Open Qualifier in Perth in February this year. Succesfull teams like Mirsky and Minoprio have gone this route to concur the match racing scene. The team have prepared intensely this summer through their participation in events in Europe and USA, and we can
expect a well trimmed team to take on the established names of the World Match Racing Tour.
Crew: Harry Thurston, Jono Spurdle, Shaun Mason, James Maloney
Bertrand Pacé (49) - France - ISAF WORLD Ranking 58
After dominating the Match Race scene for more than 10 years, Pacé had to retire from match racing in 2006 due to injuries. Now Pacé and his Aleph Sailing Team is on a "come-back" tour, and determined to show that age is a positive thing when it´s combined with such raw talent as Bertrand and his team so clearly have. Back in 1999, 2000 and 2001 Bertrand Pacé was runner up at the Danish Open event´s, so for sure the French Gentleman of Sailing will prove that he is now capable of winning in Denmark. Current Tour ranking: 14
Crew: Benoit Briand, Francois Verdier, Cedric Chateau, Phillippe Buchart
Susanne Ward (36) - Denmark - ISAF WORLD Ranking 36 (womens)
Susanne is a very competent sailor. Having competed at four Olympic Games in the challenging 470 class with her sister Michaela (92,96,00 and 2004) she decided to go for match racing when the discipline became part of the Olympic schedule for 2012. Right now Susanne and her team is fighting to qualify Denmark and her team for the Olympics, and Danish Open will be an event where she can try her skills up against the power-house of Match Racing and the World Match Racing Tour. Susanne Ward was awarded a Wild Card to Danish Open for her outstading achievements and dedication to the sport.
Crew: Trine Palludan, Christina Refn, Elisabeth Wildt, Mia Nini Nielsen, TBA
Michael Buckley (28) - USA - ISAF WORLD Ranking 665
Mike and his team was given a Wild Card to participate in the Danish Open Qualifier in Chicago mid August. And he surprised everyone by ending the Chicago Match Cup as winner among others beating world ranked Bill Hardesty and Danes Team Sehested. Mike was the lowest ranked at the Qualifier event, and proved that determination, skills, dedication and some luck can make it a long way - Denmark is calling, and for sure Mike and his team has everything to win and nothing to loose in Bornholm.
Crew: Steve Flam, Matt Ciesicki, Alex Clegg, Frederik Aurell
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